The Springfield herald., 1913-05-02

among the most important IN
the west. approximately 49,
100000 acres, one-flfth of the
state. is timberland. most of which lies
in the highly elevated sections north
and east of line extending across the
state diagonally bisecting the opposite
northwestern and southeastern boun-
dary corners.
Conifers or cone-bearing trees are
the predominant growths. the broad
and of minor importance. The yellow
pine. the Arizona white pine. the linn
ber or Rocky mountain white pine. the
bristle cone pine. the Englemann
spruce, the Douglas fir, the red nr. the
white or silver fr. the pinyon. the red
cedar or juniper. the oak and the
aspen are the principal tree families
represented.
The ubiquitous yellow pine Is by far
the most numerous and important eco
nomically. forming 95 per cent. Of the
merchantable timber supply. 1t is by
nature a cliff dweller. hourishing best
on the high mountain slopes between
$500 and $500 feet above sea level OF
Arizona's forest trees 1t is the noblest.
Viewed at full maturity In its native
haunts it is good to look upon; its
nawless cylindrical trunk towering $50
feet into the crystal blue, its out
spreading top tossing, dancing. signing
gleefully In the amber sunlight like a
thing intoxicated with the nectar. Of
heaven.
Indigenous to about the same soil
conditions and altitudinal limitations
as the yellow pine. and ranking next
in Importance for their timber in the
order named. are the Douglas fr, En-
glemann spruce and white fir. Their
scarcity. however. makes them unap-
preciable factors in the trade in Ari-
zona. By reason of the softness of
their fiber or their desert or Alpine
characteristics the other trees named.
excepting the timber or Rocky noun
tain white pine and the oak. which are
utilized in some instances. are rela-
lively unimportant from the lumber
mans standpoint
Billions Of Feet.
An accurate estimate of the stand
ing timber in Arizona is very diff
cult matter to determine further than
the fact that 1t reaches formidable pro-
portions, running into billions of feet,
board measure, worth In the various
manners In which it may be turned to
account hundreds Of millions of dol
lars and constituting. in the aggre-
gate, a resource that in the fullness
of time will contribute to the welfare
of the state beyond the most roseate
dreams Of the times.
Title to this sylvan Golconda is
vested In the United States govern
ment, which through the forest serv-
ice is proving a wise landlord in that
Its varied resources are being admin
istered in a manner that will benefit
the largest number of users along all
lines where no serious or irreparable
injury is liable to result. Where
there IL no danger of determination,
or where no damage to streams or
vegetation may follow, the ripe timber
II offered for sale to the highest
reputable bidder. under conditions de-
signed to prevent monopoly Of the
lumber supply and to maintain the
continuity of the forests. On account
Of the lack of adequate transportation
facilities adjacent to the best TIM.
bered sections sales have not been
practical to any great extent. Mills at
Flagstaff and Williams. and two or
three other places near at hand, have
been in operation for b number of
year, and have. except possibly in one