The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-05-01

among the most important in
the west. approximately IT,
000,0 900 acres. one-ffth Of the
state, Is timberland, most of which lies
In the highly elevated sections north
n east of a line extending across the
state ~diagonally bisecting the opposite
northwestern and southeastern boun-
dairy corners
Conifers or c~one-bearing trees are
the predominant growths, the broad
leafed species being few in number
and Of minor Importance. The yellow
pine, the Arizona white pine, the linn
Der or Rocky mountain white pine, the
bristle n pine, the Englemann
spruce, the Douglas fir, the red fir, the
white or silver fir, 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 q cliff dweller, fourishing best
On the high mountain slopes between
$500 and $500 feet above sea level. OF
Arizona's forest trees it is the noblest.
Viewed at full maturity in its native
haunts it is good to look upon; it's
dawless 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 fir, En-
xlemann 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 unianportant from the lumber
mans standpoint.
Billions of Feet.
An accurate estimate of the stand
ing timber In Arizona Is a 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
manner in which 1t may be turned to
account hundreds of millions of dol
lars and constituting, in the aggre-
gate, a 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
It's varied are being admin
istered in a manner that Will benefit
the largest number Of users along all
lines where nc serious or irreparable
Injury is liable to result. Where
there is no danger Of determination,
or where no carnage to streams or
vegetation may follow, the ripe timber
Is 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 Mt
Flagstaff and Williams, and two or
three other places pear at hand. have
been in operation for a number of
years and have, except possibly in one
or two instances. depended largely on
the national forests for their timber
supply.
There being no navigable streams
of any consequence in the forests Of
Arizona where the logs car be, .foated
down to the mills at comparatively
small expense, the lumber concerns
-r.t neeAs construct lines Of rail and
operate trains of their w INFO the
sections to be logged, the daily capac-
tiles OF the mills being such that less
substantial means Of transportation
,c,Socuata Aa A rule these roads