The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-11-27
INTERESTING STATISTICS .
FROM TIE NATIONAL FORESTS
National forests in this State Cover Ten
Million Aues-Muoh Timber Sold
The Past Year

Oregon. announces that during the
fiscal year 1914, over twelve million
feet B. NJ. Of timber IN Oregon and ?
million feet B. NJ. in Washington were
given away under free use permit. This
free distribution IS limited to $50 worth
|. per year per settler, or about 80 cords.
The excess in Oregon over Washing
ton is accounted for in several ways.
The National forests in Oregon cover
approximately 1877 million acres. while
those in Washington cover only about
.o13 million acres. In Washington,
the forests are mainly in the Douglas
fir region west Of the Cascades, and not
as accessible as the east side forests:
while those in Oregon are scattered
over the state. In Eastern Oregon. in
the dry region, there IS little or no
timber except in the national forests,
and the farmers and settlers depend
upon them for their wood supply.
Over 74% of the free wood taken out
was dead or down timber, whose re-
moval is a great benefit to the forest as
it lessons the danger from fire.
In addition TO timber given away,
521 sales were made from Oregon
forests and 142 from Washington. 1t
is interesting to note that this repre-
sents 24,5o4.000 board feet in Oregon
forests and 199, 1850 board feet for
Washington forests. Although the
number Of sales in Oregon exceeds the
number in Washington, the amount Of
timber is greater in Washington because
the sales were larger-one was for So
million feet and another for so million
feet; whereas the 521 sales in Oregon
represent smaller individual sales, o3@
of them being small sales involving
500 worth or less. In Eastern Ore
gon on one forest alone 164 sales were
made. The average price received for
the timber was S1.78 per NJ. The
revenue from sales amounted 10 $780,
362 for Oregon and, 500, 647 for Wash
ington. 1871 Of this amount is turned
over to the state for road and school
purposes.
The grazing business, too, is heavy
on the national forests Of the two
states. Last year the grazing privilege
was granted in Oregon for l09,45l
cattle and horses and 872,862 sheep,
and in Washington for l4,57l cattle
and horses and 1o3,598 sheep. This
1904 permits for Oregon
and $40 for Washington. Again the
difference in the business for the two
states is due to the difference in the
character of the forests. The forests
of eastern Oregon are much more open
than the forests on the west side Of the
Cascades and furnish better opportu-
nifty for feeding stock. Furthermore,
the Oregon forests are easily accessible
and usually fully stocked, because the
available winter range is much more
extensive.
In order to administer and protect
these national forests the forest service
has, up to date, constructed in Ore
gon 427 miles Of road, 1868 miles OF
trail, 2428 miles Of telephone line, and
70 bridges; and in Washington, lo4
miles Of road, 1889 miles Of trail, pa
miles Of telephone line, and 81
bridges. Not only does this improve
ment work aid in the administration Of
the forests. but II opens them up for
the use OF the public.
There is another benefit which the
states receive as a result of national
forest activities, and that is in the
money which this branch of the gov
eminent spends annually in the locality
for labor and supplies. This amounts
to an average Of S558,4l4 for Oregon
and 1910, 465 for Washing.