The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-07-07

planted unless nature will restore the
forest upon them. Lands which have
had their best timber removed leaving
defective and less timber to
occupy the ground will as soon as
possible be given an improvement cut
ting SO that the poorer trees may be
removed and the better and more val
liable ones given an opportunity to
grow. Even the virgin forest needs
to have the dead, defective. mature
and over-mature trees removed in or
der to give full scope to the vigorous
young trees to mature with perfection
OF form. Much cutting under the di-
~rection OF skilled foresters is therefore
necessary to the development Of a
prime forest on nearly all Of the lands
which the government acquires.
Where cutting is to be done the TIM
Der will be sold on the stump to the
highest bidder and cut under the rules
and regulations of the Secretary Of
Agriculture.
The perfect development of the for
est which is aimed at will require the
construction of roads, trails, and tele-
phones on the lands owned by the gov
eminent to connect with the roads,
trails and phone lines in general use.
This work has already been begun.
Several hundred miles Of good trails
have been built and extensive tele-
phone lines are being planned on some
Of the purchased lands. Not much
money will be available for road con-
structiOn until the sale OF timber be-
| gins. Ten per cent of the gross pro
ceeds from the forests will be avail
BILE for o construction and upkeep.
Roads, trails and telephones will
greatly facilitate the protection Of the
government lands from fire. Fire
has caused far more damage to the
1870 Aho 1,,ft. ~ nd
clearing, and all success in develop
ment must depend upon fire suppress
sion. There is no Oub that this can
be done, but success in keeping out
fires calls for more than development
Of roads, trails and telephones. 1t
calls for an effectively organized and
F, equipped system Of fire prevention and
back Of hat a compelling public sentt
ment in favOr Of forest fire projections;
a sentiment based Oh a knowledge Of
the damage fires do and which will
not tolerate the burning of the woods
for pleasure, whim or spite.
With the National Forests being de-
velOped for intensive timber protection
certain other forms of use become
more readily possible han at present.
Grazing can go on more advantage
OuSly thar at present because the
presence Of guards in the forest al
most daily decreases the risk Of loss
Of stock. Grazing will be permitted
upon the payment Of reasonable graz
Ing fees. The waters of the noun
tain streams can be more widely used
h heretofore because an effort will
be made to keep the streams free
from pollution wherever the water is
needed for domestic or municipal pur-
poses.
A use of the National Forests which
meets with large favor on the part OF
the general public is the opportunity
to go into the mountains for pleasure
health and recreation. More charm
ing scenery than the Appalachians af.
ford is not to be found anywhere, nol
more delightful places to travel Of
rest. But many of the finest place:
are remote from hotels n roads and
roads and are accessible only to tht
sturdy travellers who can visit then
on foot The government trails will
make some of these readily accessible
by horseback and nothing more de
lightful can be pictured han a horse.
: back party through the mountains anC
forests owe some Of these Well-buil
! highway trails with the aid Of a we'll
! infoIsned guide. Opportunity To-
camping in the mountains is much in
! creased. To those who desire perma
!, nent campsites for exclusive use tn
! government is ready to issue permit
-
sOnable annual fee. Other specia
uses are likewise possible under tn
same arrangement.
4 The foregoing discussion has indi
Gated the belief hat the ownership
by the government of a number o
areas of from one hundred thousan'
to three hundred thousand acres eac
we'll distributed throughout the regiol
will be influential in the development
of the entire region. How?
First, by the suppression of feres
!, fires. The government will max
every effort to prevent fires on it's oW
lands. 1t will also cooperate wit
other landowners to protect entir
localities. This plan has already bee
put into effect and it will be extended
q The government will call public AT
tention through the press and othc,
e wise to the menace Of forest fire:
n Gradually the landowners will con
to realize the difference in profitable
Ie ness between forest that is repeated
e burned and forest that is kent ire