The Keota news., 1914-01-30
OilLIoN FEET sold FROM kAl-
OAD NATIONAL FOREST.
In or6or 20 oot Timber Out Il VIII %
Necessary - Build Railroad
200 Miles Long.

ture Houston has approved the dis
posal of one billion feet Of western
yellow pine timber from the kaibab
national forest In northern Arizona.
In order to get this timber out It VIII
be necessary TO build q railroad ap-
proximately 200 miles long. Such 2
railroad Will connect Colorado and
Utah with the world-famous Grand
to has been accessible only from the
south.
For several years the construction
Of such q railroad has been considered
BY various capitalists, but 1t has been
stated that tho lack Of assured imme-
diate traffic was an effectual barrier.
It IL pointed out, however. that a con-
tract for . billion feet Of timber will
overcome this difficulty by providing
Q commodity for transportation which.
together with tourist and local traffic.
will place the project on q paying
basis practically from the outset.
Chief Forester Henry 8. Graves
made q personal examination on the
ground. and this examination supple
mented by the reports Of his forest
engineers. induced him to recommend
the sale Of such = large body OF tim
ber In order that the country might
be developed through the supplying Of
this resource. Mr.. Graves, says. how
ever. that the Kaibab forest is one OF
the most beautiful in America. and
gives assurance that the marketing Of
the mature crop Of timber will not be
allowed to mar the scenic beauty Of
the region.
In accordance with the timber sale
policy of the government the stump
age will be disposed Of to the highest
bidder. In order to attract a suffi-
cient investment to assure the build
ing Of the railroad and Of the neces-
sary lumber mills at least billion
feet Of timber had to be offered. The
investment necessary to make this
timber accessible will amount to more
than $3,000,000. BY placing this guam.
tity Of timber before the lumbermen
Of the country the officials Of the for
est service believe that the develop
ment of extensive areas in southern
Utah may be looked for, because the
necessary railway will render access
ible resources which have heretofore
been undeveloped. The whole region
Is rich In agricultural land. in cattle
and shep range, and in coal and COP
per deposits, as we'll as in timber.
Bids for the timber will be received
up to the middle OF June, 1914, and
three years will be allowed for the
building Of the railroad and mills, and
twenty-five years for the cutting Of
the timber. The stumpage rates, how
ever. will be readjusted at the end Of
each five-year period Of the contract,
the readjustments being based On the |
then current lumber prices.
BY the end Of the contract period,
the forest officers say, the young trees |
left on the area first cut over will |
be ready for cutting, so that by the
system Of numbering which the gov
ernment will require. operations can
continue permanently in this lumber
belt. The annual cut will be not less |
than forty million feet, most of which |
Will be readily sold in the large con- |
suming lumber markets in Utah and |
Colorado.
The Kaibab forest is one of the |
most heavily timbered in the South. |
west. the stand Of timber being broken |
only occasionally by beautiful mead.
ows or openings locally known as
parks. Lumbermen who have visited |
1t consider the country ideally adapt |