Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-11
SEC. HOUSTON IN
SPEcTs NIL. FORESTS
Makes Trip to the West to Find
Out for Himself How the
Public Resources Are Being
Developed.

Agriculture Houston has begun an
extensive tour of the national forests
to find out for himself to what extent
tnelr timber, forage, water power,
recreational and agricultural re-
sources are being developed for the
public under present methods and TO
make a study of the administrative
problems of the forest service. Dur
ing May he will visit the forests in
several of the western states, spend
ing almost the entire time Of his trip
in the wilds, seeking first hand i'm
pressions Of the conditions under
which the forest service works.
Conditions during the spring and
summer are likely to be unusually
arduous, according to forest service
officials, in that a dangerous fire sea-
son is indicated for many of the for
ests by the ahnormally slight pre-
cipitation Of the winter. Unless the
deficiency is made up. the forests will
be dry asd inflammable earlier in the
season than usual and the water sup
ply Of many extensive regions will pc
low. Numerous irrigation. reservoir,
and power projects are wholly or in
part dependent on national forest
protection Of watersheds, and it is be-
ginning to be generally understood
that, aside from actual farming on
national forest land, the agricultural
interests of the west are much con-
cerned in the conservation of water
supplies accomplished by the forest
service through lessened fire damage
and regulated grazing. In southern
California the interest in maintaining
a forest cover on the mountains from
which local water supplies are de-
rived is so keen that for a number Of
years local funds have been raised
and paid over to the department CT
agriculture in order to provide for
more intensive protection than the
federal appropriations make possible.
Under the methods employed in
handling the livestock grazing busi-
ness of the national forests. agricul-
tural development is benefited not
only through the prevention of injury
to watersheds but also through the
opportunities opened for ranch de-
velopment. AS new settlers locate
near the forests room is made foc
their stock by cutting down, if neces-
sary, the number Of stock allowed the
larger permittees. More than 49,
100000 cattle, sheep. and hogs. includ-
ing young stock, will find forage this
year on the national forests. The
revenue from this source is expected
to exceed 100000 in 1915.
One of the difficult administrative
problems. now being rapidly worked
out. is that of agricultural develop
ment Of lands more valuable for farm
than for forest purposes. Extensive
land classification has been made pos
sible by a special appropriation of
Congress for this purpose, renewed
each year since 1912. Up to date.
about $4,000 agricultural homesteads
have been listed within the national
forests, opening to agricultural de-
velopment nearly 100000 acres of
forest land. In addition, a certain
amount Of agricultural development Is
provided for under special use per-
mits. where for any special reason
listing does not afford a practicable
means Of meeting settlers needs.
More than $1,000 special use per-
mits Of all kinds have been issued to
the public since 1905. granting free OF
for a reasonable charge permission 10
conduct all sorts Of enterprises on
national forest land. They include
apiaries. barns. boat houses. botanical
gardens. cemeteries. churches, cot
tages. golf links. hotels. mines, mineral
springs, observatories. orchards. quar-
ries. railroads, ranches. residences.
restaurants, rifle ranges. roads, sanl-
tariums. sawmills. slaughter houses,
telegraph and telephone lines, tennis
courts. tramways, tunnels, water
power plants. wells. weirs. and
wharves. The total income from spe-
cial use permits IN 1914 was over
$751;, 900.
Farmers. prospectors. and local set
tiers Of all classes. who needed timber
for their own use in the construction
Of houses. barns. fences. and the like.
were given free more than 10000, 000
feet Of national forest timber during
1914. while about 100000 feet was
sold to settlers. ranchers. and others
at cost prices. The timber sale BUSH
ness Of the national forests amounts
to about 41,16Aue 40 annually. more