The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-01
u. S. FOREST COMMISSION |
DOES MUCH work IN 1874
Annual Report Shows Many Improve
ments Were Made for Farmers,
Grazers and Timber Growers in All
Sections of Country

Washington, D. c., March 1.-Selling
some billion and half board feet OF
timber and supervising the cutting on
several Thousand different areas, over
seeing the grazing of more than 1,500,-
900 cattle and 100000 sheep, and
building more than 500 miles of road,
1000 miles Of trail, 5000 miles Of
telephone line, and 700 miles of fire
line are some of the things which the
government forest service did last
year, as disclosed in the report by the
chief forester for 1914. These activi-
ties were all ON the national forests,
which at present total about lSo,0Oo,-
900 acres.
There is need, says the chief for
ester, to increase the cut of timber
from the national forests wherever
fair price can be obtained for the
stumpage, because a great deal Of 1t Is
mature and ought to be taken out to
make room for young growth. unfavor-
able conditions in the lumber trade
caused new sales of national forest tim
ber to fall off somewhat during the past
year, though the operations on out
standing sales contracts brought the
total cut above that of the previous
year by 19O,OO0,0OO board feet There
was, however, big increase in small
timber sales, these numbering S,29S
in 1914 against 6,1S2 the previous
year. Desirable blocks of national for
est timber have been appraised and put
on the market, and it is expected that
these will find purchasers when condi-
tions in the lumber industry improve.
All told, the government received $l,-
| 304,053.66 from the sale of timber
on the forests in 1914. The receipts
from all sources totaled $2,437, ,71O.21.
After eight years of experience stock
men are well satisfied says the chief
| forester, with the way the grazing of
| livestock on the forests is regulated,
and have even urged upon Congress the
application of the same method of con-
troll to the unreserved public range. Al
most $4,000 permittees Craze stock on
the national forests, and these paid TO
the government in the fiscal year 1914
fees amounting to over n million dol
lars. The present tendency to raise
fewer sheep and goats and more cattle
and horses is shown in the fact that
the number of cattle and horse permit
tees on the western forests increased
last year by 1879, while the number
of sheep and goat permittees fell off by
total of 26S The western stock
business, the forester points out, is
becoming attached to the soil, and the
itinerant sheep grower and the specu-
lator in cattle are giving place to the
permanent resident and owner of i'm
proved ranch property. The latter is
always given preference in the use of
national forest range.
Some 100000 was spent by the for
est service during the year for perma-
nent improvements on the national for
ests to make them accessible and to in
sure their protection from fire. These
Improvements include 270 miles of new
road, 2,159 miles of trail, 3,069 miles
of telephone line, 775 miles of fire
line, and LOG lookout structures, be-
sides bridges, corrals, fences and cab
ms. In addition, 642 miles of road
were built for the public by the use of
10 per cent. of the national forest re-
ceirts, as authorized by Congress.
Under another law, 25 per cent. of
the national forest receipts for the
year, amounting to 1886, 6,593,99, were
paid over to the various states in which
the forests lie for the benefit of county
schools and roads.
Since 1909, when systematic elias n
fication of natf2nal forest lands was be-
gun, more than 100000 acres have
been eliminated. Scattered interior
tracts which it is not practica. to elimi
nate are opened to settlement through
listing, which allows them to be taken
up under the forest homestead law
Anyone may apply TO have land within
a forest examined to determine whether
it is best suited for agriculture, and if
found SO it is opened to settlement un
der this law. During the year $3.50
tracts, totaling 2S2,4S3 acres, applied
! for by individuals were opened for en-
try. BY elimination and listing the
percentage of unpatented agricultural
land within the national forests, never