Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1915-04-02
NATIONAL FORESTS.
Good Work Done by the Forestry De
partment.

Good Work Done BY the Forestry De-
partment.
Selling some billion and half board
feet u timber and supervising the cut
ting on several thousand different
areas. overseeing the sgrazlng of more
than 100000 cattle and 1900. 900 sheep.
and building more than 500 miles Of
road. 1000 miles u trail. 1000 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 activities
were ali On the national forests. which
At present total about 1880 900 acres.
There Is need says the chief fores-
ter, 10 increase the cut Of timber from
the national forests wherever a fair
price can be obtained for the stumpage.
because o great deal of il Is mature
and ought to be- taken out 10 make
room for young growth Cnfavorable
conditions in the lumber trade caus-
ed new sales 81 national forest timber
10 fan 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 10000. 600 board feet There
was. however, "a big increase IN small
timber sales. these numbering S.29s in
1914 against g.ls2 the previous year.
Desirable blocks of national forest
timber have been appraised and put
on the market and It IS expected that
these viii find purchasers when condi-
tons ln the lumber Industry improve
All told the government received
9i.soAO53.6G from the sale Of timber on
the forests In 1914. The receipts from
all sources totalcd s2.4377l021
After eight years of experience
slockmen are well satisfied says the
chief forester, with the way the graz
ms OF livestock ON the forests is regu-
lated and have even urged upon con- /
greas the application OF the same |
method Of control to the unrcserved .
public range. Almost 10000 permit /
tees Craze stock ON the national for
osts. and those paid to the government
la the fiscal year 1919 fees amounting
10 over million dollars. The present
tendency 10 raise fewer sheep and
goats and more cattle and horses is
shown In the fact that the number of
.atue aud horse pcrmittees ON the
western forests Increased last year by
$40. while tho number OF sheep and
soat permittoos fen Oft by total of
'6s The western stock business. the
orester points out, is becoming att
achcd to The soil and the itincraut
.hocp grower and the Spectator in
-atuc ARE giving place to the perma-
lent resident ana owner Of improved
anch property The latter is always {
iveu preference in the use of national :
crest range
Some Sloo000 was spent by the for- {
SD service during the year for perma- q
cnt improvements on the national for &
sts 20 make them accessible and to
insure their protection from fire.
'hcse improvements include 27o miles !
new road. 215g miles of trail. g.OG3 d
allies of telephone line. 755 milos Of +
ne line. and tO6 lookout structures, (
osidcs bridges, corrals. fences and L
abius. ln addition. 642 miles OF road @
ere built Tor the public by the usc OF
b per cent OF the national forest roc
aipts. as authorized by congress.
Under another law. s5 per cent OF the y
ational forests receipts for the year. !.