The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-03-10
CONVENTION OF
FOREST RANGERS

The ranger OF the National For
estry service for this district held
their annual meeting at Blackfoot
on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and
Monday. Over 40 rangers were pres
ent, as well as some of the officials
Of the forestry service. Among the
latter were MIR. Mccain, chief of op-
GRAFTON; Mr.. Smith, chief of sylvi-
culture; Mr.. Fem, chief Of grazing;
Mr.. Kneipp, district forester; Mr..
Seerey, logging expert; supervisors
Laing of the Challis Forest reserve,
Huddle of the Lemhi, Pearson of the
Salmon and Campbell of the Minido-
ka.
The first day opened with Ranger
Melzer of the Lemhi reserve in the
chair, Rangers Hoffman Of Challis,
and Mahoney Of Minidoka, acting as
sergeants-at-arms. At this, as well
as all other sessions, the clerks of
the different Offices acted as secre-
taries of the meetings. Very inter-
esting and able papers were given on
the various subjects pertaining to
sylviculture, forest description,
stumpage appraisal, timber sale. ad-
vertising and contracts, timber ad-
ministration, scaling, logging, do
mestic use sales, free use and admin
istrative use. These various papers
were followed by discussions by the
rangers and suggestions from Of
flcials. Mr.. Secrecy, logging expert,
n {pN%n In oky,
tive paper upon the subject of small
lumber operators. and treating Of the
conditions prevailing at the small
mills. Mr.. Seerey said, in part, that
the lumber produced in this district
was largely of second grade, but that
it ranked away below what it should
on account of the wasteful methods
employed at the small mills where it
is produced. He stated that the
second grade lumber and the dimen-
sion stuff produced in this district
could easily hold its own and better
in the markets of Idaho and Utah
with little more pains taken in the
production.
The Saturday session was devoted
to land subjects. Ranger Henderson
of Cache, occupied the chair the bal
ance of the organization being the
same as on the previous day. The
subjects handled were agricultural
claims, mining claims, land classified
tion, settlement act, boundaries and
trespass. The papers were interest
ing and instructive and the discus
sions which followed each paper gave
a good idea of what the ranger has
to contend with in his labors as a
patrolman in our national forests.
1t was necessary to hold a session
on Sunday in order arrange the
schedule of the convention to suit the
convenience Of the lodges using the
hall. The session opened with Rang
er Clabby, of Minidoka, in the chair.
The subjects handled were embrac-
ed under the head of "Grazing" and
embraced the following: the rotation
of deferred system of grazing, meth
ods of handling sheep on the range,
common use of range by sheep and
cattle, boundary, drift and division
fences, water developments and stock
trains, Rangers Quarterly Grazing
Report, grazing patrol and range in
spection, protection of fish and game,
efficiency in grazing administration.
These important subjects were ell
we'll and thoroly handled by practical
men and followed by discussions and
expressions of opinions by men who
see exactly what conditions confront
the forest ranger and the necessity
for controlling these conditions.
The meeting was most successful
and interesting one; and the writer
regrets exceedingly his inability to
be present during the entire session
each day. The Al rangers present
were hale, hardy westerners who
were each and every one ready and
willing to extend the glad hand of
friendship, but who would have been
just as willing to go the limit" in
the defense of the public property
which they are sworn to protect. The
general run of papers and discussions
was not marked by flights of oratory
or vivid word paintings, but was the
boiled down opinions of the class of
men who really know, the men who
are on the job, rain, sun, snow or
come what may, the year round, who
walk miles on skis in zero weather
or face the dangers of forest fire
with smile, but who would do
equally as much to save one little
sore footed lamb or give their last
dollar to assist poor widow to sup
port her family. These are the men
who comprise the forestry service.
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