Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-02-18
LAND EXCHANGES
IMPORTANT FOR
FOREST RESERVE
Timber Growing and Forest
Fires Outstanding Topics
at Supervisors Meeting,
Development Keynote.

Starting its session this morning
a full half day back on the sched-
uled program. the forest super
Visors convention at the federal
building buckled down to a full
sized job of cleaning mp a varied
line of subjects by evening. From
educational methods for self-ad-
vancement of the field and district
office men the meeting ran the
gamut of improvements forest
fire fighting plans and studies, law
enforcement in connection with
forest fires. finance and cost keep
ling, land exchanges, recreation de-
Velopments by southwestern towns
and cities on the national forests,
watershed protection and erosion,
and a number of subjects under
engineering phases Of the forest
work. Outsiders, of which there
were number present on invita-
ton during the days session. could
have obtained rough idea of the
broad scope of work on national
forests and the many points of con-
tact with business and private life
of the west.
IIV ohtSNilihlilS ulSCNSSlOI VI lIiF
| day was that of forest fires. Evan
| W. Kelly, inspector from the Wash
| ington office but located for the
year in the field as the direct rep
resentative of the chief forester in
the fire work. gave concise,
rapid-fire talk on the situation
from servicewide aspect. Mr..
Kelly left no doubt in the minds of
his hearers that the forest fire sit
uation has his every thought and
interest and he pressed home the
seriousness of the situation de-
handing solution. Colonel Greeley,
the forester, he stated. has no
greater concern for any other prob
lem than that Of reducing the num-
Der and extent Of forest fires on
the forested areas of the country,
particularly on the national forests.
Mr.. Kelly in his analysis of the sit
uation did not spare the forest
service, but pointed out to the SUI
pervisors vital shortcomings in
tally that had been disclosed from
his Investigations of many of the
large fires in different parts of the
west.
A Complex Task.
One of the important lines of
work of the service, that of educa-
ton and self-development of the in
dividual forest officers in the lower
as well as the higher grades, was
discussed at length By the meeting,
led off by Ward Shepard of the dis
trict office. who spoke specifically
on the district office night school
held during this winter. and the
possibilities of extending training
work to the field. The point was
brought out that the average for
est officer in his complex task and
multitude of contacts with the COM
munity life near his station, must
progress in his own development
imagination and viewpoint or fail
to measure up to the demands of
his task.
The lands portion of the program
originally scheduled for today was
reached and by limiting talks and
discussion the subjects listed were
given a thorough going over. Land
exchanges, a subject of growing
importance, especially in this region
and one which has the attention of
congress, was handled by John d.
Jones of the district office and
Ward Shepard of the Manzano for
est, The statement was made that
a reason for the exchange and in
clusion of privately owned timber
lands adjoining present national
forests in the southwest, was the
fact that timber growing as a pri-
vate proposition in this region
would never pay, due to slow
growth of trees in the forest re-
gions, and was hence a work for
the government that alone can wait
long time returns on investments,
on Recreation Areas,
Fred Arthur, of the Lincoln for
est, spoke on the subject of promo
ton municipal recreation areas on
national forests through cities or
of monumental
character. Eventually many south
western cities will turn to the near
by forests for their recreation as |
have the cities of Los Angeles
Portland and other places on the
Pacific coast and many inland |
cities of the Rocky mountain re- |
gion. District Forester Peck, of |
Denver, described to the, meeting |
he notable development in this |
inc on the San Isabel forest in I
Colorado by the cities of Pueblo
ind Walsenberg. The chamber of
commerce of Pueblo formed a re-
irrational association under incor-
,oration and with a stock issue OF
100, 900. All the funds from which 1
ale of stock have been turned Il
'ver to cooperative funds and inn
,rovements made by officials OF II
no forest service to the satisfac7i1
ion of all concerned. whereby II
many thousands of city folks in
modest circumstances have beenI,
at minimum cost to enjoy Il
mountain outings and vacations II
Forest Trails and Maps.
Engineering especially tho deyel-
pment and maintenance of roads
nd trails on and near the forests
f the southwest was the subject of
talk by District Engineer Long,
I Albuquerque. An original
cheme of teaching forest rangers
read and understand topographic
laps was presented for the con-
Iteration of the meeting by NJ. w.
abbot, of the district office. Mr..
abbot based his plan on modifica.
Ions of a much more complex plan
sed at the artillery school at Fort
i'll in instructing artillerymen in
ne late war, The meeting conf
luded by discussing the New Mex
% game commission bill and its
fleets on forest service game work
ID by Mr.. Shepard and a descrip-
ION and discussion of q new cost
eeping system about to be Installed |
uring the coming year. The lat
n SUBJECT was. handled by District
lscal Agent Merris, of the Albu-
uerque office.
In summing up the meeting be-
ore ad1ourning the chairman, Dis
'ict Forester Pooler, gave as the |.
eynote of this years session. the y
idea of more liberal 4
Sc or brains In \, a,I /