The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-12-18
Forestry


the Clarke cNary Forestry Act, de-
clares w. B. Greeley, Chief Of the Fer
est Service, in his annual report co
the Secretary of Agriculture made pub
lie today.
Chief Forester Greeley in his report
lays special emphasis upon the devel-
opment of a national forestry policy
in the United States, policy that has
heretofore been almost entirely lack
ing as far as the 100000 acres of
privately owned forest land is concern
ed. 1t is from this privately owned
forest land, Chief Forester Greeley
says, that probably 80 per cent of the
nat on's forest products must come in
the long run.
Several Important Features.
Besides defining national forestry
policy, the Clarke McNary Act pro-
vides for cooperation with States and
individuals in fighting forest fires, for
forest planting on farms, for instruc-
ton in forestry to farmers, for study
of forest taxation, and for the en-
largement of public ownership of for
est land through gift, purchase and
reservation of the public domain.
Chief Forester Greeley, in summing
up this part, of his annual report, de-
clares that:
among the immediate things for
which provision should be made by the
Federal Government are Cd the estab-
lishment of definite program and
fiscal policy for the extension of the
National Forests by purchase, and ca
concerted drive for the elimination
of waste in the manufacture and con-
sumption of timber"
Cash Receipts Over $5,00O,O0O.
Receipts from the lat National For
ests during the past fiscal year total
ed $5,250,000, the report states. This
money was received mostly from the
sale of timber, which brought in over
SO 100000, and from the sale of per-
mits to grass livestock, which brought
in nearly $2,000,000. Miscellaneous
uses such as water power and land
rentals accounted for the balance.
Expenditures for general adlninistra-
ton and protection of the National
Forests totaled approximately $5,O64,-
600, of which amount about $2,OOO,OOO
was spent on fire prevention and sup
preston. Special funds spent on for
est fire fighting totaled $457,1OO, of
which $398,000 was spent in congestion
with the various States. Other sums
totaling about $2,78O,000 were spent
on research, acquisition of forest
lands, construction of improvements
and reforestation.
Road and trail construction within
and adjacent to the National Forests
increased in volume during the past
year. The sum of $9,351,00O was ex-
pended on these projects. During the
fiscal year construction work on 1857
miles of roads and 4,805 miles of
trails was completed. Maintenance
work was performed on 7,422 miles OF
highway and 31,846 miles of trails.
Acreage Added to Forests.
At the close of the fiscal year COW
cred by the report the Forest Service
had 157,5O2,793 acres under its juris-
diction. This represented an increase
of 265,9S6 acres during The year. One
new National Forest, the Allegheny in
northern Pennsylvania, was established
during the year.
The report calls attention to the
fact that in the unreserved public do
main at the present time there are
about 100000 acres of forest land,
or land chiefly suited for timber crops,
which should be included in the Ma
tional Forest system. In the matter
of military reservations arrangements
have already been made to place such
areas under the Forest Service for
timber management purposes without
interfering with military uses.
Under the authority of the Weeks
Law 228,004 acres were acquired dur
ing the year at an average cost OF
S3.68 per acre, thus bringing the total
acreage actually acquired since 1911
for National Forests in the East and
South up to 2,123,150 acres.
Bad Forest Fire Season.
In sharp contrast with the preceding
year the fire season of 1924 has been
one of the most critical in the history
of the Forest Service, Chief Forester
Greeley states in his report. Long con-
tinued drought in the Pacific Coast re-
gions made the 1924 season especially
bad in California. In view of the
hazardous conditions which existed in
nearly all regions fire losses were kept
surprisingly low in all States except
California. Complete figures for 1924
are not yet compiled, but up to Sept.
80 total of 1879 fires inside of the
National Forests only had been report
ed, and over 100000 acres of Federal
land had been swept by flames. These
figures greatly exceed the 1923 sea-
son which was one of the most favor
able seasons the Forest Service has
ever known.
Timber Sales Increased.
Sales of timber from the lat Ma
tional Forests during the fcal year
! reflected the steady and substantial
westward movement of the lumber in
dustry from the cut-over regions of the
East. The amount of timber cut in
the Federal Forests totaled over bill
lion board feet of which more than
half was furnished by the Forests In
the three Pacific Coasts States. The
calendar year of 1923 witnessed the
largest volume of timber sales the For
est Service ever experienced.
Drought conditions and the foot-and-
mouth disease interfered somewhat
with the grazing of livestock on Ma
tional Forest ranges. However, the
report states that nearly $4,000 per-
nits were issued covering the graz
ing of nearly 100000 head of cattle,
over 100000 head of sheep, $4,000