The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-02-01
LOCAL OFFICE HAS BIRTHDAY,
 25 YEARS OLD
United States Forest Serv- ice Created February l
 l905-Celebration

Today, February l, the U. s. For est Service completes the twenty fifth year of it's existence as an or ganization. During President Cleve- lands administration the first with drawals of land for National For est purposes were made, followed under President Roosevelt by ex- tensiye withdrawals covering prac- tically all the present area of Ma tional Forests.
 At first these forest reserves as they were then called, were handled by the General Land Off, flee in connection with their other work. AS the forest areas increased however, and business grew, it be- came desirable to transfer admins tration to technically trained for esters.
 Bureau of Forestry
 Consequently, the handling of all National Forest areas was transfer red to the Bureau of Forestry, De- partment of Agriculture, on Febru- ary 1, 1905. At that time the name of Bureau of Forestry" was changed to Forest Service" and the Forest Reserves" were redesignated National Forests"
 1 The fundamental purpose of their administration is to keep the DOT tions of the National Forests which are chiefly valuable for timber growth in continuous timber pro- duction by regulating the annual cut so that wood using industries can be supported in perpetuity. h. cidentally many other things are i accomplished
 ] Minor uses of land are authorized for various purposes. such as for esi d ence. cultivation, industrial sites, recreation, etc. Investiga- tions are made Of water power re- sources, particularly as they relate to wood using industries. Also any other service in connection with use of National Forest land by the public is handled, except that min eral claims may be initiated on un- used lands without reference to the Forest Service
 For Road Construction Because National Forests general iy are withdrawn from taxation Congress has appropriated funds to be used for road construction with in the Forests in lieu of taxes. Un- der this provision Alaska Nationa, Forest areas have received about $480 000 annually. In addition to this 25 per cent of the gross re- ceipts from Forest business is re- i turned directly to the Territory for school and road purposes.
 Very early in it's existence the Forest Service adopted a policy which it has since followed, of de- i eentralization. Under this ar rangement there were established on December 1, 1908 several dis trict field headquarters. that for Alaska first being at Portland, Ore gon Separate Alaska district headquarters were established at Juneau on January 1, 1921. First Withdrawal
 The first withdrawal of Alaska land for Federal forest purposes was made in 1892, when the "Afog- nak Island Fish and Forest Culture Reserve" was established. The first withdrawal in Southeastern Alaska was on August 20. 1902, to include part of the Southeastern Alaska islands. A second withdrawal on September 10. 1907, wa smade cre- ating the Tongass National Forest with practically it's present boun- diaries.
 The Chugach National Forest was established with nearly the same boundaries as at present on July 23, 1907. The Alaska forest areas were first placed under administra- tion in 1902, when w. A. Langille was sent to Ketchikan as Supervisor in which capacity he continued handling both the Chugach and Tongass Forests, until 1910 At that time he was succeeded by w. C. Weigle. who continued as Supervisor until 1919, followed by O. H. F'lory until December 31, 1920, c. T. Gard ner until October 31. 1922, and R A. Teller to the present time The Chugach Forest was admins tered by these Supervisors unti 1920, when it was made separate unit and placed under the admins tration of c. T. Beach. followed by w. J. McDonald from 1922 to the present time.
 Interesting Point
 It is interesting that several ot the men now working in the Alas. ka District entered the Forest Serv. ice very soon after it's establish