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FACULTY OF FORESTRY
MAR {989
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
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The Forester
A Monthly Magazine
Volume V. 1899
Published by
The American Forestry Association.
CORCORAN BUILDING,
WASHINGTON, D. C.
( MARY 1262
%
py, S
eisiry o>
S44
olay Ce ESIC c Oba, Aaegnes eee 217
hieyement of Perseverance, An........... 189
visapility of Forest Culture ....::......... 131
FESR ote ee aciep Pea Sae ESE igs oekint Sunice a sence 245
WoyeV "EE Sow sone aa oneRBcGnod hy REOHUC SEE Pee a aaa 12
ES acer ote c eens ence cis nessa hoes Soesipes Be
Ska Eriterprises eAitih core. cose ccccrscies see 6s 217
miperova Dollar. THE: ccc .secncc.csesasieess 245
erican Forestry Association, Annual
WR CLINI Oli sade estcis uae <sec eee tktseciowel 3
== 16378) Leis) Papo t aco boee Been Con eee eee I
wee IDG CCLS Olea wacno ss. scsecivncacasaesaseweses I
—— Joint Meeting of, Missoula, Mont. 237
—~ Special Meeting of, Columbus, O.. 211
—— Summer Meeting of, Los Angeles,
CAM ier aes.) eccud nae nee sak sacwichemaukinbe IAL
—— Summer Meeting Notes............... 188
drews, General C. C., St. Paul, Minn.,
WetLlemonyleroposeds bat kweeee-css ers 224
pointments of Student-Assistants ....... 160
preciation of Forestry, Aw »..2..c0c.2..0::; 293
ROMACHINGULE: Saens see agce sang <a hac vse eae be acess 9)
LOMA ran cisejaioteteite nets toreaians cece een es sci stenslees 197, 260
AMIGA preeceiiteh tba ots enone caciewacdeniass evecare IT4
ising Popular Muterest jvcceses ss ers- cece: 293
(OSES GSS WS cdscaconsgndansdsoacsage sroekeeeae 269
res, Horace B., Charlton, Minn. Forest
DES ERNCHIOMNs. co surc. cases cateaa ery Aeestnd.« 133
(ES le Schlta iach So HO ABE SDE CaaS oeecEC CIC Smee eneee 14
‘thoud, FE. L., Golden, Colo. An Ob-
ject Lesson of Forest Destruction...... 131
tem Wnderstandime Av,22.23-.cocctseas s+ 20
of Historical Information, A.............. 238
desiroke for Irrigation, Av. .<..02..:-+ 112
fish C@oltusmliameeracassstsseesan sven. soso 217
VAG Bee dees dee ceecigees ones soweseet sans 94, 114, 163, 189
1adian Incentive for Forest Study....... 193
signiia: 20 (4b O54 OF, O45 112, 131; 136, 193,
197, 241, 259, 260
amberlain, Allen, Winchester, Mass.
Massachusetts Forestry Association... 219
anging Mt. Rainier’s Boundaries......... 282
ips and Clips........117, I41, 166, 192, 216, 244,
268, 290
RISEIMASHIRL EES Ere eR cites. tutes. fs ontusaaccees 46
Collins, J. Blatchford, Superintendent U.
S. Forest Reserves in Montana. The
Relation of Forest Preservation to the
Bublicawieltanesessseneeesnenascecoeeen crac 127
Colorado....7, 32, 41, 64, 65, 87, 88, II9, 129, 131,
135, 163, 198
Ad wicey H XpPenienCers...e.c.. sa ee: 113
Coming of the Wight, We .--b sat ..-ceee = 293
CONGRESS: both tase ate cemanenaesrtastntece ceaeie 14, 46
Connecticute ees ee eee eee eee 217
Conservation and Restoration................. 161
Counterfeiting ature tc-eeseeeeeee tess 193
Cox; R. F., Chenowith, Wash. Forest
Fires in, Washingtont.:..2cs-0---<cese=cs 164
Crandall, Prof. C. S., Fort Collins, Colo.,
New Growth on Burned Areas in
Coloradossceuci cetescsastee cscsoomerenonecs a
Cibarieien cae danas Site eee reson ee ees aeen eters 13), GL
Dawn of Success) When cssonsecsecrese ce eeee 214
Dispelling An Tiluston.c2. .sqcte-eorect seems 264
Diversion ‘of Spruce,; Ges ctees.e serene. 88
Douglas Spruce of Northern Oregon
(Graves) ai. aaccsedoeecd sete egos bios echoes 52
Beonomic ree elantinterenesesseese see see: 288
iE ditontalesesecses: 1, AS) 67 1054 Lilag nosy On,
215, 243, 267, 289
Educational. so.cssenceuece. oseeeeees 41, 66, 94, 143
Effect of Forests on Water Supply (Haw-
Ff 0Yo1 68) deans bas ppacraacc (accingssi.cnsscca se" 27,270
1 Dp sea 2h 016 an anerepoumancp neu cnaconacacdoct 212, 269, 278, 292
Hnlichtened Policy, Atiassereraasseheee ances 214
Enthusiasm (of Convictions Rien... 7. 161
Everett, Wallace W., San Francisco, Cal.
(ie eracticalsnBhoOnres tinyeerccesecnas seers 275
Example of Pennsylvania, The.............. 227
Excessive Timber Land Taxation............ 64
Extermination of the Sparrow............... 38
Fair Prophecy senescence avecdsatacwenns < van 260
False Mahogany of South America......... ine
Fernow, Dr. B. E., Dean New York State
College of Forestry. Paper on the
Training of Professional Foresters in
SAVE CTs Cape erence ta tesco reciecccleesesives ates 103
Field for Lumber Capital, A............:0+ 63
MiresmmeNehasane: Pati... .t...+5+s-cssesdnceees 238
Fishermen for the Forests.............00s+0+- 125
iv
Flandrau, Rebecca B., St. Paul, Minn.
For the Majesty of the Forest........- 265
Flower, Roswell P., New York City,
Death of (life member).........0--:.++++ 139
For An International Congress.......-...+.+: 288
For the Majesty of the Forest.........--..-++- 265
Forest Administration.............:.0++ 14, 32, 64, 79
Forest Conditions of Porto Rico (Hill)..206, 232
Forest Conservation (Griffith)............... 134
Forest Destruction (AyresS).........-0 esses 13)
Forest Experimental Station, A(Johnson) — 185
Forest Fire Laws in Pennsylvania........... 213
Forest Fires...... 118, 138, 143, 164, 168, 217, 238,
240, 259
Forest Management ........--.seceesseeeeeseeees 61, 86
Forest Organization. ........ccesesseneeeeeeeeees 43
MIGPPRE PE OMIC Vacs iverecccvcdvedvessceeanteWadeosee ses 22, 8I
Forest Problem in the West, he (Kinney) 200
OLESE ELOUCECLION = seacetosssesecsmertene=: 213, 238, 260
Forest Tax Legislation in Indiana........... 93
RorestWitiizatiOnl sco setetece aces se cence es 87
IOKESECY. WiVISIOM: Ol.e-.-cecescecs-ve~ shee ne 12
Worlksot tot Hartienessiceescsce: III
TNStrUICHONAN\..s.cascseoesnsseesans sea 66
Horests tor the Rach! Onllivennessecassee once 278
Forests in Their Relation to Irrigation
GNI CHEISGM) ie lo.ctirse ccs sas umoateneMacsetecs 9
ROrestsroftie Nations hetenerecc secre tete 266
Forthcoming Year Book, The................. ie
Fox, Col. William F., Albany, N. Y. Dis-
Oa bayer abe DO NKOCI Oy MacasapenasonesooatoRoseds 264
Prrendly Supgestiony Arc .i) ss .ccocsasorsee 217,
uEtheralniCreaS@swAtocsceccaces ee cte usenet soncees 166
Gannett, Henry, Geographer of the U.S.
Geological Survey. The Redwood
Horest of Calitoniiaeessrescsstce secretes 148
CASTS TTRT I /adnsboguannbecoenessandon eostosaboonmardonda: 292
Gifford, Dr. John, Ithaca, N. Y. The
World-Famed Forest of Vallombrosa 121
Gila River Forest Reserve................000005 85
Gosney, E. S., Flagstaff, Arizona. Sheep
Gradina ine AniZOUd.c5.05-.cesareceec anes 232
Government Forests and Their Preserva-
ERO PEPE CHATIN) onset rs rac shechen deeeore eee 76
Graves, Henry S., U. S. Department of
Agriculture, Division of Forestry.
The Douglas Spruce of Northern
OVRSEIONT, Sacads canis senbo ce SbeBeS aca ICORCEENE 52
— PAM COMM|ICIttercnstesces cetera 241
EHP TEATS Sas bie ea pal 0 cae at ime Fa 31
ISLEAL NOM POLEMHItyy, i. cncsern ccc escecs-cak onc 292
Griffith, E. M., Washington, D.C. Forest
MOMSEEVALIONS. sietuesectecctere sess 134
’
INDEX.
Grinnell, George Bird, New York City.
Fishermen for the Forests............... 125
Hawgood, H., Los Angeles, Cal. Effect
of Forests on Water Supply ........... 2AT 279
Hermann, Binger, Commissioner of the
General Land Office. Government
Forests and Their Preservation......... 76
United States Forest Ranger Sys-
tem, The: ....03:1.2c000s: ee eee 195
Hill, R. T., Special Agent, U. S. Geolog-
ical Survey. Forest Conditions of
Porto RICO: ...:cscsnecctss eeaeaereeen sae 206, 232
Hopeful Sign, As vr ...cs.ce-esee-emee eee ee eee 15¢
Tah. sivacscctisscnnsassinaenacccnecenaeee meee tes 11g, 198
TinO18..0s...csccs<tecaceead daeceetenemereeeerenenee 110, 260
Important Decision, Ato scranee.tesseeeaeeeeee 26c
Increasing Interest in Forest Preservation 132
Indian Lerritony...-1..c-ses-seeseeee see eee 14
Ttidiatia...2 2. s:ssssseccsacneaseeeeeeenee eee ene - 92, 92
Influence of Forests Upon Storage Reser-
voirs (Schtlyler)<.2i0ss.c--eece ee eee 285
Information Wanted: 222... s-eeeseeeeeeeee 23
Insect; Enemies of Wireessise.erte-se ose eee 188
Instructioniin) Horestry ence eee 66
Interest ‘in Utala.....siesceese cere ee eee eee 38
Interesting Discovery, -Atdiees.eenee ee eee 19¢
Investigation of Red Ein --3---- eee Bile
in Enlightened (Athi cates secretes eee eee eeee 245
In the Southern Alleghentes) 23-2. seeee 28:2
In the Woods of Miznesotals.2)..ce0s ee 261
IIo} Samceroecoaerbaaccan cascoddanc sosecccdcdosaasonb2: 288
Innigation and @horesthy sense eeeeeee eens 237
Impressions of European Forestry ......... 292
Johnson, A. Campbell, Los Angeles, Cal.
A Forest Experimental Station......... 185
NCEE aE Ce ongodenoauadso cna ioscan ddodaodadon0doasdooes009 afefe
Kentucky. i..s.ccsscecons sceseetne reer een aaeeeteeete 251
Kind of Trees to Plant, hers -caeeeeeeeee 236
Kinney, Abbot, Los Angeles, Cal. The
Forest) Problem) In) thie Wests-eseeee 20¢
laweand ihe orests (heseesseseeeeeeeeeee 21
Lectures on Forest Topitss.s.c.1.essan ese 66
Legislation Pending. ...-....c:s.sasnsaescneeeee IIs
Letter from the Secretary of Agriculture. 2€
Log Salvage o...b.:0aociea beeen eee 36
Lukens, T. P., Pasadena, Cal. The Res-
toration of Mountain Covering......... 151
lumber Industry, lier. .cee eresceee eee ee T2536
Lumbering In the Northwest........smesese= le
Lumberman’s View of the Forest, The,
A Symposium in Two Papers............ 132
Lumbermen and Charcoal Makers.......... 161
INDEX. Vv
ee erofa ss Cs) Berean Kentucky.
Natural Reproduction of Forests on
Yid Fields in Eastern Kentucky...... 251
ACHUUSE LES bas. tes eese eee cee dees 137, 150, 162
achusetts Forestry Association
Hammer aii)rencscectmarssccvocvinsseseses 219
well, George H., San Francisco, Cal.
Nature’s Storage Reservoirs............. 183
*k, W. S., Los Angeles, Cal. The
ptateran Ge HOresthy seca. eesecere ce -sece oe: 179
elson, Henry. Forests and Their
elation, LOMIIrigAatiON\..:.<..:.2s0+00r-.00-> 9
VERVE, ceconohbadgononenco Sonne) 13, 129, 162, 189, 238
» IPTG SBE cos csnonvconnasocooscadSnontconsoncconobop 89
Hein OKest ReSEnvVieS..c..cresessceasc se 79
lESOtare LO O35 OO) O2 TOS LTO, Tr4), £15,
137 LOI 1O2) Log, 212. 26i, 264,265
ROU S EEN aTH ONS cooccoeo Gonannbodseoaanedle 213
esota’s Park for the People—a sym-
FOSUII Of VAC WS 2a ccascces cc tisarseaeseees- ss 222
esota’s Proposed New National Park 204
PGI aanet ea nese seis sede ectoe wht ethan eae’ 114, 239
AMO IMAL PHINGSc..s<cc8-6.2.cssesees: 150
ALM Aer ee cea ese tcs esos osceigssaamceciweness 86, 198
ana Conflagration, A......... Syreseeeasie’ 193
gomery, J. B., Portland, Oregon.
SOLES MILES Ati) OE SON: a. 00c eos seeee ees 164
it Rainier National Park (Willis).... 97
- Changing Boundaries of............... 282
cipal @are.of Trees, “PHE:..25.. 520... 240
aren, John, San Francisco, Cal. The
eclamation of Drifting Sand Dunes 222
ral Reforestation in the Southwest
TEC TENISTS57/)) poodanaaososAnOpenaAonocaeoneconeGeeee 145
‘al Reproduction of Forests on Old
‘ields in Eastern Kentucky (Mason). 251
e’s Storage Reservoirs (Maxwell)... 183
AS a seecies satis eseserllecscee scum scsdslestsecees 4o, 65
of Forest Legislation in Colorado,
Hem @(MACIeISOm))eeestees seas ceesein sees osc 131
HOLES HRGSehV abl OlSmee seetetestes cases. < 69
Growth on Burned Areas (Crandall). 7
REtSeyepesscteaste se sence ste sso r tase cares esses 136
Lake Tahoe Forest Reserve, Cali-
DLT Meroe sNrac a aedecnastec none steeca ove cime'enss 124
WMienibersicaesstisececentce secesecses. 1107, O55) LAO
USAC Ores reat gaan Seco<t's eeacscoons 197
WaLIGHAL SAL Gierctctsccs se vecdsssecesede 94
WWOrlkas icse.cteseeteds 41, 64, 96, II0, 114, 136,
162, 164, 214, 238
MEETS ce aatteeeeee dock otha ahs ddece ss swewetee 49, 73
NGrEDEDaR Ota cussowscssteacbaeoscteeaevtutcas 132
Notes on Some Forest Problems............. I12
INGVAR SCG blake, cuaeser here ccuecsceatea.cacevoneescse 163
Nits fiom Planting. s.p. 2.5.02. theseeostahne 269
Objectiofi Forest Reservations!::..f-.aistc-.. 27
Object Lesson of Forest Destruction, An,
(Berthoud) ee cee ces seeeteck dots ato aasticc 129
O10 Se eeslesa sec traisoasee sos dse cee oaanwssl Nolen nent 13
On Congressional Recognition ............... 260
Ontario: Borest RESerVve ren: pos.-e-s sacs eens 210
Opposition to Reservation Policy............ 34, 67
Os =s2d0) 0 anaannaim cee eco ndno radoandetrna ung 47, 164, 199
Paris: id. cegesenentae sadaceecencacene ay arena eames 163, 288
Rennsyl vaniaeernnse eee 50, 162, 213, 259, 269, 292
Perrine, Robert, Williams, Ariz. Sheep
Grazing in Anizonas.cs.wseeecsescne cose 237
Persiaic. cos eee aceon eee ce rene ene 115
Philadelphia’s Innovation............ else eet 269
Philippine IslandsSUhe wy... ..ees eee 190, 217
Pinchot, Gifford, Forester of the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture. Paper on
The Training of Professional Fores-
tersuaneAsier(Caseceseeeteee ener eee seerae 106
——— Two Papers Relating to Forestry,
Review, Of: conc. erence een aeeceeetees III
Profession of Forestry, The. An
Addressiat Yale University cerss--sses 155
Plain ‘Valk fromiy Oregonyces sean. nace 270
Popular Parasites Aveo. seaeeeeseeeeeeeee es 212
Power of Public Sentiment, The............. 217
Practical in Forestry, The (Everett)........ 275
Practical) Wiew, Av .is:2¢2aba.ucceeree ase eccesee aa
Preservation of Philippine Forests. ......... 190
Prevention of Forest Fires, The............. 241
Profession of Forestry, The (Pinchot).
An address at Yale University.. ........ 155
Rropasationnols MOLES tale Shee -meseatseseeeees 132
Proposed Leech Lake Forest Reserve,
MitineSotatsc. casssseseceme ccna eereere: 161
Protection of Irrigation Works, The........ 44
Protecting the Public Domain................. 260
ReasonablewolicyswAvecssssedssescesermeeseretees 84
Recent Forestry Meetings..................... 39
Recent Legislation............ 92, 114, 136, 162, 189
Recent Publications..24, 47, 70, 96, 120, 144, 170,
194, 218, 245, 270, 294
Reclamation of Drifting Sand Dunes (Mc-
1 BEE5=40))) geconongosooncHocechaaatooe LeREeEpoSEeece 222
Redwood Forest of California, The (Gan-
11(218.8) | (deeboone badocoeddoSca aes CoB EEE EU ROC EEO TOSer 148
NETo MO Pete se PRAT Oat onss ce cocnscasesiedsw ones 164
Relation of Forest Preservation to the
Public Welfare (Collins) ............:0+0 127
Vi
Relation of Forestry to Commerce...........
Relic of Old Manila........ccccsecsesereseesceres
Remunerative Timber Lands in Canada..
Report of Wisconsin Commission...........
Resolutions Adopted at the Special Meet-
ing, Columbus, O ..........-:e05 ceeeeeeeees
— at the Summer Meeting, Los An-
OLE OTE gen cr onroneca Bore accu idee a0 I6
Restoration of Mountain Covering, The
ARIE GNIS ) cadens sancaceavets ces Senne vadesnnn
Results Will Compensate...........-...ssseees
Scarcity of Mine Timbers..............-...000+
of Timber and Its Hindrance........
Schenck, Dr. C. Alwin, Biltmore, N. C.
Paper on the Training of Professional»
Foresters in America (symposium)...
, In the Woods of Minnesota.........
Schuyler, James D., Los Angeles, Cal.
The Influence of Forests on Storage
RESERVOITGIE. vec. Ma aotanestes ahusheessecmnaenec’s
Second Growth Pine vs. Agriculture
GBrincken)) Arrest <sceses cessor see ndesootas
Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the Amer-
ican Forestry Association.................
SINGS Cry bie magooonesnonban aod gesadeoaasaE0NC
Sheep Grazing in Arizona (Gosney)........
(POXEINE )oe case seqoerneiben saree eenesoest
pheep Grazinp in MOrests i200. ...ccse-sereaes
Sheep Industry in California..-5......0.0..-+.
sight-seeing on Tally close. 5.. ..cleacsec<cseh:
Sigtiticant Showing, Al. .::cc...ccse.e saves cee
SHE OE oS ABMS, ADE corareoqoacaooasSacud
Snowslide or Landslide Next ?................
SOUtLH WMA Ota Asse. .se sree sea descscceas cisosaenees
Spoliation on the Public Domain............
Sportsman’s Willow, The......2....-.2.0--0--
State and Forestry, The (Melick)...........
SlLatevNSsociatlonSan.ceecork eoeceesccneee sees
PEALE ORPANIZATIONS. ccc dace ce sedne sescaeeesaees
State Sylvaton System in North
DEEACye Avance) Ajit. ecvcesscesscccecivor acces
Subveyine Horest Wandsies....cssssccscsncvos
Swift Punishment of an Incendiary.........
Technical Iniprovements....:...........05:22.2:
PULA Sten cuseee ei nov etioneacscecnestosnsn oan armies
Timber Cutting in Mississippi................
eer hye VLAN 165 ao... faces ieekee ses eeses
Timber Prospectsiin Caba: .32....¢cc06. bes
Timber Protection in Minnesota.............
SEKI DGh SLALISCLES Wate. so rc.cs the bocke cosshs tes
INDEX.
236
207,
189
10
Toumey, Prof. J. W., Special Agent U.
S. Department of Agriculture. Nat-
ural Reforestation in the Southwest.. 145
Training of Professional Foresters in
America. A symposium. (Fernow,
Schenek, Pittchot)ieeesecss-oeseeeeee eee 103
Transplanting Carolina Poplars .............. 292
Tree Planting on the Panmlepesce cress 7
11d KAT SAS sete eatelnee meee Rete renee 10g
Tree Surgeon's Work, Tile -feees ences eae 269
Trend of Thought, elie yess ters estee are 150
Walcott, Charles D., Director U. S. Geo-
logical! Survey. --crsscssee se tee eae seer 75
Washington, State of........ 33, 163, 164, 199, 212,
245, 282
Water Conservation in Soils (Wood-
brid ge) ......sis. «sss seems seems eae eee eee 181
Water Supply and Horestt yer aseseece er 247, 282
West Virgitiia <.....:.-; s-oscnenaceeeeeerepeecmeden 188, 260
What Forestry Means to the United States
(Wilson) oiic6c.nc.ccer eee saee eee tee ema 27
What Shall We Do for the Forest ? asym-
posium in four papers..c...-os eee eee 129
Why Anglers should become Members of
the A. Bi Avi.ctiscecscacenssossercestroseeaent 125
Why Lumbermen should be Members of
the A. Fe Avisiieasonaeee eee eee ere eren 51
Why Miners should Join the A. F. A...... 75
Why Persons Interested in Irrigation
should be Members of the A. F. A.... 25
Willis, Bailey, U. S. Geological Survey.
The Mount Rainier National Park.... 97
Wilson, Hon. James, Secretary of Agri-
culture, Wetter offic... senses 26
What Forestry Means to the Uni-
ted Statesis.ci.. cect secs saeeeeeeee tenes 271
Letter to French Embassy............ 288
WiSCOUSIH. (2 stearate wien TO} 12), UIA wile eerog
Woodbridge, Dr. S. M., South Pasadena,
Cal. Water Conservation in Soils..... 181
Wood! Pavineting Parks pes ee eee 269
Wood Pulp Industry 22. 2.c2om-eas eee eee 62
Work of the Division of Forestry for the
Farm €ry..c..00is .ctis coms nisden geese eee eee eee III
World-Famed Forest of Vallombrosa,
The (Gifford)... :ceccece eee earn nat
Wyoming. ...cencerecuciseseresen eee 33, 83, 199
United States Forest Ranger System
(Hermann) sees: Bere onbconnodos osobs05ce 195
LOA 2:1 «PERE RB BR CHER SARA O cacacacaéccosdsudsocscoosso0es 4o, 198
Utilization of (Water Powet|.ce2-:-eame ss 119
Valuable Wood), Ates--cste see aa eeeeeeereeee 269
Van Dyke, T. S., Los Angeles, Cal., Letter 178
INDEX. Vil
ILLUSTRATIONS.
FRONTISPIECES.
Effects of a Forest Fire in Colorado. (August. )
Example of Scientific Forestry, An, Kansas.
; (December. )
Forest Scene in Western North Carolina.
(March. )
Grove of Wild Cherry in North Carolina.
(September. )
In the Pineries, Pennsylvania. (October. )
Mount Rainier, Washington. (May. )
Natural Reforestation in California. (July. )
Reservoir Site Southern California. (February. )
Typical Forest Scene in Western Washington.
(November. )
Use of Timber by Miners, Colorado. (April. )
Vallombrosa, Italy. (June. )
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
Another View of Vallombrosa...... .......... 123
Bear Valley Dam, Southern California..... By
Wesolatersolttudesc sepa eseeee eee 8
Douglas’ Spruces @xezoumecrene eee Bey S57
Forest Slope of Mount Rainier............... IOI
Flood Scene in the Valley of the Missis-
Sippi River: icisc ees eee ee 30
Logging on Columbia River................... 7
Logging Scene in Washington................ 83
Lumber Scene in California ................... 138
Mapsofe Ariz oniaeress eer Cree peeee eee erert eres 258
Proposed Park in Minnesota......... 205
Mount Raimleteenre nessa eee 99
North Slope of Greyback Peak, San Ber-
Mardin GwRiese rv.ehnereeee eee eee eC 19
Redwood Forest of California............... 148, 149
SkysWinelCanaly Colorado eee 42
shimmber Slide ini Oregom-:.-:-s eee nee go
eLy pical Korest' Scenes... 2c see seen eee eee 153
View of Burned Forest, Priest River Re-
SELVE is caseeneossr to nesete au reat met eee ners 77
Yale University Elms............. 155, 156, 157, 159
Yellow Pine on Bitter Root Reserve,
Montanias.cn acdcicscestesteta eit 16
ie _A monthly magazine devoted to the care and use
_of forests and forest trees and related subjects.
gO EE
PUBLISHED BY
s
| The American Forestry Association.
ee
$1.00 a Ye
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D. C., as second class matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
New Members of the American Forestry Association eae oe Peiosla'n-c0.9 «ae hhna ROM MARR tN
Objects of the American Forestry Association........-+ BG os i ai fA ahah AR
By-Laws of the American Forestry Association.....-..+-- PU ae a reed: Wl hie AD
Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the Association.......... Ae ie aehen cle en ae Seale: sue
New Growth on Burned Areas in Colorado—Prof. C. S. Crandall........ daa ag ea
Forests in Their Relation to Irrigatton—Henry Michelsen ....sereeestcesess Q
Report of Wisconsin Commission.......+++++++++5 tate abate Mur ata aa Ra Nee way eee 4,
The Lumber Industry....... BAL Gfelet hots wimet aiclatie Yate aherens tif cialentecla tate’: Ge eine Meanie 12)
Technical Improvements..........---+5 Sie ase (6: 6celane Whe iin meen ede eeeab inion aa cee
Forest Administration ...... Pejtateie wieua 4 ACA S- bsp 0 teria ie ote eo lade tales ian a taba Lente AM
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Sheep-Grazing in Forests. .........eeeeeseceeeees Raa Pee teh, Pits A Sy! Peete 18
The Law and the Forests............ Pc oes a sloje.e ew je on lospi glen ates nisi aie den ae
BOOM OBE FE ONIN 5 5 1p cain: 6, wig aie ios mceyina si aieteae ise ieden cir ae A's. nije iia: Spe dey lohan el eiee de Rigas
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THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. —
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882.
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 1899.
President.
Hon. JAmes Witson, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President. Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. Fernow. _F. H. NEweELt.
Recording Secretary and Treasurer.
GEorGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Directors.
Epwarp A. Bowers.
ARNOLD HAGUE.
GIFFORD PINCHOT,
Jamzs WILSON, CuHARLEs C, BINNEY.
B. E. Fernow. Henry GANNETT,
Grorce W. McLANAHAN,
FREDERICK V. COvILLE. —
F. H. NEwELt.
GEORGE P,. WHITTLESEY.
Vice Presidents.
Sir H. G. Jo.y pz Lotsini&zre, Pointe Platon,
Quebec.
CHARLES Monr, Mobile, Ala.
D. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Tuomas C, McRag, Prescott, Ark.
AsgBoTT Kinney, Lamanda Park, Cal.
E. T, Ensien, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rosert Brown, New Haven, Conn.
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del.
A. V. CLupss, Pensacola, Fla.
R. B. Repparp, Savannah, Ga.
J. M. Coutter, Chicago, Ill.
JAmes Troop, Lafayette, Ind.
Tuos, H. MacBring, Lowa City, Iowa.
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans.
ison R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky.
EWIS JOHNSON, New Orleans, La.
Joun W. Garrett, Baltimore, Md.
Joun E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me.
. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass.
. J. Beat, Agricultural College, Mich.
C. C, ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo.
Grorce P. AuERN, Fort Missoula, Mont.
CHARLES E, Bessey, Lincoln, Neb.
Wo. R. Hamitton, Reno, Nev.
Wo. E. CuHanpter, Concord, N. H.
Joun GiFForD, Princeton, N. J.
Epwarp F. Hopart, Santa Fe, N. M.
Warren Hictey, New York, N. Y.
J. A. Hotes, Raleigh, N. C.
W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
Reusen H. Warper, North Bend, Ohio.
Wixiiam T, Litre, Perry, Okla.
E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
J. T. RotHrocx, West Chester, Pa.
H. G. RussE.u, E. Greenwich, R. I.
H. A. Green, Chester, S. C.
THomaAs T. WriGHT, Nashville, Tenn.
W. GoopricH Jongs, Temple, Texas.
C, A. WuitTine, Salt Lake, Utah.
REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt.
D, O. Nourse, Blacksburg, Va.
Epmunp §. Meany, Seattle, Wash.
A. D. Horxins, Morgantown, W. Va.
H,. C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
ExLwoop Meap, Cheyenne, Wyo,
Grorce W. McLanauan, Washington, D.C,
Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
‘Wm, LitT1z, Montreal, Quebec.
The Forester.
‘Vo. BV
JANUARY,
1899.
PUBLISHER’S ANNOUNCEMENT,
THE FORESTER is published monthly by the
American Forestry Association at
No. 117 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents,
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
New Members.
Since the last issue of THE FORESTER
the following names have been added to
the membership of the American For-
estry Association :
James S. Bunnell, San Francisco, Cal.
W. E. Valk, Washington, D. C.
js. Swan, Denver, Colo.
Benjamin T. Gault,
Glen Ellyn, Du Page County, II.
Miss Alice Hooper, Roxbury, Mass.
Gust. Moser, Missoula, Mont.
Brian L. O’Hara, Quebec, Canada.
OBJECTS OF THE AMERICAN FORES.
TRY ASSOCIATION.
The objects of this Association, given in the
charter, are more specifically stated as follows:
TREE PLANTING,
Tree planting should be encouraged not only
for shade and ornamental purposes in streets
and parks, but more especially for the protec-
tion of country homes and farm lands, particu-
larly upon the treeless plains of the West. For
this purpose this Association will bring together
and disseminate information concerning de-
sirable species of trees, methods of planting
and protection, and shall obtain suggestions
derived from experience in various portions of
the country.
FOREST PROTECTION.
The forests should be protected from wanton
or careless destruction, especially by fire, not
only from the fact that trees add to the re-
sources of the country but also because of the
influence the forest cover may exert in amelio-
tating climate and in conserving water sup-
plies. As a means of furthering forest pro-
tection this Association encourages the collec-
tion of information concerning the water
resources of the country, the extension of
agriculture through irrigation, and the increase
of manufacture through the use of water power.
FOREST MANAGEMENT AND RENEWAL.
The management of the existing forests so
that they may continue to yield increasing
supplies of merchantable timber is of primary
economic importance, This Association will
endeavor to aid or advise owners of forest land
as to technical methods of making them of
permanent commercial value and of renewing
forest areas injured by fire or neglect.
FOREST UTILIZATION,
The forests of the country should be made
to yield the greatest possible benefits to present
and future generations, both by producing
timber crops and by less direct means, Lum-
bering is an inseparable factor of the best
forest protection and management, and should
be so conducted as not to destroy the pro-
ductive capacity of the land. It is believed
that saw logs, mine timbers, railroad ties, etc.,
can be cut without the usual accompanying de-
struction of the forests. This Association will
endeavor to promote all these lumber interests.
STATISTICS,
Facts concerning the distribution of the
timber and wood lands, the species of trees,
the rate of burning or cutting, are of first
importance to a clear understanding of the
problems of forestry in America. ‘This Asso-
ciation will, therefore, endeavor to stimulate
the collection of statistical information of this
kind.
EDUCATION.
This Association will endeavor to call to
public attention the importance of forest pro-
tection; conservation, and utilization, through
the public press, through lectures, through the
schools, and otherwise.
PUBLICATION,
In order to assist in the diffusing of infor-
mation, this Association will publish a journal
or periodical, in which the various topics above
enumerated will be discussed.
LEGISLATION,
Since much of the destruction of the forest
resources of the country can be traced to de-
fective legislation, both State and National,
this Association will endeavor to use its in-
fluence toward the enactment and enforcement
of better laws.
BY-LAWS.
ARTICLE I.
Name.
The name of this Association shall be ‘‘ The
American Forestry Association.”
ARTICLE II,
Objects.
The objects of this Association shall be the
discussion of subjects relating to tree-planting,
the conservation, management, and renewal of
forests, and the climatic and other influences
that affect their welfare; the collection of
forest statistics; and the advancement of edu
2 THE FORESTER.
cational, legislative, or other measures tending
to the promotion of these objects. It shall
especially endeavor to centralize the work done
and diffuse the knowledge gained.
ARTICLE III.
Members.
Sec. s. Any person may become a member
of this Association, as hereinafter provided.
Sec, 2. Members shall be divided into five
classes: Patrons, Life Members, Active Mem-
bers, Associate Members, and Honorary Mem-
bers.
Sec. 3. Any person contributing at one time
the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) to the
permanent fund of the Association shall be a
Patron. Any person may become a Life Mem-
ber by the payment of fifty dollars ($50) at one
time, Patrons and Life Members shall not be
liable for annual dues. Active Members are
those who pay the annual dues of two dollars
($2). Associate Members are the members of
any local Forestry Association which shall
vote to affiliate itself with the American For-
estry Association, under such rules as the
Board of Directors may adopt. Honorary
Members shall be the officers of State, Terri-
torial, Provincial, or other forestry associa-
tions, or the delegates from such associations,
or the delegates of any Government.
Sec. 4. Applications for membership shall be
referred to and voted upon by the Board of
Directors at any regular or called meeting
therefor.
Sec. 5. All members except Associate and
Honorary members shall be members of this
corporation and shall be entitled to vote and
hold office in said corporation,
ARTICLE IV,
Officers.
Sec. 1. The officers of this Association shall
be a Board of Directors, a President, a Vice
President for each State, Territory and Prov-
ince represented in the Association, a Treas-
urer, a Recording Secretary, and a Correspond-
ing Secretary.
Sec. 2. These officers shall be elected by
ballot at the annual meeting of the Associa-
tion, and shall serve one year, or until their
successors are elected. Vacancies occurring
during the year may be filled by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE V.
The Loard of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall have the con-
troland management of the funds and prop-
erty of the Association. The Board shall
consist of eleven (11) members, and shall elect
its own Chairman and Secretary. The latter
shall have the custody of the corporate seal.
The Board shall have power to fill any vacancy
occurring therein, the appointee to serve until
the next annual meeting. The Board shall
take, receive, hold, and convey such real and
personal estate as may become the property of
the Association for the purposes of the Asso-
ciation set forth in the certificate of incorpora-
tion and in Article Il above. A majority of
January,
the Board shall bea quorum. ‘The Board shall
meet one-half hour before the annual meeting
of the Association, and at such other time as
it may be called together by its Chairman.
ARTICLE VI;
The Prestdent.,
The President shall preside at all meetings
of the Association.
ARTICLE VII.
Vice President.
In the absence of the President, a Vice
President shall preside at the meetings of the
Association; and in the absence of all of them
a President pro tem. shall be elected by the
meeting,
ARTICLE VIII.
The Recording Secretary.
The Recording Secretary shall keep a record
of the proceedings of the Association and the
Board of Directors and shall be custodian of all
documents, books, and collections ordered to be
preserved.
ARTICLE IX.
The Corresponding Secretary.
The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct
the correspondence of the Association. He
shall keep a list of members, with their resi-
dences, and shall notify members of the time
and place of all meetings of the Association.
ARTICLE X,
The Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall have the custody of all
moneys received. He shall deposit and invest
the same in such manner and to such extent ¥
the Board of Directors shall direct, and shall
not expend any money except under the direc-
tion or approval of the Board of Directors. The
financial year of the Association shall close on
November 30 of each year.
ARTICLE XI.
Meetings.
The annual meeting for the election of offi-
cers and the transaction of such business as
requires to come before the entire Association,
shall be held on the second Wednesday in
December, at such hour and place as the Board
of Directors may determine.
A quorum shall consist of fifteen (15) mem-
bers of the Association (Patrons, Life mem-
bers, or Active members), as specified in section
5 of Article III.
Special meetings may be called by the Board
of Directors.
ARTICLE XII.
Dues.
The annual dues for Active members shall be
two dollars ($2) payable in advance upon the
first day of January.
The Board of Directors shall have power to
remit the annual dues of a member,
ARTICLE XIII.
Amendments.
These By-Laws may be amended by a three-
fourths vote of the members present and
entitled to vote at the annual meeting of the
Association.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
to
Seventeenth Annual Meeting.
In accordance with Article XII of the
Constitution, the annual meeting of The
American Forestry Association was held
on December 14, 1898, at the hall of the
Cosmos Club, Washington, D. C.
Owing to illness, President Appleton
was not able to be present. The meet-
ing was called to order soon after eleven
o clock A.M; by Col. J: D: W. French,
Vice President for Massachusetts.
Mr. Pinchot, Chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee, read the following report
of the work of the Committee for the
past year:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
The Executive Committee of The American
Forestry Association is the representative of
the Association located at the Capital, to attend
to the current work of the Association and
keep in touch w'th the progress of the forest
movement all over the country. It is proper
at this time to state somewhat in detail what
the Committee has done during the past year,
for the information of the members of the
Association.
The Committee has held seventeen meetings.
It has passed upon and approved all bills, none
of which have been paid without a warrant
signed by the Chairman of the Committee. It
has elected 128 new members, and has voted
to drop from the membership list several who
were in arrears, and who seemed to have lost
interest in the Association. It has considered
a large number of propositions submitted for
approval, and has extended its aid to such as
seemed wise and commendable.
Two meetings of the Association were held
during the year; in Bostonand Omaha. Those
who attended the Boston meeting will not
soon forget the generous hospitality extended
to them by the Massachusetts members. The
Omaha meeting was also successfully con-
ducted, and at each meeting many valuable
papers were read, and there was much in-
teresting discussion. Most of these papers
have already been published in THE Forester,
The advantage of having them appear so soon
after the meetings is, it is thought, apparent
to every one.
Soon after the Association began issuing
THe Forester, which happened during the
past year, asubcommittee on Publication was
appointed, which acted as an editorial staff for
the magazine. During the summer all these
members were obliged to be out of town, and
the magazine suffered in consequence. It was
therefore decided to secure some one to edit
THe ForEsTER, and devote all his time to it,
Mr. Joseph B. Thoburn, of Denver, formerly
Secretary of the Colorado Forestry Associa-
tion, has been engaged, and there is every
reason to believe that THE Forester will
become a valuable and influential journal in
its own field. Arrangements are being made
whereby the National Geographic Society and
The American Forestry Association will
occupy office rooms together, on a business
basis, to their mutual advantage.
The most important work of your Committee
during the past year has been its contribution
to the successful endeavor to ward off the
threatened attack upon the forest reserves set
apart by President Cleveland, which had been
suspended for one year prior to March 1,
1898, In the last Sundry Civil Bill the Senate
inserted a proviso suspending the President's
order setting apart these reserves, and re-
storing them to the public domain. Your
Committee, on April 2, decided to take action
and sent out circular letters to all members of
the Association urging immediate protest. On
April 13 a memorial was sent to all members
of Congress, urging that ihe Senate amend-
ment, 1f adopted, be limited to one year. Still
later, specific amendments to the Sundry Civil
Bill were suggested to the committees of the
House and Senate. The efforts of this Asso-
ciation were in line with and were assisted by
those of officials and private individuals, and
the combined protest had its effect. The
House refused to agree to the Senate amend-
ment, and the reservations were saved.
During the past year, there were submitted
to the Association some eighty-nine designs
for acorporate seal. A competent jury of well-
known artists and architects passed upon these
designs, and decided that no one of them was
possessed of sufficient merit to warrant your
Committee in paying the prize of $100 offered to
the successful competitor. The designs were
exhibited at the Cosmos Club in this city, and
surprise was expressed that they should have
been so unsatisfactory.
In June last the Association met with a loss .
in the resignation of Dr. B. E. Fernow as
Chairman of the Executive Committee and
Editor-in-Chief of THE Forester. His pe-
culiar fitness for the position, his ability, his
jealousy of the rights of this Associat on, and
his untiring and aggressive enthusiasm for the
work, have been of very great value to the
Association, and have contributed in no small
degree to the progress it has made and the
influence it has wielded. The retirement of
Dr. Fernow, to take charge of the New York
State College of Forestry at Cornell, is re-
gretted by none more than those who have been
so long associated with him in the work of the
Executive Committee.
The progress of forestry in the United
States, during the year which is about to end,
4 THE FORESTER.
has been most satisfactory. Public sentiment
throughout the West, which, soon after the
proclamation of the Cleveland Forest Reserves,
was in an attitude of bitter opposition, has
continued the remarkable change begun during
the year which followed the proclamations,
and at present opposition has practically died
out. The only conspicuous exception is in the
State of Washington, where the Republican
platform contained a clause asking for a resto-
ration to the public domain of all those por-
tions of the forest reserves valuable for agri-
culture, mining or timber, In the Black Hills,
where the protest was perhaps more vigorous
than elsewhere, it has been replaced by the most
cordial feeling, so that the Black Hills Forest
Reserve has been increased by nearly half a
million acres with the full assent and co-opera-
tion both of the local population and of their
representatives in Congress.
Four new forest reserves have been created
since the eleven suspended reserves emerged
from that condition on the first of last March,
These are the Pine Mountain and Zaca Lake
Reserve in Southern California, of 1,644,594
acres, the Prescott Forest Reserve, of 10,240
acres, the Black Mesa Reserve of 1,658,880
acres, and the San Francisco Mountains Forest
Reserve, of 975,360 acres, all in Arizona. In
addition. the boundaries of the Pecos River
Reserves in New Mexico, have been changed
and enlarged to embrace 120,000 acres more,
and those, of the Black Hills Reserve have
been similarly changed, with an estimated
increase of 433,440 acres, a decrease of 189,440
and a final total of 1,211,680 acres.
The care and protection of the forest re-
serves has been entrusted to the General Land
Office. For that purpose an appropriation of
$175.000 was made by the last session of Con-
gress, and during the summer the work of
organizing a forest force has been begun.
The report of Mr. Frederick V. Coville, Bota-
nist of the Department of Agriculture, on
Forest Growth and Sheep Grazing in the Cas-
cade Mountains of Oregon, brought the ques-
‘tion of forest grazing to public attention in a
thoroughly scientific and practical manner for
the first time. No other single factor has
contributed so much toward a settlement of
this most important question. The approval
of Mr. Coville’s plan by the sheep men was
instant and widespread.
The foundation of the New York State
College of Forestry, with Dr, Fernow as Pro-
fessor of Forestry and Dean of the Faculty,
and Mr. Roth as his assistant, is the most
notable step yet taken in forest education in
the United States.. The last available report
gives the names of 39 students of Cornell
University who are participating in the courses
of the school.
During the year another forest school, on
simpler lines, was begun at Biltmore, in North
Carolina, under the direction of Dr, C. A.
January,
Schenck, Four students are in attendance on
the thoroughly practical courses of the school.
The mapping and description of the forest
reserves, under the direction of Mr. Henry
Gannett, of the U. S. Geological Survey, has
proceeded very satisfactorily during the past
year. Nineteen reserves have so far been ex-
amined, and statistics of standing timber have
been collected for Washington, Northern
Idaho and part of Oregon, The Association
is particularly to be congratulated on the pros-
pect of possessing, in the near future and for
the first time, reliable statistical statements of
forest resources in some of the most inter-
esting portions of the country.
The resignation of Dr, Fernow from the
Division of Forestry was followed by the
appointment of Gifford Pinchot as Forester of
the Department of Agriculture, and by the
reorganization of the work of the Division.
The attention of the Division is to be directed
hereafter to field work. as fully as the circum-
stances will permit. A plan of the Division,
outlined in Circular No. 21, by which it under-
takes to assist private owners in the care of
their forest lands, has been responded to by
applications for such assistance which cover
about I,100,000 acres.
The action of the International Paper Com-
pany, in appointing Mr. Edward M. Griffith, a
trained forester, to assist in the management
of its timber lands, is a notable step forward in
the progress of forestry, since this company is
by far the largest producer of wood pulp in
the United States. Mr. Austin Cary has been
appointed by another company for a similar
purpose,
The purchase of rorest land by New York
State, in the Adirondacks, under the appro-
priation of $1,000,000, had resulted, at the
last report of the Forest Preserve Board, in
the expenditure of more than $900,000 and
the acquisition of over 250,000 acres at an
average price of $3.685 per acre. The school
forest of the New York State College of Fores-
try, of about 30,000 acres in extent, has recently
been added, only, however, as prospective
State property, since it will belong to Cornell
University for a term of years before reverting
to the State. Pennsylvania has acquired 55,681
acres of wild lands as the result of an ad-
mirable plan for the creation of State forest
parks at the head-waters of important streams,
and the rebate provided by law in the taxes of
timber lands is beginning to be widely claimed.
Forestry associations have been established in
Utah and Massachusetts, and the latter has
been exceedingly active in forwarding the
good work.
One of the ends for which the Association
has been striving for many years, namely, the
establishment of a Government system of forest
administration, having now been attained, the
members of the Association can devote their
energies to no more important object than the
1899.
maintenance of a public interest which shall
insure efficiency in the administration of the
forest reserves.
The report was received and approved.
The Treasurer’s report was then pre-
sented, as follows:
TREASURER’S REPORT, 1808.
George P. Whittlesey, Treasurer, in account
with The American Forestry Association, Dr.
To Balance December 15, 1897........ $ 907 35
ANOPATIMNMI AMD LES ncscsccseeeccesccssc-cesscs 1,026 00
To Life Membership Fees (7)......... 350 00
MOV OMACOLS teen fe cnesscassacesteseccssetee 37 00
Monsalerot ProceeGings cs. scccsssescss-- 10, (45
To Subscriptions to FoRESTER......... I 00
To Interest on Bonds and Bank
LO EIST) Gon Seteenoe dospeeece acon a eeBee 113 63
$2,447 63
Pye et PHLORESQER conn aur csancacereae-cs $960 13
Bay ETANUING vee cs ccc onascee aensserscessosces 258 15
By Clerk Hire, Postage, Express-
ABI, lS 5 ooaboaeddqoeosoocdqcnsecacuocdodn 255 84
By. “forest Leaves for 1897.......... 320 32
ie dC SI SMe rec ecwied coon dese acernse ae 9 73
PEPIN AA eats ccc sc cwienja seed veecscansne- 3 00
By Balance on hand November 30,
TE310)8) coganennag baccucabdnesse008 hebbabonEgdac 640 46
$2,447 63
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. P. WHITTLESEY,
Treasurer
The Chair appointed Messrs. F. H.
Newell, George W. McLanahan and
Charles A. Keffer as the Committee on
Nominations; Messrs. Gifford Pinchot,
F. V. Coville and W. S. Harvey, Com-
mittee on Kesolutions, and Messrs.
George B. Sudworth and Henry S.
Graves, Auditing Committee. The Treas-
urer’s report was referred to the last-
named committee.
Mr. F. H. Newell presented the fol-
lowing report of the Corresponding
Secretary, which was accepted:
REPORT OF CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
Since the last annual meeting 128 new mem-
bers have been elected. Not all of these have
qualified by payment of dues, but most of them
undoubtedly will comply with this requisite.
There have been eight resignations and four
deaths reported, leaving a total annual mem-
bership of 748, and life membership of 74, mak-
ing a total of 822.
We have lost, by death, four of our most
active members: Hon. Gardiner G. Hubbard;
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 5
Mr. J. O. Barrett, of Brown Valley, Minn.; Mr.
George H. Parsons, of Colorado Springs, and
Hon. J. M. Forbes, of Milton, Mass,
The corresponding secretary has been away
much of the time since July, or has been pressed
by other duties. For this reason the collections
during the year have been less than usual and
the accessions of new membership have not been
what was hoped,
F.H. NEWELL.
Mr. Newell moved that the Constitu-
tion be amended, and offered certain
suggestions, which he stated had had
the approval of the Executive Commit-
tee. After some discussion they were
adopted, as fotlows:
Resolved: 1. That the title at the head of
the several Articles adopted February 5, 1897,
be changed from ‘‘Constitution” to By-Laws.
2. That Article III, Section 3, be amended by
changing ‘‘ Executive Committee” to Board of
Directors,
That Section 4 be similarly amended.
3. That Article IV, Section 1, be amended
by striking out the words, ‘‘and an Executive
Committee.”
4. That Article V be amended by changing
the word ‘‘ President” to Chairman.
5. That Article VIII be amended by changing
‘‘Executive Committee” to Board of Directors.
6, That Article IX be amended by striking
out the sentence, ‘‘He shall receive annual
dues and receipt for the same in the name of
the Treasurer.”
7. That Article X be amended by striking
out the words, ‘‘or the Executive Committee
as authorized by said Board.”
8. That Article XI be canceled.
9. That Article XII be amended by changing
‘Executive Committee” to Board of Directors.
On motion of Mr. Coville, the Board
of Directors was authorized to choose
Vice Presidents for Cuba, Puerto Rico,
Hawaii, and any other countries they
thought best.
After a recess of fifteen minutes the
Committee on Nominations reported the
following list of officers for 1899, who
were duly elected :
President, Hon. James Wilson, Sec-
retary of Agriculture.
Vice President for the District of Co-
lumbia, Mr. George W. McLanahan.
First Vice President, Dr. B. E. Fer-
now.
Corresponding Secretary, Mr. F. H.
Newell.
Recording Secretary and Treasurer,
Mr. George P. Whittlesey.
6 THE FORESTER.
Directors, all the above and also
Messrs. Charles C. Binney, Edward A.
Bowers, Frederick V. Coville, Henry
Gannett, Arnold Hague and Gifford
Pinchot.
On motion of Mr. Keffer, the Board
of Directors was directed to revise the
list of Vice Presidents.
In reply to questions by Col. French,
Mr. Newell stated that Mr. Joseph B.
Thoburn had been secured to edit THE
Forester, and through it strengthen the
Association and increase its influence.
Col. French stated that Gen. Appleton
thought that a portion of the money left
over from the Boston meeting could be
devoted to the expenses of THE For:
ESTER, probably a hundred dollars or
more.
On motion of Mr. Newell, a vote of
thanks was given to the contributors of
this fund, and it was also agreed to send
each of them THE ForesTER for 1899.
Mr. Pinchot, for the Committee on
Resolutions, reported: the following reso-
lutions which were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, It is essential for intelligent lum-
ber operations and the proper utilization and
preservation of the forest resources of the
United States that statistical information of a
reliable character shall be acquired as to the
kinds and quantities of timber in all the States
and Territories; and
Whereas, The Division of Forestry of the
United States Department of Agriculture is
eminently qualified to gather this information,
it is therefore
RESOLVED, That the American Forestry As-
sociation, at their annual meeting held in
Washington, December 14, 1898, petition the
Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States that provision be made and that
a suitable appropriation be passed to enable
the Division of Forestry of the United States
Department of Agriculture to gather this in-
formation either in advance of, or in connectio
with, the Twelfth Census. ;
Whereas, It is of essential importance that
the foundation of a knowledge of forestry in
future citizens be laid in educational institu-
tions, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the American Forestry As-
sociation welcomes with great satisfaction the
foundation of schools of forestry in Cornell
University and at Biltmore in North Carolina
and the extension of nature-study connect
with forestry in Normal and other schools
Whereas, The forest work of the United
January,
States Government is distributed among three
agencies: the General Land Office and the
Geological Survey, both in the Department of
the Interior, and the Division of Forestry
in the Department of Agriculture; and
Whereas, The Association is gratified by
the liberality of Congress in providing for
forest investigation,survey, and administration,
but deplores the loss of money and energy
resulting from lack of concentration in the
execution of forest laws, therefore be it
REsOLVED, That the American Forestry As-
sociation urges on Congress the wisdom and
economy of a unification of these varied
agencies in a single Bureau adequate in re-
sources and equipment to the great work in-
volved.
In reply to a question by Col. French,
Mr. Pinchot said he would be delighted
to welcome any students of forestry who
might come to the Department of Agri-
culture, and would help them both in
the office and in the field.
Mr. Coville said the Secretary of Ag-
riculture fully appreciates the value of
making the Department a school of post-
graduate work, and cordially favors it.
He thought there were at least three
such students now in the Department.
Mr. Sudworth, for the auditing com-
mittee, reported that they found the
Treasurer’s accounts to be correct and
approved his report.
A telegram having been received from
Dr. Fernow that his train was late, and
that he would arrive about two o’clock,
the meeting then, on motion of Mr. Co-
ville, adjourned to meet at three P. M.
About a dozen members enjoyed a
cozy and sociable lunch at the Hotel
Wellington, only regretting that the
attendance had not been larger.
At the afternoon session Dr. Fernow
was given the floor, and said in part that
he had just completed a detailed report
on the work of the Forestry Division of
the Agricultural Department, which he
had sent to Congress. He had reviewed
not only the division work, but the whole
forestry movement in the United States
from its beginning, tracing its growth
to the present time. No one man or set
of men can exert a controlling influence
n any line, but in forestry this Associa-
tion has been the prime mover. He
thought the era of plowing the field had
1899.
now closed, and that the era of sowing
the seed is now coming. He gave con-
siderable attention to the College of For-
estry at Cornell, explaining the courses
of study given by himself and Dr. Roth,
and stating that some 35 students are at
work this year, many from the agricul-
tural department of the University.
He thought that agriculture and forestry
would become more and more closely
connected as time went on. The Cor-
nell College would publish bulletins now
and then, discussing questions of tech-
nical forestry. He “described the new
forest tract on which the college is to
demonstrate lumbering for profit, intro-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
a
ducing various methods in order to show
what are failures and what are success-
ful. He believed the so-called German
methods would be found successful and
sound. The tract will also be used to
teach practical forestry and sylviculture
to students. The land has been given
to Cornell for thirty years, and so does
not come under the restrictions of the
State Constitution as to cutting.
On motion of Mr. Keffer, a vote of
thanks was tendered the Cosmos Club
for kindly allowing the Association the
use of its hall.
The meeting was then adjourned.
New Growth on Burned Areas in Colorado.
Cra:
It would be interesting to know with
some degree of exactness the time re-
quired to start a new forest growth on a
burned area, but recorded observations
are wanting. Some areas may and do
remain bare for long periods, while others
will develop new growth within a com-
paratively few years. The time may
thus vary greatly, because growth is
dependent upon local surroundings.
Denuded areas in the subalpine region,
where the rainfall is commonly greater
than below, show the influence of the
abundant moisture in the quality and
vigor of the herbaceous vegetation which
first follows a fire, but observation leads
me to the conclusion that in the higher
altitudes the forest trees are much slower
in starting, and that they start in less
numbers and develop much more slowly
than in the lower regions.
That several years commonly elapse
between the burning and _ starting of
new coniferous growth seems indicated
by the following observations, the first
in the canon of the Cache la Poudre, on
a tract that was burned, according to
reliable authority, in the summer of 1881.
As examined in 1894, thirteen years after
burning, grasses were abundant among
PROF.
CRANDALL.
the dead logs, there were a few shrubs,
and a scattering growth of Pines, the
largest of which was twenty inches high
and seven years old.- Here it was
apparently six years after the fire that
the first Pine tree started. The other
observation was made on a tract extend-
ing south and west from Chambers’ Lake,
which was burned over in July, 18go.
I passed through the burned district a
month after the fire, and was greatly
impressed with the absolute desolation.
No green thing remained; the ground
and everything upon it was clad in som-
ber black; animal life was absent, and
there was something so oppressive in
the desolate solitude that I was glad to
reach green timber again. A second
visit to this tract was made four years
later, in July, 1894, and it was with a
feeling of keen disappointment that I
noted how slight a change four years
had wrought. The intense blackness
had been subdued in some degree by the
action of the elements ; some trees had
fallen and others were losing their bark ;
but the general appearance of desolation
remained, A few struggling plants of
grasses and sedges were the only evi-
dences of returning vegetation.
8 THE FORESTER.
In noting the conditions that seem
favorable to the starting and develop-
ment of a new forest growth, I have
frequently seen confirmation of the often
repeated and generally accepted state-
ment that north slopes are more quickly
=
2
Ay.
st,
Te
SS
$
iN
January,
quickly. Differences in the two slopes
are apparent even at the time of burn-
ing, and, owing to greater dryness, vege-
tation on the south slope will burn more .
completely. On the north slope the
tangle of unconsumed remnants serves
__ NAT L-ENG-
DESOLATE SOLITUDE.
covered by new growth than southern.
There are exceptions, however. The
reason for the difference of growth on
the slopes rests, apparently, in the more
vigorous action of the sun upon the
south slope. The nearly perpendicular
rays melt the winter snows, exhaust the
soil moisture and parch vegetation very
as a protection to the young growth and
nurses it beyond the critical stage, while
on the south slope the young plants,
unprotected from the fierce rays of the
sun, succumb quickly and the slope re-
mains barren.
Fort Collins,
Colorado.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. G
Forests in Their Relation to Irrigation.
By Henry MICHELSON.
In the northeastern part of Spain,
directly south of the Pyrenees, lies the
valley of the Ebro River. In its upper
course, this river gathers its waters in a
region of mountain forests and pastures.
In its middle course there is a region
deserted because of its lack of water.
The devastation of forests and the lack
of irrigation works account for large
tracts of country that have become
barren and bereft of population. The
southwestern portion of the plateau
comprising Estremadura is a_ broken,
mountainous country. Originally the
land here was protected by oak and
chestnut forests in such a way as to
make agriculture possible, while droves
of pigs were fed upon mast. Shepherds
found it necessary to bring their flocks
into this region to avoid the rigorous
winters of the interior highlands. The
result has shown the inveterate hate of
the shepherd for the forest. Little by
little this natural covering has been
stripped away, the climate has been
altered and Estremadura is now con-
sidered the most backward part of Spain.
The agriculturist of Spain has not
properly prized the two heritages which
his environment indicates to have been
the most valuable of his original posses-
sions. He has wasted the forests and
has neglected to properly preserve and
employ the supplies of water at his
hand. Agriculturally, Spain was prob-
ably in better condition when the Moors
possessed it than now.
The denudation of forests in the
Volga Valley, and in fact throughout
the whole of the center and south of
Russia, has had for its effect the diminu-
tion of the rainfall and the impoverish-
ment of soil. Scarcity is almost con-
tinuous even in the black soil districts,
famine is always on the horizon and
every few years thé specter of want enters
the doorway of millions of Russian
homes. Much of the soil, in European
Russia, vast as it is, is rapidly becoming
exhausted.
That the forests at the sources of all
rivers which rise at high altitudes consist
mainly of coniferous trees, which not only
shield the snow from rapid melting,
but also by their dense shade prevent
rapid evaporation of the ground water.
To denude the mountain side by axe or
fire is followed by an early disappear-
ance of fallen snow, destruction wrought
by soil erosiqn, drying up of springs,
the formation of torrents which are de-
structive of everything within the path
of the waters, and, for the irrigator, the
necessity of constructing reservoirs for
water storage,
Wherever the mountains have been
cut bare it is vain for the husbandman
of the plains below to hope for water for
his crops during the growing season, for
the moisture will evaporate and dis-
appear so soon. as the spring sun shall
have warmed up the barren cliffs. We
know that creeks which did run the year
around at the advent of the white man
have now barely water enough to run
for threemonths. Colorado is preparing
for itself the fate of Spain. The early
explorers describe it as a land of snowy
peaks, sparkling rivers, dense woods
covering the foothills into the plains.
At the present time we find the greater
part of its forests destroyed, its timbers
wasted by fire, its streams lacking water
and its agricultural part depending on
reservoirs to supply the crops. As the
peaks are denuded of their coniferous
trees, the snowfall will melt rapidly, the
summer will have no water supply for
the parched fields of the plains below.
The winter of 1897-8 was snowless
and fears were entertained that the beau-
tiful valley of the Cache la Poudre would
be unable to raise a crop during the
season of 1898. A very opportune snow-
storm which occurred in the beginning
of the month of May, fortunately took
10 THE FORESTER.
away the necessity for the first irrigation
usually required in that month, and for
the irrigation of the vast potato fields in
August, water was used which had been
stored in reservoirs during former years.
The irrigating farmer thus lives from
hand to mouth, trusting in providential
measures, which he has no right to ex-
pect, while the lumberman, with axe and
fire, destroys the source of his supply.
And the Colorado farmer is not the
only sufferer. There are in Nebraska
some three millions of acres fit for irri-
gation; all of them dependent for their
water supply upon the river Platte.
This river would carry a steady volume
of water all the year round, were its
sources permitted to pour out their
liquid streams as nature ordained they
should. As it is, Nebraska will have to
build reservoirs to store flood water for
the use of her farmers during the sum-
mer season.
There is but one way out of the diffi-
culty. The governments, both Federal
and State, must apply the remedy before
it shall be too late. What is required is
a reasonable forest service by men trained
for the work. We do not advocate a
cessation of the lumber business at all.
That lumber should be cut is quite essen-
tial to the well-being of the forest itself,
but it should be cut in a sensible and
scientific manner.
Where fires are kept out of the forests
and sheep are not permitted to destroy
the young trees, nature is apt to repair
damages by spontaneous growth. Even
January,
where fires have destroyed the woods, a
second growth springs up, if the erosion
of the soil has not been too severe to
permit this. What is desired is to save
whatever timber may be still standing.
The Danish Government, since 1865,
has been engaged in planting trees on
the peninsula of Jutland. A sandy
stretch of some 200 miles in length has
been made use of and a forest of some
forty miles in breadth planted thereon.
The influence of this 30-year-old Pine
forest on climate and health has been
marvelous, and the timber has paid
for its own planting during the last ten
years.
When such results can be achieved by
a country of small resources and an in-
hospitable climate, on land so light that
it was necessary to plant firs and juni-
pers mixed, the latter being designed to
protect the roots of the former from be-
ing laid bare, what may we not doina
country suchas this where conditions are
so much more favorable?
The United States has reason to look
after the preservation of its forests.
There is hardly a season that we do not
hear of reduction of most promising crops
by drouth and hot winds, and in many
prairie States the yield per acre has be-
come less than it ought to be.
We, of the West, should teach the
irrigationist farmer unceasingly thus:
‘“‘Tf you wish for an abundance of
water, see to the preservation of the
woods at the sources of the rivers.”
Report of Wisconsin Commission.
The State Forestry Commission which
was appointed under an act of the Leg-
islature of 1897 for the purpose of in-
quiring iuto the matter of better forestry
legislation, has completed its report and
delivered it to the printer. The com-
mission consists of George B. Burrows,
or Madison;> Hi. C. Putnam, of? Eau
Claire, and Ernest Bruncken, of Mil-
waukee.
The report calls attention to the mis-
apprehension which still widely prevails
as to the meaning of the word ‘‘forestry.”’
That art or profession is not synony-
mous with arboriculture, which is merely
a branch of the subject. Neither has it
anything to do with the growing of orna-
mental trees in parks.
business of utilizing forest lands for
profit.
It is simply the —
The improvement of prevailing |
1899.
forestry methods is urged by the com-
missioners, not on sentimental grounds,
but as a matter of dollars and cents.
The report next calls attention to the
fact that there are in the State large
tracts of land which will return better
profits if used permanently for raising
wood crops, than if converted into
agricultural land. It should therefore
be the policy of the Government to pro-
mote this use rather than the clearing
of these lands for farming purposes. The
immense extent of the lumber and allied
industries in the State is referred to,
and it is urged that if the thousands of
men who now derive their support from
these industries were thrown out of em-
ployment on account of the permanent
disappearance of their raw material it
would be nothing short of an economic
revolution in the State. Finally, the
commissioners say, it should not be for-
gotten that ‘‘a wise legislation should
consider whether Wisconsin cannot in
the future derive such revenues from its
forests as will help to bear the expenses
of government which will otherwise have
to be met by taxing the people.”
After this introduction, the subject is
divided into three heads of discussion:
Fire protection; the relative advantages
of publicand private ownership of forests;
and the steps necessary and practicable
to attain the object of reform.
‘‘Without some effective system of
fire protection there is no hope of placing
the forest industries of the State upon a
stable basis. It is clearly as much a
duty of the public authorities to prevent
forest fires as to prevent and extinguish
fires in cities.”” The system of fire war-
dens inaugurated by the last legislature,
although it has done some good, is not
sufficient. Many local wardens either
do not understand their duties or neglect
them. There should be proper super-
vision. The commissioners recommend
that the State pay one-half of the expense
of the fire police.
The report discusses the question
whether there is likelihood of private capi-
tal being invested in timber lands for per-
manent management, and arrives at a
negative conclusion.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, II
The opinion is expressed that Wis-
consin lumber concerns could not com-
pete with those of other States if they
were to conduct their business on any
different principle than that now pre-
vailing of cutting at once all the mer-
chantable timber on their holdings,
though there are reasons why this seems
questionable.
The management of timber lots on
farms is considered and the report in-
sists that it is the duty of the State to
assist farmers, by proper instruction, to
prevent the constant deterioration which
these small forests now usually suffer.
The conclusion is reached that the
State must either allow its lumber, wood,
and allied industries to decay, or take
the supply of the necessary raw material
into its own hands.
This naturally leads to a consideration
of the public lands still existing in Wis-
consin. According to the report of the
land office the whole amount of the State
land remaining unsold on the 30th day
of September, 1898, was 367,000 acres.
This is nearly all forest-covered, and
not well fitted for agriculture, and is
widely scattered. The legal status of
these lands is discussed, and attention
called to the constant deterioration of
the growing timber on them by reason
of fires, windfalls and consequent insect
damage. The report urges that the sale
of these lands be stopped temporarily,
and the merchantable timber thereon be
cut and disposed of as soon as practica-
ble. A number of objections which
might be raised to the permanent reten-
tion of these lands by the State are dis-
cussed and shown to be ill taken. The
lands owned by the United States Gov-
ernment in Wisconsin, which are some-
what larger in extent that the State lands,
are of substantially the same character
as the latter. The commissioners recom-
mend that an effort be made by the State
authorities to have these lands ceded to
the State by the Federal Government.
The most difficult part of the forest
problem is the disposition of the Pine
lands from which the merchantable tim-
ber has been removed. Of these there
are many hundred thousand acres in the
12 THE FORESTER.
State. Practically all of them are capable
of being restocked with pine at reasona-
ble expense.
This can be done only by public
authority which will not look to immedi-
ate profit. As long as they remain un-
cared for the fires prevent the natural re-
production, Withouthumanintervention
these immense tracts will for the most
part become vast wildernesses, unfit for
agriculture, yet yielding none of the val-
uable products of a forest.
Most of these lands are owned by
private parties, although a considerable
portion is owned by counties under tax
titles, The idea that all of these lands
will eventually be taken up by agricul-
tural settlers isa mistake. Occasionally
a settler may be found who makes a
miserable living on even the poorest of
these lands, but he must of necessity
always remain poor, unambitious and
ignorant. The simplest way to dispose
of these lands and make them of use to
the people would be for the State to pur-
chase them. How this isto be done is yet
to be determined. Itisstated bythe com-
missioners that several large owners of
cut-over Pine lands have intimated their
January,
willingness to cede large tracts to the
State if the latter will take steps to re-
stock them.
After outlining the manner in which
the rational management of the State
forests should proceed in the future, the
report gives a general view of the com-
missioners’ plan for a State forest depart-
ment, as proposed in the bill which will
be submitted to the Legislature together
with the report. A State superintendent
of forests, an assistant, and other subor-
dinate officers are to be appointed.
The sale of State lands shall be stopped,
and the same shall be surveyed. All
dead and down timber, and such other
timber as the superintendent may deem
expedient, shall be sold as soon as
practicable. Also audit all accounts.
The superintendent is to build roads and
“make necessary improvements on the
lands under his care, but must not incur
an expenditure to exceed $110 without
authority. Thesuperintendent appoints
the local fire-wardens, and has the
supervision over them. The department
is to establish model forests and ex-
periment stations in different portions
of the State.
The Lumber Industry.
Commenting on the proposition of the
Forest Division to aid timberland owners
in the formulation of plans for their most
profitable management, the Vorthwestern
Lumberman says:
«Probably the scheme will result in
calling attention to the work of the de-
partment to a greater extent than for-
merly. It appeals directly to the pockets
of forest owners, which is about as strong
an address as can be made to the aver-
age American or the average man of any
nationality for that matter. If the offi-
cers of the Forestry Division can, through
the workings of their new plan, interest
a considerable number of woodland own-
ers to the extent of forcing on their minds
that there is a better way to handle for-
ests than to slaughter them, they will
have accomplished a good work. When
a few shall have become interested, the
influence will spread until an intelligent
forestry system shall become prevalent
throughout thecountry. But itis doubt-
ful if the services of the department
agents will be much required by the lum-
bermen who own lands that they intend
to denude as rapidly as they can cut and
sell the timber. Anything that shall
hamper speed in this process will likely
be turned down as an unwarrantable in-
terference. Yet here and there is a tim-
ber owner, not a lumberman, who will
listen to any proposition that promises to
add to the value of his holdings.”
This enterprising lumber trade journal
will have to revise the judgment above
expressed. Fourteen lumber camps are
1899.
now cutting timber under plans prepared
by the Division, while plans have been
made and accepted for over 100,000 acres
in the Adirondack region alone.
It is estimated by Wisconsin lumber-
men that this winter’s cut will exceed
former years by anywhere from 100, 000, -
000 to 150,000,000 feet. The wages that
will be paid this winter for chopping are
placed at about $215,000 per month, and
from 2,000 to 3,000 more men wil] in all
probabjlity be employed this year in the
woods about the head of the lakes than
last year.
Lumbering in Northern Michigan and
on the upper peninsula has been at its
height, and thousands of men have been
plying. the axe with vigor. Skilled
woodsmen have held out for $24 to
$26 per month, and even when the op-
erators decided to pay these prices it was
hard to secure men enough to recruit the
crews to the desired number. Two
years ago wages in the woods ran from
$14 to $18 per month.
There is a good demand for log scalers
on the headwaters of the Mississippi, in
northern Minnesota. This must either
be due to an unusually large amount of
logging going on in that district, or else
scalers of experience have suddenly be-
come very scarce. It has even been
said that this scarcity may affect the log
cut the coming winter.
The shipments of lumber from Ban-
gor, Me., this year are reported to be
about 35,000,000 feet less than the ag-
gregate amount shipped last year. This
is said to have been in a great measure
due to the war. It is hoped that there
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 13
will be some demand for Maine: lumber
for shipment to Porto Rico and Cuba.
The Government has been buying
some timber and lumber for use in Cuba.
The creosoted lumber called for in the
bids is to be used for a wharf at Triscor-
nio, a village of 500 inhabitants on the
shore of the harbor of Havana. The
wharf will be between 300 and 4o0 feet
in length, insuring thirty feet of water,
sufficient for large steamers. The tim-
ber is subjected to its treatment of cre-
osote to enable it to resist the ravages of
the teredo worm.
Representative Bromwell, of Ohio, has
introduced a bill in Congress to grant
salvage for logs found adrift in navigable
waters of the United States. It pro-
vides that the owners of such logs shall
pay 25 cents cach for logs less than 30
inches in diameter and 50 cents for logs
over 30 inches. Bunches of 50 logs, in
raft, are to cost the owner $5 in salvage,
and ro cents for each log over that num-
ber is to be charged.
An enthusiastic writer on a Mobile
newspaper says that ‘the forests of Ala-
bama are inexhaustible.” This is a very
popular mistake and one that has been
made by others in a better position to
judge intelligently than are the editors
of secular newspapers. If the writer in
question had first known his neighboring
State, Georgia, had been practically
exhausted within a commercial period
scarcely exceeding a quarter century,
and that inroads upon forests are grow-
ing, not shrinking, he probably would
not have made that sort of statement,
especially as it is very clear that he
thereby could hope for no good to come
from it to his clientage.— The Timberman.
14 THE FORESTER.
January,
Technical Improvements.
The Bavarian state railroads have been
experimenting with a process of harden-
ing railroad ties by chemical treatment,
the object being to produce a chemical
union of the wood fiber and the preserva-
tive. It consists of a double baking of
the wood, a treatment with oil of vitriol
and sulphate of iron, after which the
wood is given a bath of chloride of lime,
milk of lime being added, at a tempera-
ture of 112 to 257 degrees Fahr., ata
pressure of about forty pounds to the
square inch. The theory is that the first
baking destroys the germs of fermenta-
tion and induces the chemical union of
the preservative with the fiber of the
wood, the second baking hardening the
wood and rendering it a non-absorbent of
moisture. It is reported that hardening
takes place to a remarkable degree, while
the preservative effect compares favor-
ably with the processes already in use.
The American Wood Fire-Proofing
‘Company, of 11 Broadway, New York,
is building works at Newark, N. J., and
presently will be prepared to fire-proof
woods for naval, marine, and otherstruc-
turaluses. The cost of treatment, so
the company claims, will be generally
moderate, depending in particular upon
the nature of the wood treated. The
process is protected by letters patent and
is said to be the only insoluble treatment
which, with a second treatment, the
albumen bath, seals the pores and makes
the wood almost proof against the ele-
ments, thus greatly increasing its dura-
bility. The company will sell territorial
rights or royalty privileges, in such latter
cases superintending the building of nec-
essary apparatus. Fire-proof wood made
so artificially is not altogether a new
thing, but the treatment employed by
this company, on account of its insoluble
and sealing processes, seems to have
reached the limit of performance in the
premises. The strength of the wood is
not appreciably affected by this process,
but the treatment affords a foundation
for more effective polish than is attain-
able without it.
Forest Administration.
U. S. Indian Agent Wisdom, of Mus-
cogee, I. T., who has supervision of the
agency for the five civilized tribes, re-
cently issued the following instructions
relative to the cutting of timber in the
Indian Territory:
Until permanent allotments have been made
and patents issued therefrom to the individual
Indians, no one is authorized to buy or sell tim-
ber off any place in the Cherokee Nation un-
til final disposition of the land or claim in said
nation is made.
On December 10 the Committee on
Indian Affairs in Congress decided to
appropriate $45,000 to continue the ex-
amination and estimates of the timber
on the Chippewa reservation in Minne-
sota ; $10,000 to be immediately avail-
able, with the proviso that the work
shall be finished within the current year.
Land Commissioner Hermann states that
he has issued orders to Chief Seelye, of
the Chippewa Pine Estimating Corps, to
hurry work in order that the Pine may
be put on the market at the earliest pos-
sible moment. The commissioner has
formally instructed Superintendent Ross
to resume dead and down timber opera-
tions in the ceded portions of the Chip-
pewa reservation. The regulations of
last year will govern in operations in the
year to follow, with the following modi-
fications to be applied to future con-
tracts:
All dead and down timber is. to be
marked and none other than marked
timber is to be cut; all green trees re-
moved for road-cutting purposes are to
be accounted for at green timber price,
the amount to be placed in the Indian
1899.
fund inthe Treasury. Boom sticks also
to be accounted for in this way, and only
small trees to be used for this purpose.
Accounts of supply men are to be sub-
ject to inspection by Superintendent
Ross and Indian agent to prevent over-
charges.
The Commissioner of the General
Land Office has issued instructions to
the forest officials and rangers on the
reserves in Colorado to co-operate with
State officials in the enforcement of the
game laws of that State.
°
The right of the Government to pros:
ecute criminally persons grazing sheep in
all forest reservations, except in Wash-
ington and Oregon, is sustained in a
decision rendered by the Attorney Gen-
eral.
The forest reserve officials of Wash-
ington and Oregon met at Tacoma,
Washington, on the 27th of December to
discuss the question of sheep grazing in
the reserves.
It was practically decided to allot the
pasture district lying in the Mount
Tacoma reserve in well-defined ranges,
the boundaries being marked by streams
and ridges. These ranges will be let at
the rate of $5 to every thousand sheep
pastured each season, unless there is
competition for the same tract between
rival growers, when it will be given to
the highest bidder. Grazing will be
prohibited in the reserves until June 20
to allow the grass to get well started,
and the higher altitudes will be reserved
until a month later.
The settlement of this question is one
of greatest difficulty, yet it is left nearly
altogether to the discretion of the reserve
superintendents, although their plans
have to be ratified by the Government.
It is believed that the reserves are already
pastured to the fullest extent compatible
with safety to the permanence of the
grazing. The herds are increasing every
year, and it has become necessary to
formulate a plan for allotting the district
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 15
with definite boundaries for each range,
and to prevent too early feeding on the
grass in the spring.
°
Spoliation on the Public Domain,
As news items indicative of industrial
activity, the two following press dis-
patches are self-explanatory:
Rock Sprines, Wyo., Nov. 23.—(Special.)
The Oregon Short Line Company has com-
pleted negotiations with the Rock Springs
Lumber Company for the delivery during the
coming year of $160,000 worth of railroad cross-
ties for use on its line. The ties will be cut on
the headwaters of Green River and floated to
the railroad at the town of Green River, where
the company has a big log boom. The lumber
company has at the present time a large force
of lumbermen employed in the mountains get-
ting out ties for the contract.
ALAMOGORDO, N. M., Dec. 8.—Good authori-
ties state that the Alamogordo Lumber Com-
pany has taken a contract to furnish a Mexican
railroad with sixty miles of railroad ties.
A question naturally arises in many
minds, when reading such items, as to
whether or not all these ties are to be
cut from patented lands. Trespasses on
the timber of the public domain have
been of not infrequent occurence in the
past and they may occur again. The
following from the Denver Times throws
some light on the character of the trans-
actions of the lumber company referred
to in the first of the foregoing dis-
patches:
One of the most gigantic steals in the history
of the timber traffic of this country is being
unearthed at Wells, Uinta County, Wyoming,
a new town of 150 miles north of the Utah
line. The case is not only large of itself but
its ramifications are far-reaching and involve
parties high in power in the meshes of mal-
feasance in office. Binger Hermann, Com-
missioner of the General Land Office, is on the
scent and after having been notified by promi-
nent men of Wells of the state of affairs ex-
isting there, has ordered several inspectors to
the scene. That is the first part of the cat-
out-of-the-bag side of it. Despite the Com-
missioner’s orders, to date none of his inspec-
tors have appeared. No reflections are made
on the integrity of Mr. Hermann, however.
It is the fact that none of the men whom he
had ordered to the scene have arrived that led
to the upheaval. Briefly summarized, the
methods have been as follows: The Rock
Springs Lumber Company has located a large
16 THE FORESTER,
number of tracts of timber land, paying for
it with soldier scrip, Of this scrip they have
a great quantity, bought for a song from
soldiers who did not use it themselves. The
scrip calls for small parcels of land. from 40
to 120 acres each, and reads ‘‘agricultural
land”! ‘The fact that it is diverted into other
channels is considered sufficient cause for
prosecution by the Government, Instead of
taking the land in a bunch, it is alleged that
the lumber company takes it in various sec-
tions, skipping here and there and using their
own and the land lying between their tracts
indiscriminately. This is very difficult to dis-
cover, as the lines are hard to run through the
heavy timber and it would involve a great
January,
ruthless manner. Another count which has
been lodged against the company is that it has
been buying elk meat at two cents per pound
and that a number of hunters have been pro-
viding it for the wood-choppers in various
camps belonging tothe company. In view of
the fact that this was done during the close
season for big game, it isa most serious offense,
and when taken with the rest of the allega-
tions, it seems important that something should
be done to thwart the schemers. The inform-
ants of 7he 7Tzmes are reliable men and their
reports indicate a most malodorous state of
affairs.
Last fall the Assistant Commissioner
YELLOW PINE ON BITTER
amount of labor to locate the boundaries cor-
rectly. The company has from 150 to 200 men
at work at all times and it does a general tim-
ber trade, dealing in ties, mining timbers and
saw logs. The amount cut annually is im-
mense and the loss sustained by the Govern-
ment is enormous. In addition to the scrip
deals, it is alleged that last winter the company
cut much timber on Horse Creek without pay-
ing for it even in scrip. Two years ago they
cut it around Wells, and the year before that
their traffic was carried on along Jim Creek.
They made no pretensions save an open steal
on those occasions.
Mr, Wells, of the town which bears his
name, has been threatened by the company on
account of the bitter fight he has been making
against the members of it. It is said that the
country is being stripped of timber in a most
ROOT RESERVE,
MONTANA.
of the General Land Office, acting in
the absence of the Commissioner, re-
fused to sell to a contractor a large tract
of timber on the west slope of the
Medicine Bow range in Wyoming, hold-
ing that under the law timber cannot
be sold from the public lands to non-
residents of the State. In making this
ruling the Assistant Commissioner was
in the right, yet his decision might well
have been based on a more sweeping
provision of the law. In the Act of
March 3, 1875, among other rights con-
ferred on railroad companies,‘ is the
privilege of taking from the public lands
1899.
adjacent to the line of road such timber
as may be necessary for the construction
of the road. This provision of the
statute was literally construed in a sub-
sequent ruling of the Interior Depart-
ment, thus permitting the use of timber
from public lands by railroad companies,
or their agents or contractors, for pur-
poses of construction only and not for re-
pairs. It would seem that the pro-
hibition in this case should be based,
not on the fact that the contracting tie-
cutter was a non-resident of the State in
which it was proposed to cut the timber,
but rather on the fact that the railroad,
for which the supplies were to be cut,
was not constructing a new line in the
meaning of the law, but proposed to use
the supplies so obtained as_ repairs.
Indeed, in the present instance, the con-
tracting railroad, the Oregon Short Line,
1s not only not constructing a line of
road adjacent to the land from which
the timber is being cut, but it has no line,
either in existence or projection, in the
State of Wyoming !
Of the transactions of the lumber
company reported as operating at Alamo-
gordo, N. M., less is known, but it is
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
17
certain that there is no law that author-
izes the cutting of timber to supply the
needs of railways beyond the national
boundary, and it is no less certain that
New Mexico has no timber to spare for
such purposes. Every day the neces-
sity for a further extension of the forest
reservation policy becomes more appar-
ent. So long as an adequate super-
vision of the public timber lands is
lacking, cupidity, dishonesty and law eva-
sion willbe manifest. It has indeed been
well said that ‘* No good reason can be
given for the maintenance of the present
reserves which does not also demand
the withdrawal and protection of all
similar lands held by the Government.”
Government officers say: many men
throughout the mountains are illegally
cutting railway ties on Government land.
Recently a mountaineer called at one of
the Denver offices to sell ties. When
asked if they were broad or narrow gauge
ties, he replied that they were not cut
yet. Suspicious that everything was not
straight, the official dismissed him.—
Denver Times.
Arboriculture.
Tree Planting on the Farm.
I am giad to notice the interest mani-
fested by so many in the matter of pre-
serving our now almost depleted forests.
Those of us who have grown old in
Indiana have been familiar with a native
forest that was truly beautiful for its
grandeur and magnificence; and we
have witnessed, too, its almost,entire
annihilation. In the early settlement of
the country trees were regarded as the
natural earnings of the farmer. Before
the pioneer built his cabin he indus-
triously cut away every tree within a
stone’s-throw of the site. Years after-
ward, discovering his mistake he planted
the same kind of trees about his home
that in an earlier day his hands had so
ruthlessly destroyed. I am now living
on the farm upon which I was born.
At first the trees were all cut down that
were near the house. Many years ago
I commenced allowing sprouts of native
trees that voluntarily sprang up to grow,
and transplanted others. I now live in
a grove of native trees of second growth.
Ten or a dozen kinds are represented ;
some of the trees are quite large. I have
had to cut some down, one of which was
over two feet in diameter, and madea
good sawlog, which I sold to a timber-
man for several dollars. This is con-
clusive evidence to my mind that timber
culture is not a mere dream of a theorist,
but that it is practicable, and in my
judgment it may be made profitable. I
have also on my farm two or three Black
Locvust groves that are, and have been for
18 THE FORESTER.
years, furnishing all the posts needed on
a large farm. This is a convenience that
can only be appreciated by those who
have to have posts and who have not
the money to buy iron posts with—that
our friend Haslett recommended so
highly. I have urged young farmers to
plant Locust groves for shade, for wind-
breaks, for beauty and for poles and
posts ; but not many of them will do it.
In this fast age of steam and electricity
people cannot wait for trees to grow.
Yet how few there are who do not ad-
mire a grove of thrifty trees. In my
opinion the State Board of Agriculture
could not do a wiser thing than to de-
vote a few acres of the fair grounds to
tree culture, planting and preserving in
it all of the various kinds of trees that
grew originally in our forests. It would
beautify the grounds and would be one
of the attractions for visitors and an ob-
ject lesson that would awaken and stimu-
late an interest in the subject of forestry.
— James N. Hill tn Indiana Farmer.
For hedgerows and windbreaks on
the dry plateau uplands of eastern Colo-
January,
rado J. E. Payne, of Cheyenne County,
finds the black locust the most accepta-
ble tree, with the honey locust second
choice. The Russian Artemisia, which
was so well recommended, has not done
very well. Out of goo planted only four
remain on account of winter-killing. The
Russian mulberry is more promising and
the ash is a slow but sure grower. The
sand plum will do, and so may other
varieties of the wild plum ; but the most
essential thing to observe in tree plant-
ing on the great plains without irri-
gation is to plow and subsoil or even
dynamite the land, and if possible plow
diagonal furrows in from higher ground
so as to direct flood waters along the
tree rows whenever it rains hard, and in
this way get the benefit of the mois-
ture.
wd ee
The Newtown (Pa.) Enxterprise says
a Hickory tree, 100 feet in height, was
cut down a short time ago, on the farm
of David Slack, near Penn’s Park, Buck
County. Eighty feet from the stump it
measured two feet in diameter. It will
be cut up into firewood.
Sheep-Grazing in Forests.
The people of Madera County, Cali-
fornia, have been circulating a petition
to the Commissioner of the General Land
Office praying for a rigid enforcement of
the forest reservation rules in the Sierra
Forest Reserve, and especially that sheep
be hereafter excluded from its bounds.
Among other things recited in the peti-
tion is the following, which illustrates
the determined stand which the people
of California have taken in regard to
sheep grazing :
We memorialize you that sheep owners re-
tard the settlement and permanent growth of
wealth in the California valleys; that years ago
they antagonized the irrigating canals and they
opposed the conversion of grazing lands in to
wheat ranches; that they once grazed their
flocks over the site of Fresno city, now the
center of the raisin industry, nestling amid
matchless orchards and splendid vineyards,
over land there and elsewhere, whose value as
grazing lands was $1.25 per acre, but which is
now worth from $125 to $300 per acre.
Therefore your petitioners pray that the Sierra
forests be preserved as nature’s guardians to
protect our valleys, so that all lines of industry
may be developed side by side.
And in the name of the common people of
Calitornia, in the name of our genial valley
awaiting the wealth of waters that nature has
provided for but avarice denies—which valley
once baptized with crystal fountains would
smile to welcome sheep husbandry along with
sister industries—and in the name of labor that
looks longingly out across broad acres unem-
ployed and is strong in hope and love to build
the future homes of the ‘‘ Golden State,” we
ask that the sheep be not allowed to range the
Sierras and despoil the God-given heritage of
forest and stream.
A county ‘‘wool growers’ protective
association” in Wyoming recently
adopted resolutions in which the decla-
ration was made that the regulation
which excludes sheep from forest re-
1899.
AMERICAN
FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
FEET
II,700
RESERVE, ALTITUDE
BERNARDINO
SAN
PEAK,
STANDS OF
GREYBACK
—SHOWING
OF
SLOPE
NORTH
Pinus Flexilis.
PINE,
LIMBER
20 THE FORESTER.
serves is the result of ‘‘ false representa-
tions made by the American Forestry
Association.” It would seem that, by
that particular interest and in that locality
at least, the American Forestry Associa-
tion, in common with the coyotes and
wolves of the wilderness and the foreign
wool grower under the free trade regime,
is regarded as a most deadly enemy of
the flockmaster. The American For-
estry Association, above all things, has
always sought to develop the facts that
should be the cause of, and the basis for
public action. It has no interests of a
private or selfish nature to conserve and
has ever advocated what seemed to
promise the greatest good to the greatest
number. Just why any particular class
or interest has a vested right to the use
of any part of the national domain to the
exclusion or injury of other interests or
industries is not apparent. For nearly
seventeen years the American Forestry
Association has been working for the
present and future welfare of the whole
people, and the selfish motives of a
single class interest will scarcely avail
now to change its sense of duty to the
more general interests involved. There
are good reasons why the grazing of sheep
on forest reserves seems inexpedient, and
until careful investigation shall result in
the development of facts to the contrary,
the regulation which has aroused this
opposition should be continued in effect.
A Better Understanding.
There has been within the past twelve
months a very noticeable change in sen-
timent on the part of many people in the
West toward the forest reserve policy of
the Federal Government. Perhaps one
of the strongest agencies contributing
to this desirable result is the report of
Mr. Frederick V. Coville, botanist of the
Department of Agriculture, onthe sub-
ject .of ‘‘Forest Growth and Sheep
Grazing in the Cascade Mountains of
Oregon.” Mr. Coville’s fair and un-
biased manner of presenting the facts
developed by his careful and painstak-
ing investigation, together with the re-
January,
commendations submitted, appealed to
reason rather than predjudice, and that
with telling effect. The result is appar-
ent in the many letters received from
residents of Oregon, some of whom are
sheep owners. They all unite in com-
mending the report together with the
accompanying recommendations. The
Portland Oregonian published the report
in full and added its editorial endorse-
ment. The following, which is a more
recent expression of the Oregonian, is
indicative of the present state of public
sentiment in Oregon:
‘‘It may be said that there are now fewer
violations of the National Park and forest laws
of the United States than ever. Cleveland’s
reservation proclamation is not working the
hardship that people thought it would, and all
classes are glad that the Senate amendment to
the Sundry Civil Bill, abolishing the reserva-
tions, did not prevail.”
Among others who have expressed
the most cordial approval of Mr. Co-
ville’s exposition of the matter are
Hon. T. W. Davenport, ex-State sur-
veyor, of Salem; Judge J. B. Waldo, of
Macleay, who is known as ‘‘the father
of the Cascade Reserve,’’ and Hon. J. N.
Williamson, of Prineville, who is a mem-
ber of the Oregon legislature, a stock-
man and sheep owner. At a special
meeting of the Stockmen’s Union of
southern Wasco County, Ore., the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
Resolved, ‘‘That this Union generally en-
dorses the report of F. V. Coville on the Cas-
cade Forest Reserve and pledges its best
efforts to carry out the suggestions therein
witnessed.”
(Signed) Bo MALES,
Sec y Stockmen's Union.
Gradually it is beginning to dawn upon
the popular mind that forestry and a
forest reservation policy do not com-
prehend the setting aside of vast tracts
and keeping them from ever becoming
fields of human industry. It is wellthat |
such views are becoming dissipated, for
forestry means use as against abuse of |
woodland reserves. The result of the ©
publication of Mr. Coville’s report is }
indeed most happy. .
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 21
The Law and the Forests.
Judge Hallett yesterday instructed the
jury in the United States Court to acquit
H. S. Tomkins, the well-known hard-
ware man, of unlawfully trespassing on
public land in Custer County and de-
spoiling the land of 250,000 feet of lum-
ber. The defendant proved that the
lumber was used in mines and not for
railroad ties. He was accordingly ac-
quitted.— Rocky Mountain News (Colo.).
During the present term of the United
States District Court several convictions
have been obtained of men charged with
cutting timber on Government land and
carrying it away. Albert and George
Rutherford were fined $9g0 each and
given one day in the county jail for
stealing timber in Boulder County.
Frank Nice, a neighbor of the Ruther-
fords, was given a similar sentence yes-
terday by Judge Hallett. J. C. Dallon
did not appear yesterday to answer a
charge of cutting timber and judgment
was entered against him.—Denver Re-
publican.
Timber Land Frauds.
Eleven indictments returned by the
recent United States grand jury, which
were not made public when handed into
court, turn out to be the result of a pa-
tient investigation into as big a scheme,
if the grand jury allegations are true,
to defraud the Government as has been
called to the attention of the Land Office
in recent years. Thousands of Govern-
ment acres in Southern Colorado have
been despoiled of valuable timber in a
scheme which, it is alleged by the Fed-
eral authorities, is as smooth as has ever
been concocted.
Deputy United States Marshal Crock-
er returned from Durango this morning
after having placed under arrest Louis
C. Jackaway and F. W. Stubbs, of the
lumber firm of Jackaway & Stubbs; Louis
C. Griffith, S. B. Jackaway, Edward
Walker, Robert D. Sisson, E L France,
bookkeeper; John W. Miller and William
Palmquist. Indictments for two others
are in the deputy’s possession, but as
the men could not be found the warrants
were not served.
The nine pleaded not guilty to the
charge of cutting timber on Government
land when arraigned yesterday before
United States Commissioner Pengree at
Durango, and were held in bonds of $500
each. The preliminary hearing was set
for the first Monday in April.
The company, it is alleged by the off-
cials, was organized to operate in La
Plata, Archuleta, Conejos and Monte-
zuma Counties, where the settlements
are few and far between and where for-
ests of the choicest timber in the State
stretch over the mountain ranges for
miles upon miles. For ten years the busi-
ness has been carried on but under such a
clever cover, if the findings of the grand
jury are true, that it was not until after
months of tireless search that the mat-
ter was ready for presentation by the
special agents.
Extensive sawmills are located fifty
miles west of Durango and at various
other points adjacent to the Rio Grande
Southern Railway. Large lumber yards
are maintained by the company in Sil-
verton, Durango and Ouray. The busi-
ness amounts to tens of thousands of
dollars annually and the members of the
company are very wealthy.
Stacked at the principal mill west of
Durango are 4,000,000 feet of lumber
ready for shipment. From fifteen to
twenty men are employed by this mill
as loggers and choppers.
The grand jury charges that the com-
pany induced men to settle on Govern-
ment land, taking up homesteads of 160
acres each and then, when the first pa-
pers were filed, purchasing it from them,
the purchase price being the pay for the
labor expended. These homesteads were
never proved, for final papers were never
taken out. The company would cut all
the timber, haul it to its mills, and the
homesteader under another name would
N
N
take up other acres. It is said some-
thing like 1o,ooo acres have been
stripped of timber in the ten years of
the company’s existence, the railroads
buying the lumber. The Government
Forest
The much lamented denudation of the
famous ‘‘Presidential Range’ in the
White Mountains seems to be in full
progress, according to reports emanat-
ing from that section. A year or more
ago it was reported that a deal had been
closed whereby this famous tract passed
into the hands of the Bartlett Lumber
Company, of Boston, whose mills are at
Bartlett, N. H. Forestry enthusiasts
held up their hands in horror, and the
press of the country printed column
after column of editorial comment,
pointing the finger of reproach at the
authorities of the old Granite State for
permitting a transaction which would
probably result in the denudation of that
world-famed range of mountains. We
learn that not less than eight distinct
logging crews have been sent into that
section to operate during the winter,
largely in the interest of the Bartlett
Lumber Company. If the intention of
the company is to strip the entire growth
from this spot—much favored by tourists
—their work will undoubtedly bring for-
ward loud and prolonged protests from
forestry interests, the general public and
the press of the country.—Lwmberman’s
Review.
Timber Cutting in Mississippi.
Under the caption of ‘‘A Birthright
for a Mess of Pottage”’ Zhe Zimberman
has the following to say of the waste of
timber in Mississippi :
Down in Sunflower and Bolivar Counties,
Mississippi, there is a practical exposition of
an uneconomical proposition that is so wide in
its scope and important in its influences as to
merit the serious attention of all hardwood
stumpage holding and tapping railroads and
hardwood manufacturers. Both of these, as
THE FORESTER.
January,
will demand a big round sum of the men
arrested and in the meantime the special
agents are investigating further into the
matter.—Denver (Colo.) Post.
Policy.
well as entire communities outside, are in this
connection such unnecessarily large sufferers
that they should adopt strong measures of re-
form. We refer to the getting out of pipe
staves and its effect on those mentioned.
In the case in point it amounts to a frittering —
away of the real and prospective assets of the —
railroads tapping the territory named, It re-
duces the possible amount of forest product —
tonnage to a minimum, indirectly damaging
the community and occasioning a loss to the
lumberman by depriving him of entrance into
a field peculiarly intended by nature to be the
scene of his operations.
Than the Yazoo bottoms in Mississippi there
is, or rather was, probably no finer hardwood
timbered section on earth. In that portion of
it for miles on both sides of a line drawn from
Moorhead, on the Southern Railway, to Dun-
can, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley branch
of the Illinois Central, there may now be
witnessed such operations as in this, as well
as numberless like sections, are wiping wide
expanses of territory from the map so far
as lumbermen are concerned, and all this at
little immediate profit and much future loss
to those short-sighted entities—the railroads—
who could, if they would, prevent it.
The story of this locality is that of hundreds
of others. Several years ago Eastern parties
who had been attracted there settled at Moor-
head with the intention of developing the
heavily timbered country lying north. In
connection with this development a line of
railroad has up to this time been constructed
from Moorhead to Ruleville, a distance of
twenty miles. This road has been recently
purchased by the Illinois Central and will be
extended from Ruleville to the Yazoo & —
Mississippi Valley Railroad, a further distance —
of about twenty-five miles. Absolutely the
only natural resource of the country traversed
is timber, and the most liberal estimate that
can be made from the facts is that not toll
exceed 10 per cent of as much of this as would
be available to the lumbermen will provide
revenue for the railroads; and even this per-—
centage will not yield returns at all to be com- ©
pared with those from a like quantity of sawn ~
lumber. j
All of this, accompanied by the almost posi-—
tive exclusion of lumbermen from the territory, ©
is the net result of conditions practically
created by the railroads, wherein the country
1899.
has been recklessly despoiled by the stave
producer.
To begin with, the very land was turned
over to these people by the railroads, who in
the end are the chief sufferers. When the
development spoken of was first projected,
the stave people flocked in and secured pos-
session of the land or trees for their purposes,
always working far in advance of the actual
location of transportation facilities. In their
operations only trees of perfect growth and
only about 20 per cent of the board measure
contents of them are utilized.
Traveling ahead, they fell all the choice
timber. Of this they utilize in the case of each
tree a 13-foot cut only. This is riven into
staves, and the remainder—about 80 per cent
of the average perfect tree—is left a victim to
the always hastening forces of worms and
decay. ‘These staves are piled in cribs and let
remain, if needs be, for several years before
hauling. They are being dried in the mean-
time and the freight on them is being largely
absorbed by the neighboring air—this is the
extent of the neighborhood benefit. The com-
munity or the State does not benefit even to
the slight extent of the labor employed, which
is imported by wholesale from the disappearing
forests of Europe for the purpose.
Should necessity demand, these staves may
in the end be hauled a dozen or fifteen miles
for shipment at a comparatively low cost.
This is not possible with logs, hence the lum-
berman can be and is anticipated in his opera-
tions; in fact, he cannot operate.
Before the fallen trunk left by the pipe-stave
man can be reached—and they are the most
valuable things left—they are rotten or worm-
eaten. What is left is not sufficient to make
an attempt at lumber producing either tempt-
ing or profitable. The counties of Sunflower
and Bolivar, in Mississippi, are living evidences
of this. Less than to per cent of their re-
sources are disposed of in such a way as not
only to prove unprofitable in themselves, but
to render the remaining go and more per cent
largly valueless. The country they include is
covered with stave cribs, and when the time
comes that the atmosphere will cease to ab-
sorb the freight, the railroads which held these
lands and delivered them into the hands of the
alien, in a more than double sense, will receive
a paltry freight earning for the short haul
necessary to reach the nearest exporting point
only, and even the amount of this revenue is
more than they deserve, since the rate which
produces it is the same as they have fixed upon
lumber. Verily, this is a waste of substance
that should be inquired into and remedied.
Information Wanted.
The notable lack of reliable information as
to the timber supply of the United States was
clearly demonstrated during the discussions
that preceded the adoption of schedule D in
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 23
the Dingley bill, While that bill was pending
in the Senate a request was made on the De-
partment of Agriculture for information cover-
ing this point, and in response the Division of
Forestry furnished an estimate, which was
prefaced by the statement that it was largely
guesswork, The remaining supply of White
Pine in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota
can be arrived at with some degree of certainty,
but we have little accurate knowledge of the
vast resources of the south and the Pacific
coast.
It has been suggested that an attempt be
made to collect this information in connection
with the taking of the Twelfth Census, work
on which will begin in 1900. Those who have
had experience, however, claim that all such
information can be more economically gathered
through the appropriate bureau, and in this
case the Department of Agriculture, having
charge of the Forestry Division, would be the
proper medium for the purpose. In fact, the
bill providing for the taking of the Twelfth
Census, which has already passed the Senate,
was prepared with reference to excluding all
such intormation because of the tendency to
overload the enumerators, who ordinarily have
had no practical experience in such work,
There is no reason, however, why this work
of securing information as to the timber supply
should not be taken up by Congress indepen-
dent of the Twelfth Census and the work
might justas well be begun next yearas the year
following. It is stated by a leading lumber-
man who is in close touch with the authorities
at Washington that should it be demonstrated
that there is a public need of such information,
there would be no difficulty whatever in se-
curing an appropriation from Congress for the
Forestry Division to carry out any plan of
operations that might be decided upon. That
there is a demand for such information is
clearly shown by the resolutions adopted at
the conference of Northern and Southern mill
men held at St. Louis recently. These mill
men represented Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa,
Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Territory,
Louisiana and Mississippi, and included in the
number were several of the heaviest timber
land holders in the country. In the preamble
to this resolution, after reciting the need of
statistics relating to the timber supply, the
opinion is expressed that such statistics can be
compiled only by the Government, through
some special bureau abundantly equipped by
ample appropriation and thus able to employ
the expert knowledge required. ‘The resolu-
tion therefore urged the establishment of a
Bureau of Timber and Lumber Statistics as a
part of the Division of Forestry, Department
of Agriculture, to be supported by adequate
annual appropriations, or that a special appro-
priation be made to cover the cost of the com-
pilation of these statistics in connection with
the Twelfth Census.—/Vorthwestern Lumber-
man,
24 THE FORESTER.
The following is the text of the reso-
lutions above referred to:
Resolved, That we, the lumber manufac-
turers of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois,
Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Territory, Texas,
Louisiana and Mississippi, in convertion as-
sembled at St. Louis, Mo,, on the 15th day of
November, 1898, urge the establishment of a
Bureau of Timber and Lumber Statistics as a
part of the Division of Forestry, Department
of Agriculture, to be supported by adequate
annual appropriation, or that a special appro-
priation be made to cover the cost of the com-
pilation of these statistics in connection with
the Twelfth Census,
January,
A forest fire in Wright County, Mis-—
souri (in the Ozark region), burned over
a tract of land fifteen miles long and
from two to six miles wide. A number
of farm houses and other buildings were -
burned anda great deal of fencing was
destroyed, the owners in several in- ~
stances having to seek personal safety
in hasty flight. The progress of the
fire was finally checked by timely occur-
rence of rain.
Recent Publications.
‘<The Timber Wealth of Pacific North
America’ is the title of a very interesting
and instructive contribution tothe Decem-
ber Engineering Magazine by Frank Haines
Lamb, of Leland Stanford University.
Besides discussing transportation in its
relation to the lumbering industry and
the growth and development of that in-
dustry within thirty years, the writer
enters into a brief description of the
economic value of the commercial tim-
bers of the Pacific Coast region, all of
them betng conifers. In concluding Mr.
Lamb says:
The Pacific Coast forests are not ‘‘inex-
haustible”—far from it—but, with proper use
and care, they should be equal to the future
needs of home and foreign consumption. The
forests now standing are mature and are not
bettered by not being cut. At least 90 per
cent of the cut-over lands are of absolutely no
value for agricultural purposes. They are
adapted only to timber growing. Moreover,
the native species, if protected from fire, are,
as a rule, readily and quickly reproduced.
Let land owners and loggers recognize these
facts, and treat their cut-over lands as growers
of another timber crop. Let a wise policy
protect the forests and cut-over lands from
fire and further the work of reforestation.
The lumber industry is legitimate and neces-
sary business, despite sentimentalists ; more-
over, if properly managed, its future has
more in store for the Pacific Coast than all her
gold mines have yielded.
Bulletin No. 46, Maine Agricultural Experi- —
ment Station, recently issued, treats of orna-
mental trees and plants for Maine. About ©
twenty species of trees, mostly indigenous,
are recommended as hardy. Strangely enough,
though it is published in the ‘* Pine Tree State,” —
no conifers are mentioned.
Bulletin No. 55, New Hampshire Agricul-
tural Station, gives detailed account of a care-
ful observation of the feeding habits of the
chipping sparrow, proving the value of this
native bird asa destroyer of noxious insects.
Bulletin No. 56, of the same station, gives
results of analyses of the leaves of several
species of Wild Cherry, showing that they con-
tain poisonous principles which, when subjected
to digestive ferment, result in the formation
of prussic acid, thus causing the death otf
browsing animals.
The Park Commissioner's Report, Spring-
field, Massachusetts, a copy of which has been
received, is a publication of eighty pages with
a map. It is illustrated with half-tone en-
gravings and contains catalogues of the flora
and fauna of Forest Park, both indigenous
and exotic.
The December number of Forest Leaves
contains the addresses of the officers at the
annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry
Association. Dr. J. T. Rothrock’s dendrologi-
cal contribution, illustrated as usual by two
very handsome half-tones, is devoted to a de-
scription of the Honey Locust, which, it is
claimed, is gradually extending its habitat —
eastward in Pennsylvania, ;
Tou. V- FEBRUARY, 1899. No. 2
The Forester
}
A monthly magazine devoted to the care and use
of forests and forest trees and to related subjects.
SS. OS
PUBLISHED BY
The American Forestry Association.
SS O——-
Price 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D. C., as second class matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Why Persons Interested in Irrigation should be Members of the American Forestry Associ-
UAE We, se diin cate sd pada dbuids vob Oniavideiser bere seaey qiMtenameadonavelwcnh beet onts daunted sany st Psy Se A vee 25
Letter from the Secretary of Agriculture: 1... Wupunncvonysesegecussenesensdetsacgsdlesiepaskn geen: Pesreteenee 26
OBJSch GF: MOrest RESCLVALION .oescbsvpascesccdcoesseheMptabpitediilnbviss selsheeUbkponauees odeschas Shon BAUME AUER neon + 27
RPMI 2 Lit snh cd evcn'ge tana dacdh chs tp okieds akviedeiae on vid SMMMeRaeMteaoe sRiok Mekitahiel) 45 eulp aiinadisatcee ue neste Mea Se Wie:
MOresthA dministration ieee iced ace UMP eee RN eA Sac aiaen a TTL a Ok SR Od aay Se 32
pee nes tO RESSrvatiOn POC | 00). .\c..so0. adda agree eenaeli uevoumen eee sup nop cuedtinsl gee PRES ete) Rue EL 34
REA CHICAL NAV GWT isco o Shes et ee ea eidie ue ok nls RUaMate Ri aee ato Ca Tae UM CA aa Bs ORT2 Opa a 35
Riamber industry :\ Lop Salvage. ...5)...5...ss0sagegsnedopecdcapeavantncsene epctinnre cess bRomh aN des pels Heseathrad aueaet amet
PAUOPESE De UCM YY, eee koe ode clew selon suede svi suseutamulaueele ich so naapilceMioNicea sable e CMU eteat Oi oige cite assay Ltn Rae 38
Recent Forestry Meetings:
MOMEORTUIE UO As cee custedaekce daveesepiceashnechnvewceabmad aawaddube Kemmtcotb tes tiaadslacite gid woah Gumes iane sean: aia ea 39
MIM MESObAN, sleet cel duces ce saveds cau cdblecsesssl.occcsambemetatic Vals use evdudlasudasiny hull Ukidas alae Ream ga a eae mean atta 39
ING DIAS seh ee ee oes a ood, dak ook Uae Made sectias Cui caiety dele wise inaira ly spake Be aR ee 40
LUNE No RS ACSI Tare A UPL RSE Lea OP Re PN Re Ue a RE PR MN AN MRS I ce ab A A ky 40
FEAT CALTON a eo ee ees ie al ais cls Blgtaaterd trae iatt alte ale utuite ald Stee eS exe een ue I Sm SO tha aren au 41
Editorial :
POLESt (OPPADIZALION 004). 62. ct aeocedevaccsevssvactemcdoe dacdwossetiddweeche ssitousedn tds SU eh UENW Es We UR ameems Mae 43
The Protection ‘of Irrigation Works... 0dceesrsecscess Gospels dresses cl vet cule sWetbsiahe ote mt sak ans gms ep 44
Recent Publications eh GN AG ae aE 47
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882.
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 1899.
President.
Hon. JAMEs Witson, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President. Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. Fernow. F, H. NEWELL,
Recording Secretary and Treasurer.
GrorGE P. WHITTLESEY.
Directors.
JAMEs WILSON. CHARLEs C, BINNEY. Epwarp A. Bowers. FREDERICK V, CovILLE,
B. E, Fernow. HENRY GANNETT, ARNOLD HacuE. F. H. NEWELL,
GrorGE W. McLANAHAN, GiFForD PINcHO?, GEORGE P, WHITTLESEY,
Vice Presidents.
Sir H.G, JoLy pe Lorsinizre, Pointe Platon, Wm. R. Hamitton, Reno, Nev.
Quebec. Wm. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
CHARLES Mour, Mobile, Ala. JoHN GiFFoRD, Princeton, N. J.
D. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz. Epwarp F, Hopart, Santa Fe, N. M.
Tuomas C, McRag, Prescott, Ark. WarrEN Hictey, New York, N. Y.
Axssott Kinney, Lamanda Park, Cal. J. A. Homes, Raleigh, N. C.
E. T. Ensen, Colorado Springs, Colo. W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
Rogsert Brown, New Haven, Conn, ReuBEN H. Warper, North Bend, Ohio,
Wo. M., Cansy, Wilmington, Del. Wiiiiam T. Littie, Perry, Okla.
A. V. Ciusss, Pensacola, Fla. E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
R. B. Repparp, Savannah, Ga. J. T. RotHrocx, West Chester, Pa.
J. M. Coutter, Chicago, Ill. H. G. RussEtu, E. Greenwich, R. I.
JAMeEs Troop, Lafayette, Ind. H. A. Green, Chester, S. C.
THos. H. MAcBripg, Iowa City, Iowa. Tuomas T, WricutT, Nashville, Tenn,
J. 5S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans. ) W. GoopricH Jones, Temple, Texas.
Joun R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky. C. A. Wuitine, Salt Lake, Utah,
Lewis JoHnson, New Orleans, La. REDFIELD Procror, Proctor, Vt.
OHN W. GArkRETT, Baltimore, Md. D, O. Noursg, Blacksburg, Va.
oun E. Hoss, North Berwick, Me. Epmunp S. Mrany, Seattle, Wash. -
J. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass. A. D. Hopkins, Morgantown, W. Va.
-W. J. Bear, Agriculturai College, Mich. H.C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis. ©
C. C, ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn. E.woop Mean, Cheyenne, Wyo,
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo. Grorce W. McLanauan, Washington, D.C,
Gerorce P. AuErn, Fort Missoula, Mont. Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
CuHar_es E, Bessey, Lincoln, Neb. Wm. Litre, Montreal, Quebec.
RESERVOIR SITE AT HOUSTON, SOUTHERN CAI IFORNIA. SCATTERED FO!
The Forester.
Ror. Vv.
FEBRUARY, 1899
NOs 2:
Why Persons Interested in Irrigation should be
Members of the American Forestry Association.
It is generally believed throughout the
West that the destruction of the forests
and smaller growth upon the mountain
sides has an influence upon the quantity
of water available for irrigation. From
every section of the arid West statements
are received showing the disastrous con-
sequences of burning forest cover. In-
dividuals and communities appeal for
something to be done. Itis hopeless to
expect that anything will be accomplished
without united action and _ sustained
effort possible only through a strong
association.
It may be said that the protection of
the forests is a matter for the General
Government, but it must be borne in
mind that this is a Government by the
people and that no action by the Govern-
ment can or will be taken unless urged
by a large body of citizens. The coun-
try is so vast that the wishes of a few
citizens cannot prevail in the general
struggle unless large numbers join hands
in acommon cause. A sparsely settled
country as that of the West must call to
its aid the citizens of the more populous
States of the East. The six million of
people within the arid region can suc-
ceed when their interests are identical
with those of the sixty million living out-
side.
In the matter of forest preservation
the interests of East and West are iden-
tical, and in his attempt to retain the
wooded growth around the headwaters
of the streams the irrigator receives the
full sympathy of foresters throughout the
country. Tomakethissympathy effective
through the enactment and enforcement
of proper laws each irrigator should join
the Forestry Association, and thusadd his
name and contribution toward pushing
forward the desired objects. By.so doing
his efforts—otherwise unavailable—be-
come effective and the work of the asso-
ciation more practical.
The benefits of a strong national or-
ganization have already been shown in
the legislation obtained after sixteen
years of unremitting effort. The dis-
appointments and failure year after year
have not discouraged the members and
they now have reason to rejoice at what
has been done, although this falls far
short of their anticipations. The laws.
passed by Congress for the protection
of the forests are not those originally
proposed and are recognized as imper-
fect ; they should be modified from time
to time as experience demonstrates the
necessity and feasibility of so doing.
Above all their enforcement must be a
matter of keen solicitude. Public senti-
ment must stand behind the officers
charged with the execution of the laws
sustaining them in their duties and con-
stantly demanding competence and
fidelity. To do this it is necessary to
have a strong organization—one which
will not be dominated by factions or
personal aims, but which with a widely
diffused membership shall reflect the
larger public wishes.
In the East, where the development
of population and industries has shown
the need of protecting the forests, the
membership of the American [Forestry
26 THE FORESTER.
Association is large. The membership
from the older States includes many men
of recognized national standing, The
Western members, therefore, have the
adyantage of a group of associates
already strong and experienced.
While the irrigators need the aid of
the American Forestry Association in
bringing about the protection of the
forests of the West, the Association on
the other hand needs an increase of its
membership throughout the arid regions.
In order to speak with authority as to
the demands of the West it must have a
large Western membership and one which
February,
will be truly representative of all the
States and Territories. Every man in-
terested in irrigation, or dependent di-
rectly or indirectly upon the conserva-
tion of the water supply, should become
a member and should by his voice and
pen unite in creating public sentiment
and in sustaining public interest through
the trials and vicissitudes which always
surround needed reforms. A_ proper
administration of the forests can result
only through a strong and united de-
mand and through an adaptation of laws
and regulations to fit American con-
ditions.
Letter from the Secretary of Agriculture.
Mr. F. H. NEweELt,
Secretary, American Forestry Asso-
ctation, City.
My Dear Sir: I believe I have already
acknowledged your letter of December
15, notifying me of my election to the
presidency of the American Forestry Asso-
ciation for the enuing year. If not, per-
mit me to say now that my services are
at the disposal of the Association, and I
am anxious to do anything in my power
to further its objects. Our Association
has for its object the advancement of onz
of the greatest of the national industries.
It is high time that intelligent action be
had regarding our woods, including not
only wise management of existing forests,
the rehabilitation of denuded areas, the
study of forest fires and the possibility of
preventing their ravages, but also an in-
quiry into the effect of grazing on forest
ranges, investigations into tree-planting,
to ascertain what progress has been made
and what trees give promise; and what
is wise advice to give our people for
future work. I may say generally that
the rate at which we are using our woods
admonishes us that it can be only a few
years at most before the United States
must go to the ends of the earth to keep
up its supply for commercial purposes.
The Association should continue to
bring to public attention, and especially
to the notice of lumbermen, the fact that
the present methods of conducting the
lumber business are not only wasteful
and extravagant but opposed to the best
public policy. It should endeavor to
demonstrate, by practical examples, the
fact that it 1s possible to remove mer-
chantable timber without destruction to
the forest and that better methods of
lumbering are not only practicable but
profitable ; it should demonstrate that its
objects are not in any wise to interfere
with lumbering, but to assist and to render
the business one of permanence instead
of being a comparatively temporary occu-
pation. The destruction of the forests at
the headwaters of the streams is having
a bad effect on the productive power of
the country, resulting in high freshets
in spring and dry streams in midsummer.
My observation of over forty years in
a prairie country leads me to the con-
clusion that the velocity of our cold
winds in winter and hot winds in summer
is greatly retarded by timber belts and
hedges. The farmer can graze longer in
the fall when his stock pastures are pro-
tected by belts of woodland and hedges.
He can graze earlier in the spring on
account of the same protection, thus
lengthening his grazing season mater-
ially ; and it is well known that growing
and fattening periods of animal life are
|
1899.
most cheaply carried through by means
of grazing. The interspersion, through-
out the country, of groves and hedges,
furnishes protection for the birds that
keep the insect enemies of the farmer in
check. In the West, therefore, the Asso-
ciation should endeavor to co operate
with the farmers and others dependent
directly or indirectly for their subsistence
upon agriculture by irrigation. It is
generally believed that, through reckless
and wanton destruction of forests, injury
has come to the streams which furnish
water to the arid or drought-stricken
lands. Throughout a third, or possibly
a half, of the United States, all land
values rest upon the ability to obtain an
artificial supply of water, and anything
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 27
which in the least affects the water sup-
ply comes to have vital importance. In
arid and semiarid regions, therefore, the
Forestry Association should at all times
second the efforts of those who are seek-
ing for the conservation of the water
supply. It is evident that it is high time
for intelligent men, from Maine to Cali-
fornia, to give serious attention to the
preservation of the forests we have and
to increase the forest area throughout
every State, particularly where lands have
value for no other purpose.
Very truly yours,
James WILson,
Secretary of Agriculture.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
jane 27, 1890.
Object of Forest Reservations.”
Public forest reservations are estab-
lished to protect and improve the forests
for the purpose of securing a permanent
supply of timber for the people and in-
suring conditions favorable to continuous
water flow.
It is the intention to exclude from
these reservations, as far as possible,
lands that are more valuable for the
mineral therein, or for agriculture, than
for forest purposes; and where such lands
are embraced within the boundaries of a
reservation, they may be restored to
settlement, location and entry.
The law provides that nothing it con-
tains shall be construed as prohibiting
the egress. or ingress of actual settlers
residing within the boundaries of such
reservations, or from crossing the same
to and from their property or homes ;
and such wagon roads and other improve-
ments may be constructed thereon as
may be necessary to reach their homes
and to utilize their property under such
rules and regulations as may be pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Interior.
Nor shall anything herein prohibit any
person from entering upon such forest
peearact from Regulations of the General Land
ce.
reservations for all proper and lawful
purposes, including that of prospecting,
locating and developing the mineral re-
sources thereof: Provided, That such
persons comply with the rules and regu-
lations covering such forest reservations.
The settlers residing within the ex-
terior boundaries of such forest reserva-
tions, or in the vicinity thereof, may
maintain schools and churches within
such reservation, and for that purpose
may occupy any part of the said forest
reservation, not exceeding two acres for
each schoolhouse and one acre for a
church.
All waters on such reservations may
be used for domestic, mining, milling or
irrigation purposes, under the laws of
the State wherein such forest reserva-
tions are situated, or under the laws of
the United States and the rules and
regulations established thereunder.
The right of way in and across forest
reservations for irrigating canals, ditches,
flumes and pipes, reservoirs, electric
power purposes, and for pipe lines, will
be subject to existing laws and regula-
tions; and the applicant or applicants
for such right will be required, if deemed
advisable by the Commissioner of the
a8 THE FORESTER.
General Land Office, to give bond in a
satisfactory surety company to the Gov-
ernment of the United States, to be ap-
proved by him, such bond stipulating
that the makers thereof will pay to the
United States for any and all damage to
the public lands, timber, natural curt-
asities or other public property on such
reservation or upon the lands of the
United States, by reason of such use
and occupation of the reserve, regardless
of the cause or circumstances under
which such damage may occur.
For the purpose of preserving the
living and growing timber and _ pro-
moting the younger growth on forest
reservations, the Secretary of the Interior,
under such rules and regulations as he
shall prescribe, may cause to be desig-
nated and appraised so much of the
dead, matured or large growth of trees
found upon such forest reservations as
may be compatible with the utilization
of the forests thereon, and may sell the
same for not less than the appraised
value in such quantity to each pur-
chaser as he shall prescribe, to be used
in the State or Territory in which such
timber reservation may be situated,
respectively, but not for export there-
from.
While sales of timber may be directed
by the Department without previous re-
quest from private individuals, petitions
from responsible persons for the sale of
timber in particular localities will be
considered. Such petitions must de-
scribe the land upon which the timber
stands by legal subdivisions, if surveyed;
if unsurveyed, as definitely as possible
by natural landmarks ; the character of
the country, whether rough, steep or
mountainous, agricultural or mineral,
or valuable chiefly for its forest growth ;
and state whether or not the removal of
the timber would result injuriously
to the objects of forest reservation.
Estimate the average diameter of each
kind of timber, and estimate the number
of trees of each kind per acre above ‘the
average diameter. State the number of
trees of each kind above the average
diameter it is desired to have offered for
February,
sale, with an estimate of the number of
feet, board measure, therein, and an
estimate of the value of the timber as it
stands. These petitions must be filed in
the proper local land office, for trans-
mission to the Commissioner of the
General Land Office.
Before any sale ts authorized, the
timber will be examined and appraised,
and other questions involved duly in-
vestigated, by an official designated for
the purpose ; and upon his report action
will be based. When a sale is ordered,
notice thereof will be given by publica-
tion by the Commissioner of the General
Land Office, in accordance with the law
above quoted ; and if the timber to be
sold stands in more than one county,
published notice will be given in each
of the counties, in addition to the re-
quired general publication.
The time and place of filing bids, and
other information for a correct under-
standing of terms of each sale, will be
given in the published notices. The
act provides that the timber sold shall
be used in the State or Territory in
which the reservation is situated, and is
not to be exported therefrom.
Every person who unlawfully cuts, or
aids or is employed in unlawfully cutting,
or wantonly destroys or procures to be
wantonly destroyed, any timber standing
upon the land of the United States
which, in pursuance of law, may be re-
served or purchased for military or other
purposes, or upon any Indian reserva-
tion, or lands occupied by any tribe of
Indians under authority of the United
States, shall pay a fine of not more than
five hundred dollars or be imprisoned
not more than twelve months, or both,
in the discretion of the court.
Any person who shall willfully or
maliciously set on fire, or cause to be
set on fire, any timber, underbrush or
grass upon the public domain, or shall
carelessly or negligently leave or suffer
fire to burn unattended near any timber
or other inflammable material, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and,
upon conviction thereof in any district
court of the United States having juris-
1899.
diction of the same, shall be fined in a
sum not more than one thousand dollars,
or be imprisoned for a term of not more
than two years, or both.
Any person who shall build a camp
fire, or other fire, in or near any forest,
timber or other inflammable material
upon the public domain, shall, before
breaking camp or leaving said fire,
totally extinguish the same. Any person
failing to do so shall be deemed guilty of
a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction
thereof in any district court of the
United States having jurisdiction of the
same, shall be fined in a sum not more
than one thousand dollars, or be im-
prisoned fora term of not more than one
year, or both.
In all cases arising under this act the
fines collected shall be paid into the
public-school fund of the county in
which the lands where the offense was
committed are situated.
The Secretary of the Interior may
permit, under regulations to be pre-
scribed by him, the use of timber and
stone found upon such reservations, free
of charge, by bona fide settlers, miners,
residents and prospectors for minerals,
for firewood, fencing, buildings, mining,
prospecting and other domestic pur-
poses, as may be needed by such per-
sons for such purposes, such timber to
be used within the State or Territory,
respectively, where such _ reservations
may be located.
This provision is limited to persons
resident in forest reservations or within
a reasonable distance thereof in the
State or Territory where the forest
reservation is located who have not a
sufficient supply of timber or stone on
their own claims or lands for the pur-
poses enumerated, or for necessary use
in developing the mineral or other
natural resources of the lands owned or
Occupied by them: Provided, That
“where the stumpage value exceeds one
hundred dollars, applications must be
AMERICAN FO RESTRY ASSOCIATION.
29
made to and permission given by the
Department.
The law provides that where a tract
within a forest reservation is covered by
an unperfected bona fide claim, or by a
patent, the settler or owner may, if he
so desires, relinquish the tract to the
United States and select in lieu thereof
a tract of vacant public land outside of
the reservation, open to settlement, not
exceeding in area the tract relinquished.
No charge is to be made for placing the
new entry of record.
The pasturing of live stock on the
public lands in forest reservations will
not be interfered
with, so long as
it appears that injury is not being
done to the forest growth, and the
rights of others are not thereby jeopar-
dized. The pasturing of sheep is, how-
ever, prohibited in all forest reserva-
tions, except those in the States of
Oregon and Washington, for the reason
that sheep raising has been found in-
jurious to the forest cover, and there-
fore of serious consequence in regions
where the rainfall is limited.
The law provides that ‘‘any mineral
lands in any forest reservation which
have been or which may be shown to be
such, and subject to entry under the
existing mining laws of the United States
and the rules and regulations applying
thereto, shall continue to be subject to
such location and entry,” notwithstand-
ing the reservation. This makes mineral
lands in the forest reserves subject to
location and entry under the general
mining laws in the usual manner.
Owners of valid mining locations,
made and held in good faith under the
mining laws of the United States and
the regulations thereunder, are author-
ized and permitted to fell and remove
from such mining claims any timber
growing thereon, for actual mining pur-
poses in connection with the particular
claim from which the timber is felled or
removed.
30 THE FORESTER.
FLOOD SCENE IN THE VALLEY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
“What a waste of water!
Such is the natural and involuntary
<exclamation of the resident of an arid
sregion as he views a scene like the above.
_And yet in the period of inundation the
-flood of the Mississippi River is aug-
wunented by the contribution of streams
wvhich have their sources in the arid
February,
\
a ea a
Cera foe ae
regions. Every drop of water which is_
permitted to run unused from the arid
region represents wasted possibility.
There are two means by which the water —
supply can be conserved, namely : forest
preservation and reservoir construction.
Wherever forest protection forthe water.
supply is possible it will prove to be a
var
nO aL Send
1890,
safe and economical means to this end.
With the widest possible extension of
protective forest area there would yet be
a necessity for the construction of a great
many storage reservoirs. On page 37
Tue Forester presents a view of a large
reservoir already constructed. The
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 31
frontispiece is a view of the site of a pro-
posed reservoir. It will be noted that,
although each is surrounded by a forest
growth, in neither case is it of such a
character as to prove effective in the con-
servation of water, hence the necessity
of reservoir construction.
Grazing.
Mr. John Muir, the veteran California
mountaineer, writes a private letter,
dated at Martinez, Cal., January tro,
1899, to a friend in this city, from which
Tue FoRESTER is permitted to make the
following extract:
*“‘T suppose you know that 200,000
sheep invaded the Sierra Forest Reser-
vation this last season under a temporary
concession made by the Secretary of the
Interior, and did incalculable damage.
The other California reservations—most
of them—and also the National Parks
were overrun, trampled and desolated
almost as completely as the Sierra Reser-
vation; and I have just been informed
that certain land and sheep speculators
have sent on agents to Washington to
obtain leases of the entire Reservation
for grazing purposes during the coming
season. This scheme I trust you will
oppose to the utmost of your power and
opportunity. Nota single flock of sheep
should be allowed on any of the dry
mountain reservations.”’
This statement of Mr. Muir is cor-
roborated by information contained in a
letter from a Federal forest officer in
California. He says:
‘A land speculator is nowin Washing-
ton for the purpose, among others, of
obtaining the consent of the Depart-
ment of the Interior to the granting of
leases in this reservation for sheep-
grazing purposes. Herepresents perhaps
ten, and possibly twenty, sheep owners.
Last season a special concession was made
by the Secretary of the Interior to the
sheep men, on account of the failure of
feed in the San Joaquin Valley, and
elsewhere. About 200,000 sheep were
driven into the reservation. The injury
which these sheep wrought in this part
of the public domain is patent to every-
one who has traversed any considerable
part of the reservation. If the same
ratio of injury were maintained, in less
than fifty years there would be no forests
there worth protecting.
‘‘Tf the object of making such reserva-
tions is to preserve the forests, and the
water resources, then that purpose will
be defeated by allowing sheep grazing
as is desired by a very few men. De-
forestation has already begun here. The
prevailing climatic conditions are en-
tirely different from those which exist
in the reservations in more northern lati-
tudes. There the rainfall is very great,
the streams are strong and full in the
summer season; the undergrowth is
rank; and it may be that sheep grazing
under such conditions would net result
in any great damage to the forests. I
can only speak with certainty of this
reservation where I have made extended
personal observations. The climate
here is semi-tropical. The reservation
is in what may be called the dry belt.
Hardly more than five to seven inches
Of mematalle cam *be: expected. The
mountain streams flowing out of the
reservations have been greatly dimin-
ished. The waters no longer flow in the
summer season across these great arid
plains. A part of this shrinkage of
streams can be traced directly to sheep
grazing. The sheep destroy the under-
growth, and their herders are the prolific
source of the great number of fires
which break out in the reservation.
They change the spongy character of
the ground; they produce aridity and
desolation wherever they go. The pro-
i
32 | THE FORESTER.
cess of deforesting will go on as long as
this sheep grazing prevails.
‘‘The interests of a few in the sheep
business are set over against the interests
of the larger community which repre-
sents an investment of many millions of
dollars. Water for irrigation has become
to them a matter of vital necessity. All
the property represented by more than
4,000 acres of citrus orchards, and more
than 10,000 acres of raisin vineyards, in
this county and the adjacent one, is
menaced by this sheep-grazing propo-
sition.
«‘The forests cannot be preserved in
a proper condition while sheep are
allowed to range the reservation. This
is the case in brief. J omit many details,
but submit the facts.”
Another Federal forest official from
the same State and writing about the
same matter says:
‘¢T want to call your attention to the
fact that it is impossible to reforest this
reserve as long as sheep are allowed to
graze here. When the timber has been
removed the ground will be seeded from
the surrounding forest and, as the ground
does not freeze, the young pines come
up as soon as the snows melt. The
sheep are especially fond of pine; they
bite the tops off of these young seedlings,
thus killing them. Unless, the Govern-
ment can, in some way, keep the sheep
off of this reservation it cannot be re-
February,
forested. I know of several places,
owned by private parties, that have been
enclosed for the last twenty-five years,
thus protecting them from sheep, and
which have also been kept free from
fires. The timber was cut from these
lands before they were enclosed, yet
they are now reforested with trees which
measure from ten to twenty-four inches
in circumference, while surrounding
lands, where sheep have been allowed to
run each year, have nothing but a little
brush, even the grass being killed. This
country produces a new forest growth
very rapidly as the ground rarely freezes
under the snow, and if protected from
fire and sheep so that the natural mulch-
ing of pine needles and leaves is not
destroyed by fire or tramping, it will
prevent the soils from being washed off.
Aside from the question of reforesting
it would only be a few years until the
sheep would destroy the water supply of
the San Joaquin valley. I believe the
Government could better afford to buy
hay and grain, and feed the sheep at its
own expense, than to allow them to de-
stroy this forest, for in destroying that
they are destroying the valley. In the
best years in the past the valley has not
had enough rain to produce a crop and
its thousands of inhabitants depend on '
this forest for their water supply. I
trust that we will have your support in
protecting the forest from sheep.”
Forest Administration.
Some of the supervisors and patro]men
in the employ of the Government on the
forest reserves are being laid off owing
to the fact that the appropriation has
almost beenexpended. Thetotalamount
of the appropriation for last year was
only $75,000. The fires in this section
cost $15,000, or almost one-fourth of the
entire appropriation. It was the inten-
tion of the department to have the
patrolmen construct trails in the reserve
during the winter months and this will
yet be done so far as the funds will ad-
mit, but the majority of the supervisors
and patrolmen will have to be laid off
until next April or May. It is to be re-
gretted as there is a great need of trails
through certain portions of the reserva-
tion.—Azusa (Cal.) Pomo- Tropic.
The case against George Witcher and
others for cutting timber on Government
land above Cripple Creek, was placed
on trial in the United States Court yes-
terday. The defendants are accused of
cutting 500,000 feet of timber belonging
to Uncle Sam. The lumber has been
seized by the Federal authorities. The
1899.
defense sets up the claim that the timber
was cut for mining purposes and not to
be shipped away.—Denver (Colo.) News,
January IT.
Forest Supervisor Taggart has re-
peated the edict that hereafter no one
will be allowed to take wood of any
kind, either fallen or standing, from the
San Jacinto reserve. Any violation on
the part of any one will be considered
as trespassing, and will be dealt with
as such.—Aiverside (Cal.) Press.
Acting on offical information, Com-
missioner Binger Hermann of the
General Land Office has directed a special
agent at Juneau; Alaska, to make a com-
plete investigation and prompt report
with a view to stopping the denudation
of the forest tracts. The action is based
on notice sent the Department in regard
to the cutting going on in many places;
that Indians on Annette Island, who are
aliens, having been transported there
from British Columbia, are cutting
valuable spruce and cedar on all the
adjoining islands and have established
a saw mill on Graniva island, near
Kechcan, where they are manufacturing
lumber and carrying on extensive traffic.
In his instructions Commissioner Her:
mann states that neither the natives nor
other residents of Alaska are allowed
under the law to cut timber for market
from the lands in Alaska belonging to the
United States, until after first purchasing
the timber from the Government through
the Secretary of the Interior.
Some additional light is thrown by the
following dispatch dated Cheyenne,
Wyo., January 17, upon the doings of the
Rock Springs Lumber Co., in the Green
River valley in Wyoming, mention of
which appeared in the last issue of Tur
FORESTER :
The surveillance of the United States Govern-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 33
ment is becoming more strict than ever. The
newest sensation in lumber depredations is laid
to what is known as the Rock Springs Lumber
Co., which has employed about 300 men cutting
timber near the head of the Green River, in Fre.
mont and Sweetwater counties. The matter is
under investigation by United States Agent
Abbott. Thecompany claims to have complied
with the law in every particular ; saying that it
has been cutting timber only on lands either
acquired from the State of Wyoming which had
selected the lands under Government grant, or
bought with soldier scrip from the Government,
They say that the charges of timber depreda.
tions were originated by a set of hunters and
guides who have established lodges for the
entertainment of foreign and Eastern hunters,
The investigation will be pursued.
From the North Yakima 7Z?mes it is
learned that the supervisor of the Mount
Rainier Reserve met the stock rangers of
the contiguous region in the State of
Washington, on January 16. Although
he did not make any allotments he re-
ceived applications for grazing permits.
It was suggested that the cattle men and
sheep men gef together and agree upon
some plan to harmonize their interests.
The stockmen were warned against over-
crowding the reserves with cattle and
sheep, and that the ill-advised actions
of the few in violating the rules would
Operate against all. It having been pro-
posed to limit the number of stock to be
grazed in the reserve hereafter to 325,000
head and to define the grazing season as
continuing from June 15 to September
25 of each year, the stockmen appointed
a committee consisting of five cattle men
and five sheep men, to settle the matters
under dispute. This committee drew up
an agreement by the terms of which cer-
tain parts of the reserve are to be re-
garded only as cattle ranges and are not
to be invaded by bands of sheep. The
charge for pasturage of sheep is to be at
the rate of $5.00 per thousand, single
bands not to exceed 2,500 in number.
The fee for grazing cattle has not yet
been determined upon.
34 THE FORESTER
February,
Opposition to Reservation Policy.
The National Stock Growers’ Con-
vention met in Denver, Colo., January
26-27. It had been previously announced
that the convention would be given an
opportunity to put itself on record con-
cerning the policy of excluding sheep
from the forest reservations. Mr. John
C. Mackay, of Utah, brought the subject
up for discussion by introducing a reso-
lution urging the Department of the
Interior to abrogate the rules prohibiting
the grazing of sheep on forest reserves.
In support of his resolution Mr. Mackay
said, in part:
My observation of twenty years in the moun-
tains teaches me that the sheep do not damage
any timber that is really valuable for mer-
cantile purposes. Their eating of the grass in
the timber is a safeguard against forest fires,
If the executive orders prohibiting the sheep
from ranging in the reserves is enforced the
industry will be immeasurably injured, West-
ern citizens have just cause for complaint.
We should adopt such means as will bring
about the desired change.
A substitute resolution was introduced
by Mr. A. R. King, a delegate from
Colorado. This substitute was, in effect,
a negation of the original resolution and
proposed to urge upon the Secretary of
the Interior the wisdom and expediency
of a strict enforcement of the rules ex-
cluding sheep from the reserves. In
advocating its adoption Mr. King said:
The Government of the United S‘ates never
attacked the interests of any citizen unjustly,
nor did the American Forestry Association,
For instance, when the Battlement Mesa of
Colorado was reserved it was mainly to protect
the water supply, upon the request of hundreds
of citizens of the counties of Delta and Mesa
on the western slope, except the owners of
sheep. Those who wanted the protection were
fruit growers and also stock raisers to more or
less extent. The order of the Department and
the law are the result of growth, development
of the country and the observation of experts
on the effect of herds on the water supply and
timber on the public lands. ‘The order did not
emanate from the influence cf the cattle man
as against the sheep man. Sheep raising was
pronounced injurious to the water supply and
the timber by experts. Evidence showed that
re-growth of timber follows forest fires, but
never follows sheep grazing. Sheep destroy
all the young sprouts each year. ‘The sprouts
do not come back again until sheep are taken
away.
Take the county of Delta, for instance,
where people are engaged in diversified in-
dustries. ‘The Government says the good of the
many is superior to that of the few. We would
as soon be the slave of the cattle king as of the
sheep baron. (Applause.) We insist that no 15,000
sheep should be driven into our headwaters to
pollute our supply first and then destroy it.
The cows and steers do not eat out everything,
but the sheep do eat out the willow leaves as
high as they can reach, they take out the bunch
grass and all they can find, and then tramp the
soil so solidly that the water rushes off the
surface quickly in the spring, whereas if the
soil is left in its natural state snow water will
percolate and eventually serve for irrigation
purposes when water is needed.
The people of Utah think the same as we do.
Take the Uintah reservation. People residing
in that community took the position that the
sheep destroyed the range and supported their
allegations by proof before the Government
excluded the sheep to preserve the agricultural
interests that were watered by the country
included in that reserve.
Mr. Smith, a delegate from Utah, re-
plied to the arguments of Mr. King, de-
claring that the statements that sheep
destroy the range and the water supply
was a theory not substantiated by facts.
He declared if the sheep had killed the
range the sheep in Utah would not have
increased as they have. Continuing, Mr.
Smith said :
They are a benefit to the range. I can show
you ranges in Utah where sheep have been
pastured for years and it is better now than
ever. Years ago where settlers located in Utah
on streams and had no water, now they have
plenty, hence the sheep could not have exer-
cised a deteriorating influence uponit. They
have been grazing upon the headwaters of
those streams right along.
There was scarcely a sign of applause
for Mr. Smith. It was evident the sheep
men had little sympathy from the con-
vention. A. J. Bothwell, delegate from
New Mexico, briefly attacked the argu-
ments of the sheep advocates, saying
severa! witty things at their expense and
creating rounds of laughter, adding in
conclusion :
But we must look at the matter in a broad
1899.
sense, and recognize the fact that we must not
discuss it from the standpoint of a cattle man
or as a Sheep man.
Mr. Barnes, of Arizona, in discussing
the question said :
On some of the Arizona ranges where the
sheep have been for twenty-five years the range
is as good as ever. It seems the conditions
are different in the various States. I would
offer an amendment to the original resolution
recommending that the order be changed so as
to prohibit all animals from the forest reserves
except under such regulations as the Secretary
of Agriculture may prescribe for each.
Col. J. M. Dougherty, of Nebraska,
moved the previous question, but with-
drew it toallow Mr. Mackay, of Utah, to
make anexplanation. Mr. Mackay spoke
with intense feeling as he said:
I am sorry to see you gentlemen admit by
your action the theory that sheep are a curse
to our country. I realize the way this conven-
tion feels. I say that to-day in Utah, where
we irrigate more land in proportion to the total
area than any other State, we have plenty of
water. We do not need the timber reserva-
tions for protection, but we do need the grazing
privileges. Our sheep industry goes down
without them,
The previous question being again de-
manded it was ordered, showing an over-
whelming vote in favor of the strict en-
forcement of existing regulations. The
Barnes amendment was then adopted
. . ve
also. This placed the convention on
record as favoring the prohibition of all
grazing on the forest reserves except
when the Secretary of the Interior may
issue orders permitting such grazing as
the diversified interests concerned may
approve of.
PaPRACTICAL VIEW.
The friends of the forest movement
have so often been called ‘blind en-
thusiasts’”’ and ‘‘misguided theorists,”’
that it is a pleasure to be able to quote
from authorities that cannot, even by
inference, be accused of taking any other
than a practical view of an economic
question. The American Lumberman,
from which the following is copied, cer-
tainly cannot be accused of sentimen-
talism :
The public, through the forestry advocates
and the public prints, has become fairly settled
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 35
in the belief that forests covering the land
about the headwaters of streams conserve the
fountains and maintain a good stage and
equable flow of water throughout the dry
season.
This doctrine was the strong argument for
passing the laws for the segregation of the
national forest reserves in the mountain dis-
tricts of the West. Not only has the National
Government set apart such reserves but State-
governments have taken up the enterprise and
legislatures are passing laws to preserve the
moisture of the soil and thus maintain the
streams. A notable example is in New York,
which has provided for a State park in the
Adirondacks. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Min-
nesota and other States have done something in:
behalf of forestry. The governor of Utah is.
also stirred up in behalf of the forests of that
State. In his late message to the legislature he-
said that the increasing spoliation of the tim-
ber of the State was affecting seriously the
source of the water supply for the valleys, and
something should be done to arrest denudation.
C. L. Sessions, of Bountiful, Utah, writes to
the Salt Lake Herald as follows:
I notice in the governor’s message that he
says the increasing spoliation of our timber
areas is seriously affecting the source of water
supply for our valleys. I would like to ask
what relation the timber in the mountains has.
to supply of water in the valleys, and how. If
the governor is a close observer, or had asked
a canon man, he never would bave made such
aremark. Every person acquainted with the
source of supply knows that the water used for
irrigation does not come from. the timber sec-
tions but from the drifts or pockets where the
wind piles the snow in great banks, or from
slides which come down from the mountain
sides and pack the snow in ravines. Timber
hinders this, for it is a windbreak and prevents
the snow from making drifts. It alsostops the
slides from piling the snow up in vast banks to
draw from in late irrigation, which is the water
we want. The snow that lies all over the
ground and melts just moistens the ground
where it lies and never gets into the creeks
at all,
Mr. Sessions proceeds to ask the governor
what the bona fide settlers are to do for timber
if cutting is to be stopped, and calls for practi-
cal men to make laws for the protection of tim-
ber. Heasks that business men, farmers and
laboring men shall have their say in determin-
ing on a method to control the forests.
After commenting to the effect that
36 THE FORESTER.
the snow drift theory may be a correct
one in given instances, the Lumberman
concludes :
But there may be climatic reasons for pre-
serving the forests, and there may be economic
reasons, Forestry advocates as a rule do not
expect to deprive the people of necessary tim-
ber, but seek only to have the laws enacted so
cutting can be carried on in a way that shall
preserve and perpetuate the younger growth.
What they aim at is to stop indiscriminate
slaughter, without reference toa future supply,
and by preserving carefully and maintaining
the growth of young trees to keep forests on
public lands practically intact. No wise econ-
omist can object to that. It seems tothe Lzsm-
berman that the objectors to public forestry
are mainly those who want to go on to Govern-
ment or State domain and steal timber, thus
avoiding the necessity of buying land and pay-
ing taxes thereon.
Philip Wilson, of Fort Collins, Colo ,
writing to a local paper in opposition to
the forest reserve policy, which, fortu-
nately and for good reasons, is very
popular in that enterprising community
February,
of irrigators, argues along the same line
that Mr. Sessions does. Each argues
from special instances to general conclu-
sions; each seemingly forgets the office of
the forest cover in preventing erosion on
sloping surfaces and apparently neither
believes that water can or does percolate
through the soil. Both writers have
failed to note, in recording their obser-
vations, that not all the snow drifts into
dark canons and gorges, that indeed
many drifts form on southern exposures
where rapid melting is early and certain.
Mr. Wilson even goes so far as to
advocate the clearing of all the mountain
forests in the interest of the irrigation
agriculturist, finally concluding with the
following language which would seem to
substantiate the Lwmberman’s conjecture
as to the real motive of opposition:
The Poudre valley is one of the best farming
countries inthe West. We need full swing at
the timber for building and fencing. Why
send to Texas for timber when it is here and
plenty of it? I say, clear this Government
domain of the fences so that the people can
have free access to go where they want to and
get timber where they can find it.
Lumber
Log Salvage.
Under the caption of ‘‘A Dangerous
Bill” the American Lumberman has the
following to say in regard to pending
legislation :
Mr. Bromwell, of Ohio, has introduced a
bill in the House of Representatives which it
will be well enough for the lumbermen who
are engaged in floating logs in the streams of
the United States to give some attention
to. The bill was presented some little time
ago, and has already been referred to the
committee on interstate and foreign com.
merce. Under the operations of this law if a
lumberman should chance to lose, as lumber-
men are apt to do, some of his logs, by floods
or other accidents, it would be entirely pos-
sible for any one picking up these logs to
collect from 25 to 50 cents for each log. ‘This
would mean anywhere from $3 50 upwards a
thousand additional cost to the log owners.
The condition on the Mississippi River willserve
toillustrate. Itisnot an infrequent occurrence
in the spring for logs to break away at Minne-
apolis and be carried into the river at points
between St. Paul and Hastings. Before the
machinery for gathering these logs into rafts
again could be put into motion, every owner of
Industry.
a little boat could gather such logs as he could
reach and then collect by process of law the
large fees provided for in this bill. It is the
practice of the operators on the Chippewa
River, and particularly of the manufacturers at
points on the middle Mississippi River, to float
their logs down in the open Chippewa River to
the Mississippi, and then for a considerable
distance in the Mississippi to the West Newton
rafting works. Unless this Jaw were supple-
mented by some other provision, all these logs
would become subject to the pirating acts of
any parties who could find a profit in gathering
them and selling them under the terms of the
law. In rafting logs to the down-river points,
it not infrequently is the case that a raft is
broken up and the logs set afloat. Here again
the log owners might be subjected to the
penalties prescribed in this bill,
The conditions on the Mississippi are prob-
ably not different from those on other streams
where logs are floated. Log owners have
found that they can gather their logs at a great
deal less cost than named in this bill. Some
vigorous protests should be sent to Washington
against the passage of this bill, which it ap-
pears that Mr. Bromwell has introduced by
request. At whose request has not transpired,
but presumably parties in his own State or
Kentucky.
J aeaee
1399. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Uo
“NI
BEAR VALLEY DAM, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. SCANT FOREST PROTECTION.
Le)
© 6)
PNB REST Ne PAH.
In his message to the legislature, Gov-
ernor Wells touched upon an important
question when he referred to the pro-
tection of timber areas from the devas-
tation which has been jeopardizing not
only the timber supply, but the water
supply of the State.
Traveling over the mountainous sec-
tions where once the Pine forests were
almost impenetrable, one is confronted
with evidences of Government neglect
and the spoliation of the portable saw-
mill, great barren tracts of stump-covered
ground, with piles of sawdust in the
center, showing where indiscriminate
milling was carried on before the outfit
had been moved to another grove of vir-
gin timber.
Something ought to be done, as the
governor suggests, to obtain favorable
consideration from the Federal Govern-
ment, to whom alone the State must look
for aid inthis matter. For although the
State land board is ‘‘authorized to set
apart and reserve from sale such tracts ©
of timber lands and the timber thereon
as may, in the opinion of the board, be
required to preserve the forests of the
State, prevent a diminution of the flow
of rivers and aid in the irrigation of arid
lands,” the governor calls attention to
the fact that such provision applies only
to the State lands which are needed for
other purposes, and which the General
Government obviously never intended to
The sparrow has found an unexpected
champion in the Prime Minister of
France. The farmers have recently been
agitating in favor of the extermination of
the little bird, and succeeded so far that
a decree was submitted to Premier Me-
line for signature, giving orders for the
destruction of the bird throughout the
country by all available means. Before
giving his sanction to the measure the
Prime Minister determined to make an
investigation, in the course of which he
has received so much information in
favor of the birds, especially from the
Forest Department, that he has not only
THE FORESTER.
February,
have remain in their natural state as
forest reservations.
Members of the legislature would do
well to heed the governor’s suggestion
in reference to memorializing Congress
on this matter.
If the Government does not come to
the rescue of the States in the effort to
stop the devastation which has already,
in many sections, gone too far, the peo-
ple will ultimately be compelled to re-
sort to the expedient of planting forests
like orchards, and bringing them up by
hand. It were well to profit by the ex-
ample of some of the older nations.
Nor is the destruction of forests com-
passed altogether by design or for profit.
Carelessness contributes to the waste.
Every year there are forest fires which
destroy infinitely more of wealth and
prospects than the timber represents
Last year the fires in Wyoming and
Western Colorado caused an enormous
loss. There should be measures and
precautions adopted by the General Gov-
ernment and powers vested in the several
States to prevent this double destruction
which results from axe and fire.
There are interests to be consulted and
rights to be regarded in the selection of
tracts for reserves, but the necessity of
some definite, decisive action while there
is yet time to accomplish good, is im-
perative, it seems, in the interest of
agriculture and for the benefit of future
generations. —Salt Lake City Herald.
refused to sign the decree, but has an-
nounced that he is about to take steps to
promote the increase of the species in
consequence of its usefulness. It seems
that the harm they do to the crops is
more than counterbalanced by the bene-
fits which they confer in destroying the
caterpillars, worms and other insects
that are so detrimental to trees. A West-
ern exchange, which is evidently skep-
tical as to the alleged usefulness of the
sparrow, suggests that now is a good
time to get rid of the sparrows in this
country, and pertinently inquires what
M. Meline will give for them But,
1899.
seriously, the European sparrow is of
doubtful value to the forests of this
country. Not only does the bulk of its
food consist of grains, and matters other
than insects, but its worst feature, as
demonstrated by the investigation of Dr.
C. Hart Merriam ofthe U. S. Department
of Agriculture, is its antagonism toward
the native insectivorous birds which
apparently results in the decrease of the
latter.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 39
It is reported that mining revival in
Leadville and vicinity has given an im-
petus to the mine timber business, and
that industry has trebled in the last -six
months. Some timber cutters have con-
tracts with Leadville mines to supply
them with timbers for a year to come,
and the coming year will witness an
amount of activity in this line and a
demand on the neighboring forests un-
precedented in the history of that great
Colorado mining district.
Recent Forestry Meetings.
California.
A meeting was held in the hall of the
Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco,
Cal., on January 21, for the discussion
of matters pertaining to forest and water
conservation. It was a representative
gathering, the fifty-four delegates hold-
ing credentials from twenty-four different
organizations, including boards of trade,
chambers of commerce, horticultural
societies, granges, farmers’ clubs, the
University of California, the Yosemite
State Commission, the Miners Associa-
tion and the Sierra Club. The meeting
resulted in the organization of a society
to be known as ‘‘ The California Society
for Conserving Waters and Protecting
‘Forests.”” The following officers were
elected: President, J. M. Gleaves; vice
presidents, J. M Walling, Wm. H. Mills
and Abbot Kinney; secretary, E. H.
Benjamin; treasurer, Ernst A Denike.
An executive board of seventeen mem-
bers was also chosen. Resolutions were
adopted requesting the governor to ap-
point a non-salaried commission te report
on the subject at the time of the meeting
of the next legislature, and petitioning
the present legislature to create a school
of forestry in connection with the State
University.
Minnesota.
The twenty-third annual meeting of
The Minnesota State Forestry Associa-
tion was held January 10, at Minne-
apolis. Though the attendance was not
large, the session was rendered interest-
ing by its spirit.
President Owen was prevented by
sickness from attending, his place being
taken by Capt. J. N. Cross. Capt. Cross
called the attention of the society to the
efforts being made by Col. J. S. Cooper,
of Chicago, toward the establishment of
a national park at the headwaters of the
Mississippi, and urged its co operation
with him. He also spoke of the growing
interest in forestry evident throughout
the country. The Cross Bill was then
discussed. It was decided to reintro-
duce this bill, and a committee was
appointed to look after it.
A paper from Professor Fernow was
delayed and came too late to be read.
‘‘Utilizing Our Waste Lands for Fores-
try Purposes” was the title of an inter-
esting and careful paper presented by
Gen. C. C. Andrews. The suggestions
which it contained were based upon an
outlme by Dr. C. A. Schenck. THE
ForEstER hopes soon to present it in
part. At the afternoon session, Profes-
40 THE FORESTER.
sor Green’s paper, ‘‘What About a
Forestry School in Minnesota,” led toa
discussion which ended in the adoption
of a resolution recommending to the
Board of Regents of the University that
a tract of original forest be obtained or
set aside to illustrate the principles of
forestry. Then followed ‘‘ Native Ever-
greens of Minnesota,” by Mr. D. A.
Gaumnitz, of the School of Agriculture.
In the debate which ensued spruce
received most attention, and was held
to be even more valuable than white
pine. Papers by Mr. H. B. Ayres and
Mr. C. L. Smith were read, but not dis-
cussed owing to business before the
meeting.
The following officers were elected :
President, Capt. J. N: Cross, Minne=
apolis; secretary, Geo. W. Strand,
Taylor’s Falls; treasurer, R. S. Mackin-
tosh, St. Anthony’s Park; and one vice..
president for each Congressional district.
Among the resolutions adopted, one
commended the work of Mr. Gifford
Pinchot and the Division of Forestry,
and another advocating legislation for an
appropriation of $35,000 for a building
for Horticulture, Forestry, Botany and
Physics at the School of Agriculture.
Nebraska
At the recent annual meeting of the
Nebraska Horticultural Society, held at
Lincoln, a committee was appointed to
arrange for the organization of a park
and forestry association. Nebraska is
distinguished as the State in which was
originated the custom of designating
one day in each year to be lsnown as
Arbor Day and to be observed, especially
by school children, as a tree planting
holiday. Although millions of trees
have been planted, this is said to be the
first effort at organization on the part of
the planters. Much of the State lies
within the semiarid region, yet even
there it has been ascertained by experi-
ment that there are certain hardy species
of trees, especially conifers, which sur-
vive the rigors of a seemingly unfriendly
climate. The committee appointed by
February,
the Horticultural Society consists of
C. S. Harrison, of York, chairman exe
Gov. R. W. Furnas, of Brownsville;
and E. F. Stephens, of Crete.
Utah.
The Utah Forestry Association held a
meeting in the office of its president,
Dr. John R. Park, in Salt Lake City,
January 20. There wasa fair number in
attendance, and several new members
were elected.
A communication from Dr. J. E. Tal-
mage, president of the Microscopical
Society, inviting a combination of the
Microscopical Society, Mathematical and
Historical Societies and the Forestry As-
sociation, for the purpose of forming a
joint body under some such title as
Utah Academy of Sciences. Opinions
as to the advisability of such a step
varied and on motion a committee was
appcinted to confer with Dr. Talmage
on the subject and to report at the next
meeting.
Another committee was appointed to
confer with the committee on forestry of
the State legislature for the purpose of
obtaining such legislation on forestry
matters as may be deemed beneficial to
the State:
The creation of the office of a State
fish, game and forestry commissioner
was advocated, as well as the enact-
ment of stringent laws against leaving
camps without extinguishing camp fires.
The advisability of following the example
of Colorado, where United States forest
wardens are, by consent of the General
Government, appointed State fish and
game wardens, was suggested.
Prof. W. G. Roylance reported that
a majority of the people of Utah County
desired the United States to create a
forest reservation in the southeastern
part of the county, at the same time
allowing some timber cutting for domes-
tic purposes and some grazing under
proper directions. After some discus-
sion the meeting adjourned subject to
the call of the president.
pees
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 41
Educational.
The New York State College of For-
estry has a 30,000-acre demonstration
area of Adirondack forest. The terms of
sale are agreed on, and only a survey de-
lays the formal turning over of the prop-
erty. It containssome virgin forest, some
from which the lumbermen have taken
the choice timber, and some from which
forest fires have taken all the timber.
The college can, therefore, on the start,
demonstrate all sides of forestry, from
planting bare tracts to lumbering and
getting the logs to market.
Of this institution, ScAhwetserische Zeit-
schrift fur Forstwesen, published at Bern,
Switzerland, says:
We must grant that the Americans not only
are in earnest in their efforts to further their
forestry, but are able to choose with keen vision
and true comprehension the proper means for
attaining the desired ends by the shortest road.
The /ndtan Forester, published at Mus-
soorie, India, in reviewing the prospectus
of the College of Forestry, makes the
following comments:
We may confess at once that after reading
through the proposals for the latter, which may
be termed ‘‘stiff all through,” and the names
of the President and thirty-two professors and
instructors who will be engaged in the scholastic
work, we reflected with no small amount of
relief that our school and college days aie
over. In the college courses of instruction, we
should b2 inclined to say that too many sub-
jects in too many parts are proposed to be
taught, when for instance we read tkat eight
different courses of geology are proposed. In
all, if we read aright, as at English universi-
ties, there are about fifteen hours fundamental
and four hours supplementary or elective work
per week; and that excursions and laboratory
work only count one hour for every two anda
half or three actually spent. Botany is taught
in the first three years, forestry in the last two
only; thus students who only take the three-
years’ course lose a large part of the latter.
We note that an average of two hours per week
isto be spent during each of the last seven
terms on political economy; while the subject
of pisciculture and venery is alsotaught. A
thesis will be required from every student in
his fourth year, and it is noted that there is an
ample .field for graduate and research work
which will be encouraged. We see no mention
of the teaching of accounts. A knowledge of
these is certainly required in the work ofa
forest officer. In geology we note that one
week’s practical work is to be done in the field:
in addition we would say, regarding this and
the origin and nature of soils, the geology of
soils, the way in which they take their origin
from certain formations of rock, and the kind
of soil formed from the latter is, for a forest
officer, far more important than knowing the
names of fossils; similarly with the knowledge
of how to read a geological map and the
way in which strata lie. As regards forest
protection, an account of fire conservancy as it
will be taught and practiced, will be of interest.
to forest officers of this country. We wish the
New York State College of Forestry every suc-
cess, both in its teach'ng and its results, large
and small.
The board of directors of the Cali-
fornia State Board of Trade discussed, at
a recent meeting, the preservation of the
forests of the West. A committee was
appointed, consisting of John P. Irish,
Craigle Sharp and W. H. Mills, to con-
fer with the board of regents of the Uni-
versity of California at the meeting of the
latter on the 21st inst. The committee
was instructed to urge the faculties of the
universities of Berkeley and Stanford to
create a chair of forestry in their re-
spective institutions.
The annual report of State Engineer
John 2 Field, of Colorado, contains
some valuable suggestions with regard
to foréstaires: It says in part:
Forest fires during the last year have been
more than ever destructive and numerous, and
I would urge that some law be passed to pre-
vent, if possible, these conflagrations, even to
the extent of prohibiting hunters and campers
from invading the timber reserve or thickly
wooded portions of our mountains when there
has been a long spell of dry weather. I would
then urge that some effective measure be
adopted for fighting the fires when first dis-
covered, The entire irrigation section is de-
pendent on the preservation of our forests, which
I believe can never, be replaced no matter what
the necessity and regardless of expense, for with
the forests the soil alike disappears, is washed
off by rains and rapidly melting snows, and we
have in prospect bare rocky ranges without
trees or soil. I would recommend, instead of
building reservoirs to hold our flood waters,
that the forests, those great natural reservoirs,
be preserved to the end that our floods be not
increased, and as a consequence, our summer
flow decreased.
N
THE F@RESTER,
February,
FIRE.
PROTECTING FOREST KILLED BY
COLORADO ;
SKY LINE CANAL,
rad
1899.
Pie FORESTER.
PUBLISHER’S ANNOUNCEMENT.
Tue Forester is published monthly by the
American Forestry Association at
No. 17 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents,
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
POREST ORGANIZATION.
Among the resolutions adopted by the
Pomological Society of Southern Cali-
fornia at its recent meeting at Covina
are the following :
Resolved, That a plan of work in forestry
and water preservation should be framed and
worked to.
Resolved, That an efficient forest patrol
force can only be formed by disciplined men
of good physical capacity.
Resolved, That the plan formulated for
forest work in the Sierra Madre at our Covina
meeting be forwarded to the Secretary of the
Interior, the Secretary of War and the Secre-
tary of Agriculture.
The plan mentioned as having been
formulated at the Covina meeting in-
cludes, in brief, a proposition to form a
forest patrol by details from the regular
Army to serve under forest officers. The
proposition itself is not a new one, but,
under new conditions, there seem to be
reasons why it can no longer be re-
garded as being either practicable or ex-
pedient. At present the work of the
Government pertaining to forestry is
distributed among three agencies, the
General Land Office and the Geological
Survey, both in the Department of the
Interior, and the Division of Forestry,
in the Department of Agriculture. This
distribution of powers and duties has
not resulted in any direct conflict of au-
thority. It has, however, served to
demonstrate that, owing to lack of unity,
many efforts, well directed though they
have been, have necessarily involved
the waste of more or less money, time
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 43
andenergy. The question very naturally
arises as to whether the measure advo-
cated by the Pomological Society of
Southern California might not tend to
complicate the situation still further by
the addition of the Army as a fourth
agency ? The American Forestry Asso-
ciation the Pennsylvania Forestry Asso-
ciation, and the National Board of
Trade, in meetings held during the past
few weeks, have adopted resolutions
favoring the unification of the several
governmental agencies for the investiga-
tion, survey and administration of public
forests, prefacing the proposition by the
statement that such a change would be
in the interest of public economy and
lead to a more efficient and satisfactory
service. The National Irrigation Con-
gress, at its meeting in Cheyeune last
September, declared in favor of the cre-
ation of a Bureau of Public Forests in
the Department of the Interior, a propo-
sition which has since been endorsed in
the resolutions adopted at the annual
meeting of the Colorado State Board of
Horticulture.
It is unnecessary at this time to dis-
cuss the wisdom and propriety of utilizing
the Army in even a temporary plan for
forest management. There may have
been a time when such a course might
well have been adopted as a measure of
temporary expediency, but if so it would
seem that such atime has passed. At
present there are pending in Congress
two bills for the increase of the regular
military establishment. This certainly
indicates that the entire army is occupied
in the discharge of its proper functions
and that it now has no men to spare for
forest patrol purposes. Not only is the
Army not available for service in any
scheme of forest administration and
management, but it is doubtful if the
War Department desires to have its
present duties and cares increased.
Certainly it cannot be said that ‘‘an
efficient forest patrol” consisting of
“disciplined men of good physical ca-
pacity’? cannot be organized apart from
the Army as readily as within its ranks.
44 THE PORES@TER.
On the contrary, there is every reason
to believe that an organization created
for the single purpose will, under all
conditions, prove the most satisfactory.
if ab any tume, -acpart of the military
force becomes available for service in
aiding to patrol the forest reservations
during the season when there is imm1-
nent danger from fire, there is no reason
to doubt that such service would prove
to be a valuable supplement to that of a
regularly constituted corps of foresters.
Army officers who take intelligent interest
in matters pertaining to forest preserva-
tion have made the appropriate sugges-
tion that such service might well be
substituted for, or made part of, the sum-
mer practice marches. At the present
time, however, the further agitation of
any specific proposition for the utiliza-
tion of military forces in this capacity,
coupled, as it would be, by a further
division of authority, would seem to be
unwise. This is true not only for the
reasons already given, but also because
such a course leads to a common mis-
conception as to the professional ques-
tions involved. For this reason efforts
must be made to promote a wider under-
standing of tne fact that forest adminis-
tration, in its strict sense, and forest
management, are each quite as necessary
as forest protection. With such an
understanding established, the creation
of a proper organization for the control,
management and care of the forest reser-
vation system could not be long delayed.
In this connection it is well to call
attention to the admirable suggestion of
Hon. Abbot Kinney, Chairman of the
Yosemite Park Commission, that stu-
dents of forestry be recognized as the
most desirable candidates for employ-
ment as forest rangers and that they be
given preference as such. This plan is
certainly to be commended. Its adop-
tion would result in the elimination of
partisan politics from a matter where its
intrusion is a manifest incongruity, and
would have a generally elevating and
beneficial effect on the forest service by
the addition of discipline and physical
ability. At the start the forest student
February,
who seeks employment as a ranger
would prove to be much more efficient
than the average political appointee not
only on account of his superior intelli-
gence but also because he would possess
a certain degree of professional enthusi-
asm, or pride of service, and an ambition
for advancement. With such incentives
he would become distinguished for his
aptitude, efficiency, and fidelity to duty
much more than the man who accepts
such employment only because of the
wages offered. Mr. Kinney’s suggestion
is timely and it is to be hoped that it
may become the subject of favorable
consideration and action.
a2
THE PROTECTION OF IRRIGA-
TION WORKS:
In the matter of natural fertility, the
soil of the arid and semi-arid regions of
the Western States has few superiors.
Though the relative amount of organic
matter is small, the elements of mineral
fertility are abundant. This is due to
the very fact of aridity. In the humid
regions, where there is greater precipita-
tion, the soils have been leached of their
soluble salts by the washings and perco-
lations of ages of rainfall, and now lack
fertility because of the loss of these
elements which have been swept to the
sea. Added to a soil of the highest
fertility, the arid regions possess a cli-
mate that is distinguished for its con-
stant sunshine. With a rich soil and
constant sunshine but one other con-
dition is requisite for the attainment of
the greatest possible returns for all agri-
cultural and horticultural operations,
and this is moisture. With this con-
dition supplied, farming in the rainless
regions presents one of the most inviting
and promising fields for industry. That
its possibilities have as yet been only
touched is hinted at in the following
paragraph from the Denver Field and
Farm, whose editor, a long resident of
the West, is the author of the well-
known book, ‘Irrigation Farming”:
If all the land under canal in Colorado were
utilized, our State could support a population
Pinar
1899.
ten times as great asnow. The ditches alreacy
built cover four times the area on which crops
are being cultivated and matured by the aid of
the natural flow of the streams alone, The
best that can be done with the three-fourths
now left uncultivated is to water it once during
the flood season, so increasing the pasturage
or possibly raising one crop of alfalfa instead
of the three or four crops which could be pro-
duced with an ample water supply. Many
of the ditches already built have to remain
idle and empty during more than half of the
irrigation season, and the value of the greater
part of the land under them is but little more
than it would bring for pasturage alone. The
period of greatest need in irrigation extends
from the middle of June to the middle of July,
while the demand during the last half of July
is often as great as during the first half of June,
There is no profit in planting crops which can-
not be matured ; hence the limit of the area
which can be cultivated by the natural flow
alone is not fixed by the flood discharge of May
and June, but by the short supply of July.
Briefly stated, the future of irrigation
development will largely depend upon
the storage of flood waters that are now
permitted to flow unused to the sea.
How this end is to be achieved is a
problem on the solution of which many
minds are at work. That it will be
solved, no one acquainted with the ac-
tivity and ambition of the Western people
doubts for a moment. That various
measures will be adopted is probable.
One of these is certain to be the re-
habilitation, preservation and extension
of forest protective areas. Even if the
construction of a storage reservoir sys-
tem would answer for all the purposes of
water conservation (which it could not),
the maintenance of protective forests
would yet be an imperative necessity for
the adequate protection and the most
economical operation of irrigation works.
The rapid confluence of storm waters is
not the only evil that follows forest de-
struction in a mountainous region.
Falling water washes loose particles of
soil and gravel and small fragments of
rock. The carrying power of flowing
water increases as the sixth power of its
velocity.* A torrent which has its source
in the timber-stripped area of a steep
mountain side often attains, after heavy
rains, a power that not only moves sand
* LeConte’s Geology, page 18.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 45
and gravel and small fragments, but
transports boulders and other rock
masses. These are deposited as the
force of the current is checked, perhaps
choking the bed of a stream and causing
by its overflow the ruin of the lower
lands on either side. As the slope of
the receiving stream decreases the coarse
gravel and fragments are deposited.
The sand and silt are still carried in sus-
pension, to settle finally on the bottom
of some irrigation canal, so limiting its
capacity by making it shallower, or to
be deposited on the bed of a reservoir,
the available storage capacity of which
is thus decreased.
The cleaning of the sandy sediment
from the bottom of canals is reckoned
upon annually as an expensive but neces-
sary item in the operation of many irri-
gation systems. In eastern Colorado
the engineers on the Amity Canal re-
ported that in one instance a small reser-
voir of two or three acres in extent was
filled with a deposit of thirty feet of silt
and sand in the single season of 1895.
The construction of scouring sluices in
canal systems and settling basins in con-
nection with reservoirs may seem to re-
duce these difficulties to a minimum.
Such expedients, however, are wasteful
of either water or money, and results
obtained are not always satisfactory.
Even under the best conditions there
will always be more or less erosion and
movement of soil and detritus by flood
waters; and a considerable deposit of
the finer particles in the slower currents
and still waters of irrigation works must
always be taken into account. How to
reduce these evils to the minimum is a
question of the very greatest importance
to the irrigator. Here then is one of the
great offices of the protective mountain
forests. To break the force of rapidly
descending waters and hold a part of
them in check to feed the springs and
brooks after the season of flood is gone
is indeed a useful function; but one
scarcely less useful is that of binding of
soil on slopes and, to a great extent, de-
priving the flood of its harmful power.
On page 42 THE ForEsTER presents a
46 THE FORESTER.
view of a mountain-side irrigation canal
in Larimer County, Colorado, showing
how its former forest protection has been
killed by fire. It is scarcely to be
expected that, by natural means, a new
growth will rapidly replace the pro-
tective forest thus destroyed.* In such
a case there is a possibility that it may
at times be necessary to remove gravel
and other coarse materials from the bed
of the canal as well as the usual deposit
of fine sediment.
Storage reservoirs may supplement
protective forests, but they cannot be sub-
stituted for them. Since no agency can
take the place of forest preservation,
this subject is one of deepest concern to
intelligent irrigators. They realize that
with the destruction of protective forests,
great material loss must fall upon them.
In order that all conditions may be
made the most favorable, that the main-
tenance and operation of irrigation works
may be made successful with the least
expenditure of labor and money, the
forests must be restored and properly
cared for. This must be done sooner or
later, and the sooner it is done the less
it will cost.
In a communication to the St. Paul
Pioneer Press Mr. Otis Staples, a veteran
lumberman calls attention to the enor-
mous extravagance involved in the annual
cutting down of young Spruces and Firs
for use as ‘Christmas trees.’’ The
young growths used for this purpose
for one Christmas in Minnesota would,
according to his figures, if left standing,
produce 37,500,000 feet of lumber in
twenty-five years. It is to be inferred
that Mr. Staples bases his figures upon
the assumption that each of the small trees
thus destroyed would, if left standing,
grow to full maturity. Such an assump-
tion would seem to be scarcely war-
ranted by facts, for the mature forest, in
the point of numbers, is but a fraction
of its earlier composition, the surviving
*See article on ‘‘New Growth on Burned
Areas”’ by Prof. C, S. Crandall in THE ForeEs-
TER, Vol. V, No. 1 (January, 1899).
February,
trees having crowded out their weaker
neighbors. It is well, however, to call
attention to the abuses of which the
Christmas-tree cutters are guilty. Their
methods are generally indiscriminate
and, in effect, are destructive. A young
forest is benefited by judicious thinning,
but the prevailing practice of these tree
cutters is not based upon any thought of
benefit except that of personal gain to
the offender. This practice of making
a clean cut of all young forest growth
for this purpose, particularly near the
larger cities in a mountain region, is a
most reprehensible one, and should be
made subject to regulation by law.
The ‘‘Report on Floods of the Mis-
sissippi River,” by the Senate Committee
on Commerce, which details the results
of the investigations made pursuant to a
resolution of the Senate, has been
printed. Under the head of ‘* Destruc-
tion of Forests” the report says:
Nothing in the evidence or other data ob-
tained by your committee discloses the fact
that the destruction of timber at or near the
headwaters of these river systems tends to
cause or promote the floods referred to. It
was shown that where timber is cut down
for purposes other than cultivation the under-
brush remains and grows more luxuriant than
ever, and such underbrush serves to retard
rather than hasten the movement of water on
the slopes and hillsides ; and where timber is
cut down for purposes of clearing and cultiva-
tion the plowed area becomes an enlarged
absorbent of surface moisture. It isa generally
accepted opinion that the destruction of timber
tends rather to diminish than to increase the
rainfall.
A very important phase of the flood
question is passed over with a very brief
mention. That the effects of forest de-
struction would seem to warrant a more
extended discussion in such a report
tiiere can be no question, forit has been
proven over and over again that the re-
moval of forests in mountain regions 1s
always followed by disastrous results in
seasons of great flood. Of the fires that
burn through the cut-over lands and
of the soil erosion which follows in the
wake of the fire on the steeper slopes,
and the consequent destruction of its
1899.
forest-producing capability, no account
seems to have been taken. The fact
that a heavy growth of underbrush can-
not grow on a hillside which has been
denuded of its surface soil does not seem
to have been taken into consideration.
In regard to the ‘‘generally accepted
opinion that the destruction of timber
tends rather to diminish than to increase
rainfall,” there is some question. There
is another opinion, also more or less
generally accepted, that forest destruction
tends to promote violent forms of precip-
itation and leads to the alternation of
excessively dry and wet periods, thus
producing the greatest extremes of varia-
tion in the flow of water in streams.
Althougk such an opinion 1s perhaps
well grounded it would be of doubtful
wisdom to base any particular line of
public policy upon any such popular
assumption, in the absence of scientific
data.
The great question of the use and
abuse of water resources is demanding
more attention on the part of the people
of the United States each year, and it
would be well, in the earlier discussions
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 47
upon this topic, to omit all mere guess
work from calculations. Such a course
would in the end prove to be the most
economical and facilitate the earliest and
most complete development of national
resources.
e
That the progress of forestry is often
seriously hindered by the personal aspira-
tions of politicians goes without saying.
In the Oregon legislature a bill was in-
troduced creating the office of commis-
sioner of forestry, game and fish, and
before it had time to pass either house
there were three avowed candidates for
the position. The Wisconsin plan of
creating an unsalaried commission would
probably result in the appointment of
more competent though less ambitious
men. Judging by results attained in
some Other states it would be better to
have no legislation enacted upon this
subject at all than to have it end in the
selection of an official whose interest in
forestry and whose qualifications for the
work in hand were secondary to his desire
for preferment to a salaried position.
Recent Publications.
The Physical Geography of Worcester
Massachusetts, published by the Worcester
Natural HistorySociety,isan admirable little de-
scriptive pamphlet which serves as a mode] for
works of the kind. Theauthor, is Mr. H. Perry.
Biennial Report of the State Forest, Game
and Fish Commissioner of the State of Colo-
rado, This report covers the years 1897 and
1898, Three pages are devoted to Forestry,
and the remaining sixty-three pages to game
and fish. The fact that Forestry makes no
greater showing is not due to the preference
of Commissioner Swan for the other interests,
but to an uncomfortable condition of the Colo-
rado law. ‘The law so stands that there would
seem to be a conflict of authority between
Commissioner Swan and the State Land Board,
which has rendered his power inoperative
by going to both the ‘‘care of all woodlands
and forests.” Commissioner Swan urges legis-
lation which shall elude this difficulty. It is to
be hoped that his suggestions will be carried
out. We should then have a report as inter-
esting and pertinent throughout as Commis-
sioner Swan has made this one concerning
game and fish, in which matters he has hada
free hand,
Forestry in Minnesota, prepared by Prof,
Samuel b, Green, and published by The Min-
nesota Forestry Association. This little vol-
umeis welcome. Itis hard to see how a better
elementary hand-book adapted both for general
educational purposes and special local require-
ments could well be put together. The first
127 pages deal with ‘‘Elementary Forestry,”’
and serve as a good introduction to the study
in general. The second part deals with the
trees of Minnesota in their relation to forests
and planting. That Professor Green’s book is
necessarily local in certain of its aspects, is
part of its very purpose, What is most needed
is a number of such local forest manuals. It is
by the aid of such writings as this that forestry
will become widely applied on the part of
individuals, and hence widely appreciated and
encouraged by the country at large. Copies of
this work will be sent to non-residents of Minne-
sota by the secretary of the Minnesota Forestry
Association, Geo. W. Strand, Taylor’s Falls,
Minn., upon receipt of fifteen cents.
48
The Second Report of the American Park
and Outdoor Association, This is an account
of the meeting of the Association at Minne-
apolis, Minn., June 22, 23 and 24, 1898. “* To
promote the conservation of natural scenery,
the acquirement and improvement of land for
public parks and reservations, and the ad-
vancement of all outdoor art having to do with
the designing and fitting of public grounds for
public and private use,” are the purposes for
which it exists. A number of interesting
papers deal with various aspects of the work,
which has already been so successful.
The president of the Association is Mr,
Charles M. Loring, of Minneapolis; the secre-
tary is Mr. Warren H. Manning, whose address
is 1146 Tremont Building, Boston, Mass.
The Wyoming State University has issued
an instructive bulletin on the subject of ‘‘Cul-
tivated Shade and Forest Trees of Wyoming,”
by Prof. B. C. Buffum.
In a recent contribution to the AZ/an-
tic Monthly, President Charles W. Elliott,
of Harvard University, who is noted as
an observing traveler, says:
Any one who has traveled through the
comparatively treeless countries around the
Mediterranean, such as Spain, Sicily, Greece,
Northern Africa and large portions of Italy,
must fervently pray that our own country may
be preserved from so dismal a fate. It is not
the loss of the forests only that is to be dreaded,
but the loss of agricultural regions now fertile
and populous, which may be desolated by the
floods that rush down from bare hills and
mountains, bringing with them vast quantities
of sand and gravel to be spread over the low-
lands. Traveling a few years ago through
Tunisie, I came suddenly upon a fine Roman
bridge of stone over a wide, bare, dry river
bed. It stood some 30 feet above the bed of
the river, and had once served the needs of a
THE FORESTER.
February,
It is estimated, tne bulletin recites, that
approximately one-sixth of the area of the
State, or about ten million acres of land within
its borders, is covered with timber. All of this
is in the mountain regions. The bulletin gives
in detail the results of experiments at the
various stations in Wyoming in raising forest
and shade trees. A summary of these results
shows that the best trees for wind breaks,
shelter belts and street planting in Wyoming
are the Cottonwoods and Willows. The most
rapid Cottonwood is the smooth-bark, or Ryd-
burgh’s. The next in value are the Broad Leaf,
Black or Narrow Leaf Cottonwood and the Balm
of Gilead. In the order of their hardness the
following trees have been tried at the State
experiment stations: Cottonwood, Willow, Silver
Spruce, Douglas Spruce, Hardy Apples, Silver
Maple, Cedar, White Ash, Locust, Elm, Moun-
tain Ash, Black Walnut and Catalpa.
prosperous population. Marveling at the
height of the bridge above the ground, I asked
the French station master if the river ever rose
to the arches which carried the roadway of the
bridge. His answer testified to the flooding
capacity of the river and the strength of the
bridge. He said, ‘‘I have been here four
years, and three times I have seen the river
running over the parapets of that bridge.”
That country was once one of the richest
granaries of the Roman Empire. It now
yields a scanty support for a sparse and semi-
barbarous population The whole region round
about is treeless. The care of the National
forests is a provision for future generations,
for the permanence over vast areas of our
country of the great industries of agriculture
and mining upon which the prosperity of the
country ultimately depends. A good forest
administration would soon support itself ; but
it should be organized in the interests of the
whole country, no matter what it cost.
AMERICAN FORES TRY ASSOCIATION.
Bump Rock Road, Park and Page Fence
Premises of R. B. SYMINGTON,
At Cape Cod, Mass. —=—aiia—
In order to preserve the innate beauty of this rustic scene
Mr. S. was not willing to have it marred ey, even a fence
post. He used the
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE
Nineteen horizontal wires—s8 inches high and ees it
to the trees from 30 to 60 feet apart :
SEE! It does not Lag nor Sag between the supports.
Abst Viees Or SslOCK: ANDIPARM FENCES
CONST ANTEY ON HAND
WRITE FOR DESCRIPTION.
cee ors snotaennsesttnnsaneatenes —
Page Woven Wire Fence Co.,
ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.
BOX. 65. ————aay
THE Wagige Ss? Hike
H. J. KOKEN C. P. HANCOCK
NA RWWA
syING High-Class Designs and
Illustrations
seid (On Half Tone and Line
Engraving
Brass and Metal Signs
Rubber Stamps
4
4G
WASHINGTON, D. C.
FORESTEB™. SCHG@en
At BILAWMORE, Nowe.
For circular and information apply to
CA. SCHEIN fan iD.
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE.
I, he Ik a a a ae dhe Aaa ia A
MARCH, 1899. | No. &.
A monthly magazine devoted to the care and use
of forests and forest trees and to related subjects.
PUBLISHED BY
The American Forestry Association.
S060 Se
rice 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D. C., as second class matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS. |
INGWSHLUGRISA Gi iivcpacestcesasnacks doen iateens avenge ewes datos Ha A ers Ma DU A a eveh ssuicees Speeeceseesees AT SR | HAG
Why Lumbermen Should be Members of the American Forestry Association ............0:sesseeee 51
The Douglas Spruce of Northern Oregon ........ seaetetanas Medavdnasineste se Manauhowky ategab Seete PeA ae ket 52
TBNS COMECHONIOL StAtiStiCs ye ek esis ote cet caleuaeivesbateny cel Onakelehy el donlseuuumtse aan am eabils beaue wanes 58
MECAEIUIREE CQ CISEIOS aiVinva ve seatuapvdssabadicssecseeteassacunae MU BUT AU u ci uv alta gatalds oUnieca gle mae se ages sea eine bee see OO
Forest Management:
Po Reforest WHE EINSK ANAS ie) ye. cellos claes Bameerel cedett oon aabateckyctrarachucds cite Cuacascenay sey esau 61
WOOG- Piel Industry sic, lp eccecs <dawctee > scdescnncdquadepbusduantwadadphata ce sseeesseieus dvccumarsailntyenvabysada 62
A Field for Lumber Capitals ....3..., 21... .c...scsscddenesedecdeonssieaisothsaasd soot pssvadecsone+sne seh sis unensenson 63
Forest Administration: Excessive Timber Land Taxation,............ccccceccsccscsccccsscccscsccccccecs 64
State Associations:
A SLSLOY EES hey NS Sa ah age Canada bac cdo oy seeeM be Mace aucldleye vilmcl uses ce sedtaltecaneae ome cMivedss sakes gene 65
O79) Cob ee: 160 Ape MAR IRAN UL Ae CO RS Ls. A UNL AN UA Re UPR ea SS Le der A 65
ING TAS Steet shee ee ot eRe eee cal wety eataume ne meate en grslweu aE aS Un LI 2 ata Mea een Unt One ko eins ata 65
Educational
MISEPCECELOH 1 KE GL ESEIY) oc ssvcd sve ceviocs sce cce socs ctisla sae temtap een sme clout auecaols edleals (eae tits une tcl tneauinet satan Gaaele 66
Deckers On POrest TOPs ooo see sci cesedocacovoerpamebavat daw eaney's skpank cde buen Crate darda ule tae us eek Ree 66
Editorial: |
Te PRY Pooh 012 nage ais RUG UNE ea LO Be A000 PA RRR a a PU ein et Tal ib ANSE Lae 67
SPOMOSUATOHITG RESET VATION: (1.1) sucev-vecatsecsae vas quetplamtosnwens car eticcews sk sigue scadod ue stunsya asd ueeRCus ened 67
New orest: PR CSenvatiOn tie ick hiss sclcoccicoass coated toaiiacteua coamadsatinctawaldaee ewes suacge cewaaty apt uee Dae 69
PRECEN GIT DUCA OMS iol cele ek ee sso h en eieeoeocobadicacas MMAR nema nes Ne Wace aats cn stage Maeaia Cone Raat Nya tee eemeeeg 70
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882.
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR i899.
President.
Hon. James Witson, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President, Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. FERNow. F, H. NEWELL.
Recording Secretary and Treasurer.
GrorcE P. WHITTLESEY.
Directors.
James WILson, CHARLES C, BINNEY, Epwarp A. Bowers. FREDERICK V, COVILLE,
B. E, Fernow,. Henry GANNETT. ARNOLD HAGUE. F. H. NEWELL,
GrorGE W. McLANAHAN, GIFFORD PINCHOT. GEORGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Vice Presidents, :
Sir H. G. JoLy pe Lorsinizre, Pointe Platon, Wo. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
Quebec. Joun GirrorD, Princeton, N. J.
CHARLES Mour, Mobile, Ala. Epwarp F. Hoszart, Santa Fe, N. M.
CHARLES C, GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska. WarrEN Hictey, New York, N. Y.
D. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz. J. A. Hoimes, Raleigh, N. C.
Tuomas C, McRAg, Prescott, Ark. W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
AssoTT Kinney, Lamanda Park, Cal. REUBEN H. WarpDeER, North Bend, Ohio.
E. T. Ensicn, Colorado Springs, Colo. Witiram T. LitTiz, Perry, Okla.
RogsertT Brown, New Haven, Conn. E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del. J. T. RotHrock, West Chester, Pa.
A. V. Ciusss, Pensacola, Fla. H. W. Frencu, Manila, P. I.
R. B. RepparpD, Savannah, Ga. H. G. RussE.u, E. Greenwich, R. I.
. M. Courter, Chicago, II. H. A. Green, Chester, S. C.
AMES Troop, Lafayette, Ind. Tuomas T, WricutT, Nashville, Tenn.
Tuos. H. MacBripg, Iowa City, Iowa. W. Goopricu Jones, Temple, Texas.
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans. C, A. WHITING, Salt Lake, Utah.
Joun R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky. REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt.
LEwIs JoHNnson, New Orleans, La. D. O. Nourse, Blacksburg, Va.
JouHN W. Garrett, Baltimore, Md. Epmunp S. MEAny, Seattle, Wash.
Joun E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me. A. D, Hopkins, Morgantown, W. Va.
. D. W. FrReEncu, Boston, Mass. H. C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
. J. BEAL, Agricultural College, Mich. ELtwoop MEap, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Cc. C, ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn. Grorce W. McLanauAn, Washington, D.C.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo. Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
Cuares E, Bessey, Lincoln, Neb. Wma. LitT.e, Montreal, Quebec.
A
AROLIN
RAILWAY
WESTERN NORTH C
F SOUTHERN
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ON LIN
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The og a
MARCH, es No. 3
News ce
The Minnesota Forestry Association the six months that he was a forest
is the oldest organization of its kind in
the United States, having been organ-
ized and chartered in 1876.
The penalty for cutting timber on State
lands in South Dakota has been hereto-
fore a fine of at least $1,000, but a bill
has lately been introduced to reduce the
fine to $250 to $500 or imprisonment of
not less than six months.
Mr. Charles A. Keffer, for the past
five years Assistant Chief of the Division
of Forestry, has resigned to accept a posi-
tion as the head ot the department of
horticulture and agriculture in the New
Mexico Agricultural College, at Mesilla
ark, N:° M-
President McKinley formally dis-
approved of the act of the Choctaw
Indian Council, in the Indian Territory,
which prohibited the sale of timber on
the Indian lands after January 1, 1899,
and required saw-mills to cease opera-
tions on that date.
Mr. Geo. W. Strand, secretary of the
Minnesota Forestry Association, is fur-
nishing a series of press articles on
forestry topics. They are sent out
twice a month to the papers of Minne-
sota, and as nearly a hundred journals
are publishing them regularly a large
circulation is assured for the interesting
and valuable matter contained.
Mr. John D. Benedict has resigned the
superintendency of the New Mexico-
Arizona Forest Reservation District to
accept a position as Superintendent of
Indian Schools in the Indian Territory.
Mr. Benedict, who was appointed from
Illinois, made a very creditable record
as a faithful and diligent official during
superintendent and it is to be regretted
that a more tempting offer should take
him to another field.
A bill was introduced into the Minne-
sota Legislature, by Representative
Brusletten, of Goodhue County, to repeal
the forest law of that State and abolish
tne fire warden system. The measure
was defeated as it deservedto be. Since
the enactment of the new forest laws in
1895 Minnesota has been free from the
ravages of serious forest fires, though
during that time the pine regions of
nclenberne States, where no provision
for fire prevention has been made, have
suffered severely.
Henry Weber, of Eau Pleine, Mara-
thon County, Wis., stated lately that he
had within a short time cut what he be-
lieved to be the biggest pine tree ever
cut in that county. The tree was cut
into eleven logs, most of which were
twelve feet in length, which scaled a
total. of 6,780 feet. The butt log at
the large end measured five feet five
inches in diameter. There was no mill
in the neighborhood that could saw the
butt log, and Mr. Weber intended to
split it with dynamite.
Great Britain is preparing to expend
$800,000 per year for a period of thirty
years in the development of the agri-
cultural region of upper Egypt by the
construction of a series of gigantic irriga-
tion works. The arable area of the Nile
valley at present is about 10,500 square
miles and it is proposed to augment this
amount by the reclamation of at least
2,500 square miles of arid lands within
six or eight years. Active work on the
construction of the first great dam across
the river has begun.
50 THE FORESTER.
Not long since the representative of a
Puget Sound lumber mill sold a small
bill of timber consisting of four pieces
18 by 18 inches by 60 feet long, and four
pieces 16 by 16, 55 feet long. The whole
bill amounted to about one carload, but
owing to their length the timbers had to
be shipped in two cars, making double
freight. The delivered price, therefore,
was very high for this class of material
—almost prohibitory it would seem—but
there is where the Pacific coast pro-
ducers have the advantage.
Dr. S. A. Knapp, of Louisiana, who
recently returned from the Philippine
Islands, reports that he saw a section of
a mahogany tree that was purchased at
Manila by U. S. Consul Williams to be
sent to this country. It was between
seven and eight feet in diameter and of
most remarkable beauty. It is to be
made into tops for center tables. Dr.
Knapp visited China, Japan and the
Philippines as special agent of the De-
partment of Agriculture for the investi-
gation of the rice-growing industry.
A White Oak tree was cut in Knox
county, Indiana, in January that is sup-
posed to have been one of the largest
of the kind ever cut in that section. It
measured eight feet four inches at the
butt, fifty-three inches at the small end,
scaled 7,867 feet, and made four twelve-
foot logs. The tree was cut and rolled
to White River and loaded on a barge,
taken to Mt. Carmel, Ill., rolled to side
track and loaded two logs toacar. A
silver dollar would have covered the
heart of any one of the logs The tree
was bought by John S. Dickson, timber
buyer for A. B. Mickey & Sons, Prince-
ton. The logs will cut quartered oak
panels, 27 to 28 inches wide.
Until very recently Beech has been
used for only a few purposes, such as
plane stocks and tool handles. It is
now recognized, however, that the wood
is admirably adapted for furniture and
interior finish. There is some diffi-
March,
culty, it is true, in seasoning Beech in
any thickness above one inch; but this
may prove only a temporary limitation,
and meantime it can be widely employed,
especially when the stock is cut quite
thin, making a satisfactory veneer.
When quarter-sawed, the wood equals
the Sycamore in the beauty of its grain.
In the hardwood section of the middle
South the tree attains a splendid size,
with long clear bole, and there are
many mixed forests in which it occurs in
abundance.
Owners of timber lands in Pennsy]l-
vania are interested in a law that was
enacted by the last Legislature which
provides that the owners of land in that
State having on it forest or timber trees
of not less than fifty trees to the acre
shall be entitled to receive annually
from the commissioners of their respec-
tive counties during the period that the
said trees are maintained in sound con-
dition upon the land, a sum equal to
eighty per centum of all the taxes an-
nually assessed and paid upon said land,
or so much of eighty per centum as
shall not exceed the sum of forty-five
cents per acre. No one property owner
shall be entitled to receive said abate-
ment on more than fifty acres, and proof
must be made that each of said trees
measures at least eight inches in diameter
at a height of six feet above the surface
of the ground, and that no portion of
said land is absolutely cleared of said
EGeeS-
The following editorial paragraph ap-
peared in a recent issue of the Phila-
delphia Record:
It is a pleasure to know that two misde-
meanants found guilty of kindling forest fires
are languishing in the Huntington County jail.
The news ought to be spread abroad in the
State as a deterrent to others who, out of willful
malice or a mere spirit of deviltry, are guilty
of this crime. The yearly destruction of grow-
ing timber in Pennsylvania by reason of
spreading fires inflicts heavy loss upon owners
of woodland property, and makes almost nu-
gatory the effort of the State for forest preser-
vation.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 51
Why Lumbermen Should Be Members of the
American Forestry Association.
The prevalence of forest fires during
the past summer has called attention to
the necessity of forest protection with
unusual torce. The destruction of forests
by fire brings losses to many parts
of the community, but to none more
direct and severe damage than to the
lumber interest; and the benefits that
would accrue to lumbermen through the
protection of forests against fire are
correspondingly great. Such protection
would mean the preservation of the raw
material of the lumber trade on the
stump, and in many cases the safety of
the private property of the lumberman
in the form of mill and machinery, dams,
roads or slides, as well as in that of
standing timber or logs in the woods.
Protection of this kind costs the lumber-
man very heavily at times, although the
State or Government should rightly bear
the cost of an organization to guard
against fire in the forest, just as cities
maintain fire engines and apparatus and
hire firemen at their own expense.
The continuation of the lumberman’s
business depends first of all on the suc-
cess of the attempt to check forest fires.
When the productive forests disappear
the lumberman will go with them. In
many parts of the country this result is
nearer at hand than is often supposed,
and in the case of individual millmen
great hardships are very frequently im-
posed by the destruction of their tribu-
tary timber by fire.
Combined action on the part of all
who are interested in the protection of
forests and the perpetuation of the lum-
ber trade is absolutely necessary before
any successful attempt can be made to
check this enormous evil. Forest fires
throughout the United States are frequent
to a degree little understood except by
men familiar with the woods, and the
magnitude of the task of checking them
is correspondingly great. The Amert-
can Forestry Association offers the means
of united action between the lumbermen
of the East and West, the North and
South, toward this most necessary end.
Organization is absolutely essential in
any attempt of this kind, and the estab-
lished reputation of this Association, the
strong names already on its rolls, and its
history of honorable accomplishment,
make it by far the best means for the
purpose in hand.
But if we suppose forest fires to be
checked throughout the country, the
interests of the lumber trade will still be
only partially protected. Destructive
methods of lumbering are often not less
harmful in their results to the lumber
business itself than the severest fires.
Lumbermen hitherto have given but lit-
tle attention to ways of cutting and
getting out their timber which would
not destroy the productive value of forest
land. In other words, cutting with
a view to perpetuating the supply of
lumber through the protection and repro-
duction of the forest has had little atten-
tion from lumbermen until now. Many
of those who have considered it have not
believed it was practical, but by far the
greater number have scarcely considered
it at all.
Conservative lumbering differs more
widely from forest protection, as it is
understood by those mistaken friends of
the forest who are anxious to have all
the trees die on the stump, than from
the methods of lumbermen ordinarily
used. It consists simply in taking such
precautions in cutting and getting out
the timber as will insure a valuable
second-growth. In the Adirondack for-
ests of New York, for example, such
lumbering has recently been introduced
on two large tracts covering together
more than one hundred thousand acres,
and during the past fall and early winter
fifteen camps were cutting in this way.
The reasons which led to the adoption
of these methods were strictly business
ones, The removal of the old timber in
a way to protect and promote the growth
of the young trees adds very little to the
cost of lumbering, while the increased
value of the land After cutting much
more than repays the additional ex-
pense.
The method used in the Adirondacks
will naturally not apply to all the forest
regions of the United States, but other
methods of conservative lumbering can
be used with advantage almost every-
where. The American Forestry Associa-
tion works for the diffusion of a knowl-
edge of these methods and for their
adoption throughout the United States.
In doing so, it seeks to perpetuate, not
to destroy, the lumber business of the
country, and it is already receiving the
support of prominent lumbermen in
different parts of the United States.
The Association understands thor-
oughly the premium set on the destruc-
tion of timber by heavy taxation on tim-
ber lands, cut and uncut, and is pre-
pared to interest itself actively in bring-
ing about achange. The possession of
an appropriate and effective organ in THE
FoRESTER, with its extensive exchange
The Douglas Spruce
THE FORESTER:
March
list and its circulation among men of
influence, gives it peculiar advantages in
any agitation of this kind.
Much misunderstanding has existed,
and much still exists, on the part of
lumbermen and others as to the law and
the rules and regulations which govern
the National Forest Reserves. It was
believed at first that the intention of the
Government in making these reserves
was to withdraw them from use altogether,
and to prohibit the settlement of agricul-
tural lands within their boundaries. <A
better understanding has gradually come
about, but the specific provisions of the
law are not yet widely known.
Extracts from the law and the regula-
tions issued under it, explaining in detail
the ways in which the reserves may be
made useful to the communities near
which they lie, and the regulations to
be observed in the use of their timber
and other resources, appeared in the
February issue of THE Forester. Ap-
plicants for membership in the American
Forestry Association whose letters to
that effect are received before April 15
will receive the February number until
the edition is exhausted.
of Northern Oregon.
By Henry S. GRAVES.
It is not improbable that the Douglas
Spruce in Washington and Oregon grows
more rapidly than any other coniferous
tree. The long annual shoots of the
young saplings and the wide rings on the
stumps of trees which have grown in
open situations are noticeable even to
casual observers. There have been pub-
lished from time to time measurements
of the growth of the Douglas, but they
have usually (with the exception of a
few by Dr. Heinrich Mayr) been taken
on old trees at haphazard in the forest,
and may or may not represent the capa-
bility of the tree under average condi-
tions. A complete knowledge of its
growth can be obtained only through an
exhaustive study, such as is to be begun
during the coming summer by the Divi-
sion of Forestry. A few figures repre-
senting average conditions only and put
in a usable form should, however, prove
valuable until this investigation has
been completed. The measurements of
growth summarized below, together with
the notes on the silvicultural character of
the tree, were collected by the writer
during the summer of 1896, in connec-
tion with a special report prepared for
Mr. Gifford Pinchot.
OCCURRENCE.
Douglas Spruce is found from tide land
to an altitude between 5,000 and 6,000
1899. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 53
feet above sea level. A few scattering tion at which the writer observed it on
trees occur near the coast, but they dis- the eastern side of the Cascade Range
WAT LENE POS ee oe
DOUGLAS SPRUCE, NEAR ASTORIA, OREGON ; DIAMETER, THIRTEEN FEET;
ESTIMATED HEIGHT, THREE HUNDRED FEET.
like the tide land and only begin to was 2,800 feet. Along streams, how-
reach their normal development above ever, it is probably found at a lower alti-
recent sea deposits. The lowest eleva- tude. It reaches its best development
54 THE FORESTER.
west of the summit of the Cascades be-
low 2,500 feet, on river bottoms, in
sheltered ravines, on rich benches and
on moderate slopes. It attains the
greatest height and produces the most
valuable timber when growing in dense
forests, on well-drained, loamy soil and
in sheltered situations. It occurs, how-
ever, in abundance on rocky soil, steep
slopes and exposed ridges, where it is apt
to be comparatively short and scrubby.
For its best development a considerable
amount of moisture in the air is required,
and on this account it prospers better on
the western than the eastern slopes of
the Cascades. A deep soil is not required
on account of the shallow root system.
This is well illustrated in the lower
Santiam Valley, where Douglas Spruce
is frequently found growing with great
vigor, and producing tall, straight tim-
ber, on ground with an impermeable
subsoil, in which the White Oak is short
and stunted.
HABIT.
When growing in open situations,
Douglas Spruce develops a large spread-
ing crown, which gives the tree a broad,
conical aspect. Such trees are com-
paratively short and grow rapidly in
diameter. In dense stands, on the other
hand, the trees are very tall, shed their
lower branches early, and form long
clear boles with narrow compact crowns.
Douglas Spruce carries its diameter well
up into the crown, and in case of very
old trees, the stem then tapers within a
few feet abruptly to a point, this portion
being usually bent in the direction of
the prevailing wind.
The largest tree measured by the
writer was thirteen feet in diameter and
had an estimated height of nearly 300 feet.
One observer states that he measured a
tree in Washington 335 feet high and fif-
teen feet in diameter. The oldest tree,
whose age was determined during the
present study, was about 400 years old,
but specimens have been found with 700
annual rings on the stump.
The bark of young trees is light gray
or white, and is smooth, thin, and
covered with resin blisters. When twenty
to thirty years old the bark becomes
longitudinally cracked. In later life the
March,
color varies from dark brown, almost
black, to a whitish gray; and often on
old trees it is reddish, or light brown
tinged with yeliow. At about fifty years
of age the bark is six-tenths to nine-
tenths of an inch thick, and on old trees
three to six inches or even more.
Lumbermen distinguish between Red
and Yellow Spruce, but botanically these
are identical. They differ only in the
character of the lumber they produce.
The Yellow Spruce is old and mature,
and is generally found in dense forest on
good soil and in favorable situations,
The trees have long, clear, full trunks,
narrow crowns, and a fine-grained,
yel!owish wood. Often, however, the
wood has a reddish tinge near the center.
The bark is usually ight brown, tinged
with yellow, and is less coarse in texture
than that of the Red Spruce. The latter
has a comparatively large crown, deeply
corrugated bark, and coarse-grained, red-
dish wood. The Douglas found on the
eastern slope of the Cascades, or grow-
ing in open situations, is for the most
part Red Spruce. The yellow variety is
confined to the: Pacific slope.
The wood of the Douglas is extremely
durable. Trees have been known to lie
on the ground forty years and be per-
fectly sound. Stems of trees which have
been killed by fire stand many years be-
fore decaying. On one plot of even-
aged trees eighty-three years old, near
Permelia Lake old stubs of the original
timber were still to be seen, though de-
caying and crumbling to pieces
TOLERANCE.
The Douglas Spruce cannot live in very
dense shade. This is shown by the great
scarcity of young growth in the deep
forest, where the proportion of old Firs
which are constantly distributing seed,
is large. Among the western conifers it
stands between White Pine and Noble
Fir in the scale of tolerance, the former
bearing more shade and the latter less.
REPRODUCTION.
The youngest tree found bearing seed
was only sixteen years old. It was grow-
ing, however, in excellent soil and in an
open situation. In the forest the period
at which the Douglas Spruce bears seed
1899.
begins much later. Observers testify that
it bears fruit every year, but that in some
years the production of seed is more
abundant than in others and that fre-
quently the cones are barren. It is cer-
tain, however, that seed is produced
abundantly and at short intervals, and
that the tree continues to bear late in
life. Very old trees, such as the veterans
on the slopes of the Coast Range, repro-
duce themselves sparsely. Trees bear
more plentifully on rich than on meagre
soil; in open places than in dense stands;
and at low than at high elevations.
In the dense forest young seedlings
are practically wanting, but where the
stand is broken groups of small trees are
abundant. A certain amount of light is,
therefore, necessary for the germination
of the seed. The second essential con-
dition of germination is a good seed- bed.
Young seedlings are found in largest
numbers on ground which has_ been
broken so that the mineral soil is ex-
posed. A matting of leaves or a firm
sod, on the other hand, seems unfavor-
able to the reproduction of the tree.
When the upper layer of humus has
been burned off the reproduction is ex-
cellent. This is the reason that fires are
often followed by a magnificent growth of
young Douglas Spruce. Near seed trees
the second growth is usually very dense,
but where a tract has been stripped by
fire, and seed has to be borne from a con-
siderable distance, the result is an irreg-
ular, rather ragged, growth of trees,
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
‘try was settled.
55
varying greatly in size and age. Under
such conditions two and sometimes three
generations of trees are necessary to seed
the ground densely enough to establish
_a forest equal to the original growth.
GROWTH.
In order to determine the rate of
growth, the following method was em-
ployed: Sample plots were measured off
in second growth which had come up in
regular even-aged stands. All trees on
these plots were counted and their diam-
eters measured at breast height. The
average diameter was then determined,
and a sample tree of this diameter and
apparently of average height, was felled,
and measurements were taken to deter-
mine its contents and rate of growth.
This average tree was used as a basis
for the computation of the total contents
of all the trees on the sample plots and
of the average growth in height and
diameter.
The writer was fortunate in finding a
number of even-aged groups of nearly
pure second-growth Douglas in the San-
tiam and Willamette Valleys on what
had been grass prairies before the coun-
The repeated fires,
probably set by the Indians, had pre-
vented new growth from coming up;
but when the fires were checked by the
whites, the few scattered Douglas which
had survived from a former forest seeded
the ground rapidly to young timber.
There were measured, in all, nine sam-
TABLE No. 1.—Summary of Measurements of Nine Sampie Trees.
fy Ne ets eas =I ae = hoe a 5 z
eo Mite taeee eee ec | oe | soe a
® © a nD cS a ‘a 8 Sa a Locality.
Bee ee eee ee |e |] ve) eg | BE
ee ees 8 |e | 8 | es: | Ba |
= Sati) a = mo
2) | 5) Ss aS pipe >t Fn fa a= a > 5
| eee ga ran; rae aE Meh EIGN ae
No. |Tiches. Inches. Inches.) Feet.|Years.| Feet. Years. Inches. Cub. feet. Peon
Peer oe a4 | fot gtio.s| 23/5 99.2 |)... | eee ws. tli Clackamas. ....: Ore,
2 3.0 BRS leravon|fors 22 38.2 sae Sere ig aeis siese Shelburne ..... os
Bale 7 | 27s 2 OF2n 2220 32 68.8 15 1.0 9.61 32 Clackamas..... ‘‘
4 Tes 7.9 O53 | ioe 41 73.5 27 fie eons 4,0 Shelburne’ ..... oC
5 ROME Ses Fok |) wets 38 80.5 | 18 Le 13.8 AsO) jobelburne ..2.- 1%
GRO leOn fe ao. 2- om. o| 937 asa 27 tens 16.4 4.2 |Shelburne ..... ce
Hae OO" | -1O.4: Qe Onlelas 4o | 85.5 | 18 TS eee eee 7. Ae Shelburne’ <.2.. us
8 8E4b| Sg A6 Fon ale O FOual Ole lal 520 0.8 1Q.1 2.6 Clackamas..... ‘*
Oulelo.O; |= 19.2 | 16.6 |) 2.0 83 |138.8 32 1.6 110 sted Rea SP Uy Permeliay.- +s
| | | 5
56
ple plots: four near Clackamas, four in
the Santiam Valley near Shelburne, and
one between Detroit and Permelia Lake.
The measurements of the trees which
were analyzed on the various plots are
summarized in Table No. 1.
The annual growth of each tree in
diameter and height was worked out
separately from the stem analyses, and
the average of all obtained by entering
the values on cross-section paper and
drawing normal curves through them.
The rate of growth for each decade was
then read directly from the curves.
These values are given in Table No. 2.
TABLE No. 2.
Rate of Growth in Height and Diameter.
Average of Nine Trees.
an-
nual growth.
an-
nual growth.
alee see donee
meer safe e tae 6) =) D
Years.) Feet. Feet. |Inches.| Inches.
ae) TOs sete ©) (6) | .Iy 5
20 33. | 2.3 4.2 | 123 4
30 GEA bora aes 6.6 ~24 4
40 Tone lO GQEO%)| .24 4
50 92) | erk.6 II .4 24 4
60 106 | peace eieshacl 20 5
70 120 | P40 eS rn AI ov) 6
80 WOON 51 16.3 | 163} 8
From this table it will be seen that
THE FORESTER.
March,
the tree reaches its maximum rate of
growth in height betweenits twentieth and
thirtieth years, during which period it is
shooting up two and four-tenths feet per
annum. The mean annual growth in
height for the first thirty years is one and
nine tenths feet, or slightly less than the
current annual growth. The rate of
growth in diameter is very regular. It
reaches its maximum at about the thirtieth
year and continues at the rate of twenty-
four one-hundredths of an inch per
annum until the tree is about fifty years
old, when it begins to decrease. It
must be borne in mind that these figures
of growth do not represent what an in-
dividual tree is capable of doing if given
favorable conditions of light and grow-
ing space, but are the average for all
trees both large and small, in a dense
forest.
The chief purpose in taking the meas-
urements of sample plots was to deter-
mine the number of trees per acre and
the total contents at different ages.
Table No. 3 gives a summary of the
nine valuation surveys, and shows for
each plot the number of trees, the aver-
age and maximum diameters, the average
height, age and density, and the total
contents in cubic feet and cords. No
computation of board feet was made be-
cause, with the exception of a few speci-
mens on Plot No. g, the trees were not
of a merchantable size.
TABLE No. 3.—Summary of Sample Plots, Showing Yield per Acre at Different Ages.
| Boy eller tele tte + | 2 B a ;
| © oa Seaicaem| a eI od
3 oe Festa Seng 4S a : cS) Bs = H ‘
| Soins S are ae 2 ye #9 & S Locality.
: : 2 |g i/sed|8od| s | s&s 8 seta | | 5 of
Bl We deg | Ba ece | Bee | S|. ORAM coos le rc malarial
epee cee teem, |S) aes ele
No. Acres. Inches. Inches. Years.| Feet. | Ou. ft Cu. ft
T |-0.06"|" 242-409 -|--1'8)- 7" >| 23°) 2qt@mimeccen: TO) AsOSScle ee Clackamas . (re.
2 | 0.25 | 7OI | 125 | 2.9 10 22 38.0 | 1,087 | 1.0 | 2,804 | 4,346] ... | Shelburne. ‘‘
3 | 0.25 | 168 ae Oay7aal LO 32 | 69)0ner.613°). 1,0 672 | 6,451 | 72 | Clackamas ‘‘
4 | 0.25 | 128)... | 7.1 | 20 | 41 | 74.0} 1,113 |0.8 428 | 4,451 | 51 | Shelburne. ‘“
5 | 1.0 | 645 Fhe. |) 105) 38 | 81.0] 8,901 | 1.0 645 | 8,901 | 99 | Shelburne, ‘‘
6| 1.0 | 490] .... | 8.9 | 19 37 | 78.0] 8,036 | 0.85) 490 | 8,036 | 90 | Shelburne. ‘‘
Fale Ole s3 Om eee GLO 2 aio KOMMsIS AIS || G30 || CC) 360 | 7,812 | 87 | Shelburne. ‘
Sel ONES 5 Silas. | 8.9] 19. | 50 | or aoyaen|tors 353 | 6,742 | 76 | Clackamas ‘‘
Opa 2O) ELS Ol wees. | L959 | 40) |) 83 |r390nlm7he8onlon7 150 |17,280 |190 | L. Permelia‘
|
1899.
These figures show that on a fully
stocked plot. there are between 3,000
and 4,000 trees per acre at twenty years
ofage. Asthe trees grow older they re-
A GROWTH OF DOUGLAS SPRUCE ABOUT
quire greater room for their development,
and in consequence many are overtopped
and die. While the number of trees
per acre falls off with increase of age,
there are still 150 trees on Plot No. g at
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, Ey
the age of eighty-three years with a
density of only seven-tenths (a fully
stocked area being rated as one). The
most striking feature of the table is the
at.
WATL- ENG-CO,
FIFTY YEARS OLD.
large yield in cubic feet and cords. An
examination of the last column of figures
will show that the mean annual incre-
ment is something over two cords per
acre.
58 THE FORESTER
March,
The Collection of Statistics.
Under date of December 26 Dr. C. A.
Schenck, forester of the Biltmore Estate,
wrote to the Worthwestern Lumberman
offering some suggestions as to methods
of gathering timber statistics. Dr.
Schenck holds that to be of permanent
use such an investigation should include
every tree species. As to the selection
of a unit of measurement he would reject
as inaccurate all commonly accepted
rules for finding contents in board feet
and use only the cubic foot. After sug-
gesting that much will depend upon the
extent to which the investigation is
carried—how far up the bole of the tree,
and the minimum size of small or young
trees to be measured—and also as to
what shall constitute a forest within the
meaning of such an investigation, Dr.
Schenck then takes up the cost of such
an investigation as follows:
It will be interesting to find out what the
stock-t iking of the American forests will cost.
The United States has an average width of
about 3,000 miles and an average length of
1,250 miles. If the country was traversed on
every meridian, and if for the width of four
poles lying on that meridian the amount of
standing timber, the area of brush land, of
agricultural land, of waste land, of prairies,
etc., was found out, very complete statistics
could be obtained. There will be 60 strips, 50
miles apart one from another. Multplying the
result obtained on each strip by theratio ‘‘ dis
tance between the strips divided by width of
strip,” the amount of timber Jand and the
growing stock, the amount of brush land, of
waste land, or agricultural land, etc., would
appear ata glance. I do not think that the
stock taking could be done by ordinary lumber-
men, Ihavehadseveral tractsin this neighbor-
hood investigated relative to the amount of
timber growing on them by _highly-recom-
mended lumbermen. The results given in by
different lumbermen for the same tract vary
by about 500 per cent. I am c nfident that
inaccurate results would be ob’ained by the
Government statistics as well, if they were
taken with the help of averagelumbermen, A
thorough scientific way is the only one that
will yield the desired result. A combination
ef agricultural statistics with the forest sta-
tistics will cheapen the entire work very con-
siderably, while it will make it more interesting
at the same time.
The head man of a ‘‘ band of stock-takers”
should be a botanist well acquainted with the
flora of the region in which he is working. In
such places for which maps are not available a
geologist and asurveyor should accompany him,
Supposing that a band can thoroughly inves-
tigate the length of five miles a day, one of the
strips above mentioned, being 1,250 miles long,
could be done at an expense of about $20,000.
As there are 60 strips to be pursued, the total
expense would amount to $1,200,000,
I think the strip system is more advisable
than estimating the standing timber by .coun-
ties. In the latter case, the inaccessible parts
of the country are necessarily over or under-
estimated, and there is little chance that a mis-
take made in the plus direction will be elim-
inated by another mistake made in the minus
direction.
The strip system above recommended will
compel the band o° stock-takers to visit even
more or less inaccessible places. The outcome
will be maps showing at aglance for sts, brush
land, abandoned fields, cultivated fields, grass
lands, ete. Other maps will show the amount
of cord wood standing per acre ; again others,
the amount of annual regrowth ; finally, and
that is for us the most important point, the
amount of timber standing in the different
States and counties given by species, average
size and average quality will be shown by
tables and illustrated by maps.
In commenting upon this proposition
of Dr. Schenck’s, Dr. B. E. Fernow,
Director of the New York State College
of Forestry, says:
One-quarter the expenditure proposed by
Dr. Schenck will secure this information with
sufficient detail for practical usesin measuring
our forest resources.
Mr. Henry Gannett, who is in charge
of the forest work of the U. S. Geo-
logical Survey, takes decided issue with
Dr. Schenck as to the means that should
be employed in the collection of lumber
and timber statistics. In regard to this
matter Mr. Gannett writes as follows :
«<The ‘stock-taking’ is at present in
progress; for the past two years the
U. S. Geological Survey has been ac-
tively engaged upon it, and an area of
about 200,000 square miles, including
some of the most heavily-timbered por-
tions of the country, has been covered.
Moreover, for nearly a score of years,
the Geological Survey has been gather-
ing data concerning wooded areas and
placing them on its maps.
‘¢The method employed is the simple
1899.
one of compiling all definite information
regarding timbered area and stand, and
supplementing this by examinations in
the field. All lumber regions of impor-
tance have been cruised, some of them
repeatedly, in the interest of lumber com-
panies, land grant railroads, etc., and
the amount, distribution, species and
condition of the timber, as closely as
they can be estimated by trained men,
are matters of record in the possession
of these companies. Abstracts of such
records can commonly be obtained at
trifling expense under the sole condition
that they be not published in such form as
to injure the company’s business. From
railroads, lumber companies, State land
offices and other parties in Oregon and
Washington, I have obtained cruisings
of many thousands of square miles, un-
der this condition only, and these cruis-
ings, with the accompanying information
regarding the forested areas, furnish the
basis for a close estimate of the amount
of timber in these States, outside of cer-
tain mountain regions in which no exam-
inations have yet been made. This
estimate is, of course, based on the
present lumbering practice in the region,
by which only about one-third of the tree
comes out of the mill as sawed lumber.
‘<The wooded area, which is one of the
most important factors in these data, has
been mapped in greater or less detail
over more than one-third the area of the
country. The atlas sheets of the Geo-
logical Survey show it in much detail on
800,000 square miles scattered widely
Over our domain. Very little, however,
has as yet been published. The Hay-
den survey mapped the wooded areas of
about 100,000 square miles, the Powell
survey two-thirds as much, and the
Wheeler survey much more, all in the
Rocky Mountain Region. <All these data
are available, and, so far as they extend,
furnish one of the two essential items of
information. ;
‘As to the accuracy of the cruisers’ es-
timates, I have compared many duplicate
cruisings with one another, and many
cruisings with the actual amount cut,
and have reached a conclusion entirely
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 59
at variance with that of Dr. Schenck.
When we reflect that millions of dollars’
worth of timber land is bought and sold
annually, on the basis of these cruisers’
reports, we must accord to them some
degree of reliability.
‘‘But assuming that cruisers’ reports
are not sufficiently accurate, what shall be
substituted for them? ‘These men have
been trained for years in the sole business
of estimating amounts of standing timber,
and are the only class of men so trained.
If their services cannot be made avail-
able the only thing is to give up the idea
of measuring our forests.”
‘«‘Where the timber has not already
been cruised, estimates are being made
by agents in the employ of the U. S.
Geological Survey, but owing to the ex-
pense involved such examinations are by
no means as thorough and detailed as
cruisings by private companies. They
have been made of some 30,000 square
miles, all of which is in the Western
country in and adjacent to the forest re-
serves, and have cost on an average in
the neighborhood of $1.00 per squara
mile. The cost is not, however, uni-
formly distributed, the heavily timbered
reserves of Washington costing much
more than others in which the timber is
light and of little present value or is
almost wanting as in the chapparal re-
serves of Southern California. These
examinations are made by traveling
through the country by such routes as to
afford near views of the entire region.
All valleys are traversed and many moun-
tains climbed, and estimates of the
average stand are made all along the
routes. Of course, the timber is classi-
fied by species and its condition as to
age, soundness, etc., noted. Maps are
used for delineating the extent of burns,
logged areas and areas of merchantable
timber, its different degrees of density,
and the distribution of species.
«¢TIn the examination of the Bitterroot
Reserve, an area of some 7,000 square
miles, about 1,900 miles were traveled,
on horseback and on foot, or about one
linear mile to 324 square miles. Much
of this area is, however, so high and
60 THE FORESTER.
rocky that the timber is sparse and valu-
less, and therefore required little exam-
ination, so that most of the work was
confined to the lower country which was,
proportionally, more closely traversed.
“Dr. Schenck’s plan of gridironing the
country by routes of travel fifty miles
apart is open to many objections. It
would involve an enormous amount of
unnecessary labor. We know perfectly
well what regions are timbered and what
not. Why traverse the vast extent of
the plains and deserts, where every one
knows perfectly well there are no trees?
What sort of an idea of the extent and
stand of timber in the country could be
obtained by traversing it along arbitrary
lines fifty miles apart? We have already
more information than could be afforded
by such a skeleton. As to defining the
areas by such journeys, consider the
condition of things in the Eastern States,
which are naturally timbered and where
to-day the timbered and cleared areas
form little, irregular patches, a fraction
of a square mile in extent, scattered over
the face of the country. These can be
delineated only by careful, detailed sur-
veys, such as the Geological Survey is
now making.
‘There remains the question of the
unit to be employed in stating the
amount of timber. On some accounts,
it might be well to use the cubic foot
and give the entire contents of the tree,
but to this there are two objections.
One is that when we had completed our
survey, we would know little about the
merchantable contents of our forests.
The other, that we would be obliged to
throw away all the cruisings which have
been made and which can be collected
at such trifling expense, and to do the
work over again.
“‘That it is desirable to obtain this
information regarding our forests, goes
without saying. It lies, or should lie,
at the bottom of all forestry movements.
Such data are fundamental, and _ to
attempt to build up a forest system with-
out them, as we are trying to do, is much
like building a house without a founda-
tion.”
March,
Timber Statistics.
It is gratifying to find that the great
daily papers are beginning to pay some
attention to the lack of reliable timber
Statistics of the United States. In a
recent issue of the 77vanscrift, of Boston,
there is an interview, supplemented by
editorial discussion, with Mr. Weston,
of Weston & Bigelow, who insists that
whereas now there are no reliable data
as to the timber supply of the country it
should be no difficult matter to arrange
for a fairly accurate census, and urges
that Congress should appropriate the
money to cover the cost of the work.
This is a subject which is of interest not
merely to the lumber trade, but of im-
partance to the Government as a basis .
for formulating some intelligent policy
in forestry matters.
Ata recent meeting of the American
Economic Association, a report was
made by a committee which included,
among others, Hon. Carroll D. Wright,
who is probably the best qualified statis-
tician in the United States, This report
called attention to the fact that the
Twelfth Census, which is about to be
provided for by act of Congress, may
prove inadequate to the needs of a
nation such as this.
The committee makes criticism not so
much of the accuracy of the previous
censuses as of the treatment of the data
which weresecured, and of a lack of con-
tinuity from census to census. The
committee believes that there should be
a permanent census bureau, or that there
should be constituted special bureaus,
possibly in connection with some of
the departments of government, to com-
pile information upon specific subjects.
This work should, of course, be in the
hands of specialists in these subjects.
This is in line with what the lumber-
men of the United States recently have
been urging. It has developed during
all the agitation concerning the tariff
that the official records of the United
States are wofully inaccurate and defi-
cient concerning the greatest manufac-
turing industry of the country—lumber.
1899.
Our information from Washington is to
the effect that it is the purpose in the
bill for the Twelfth Census to strip from
it all provision for any information be-
yond that touching the population of
the country. If other subjects shall be
taken up, they will be provided for by
special acts, which shall define the
expenditure and the scope of the inves-
tigation to be made. At the meeting of
Northern and Southern lumbermen held
in St. Louis in November a vigorous set
of resolutions was passed, calling upon
the Government to provide for a compre-
hensive statistical survey of the timber
resources of the country and a compila-
tion of facts pertaining to wood products.
The resolutions of the American Eco-
nomic Association are in line with these
suggestions. If anything is to be done
to impress upon Congress the need of
some such bureau as those who have had
the tariff matter in charge have found to
be absolutely necessary, it should be
done at once. It will be remembered
that in the Eleventh Census Superinten-
dent Porter was able to make a fairly
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 61
satisfactory bulletin covering the lumber
industry in Michigan, Wisconsin and
Minnesota. He failed, however, to com-
pile anything at all comprehensive con-
cerning the great lumber interests in
other parts of the country. It seems to
the American Lumberman that it is of
particular importance to the developing
lumber interests on the Pacific coast and
in the South that some means should be
provided for the compilation of a close
estimate of the standing timber of every
kind in these newer lumbering regions,
and accurate data concerning the volume
and cost of production, etc. This canbe
done only by a bureau of experts, with
ample time and ample means at their
command. Is it not due to the lumber-
men of the United States that some such
provision should be made? Will not
some such compilation be of vast im-
portance and value to the friends of
forestry? The subject is of enough im-
portance to demand energetic and per-
sistent effort at the hands of lumbermen
all over the country.—American Lumber-
man.
Forest Management.
To Reforest White Pine Lands.
An interesting report of Forest War-
den Andrews, of Minnesota, calls atten-
tion to the effect brought about by the
use of the lumber railroads in devasta-
ting the forests. ‘‘ These roads,’”’ he
says, ‘‘reaching far into the forest where
no trees can be cut if they must be
rafted by river to the points of con-
sumption, are tapping timber lands that
were a few years ago supposed to be
beyond the reach of the most envious
lumberman. They are increasing the
cut of Pine in Minnesota by millions of
feet yearly, and their ultimate results
will be to denude the forests at the very
points where forests are absolutely
necessary, far up the water-courses and
on the ridges and the heights of land.”
According to his statement, lumber-
ing began some fifty years ago in Minne
sota, and about fifty billion feet of Pine
have ‘been cut in that time, and he esti-
mates there still remains some thirty
billion more, and unless some methods
are taken for rehabilitating these forests
they will be gone in from twelve to
eighteen years. About 20,000 men are
employed in the State on this work and
the cut represents an annual value of $5,-
000,000 as it stands and about twice that
whencut. All this will be lost to the State
unless some measures are taken for the
reforestation of these tracts. Minne-
sota is now the only State east of the
Rockies left with a Pine forest, Michi-
gan and Wisconsin being practically ex-
hausted. He estimates that there are
in Minnesota nearly 3,000,000 acres of
waste land, from which the trees have
been cut, and on which no taxes will
62 THE FORESTER
ever be paid. These lands are reverting
to the State for non-payment of taxes
as fast as the lumbermen can get rid of
them. Active steps are being taken by
members of the coming State Legisla-
ture and others interested toward the
outlining of a plan by which the State
shall gradually reforest these millions of
acres, and hold the lands as public prop-
erty to be lumbered as occasion may
require and the State may direct. It is
claimed that millions of dollars can be
earned by this course, and that the
lumbering industry in Minnesota can be
continued indefinitely and almost unin-
terruptedly. These new lands, if forested
at once, will be ready for the axe by the
time the present forests are gone, if the
young trees on the present timbered
lands are preserved and not ruined by
the cutting of those now only large
enough to make a board.
‘‘In Europe,” he says, ‘‘forest lands
earn an average yearly of from 27 cents
to several dollars per acre, and that
Minnesota’s abandoned pineries have
better soils than most of those of Europe.
The State now holds some 800,000
acres of these waste lands and it is pro-
posed to begin experiments and opera-
tions on these within a short time, assoon
as legislation and appropriations can be
secured.” Mr. Andrews makes the very
reasonable estimate of go cents an acre
as a return from these lands, which
would mean nearly $3,000,000 a year in
revenue to the State, and a far greater
income to labor and capital, all of which
is now sure to be utterly swept away in
a few years, with present methods con-
tinued.—Lumber Trade Journal.
Wood-Pulp Industry:
The wood-pulp bacillus is the enemy of
forests, and unless a halt is called in its rav-
ages it may almost eat them off the face of the
globe. So many things are now made from
wood pulp that the demand for the substance,
constantly increasing, becomes practically
limitless, and however ample the sources of
supply may now seem to be, they have a
bound and tend to diminution, while the de-
mand promises a constant increase. Printing
paper alone eats an enormous hole in our na-
March,
tional forests yearly, and the future extent of
that requirement can only be conjectured.
The huge procession of railway cars all over
the country runs to some extent on paper
wheels; carpenters are beginning to use boards
of paper handsomely veined, requiring no
planing, twice as durable as the wooden
variety, and costing only half the money. The
builder is introducing paper bricks showily
enameled, which will not burn, and possess
many advantages over those of burnt clay.
The shipbuilder introduces masts and spars of
the same substance, which is likewise used for
telegraph and telephone poles and flagstaffs,
These are not fanciful experiments, but serious
business procedures, justified by the superior
utility of the articles so produced, The same
quality is claimed for the paper horseshoe
recently invented and now extensively used.
An enumeration of the purposes: for which
this surprising protoplasm has come to be em-
ployed would stretch into a catalogue, and new
ones seem to be discovered every day. They
give a sign of its waxing demand on our forest
growths, at which the sylvan economist and
conservator may look with apprehension, but
just at present it is difficult to see in what way
he can intervene for their protection, Hum-
boldt says that wherever the civilized, earth-
tilling, wood-consuming man appears in ar-
boreal regions of the globe he provides the
conditions for his own extinction by his
destruction of forests. His dictum antedates
the wood-pulp man, whose appearance certainly
does not tend to invalidate it, and, useful as he
is, it may in time become necessary to take in
hand and impose some kind of restraint upon
him.—New York Tribune,
The ‘‘sylvan economist and conserva-
tor,’ which, in common parlance, means
the professional forester, does not ‘‘ look
with apprehension ” at the work of wood-
pulp industry nor does he regard it as an
enemy of the forests. On the contrary
he recognizes that the requirements of
new conditions must be met by the adop-
tion of new methods and that it is the
office of his vocation to provide forest
products to meet the necessities of mod-
ern civilization. With the sentimental
side of the question he has nothing what-
ever to do. One thing can be said of
the wood-pulp industry, and that is, that
it wastes less of the product consumed
than most of the timber-using industries. |
If greater demands for material are to
be made upon the forest, its productive
capacity should be so increased as to
equal such demands. This can only be
attained by more intelligent methods of
+e
1899.
treatment. The wonderful growth of the
wood-pulp industry only serves to em-
phasize the necessity of adopting definite
systems of forest management. An en-
terprise which uses the forest products
in the manufacture of needful commodi-
ties isa legitimate one, but those interests
or industries which are wasteful or de-
structive in their treatment of the same,
should, as a measure of public policy,
be regulated or excluded.
A Field for Lumber Capital.
Southern timber owners in both Pine and
“hardwood do not seem to have fully realized
the value of their property, and lands are much
cheaper in relation to the value of the lumber
than is the case inthe North. Something of
the same kind is the rule in the West, where
until the past year there has been little advance
in the price asked for logs or timber,
Compared with the vast resources of the
South in Yellow Pine, the manufacture of lum-
ber is only just starting. It has taken North-
ern enterprise and capital but a short time to
get a foothold there, and the development will
be more rapid in the future than in the past.
As the Pine of the North is cut away, the man-
ufacturers have turned their attention more
and more to the manufacture of hardwood lum-
ber,but as the field is more limited than was
the White Pine field, the surplus capital has
looked elsewhere for investment. Part of it
has gone West, but much of it has gone South,
and from Florida to Texas can be found men
who were formerly leaders among the White
Pine men of the North.
There are vast tracts of both Pine and hard-
wood timber in the South that haveas yet been
untouched by the axe of the woodsman, and of
the latter especially there is a wealth of sup-
ply. This vast wealth is only just beginning
to be appreciated by the lumbermen of the
country. On these lands in the South are Cy-
press, Ash, Oak, Gum, Box, Swamp Maple and
Pecan. Cypress is a fine wood for building
purposes, and is capable of the finest finish.
All of the others have their uses, many of them
being especially and specifically appropriate
for certain uses in building.
The various kinds of Oak are perhaps the most
useful for general purposes of any of the hard-
woods, and as an all-round material for build-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 63
ing, furniture and other uses, is perhaps the
most valuable of the woods of the South.
Southern Oak has been a staple for a number
of years, but the supply has not as yet been
heavily drawn upon, compared with the
amount there is yet standing. Its future is
sure to be greater than its past. Southern
hardwoods as well as Southern Pine offer a
great field for the investment of capital that is
being withdrawn from the manufacture of
White Pine of the North.—J/zsszsszppiz Valley
Lumberman.
Commenting on the foregoing the
Lumber Trade Journal says :
While large sums of money have been in-
vested in Southern timber by Northern lum-
bermen, yet the field there is practically un-
touched, as is evidenced by the low value of
stumpage prevailing alloverthe South. There
are fortunes awaiting holders of Southern tim-
ber which will equal if not surpass those pro-
vided in the past by the forests of the North.
Owners of good timber, either Pine, Cypress
or hardwoods, in the South, cannot afford to
slaughter itforan unremunerative price. They
would far better let it stand, assured that it
will not only grow in increment but also in mar-
ket value steadily and perhaps quite rapidly.
Governor John Lind, the new chief
executive of Minnesota, expresses the
opinion in his message to the Legislature
that public opinion in that State had been
educated up to the point of supporting a
system of forest culture on a large
scale. However, he favored increasing
the extent of Itasca Park, asrecommended
by the game warden, and of prohibiting
the sale .by the State of public lands
clearly within the forestry area. He
thought the State might acquire title to
large areas of denuded lands forfeited to
the State by non-payment of taxes. He
made the novel but meritorious sugges-
tion that each country school district
should have a plat of ground connected
with it on which the children should be
taught to plant and rear trees, and that
horticulture and forestry should be made
regular studies in our normal schools.
64 THE FORESTER.
March,
Forest Administration.
Excessive Timber Land Taxation.
In discussing the relation of taxation
and forest destruction a lumber exchange
says:
The Pine of Itasca County, Minnesota, is
being cut as fast as possible simply to get it
out of the way and converted into money before
the tax collector can confiscate a large part of
its value. Taxes are so high that timber which
is not immediately cut becomes a sinkhole in
which investments are lost, instead of a source
of profit. If forest lands were taxed with more
consideration, owners would have a natural
inclination to hold them for an advance in
value. As taxes are now assessed, they offset
any increase in the value of the timber that
results from a diminution of the Pine supply.
It is a very short-sighted policy which
prompts officials in frontier counties to pile up
debts for the timber owners to pay in the form
of taxes. The effect is that lumbermen re-
move the timber as rapidly as the market will
allow, and afterward let the taxes go by de-
fault. This leaves the country without any
taxes with which to make improvements and
meet its obligations. If county expenses were
kept at a minimum and made proportionate to
the actual development of the county, and
were incurred only as needed, the rate of tax.
ation would be comparatively low. Then the
lumberman could afford to leave his timber
standing, and in the long run the county would
derive a far greater revenue from his property
than under the present practice.
It can furthermore be said that the deplorable
financial condition to which forested counties
are brought by the method pursued of preying
on the lumbermen is also accompanied by the
rapid denudation of the lands. Magnificent
forests, which might be held in reserve for
years, are hurriedly cut off, and in a few years
the lumber industry of the section is atanend.,
Any motive for preservation and continuance
is negatived by excessive taxation. It is also
probable that iftaxes could be entirely remitted,
or made merely nominal, on cut-over lands,
owners might be induced to make attempts to
reforest them and hold the lands in reserve for
perpetual timber growth—if not wholly as an
individual enterprise, at least in conjunction
with the State or National Government.
An effort should be made by the proper
parties to secure the establishment
of a forest reservation covering the
headwaters of the Arkansas’ River,
Lake, Pine, Four Mile, Seven Mile, the
Cottonwood and Chalk creeks. The
South Platte Reserve reaches into Chaf-
fee County one mile west of the dividing
line between Park and Chaffee counties,
extending south to a point about oppo-
site the Annie C. C. mine, and with that
exception Chaffee County is without the
protection afforded by a forest reserve.
It would seem that the Arkansas River
is of sufficient importance with its great
volume of water, reaching as it does
through hundreds of miles of agricultural
country, to demand the immediate estab-
lishment of such a reserve. No section
of country has been or is being more
steadily drawn on for all kinds of timber
than Chaffee County, and without the
placing of some such restriction as is
afforded by the forest reserve regulations,
it is a question of but a short time until
the entire available supply of timber
will be exhausted, and the inevitable re-
sult will be a diminished water supply,
which will be disastrous to the agricul-
tural interests, not alone of this county,
but the entire farming section through
which the Arkansas flows —4uena Vista
(Colo.) Herald.
A special legislative commission raised
last year by the General Assembly of
New York to investigate the advisability
of acquiring additions to the forest pre-
serve in the Adirondacks has filed its
report. The latter, a voluminous docu-
ment, criticizes past extravagances upon
the part of the forest department and
charges too much politics in its conduct.
The commission recommends the pur-
chase of certain virgin timber lands for
the exemplification of projected timber
culture by the State and commends the
German system of reforestation; also
that the ownership be vested jointly in
the State and Nation, and that the prop-
erty be made a national health resort
after the manner of Baden-Baden, Ger-
many.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 65
State Associations.
California.
Concerning the activity of the newly
organized California Society for Con-
serving Waters and Protecting Forests,
the San Francisco Ca// says:
A few days ago a special committee went to
Sacramento to ascertain Governor Gage’s senti-
ment toward the movement for the conserva-
tion of the waters and forests of the State.
Their request for an audience was answered by
the statement that they would be granted
fifteen minutes, At the expiration of an hour
and a quarter the committee arose, but the
Governor asked them to remain and further
elaborate their proposition
The outcome of the conference was the
announcement that the enterprise would have
the hearty support of the Governor, and, fur-
thermore, that he would send a special message
to the Legislature advocating the passage of
the measure proposed by the society.
The legislation which is thus called for pro-
vides for the appointment of a Commissioner
of Irrigation, whose duty it shall be to co-op-
erate with the United States Geological Survey
in surveys and estimates of cost of reservoirs
for storing flood waters for irrigation, mining
and industrial purposes. It is stipulated that
the commissioner shall receive no salary
and that he is to hold office at the pleasure of
the Governor. ‘The measure, however, calls
for the appropriation of $10,000 to be expended
by the Director of the U.S, Geological Survey
with the understanding that the Geological
Survey will expend from Federal appropria
tions an equal amount in connection with said
work.
Another provision of the proposed law is that
acommission be appointed for the purpose of
devising means to preserve the forests of the
State from destruction by fires and wanton
depredation, and to report to the Governor the
result of their labors. A striking feature of
the desired act is the provision that until such
commission shall have reported to the Governor
upon the matters intrusted to their care no
legislative action shall be taken toward the
acceptance of the proposed donation by Con-
gress of a million acres of arid lands.
Colorado.
The annual meeting of the Colorado
Forestry Association was held in Denver
on February 15. A full account of the
proceedings of the meeting has not
reached THe Forester, but from press
reports it is enabled to present the
following :
Mr. W. N. Byers, of Denver, was re-
elected President of the association.
The other officers chosen were: First
Vice President, Henry Michelsen, of
Denver; Secretary and Treasurer, D.W.
Working, of Denver.
On motion of State Engineer John E.
Field, resolutions were adopted endors-
ing the recommendations of the National
Irrigation Congress in regard to the crea-
tion of a bureau of forestry in the De-
partment of the Interior. The recom-
mendations of the Irrigation Congress
set forth the importance of irrigation in-
terests in the West and the necessity of
maintaining a supply of water through-
out the entire season. They further call
attention to the fact that the forest cover
conserves the snowfall, forming ar atural
storage for water, and equalizing the flow
of the streams, also lessening the load of
silt in the streams. Recognizing these
facts the resolutions commend the care
of the forests to the Secretary of the In-
terior and urge the formation of a forestry
bureau, an appropriation by Congress to
be made sufficient for the support of the
bureau and the efficient preservation of
the National forests, whether included in
forest reserves or not. The resolutions
also contain a recommendation that legis-
lation be provided looking to the pre-
vention of forest fires. After endorsing
the resolutions of the Irrigation Congress
the Association then adopted resolutions
bearing upon local conditions and needs
and urging some State legislation in the
interest of forest conservation and pro-
tection.
Nebraska.
Pursuant to a call a meeting was held
at the Nebraska State University, Lin-
coln, Neb., on February 15, which re-
sulted in the formal organization of a
society which is to be known as the
Nebraska Park and Forestry Association.
The meeting was well attended, various
parts of the State being represented A
constitution was adopted and the follow-
66 THE FORESTER.
ing officers were elected: President,
C. S. Harrison, of York; Vice President,
E. F. Stephens, of Crete; Secretary,
A. J. Brown, of Geneva, Treasurer,
George A. Marshall, of Arlington; D1-
rectors, Hon. J. Sterling Morton, of
Nebraska City, Dr. C. E. Bessey, of
March,
the University of Nebraska, and. Peter
Youngers, Jr., of Geneva. A committee
was appointed to prepare by-laws and to
secure additional charter members. It
is proposed to hold meetings in conjunc-
tion with those of the State Horticultural
Society.
Educational.
Instruction in Forestry.
The University of Southern California,
an institution of learning which is located
at Los Angeles, has established a short
course of instruction in forestry. It is
to be known as the School of Forestry
of the University of Southern California.
The following outline of its purposes
and methods is quoted from the Los
Angeles Herald :
The aim of the school and its founders is to
train foresters, who as members of the Govern-
ment forest patrol, may render intelligent and
efficient service in preserving the forests and
extending their present area.
President George W. White of the univer-
sity will be president of the school. Abbot
Kinney, of Los Angeles, will lecture on the his-
torical development of forestry and efforts in
behalf of local forests. Harry Hawgood, of
Los Angeles, will devote his attention to some
peculiar phases of the general subject, water
percolation and the retentive power of the
earth for water ; also the mechanical properties
and values of woods. The game and fish in-
terests involved will be cared for by T. S. Van
Dyke, of this city, who is an authority on those
subjects. A. H. Koebig, of San Bernardino,
willimpart hisobservation on forestry in foreign
schools, and his technical knowledge of hydrog-
raphy, the location of reservoir sites, etc. J.
B. Lippincott, a member of the United States
Geological Survey Service, will have charge of
the geological and drainage questions ; also
the course and changing channels of streams
and means of conserving their waters. T. P.
Lukens, of Pasadena, will discuss methods for
the preservation of our forests and for their
restoration after being destroyed ;also method of
tree planting. Ornamental results in forestry
work will be treated by A. Campbell Johnson,
of Garvanza. Nursery work and the propaga-
tion of trees will be under the supervision of
Harvey S. Styles, of Redlands. Prof. O. P.
Phillips will lecture on the botanical and geo-
logical features of the soil. Prof, L. J. Stabler
will discuss the questions of physics and
chemistry that are involved. A competent
lecturer in meteorology will be secured before
the lectures begin.
The school will be a permanent regular de-
partment of the university, and each year will
offer a course of lectures extending-over a
period of six months, two lectures being given
each week. In connection with the theoretical
work, practical field work will be given to
students during the summer. Students who
show a proper degree of efficiency may obtain
positions as forest rangers in the Governmen
patrol service.
The course forthe present year will last for
sixteen or eighteen weeks and will open in
about two weeks. There will be no tuition
charged, but an incidental fee of $5 will be re-
quired of each student.
Lectures on Forest Tepics.
Under the auspices of the art depart-
ment of the Civic Club of Philadelphia,
Miss Mira Lioyd Dock, a member of
the American Forestry Association, has
been giving the four following lectures in
several cities of Western Pennsylvania:
I. National reserves, general and special.
II. State reserves, the Adirondacks, and Penn-
sylvania reserves, School of Forestry,
Pennsylvania Forestry laws, a predic-
tion and its fulfillment.
III. Municipal reserves, Parks, parkways and
playgrounds, ‘‘ Park-making a National
Art.”
IV. Local reserves, Within reach of every
village, Relation to schools, roadsides
and the State reserves, Massachusetts
reserves for ‘‘ The protection and preser-
vation of beautiful and historic places,”
With the prospectus of these lectures
there goes an admirable little list of
books, circulars and so forth, bearing on
forestry subjects. Miss Dock’s work
has been of great service; for she could
not have chosen a better way to further
the interests of forestry. She tells her
hearers just what they wish and need to
know, and in this way wins their appre-
ciation and interest.
1899.
THE FORESTER.
PUBLISHER’S ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE Forester is published monthly bythe
American Forestry Association at
No. 17 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents.
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
New Members.
Since the last issue of THE FoRESTER
the following named persons have been
elected to membership in the American
Forestry Association :
Edward P. Brennan, 4018 Vincennes
Avenue, Chicago, III.
Mrs. Frederick Bronson, Greenfield
Hill, Conn.
Dre Arthur
Scituate, Mass.
Mrs. Danske Dandridge, 2143 N St.
N. W., Washington, D. C.
Lewis C. Flanagan, North Weymouth,
Mass.
Prof. W. B. Graves, Andover, Mass.
Charles Bulkley Hubble, Bank of
Commerce Building, New York, N. Y.
C. S. Hulbert, City Treasurer, Min-
neapolis, Minn.
Bernard P. Mimmack, 1410 G St.,
Washington, D. C.
William G. Rockefeller, 292 Madison
Avenue, New York, N. Y.
W. M. Shepardson, Middlebury, Conn.
P. Chadbourn, North
Two new vice presidents have been
elected by the Board of Directors: Prof.
Charles C. Georgeson, of the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture, who is stationed
me sitka, Alaska, and Lieut. H. W.
French, U. S. Army, who is stationed at
Manila, P. I
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 67
Opposition to Reservation.
The following is from the El Paso
(Texas) Zzmes, dated February rr:
A Santa Fe business man who was in El Paso
the other day let out the secret that a big scheme
is being hatched at Santa Fe and Albuquerque
to prevent the development of the new territory
being opened up by the El] Paso & Northeastern
Railroad.
It is said that the scheme originatedin Albu-
querque and that Mr. Benedict, Superintendent
of Forestry for New Mexico and Arizona, has
been interested in the scheme, The Santa Fe
man who was in E] Paso the other day stated
that the Government would be asked to get
aside as a forest preserve a strip of land ex-
tending from the Capitan Mountains, east of
White Oaks, to the Texas line, over 100 miles
in length and thirty miles wide.
It is intended that this forest preserve shall
take in all of the Mescalero Indian reservation
and all ot that rich section of country through
which the White Oaks road now runs and is be-
ing built. Mr. Hawkins, attorney for tne road,
was asked what he knew about the proposition
and said:
‘«T have heard some rumors to the effect that
a forest preserve would be asked for in the sec-
tion of country you mention, but I hope they
are merely idle rumors, for, if the Government
should take that land and close it up as a forest
preserve, it would simply be roping the people
who are investing their money there, and more,
it would be an outrage on the Territory of New
Mexico, I think it would be best not to men-
tion the matter, for I feel confident that if any
such movement is on foot the Department at
Washington can be relied upon to stand by the
people of New Mexico.”
It is understood that Mr. Benedict will be in
El Paso in a few days to make a trip through
the country which it is proposed to have set
aside as a forestry preserve. And it is a well-
known fact that of late years forest preserves
have been a popular fad with the Land Depart-
ment, and in nearly every instance where a few
petitioners have asked for forest preserves the
petitions have been granted. The officials at
Washington seem to think that the agricultural
and timber lands of the West are not needed by
homeseekers and are only fit for forest or game
preserves.
But if this latest forestry scheme is carried
into execution it will cost El Paso millions of
dollars by making useless one of the richest
sections of New Mexico, which is now being
developed and made tributary to El Paso, while
it would not interfere with the development of
the mineral lands of that section, it would tie
up the timber and agricultural lands and close
the fine cattle ranges. Those ranges would
market in El Paso every year thousands of
head of cattle and large quantities of wool,
and the agricultural lands would furnish thou-
68
sands of prosperous farms that would market
their product in this city and purchase their
supplies here. ; ;
According to information, certain commercial
points in northern New Mexico are dissatisfied
because this wealthy section of the Territory
has been made tributary to El Paso, and like
the dog in the manger, they propose to try to
keep from El Paso’s lips that luxury which they
cannot get totheirown. But the people of this
city will make a fight for their own and will call
upon the solid Texas delegation in Congress to
stand by El Paso.
There is now pending in Congress a bill pro-
viding for the opening of the Mescalero reser-
vation to homesteaders, but the Forestry Union
will fight that bill, and if it carries pressure
will be brought to bear on the Land Depart-
ment to recommend the setting aside of this
vast territory as a forest preserve. The forest
fanatics will not be satisfied with the Mescalero
reservation, but as already stated, they want
in their preserve a territory 100 x 30 miles in
area, extending in length from the Capitan
Mountain due south to the Texas line.
The foregoing is not reprinted in THE
FoRESTER because it is in itself worthy
of special consideration. With sensa-
tional phraseology and appeals to local
prejudice THe Forester has nothing
whatever to do. This does, however,
open for discussion a matter to which
public attention should be drawn, so that
it is pertinent to make some observations
in this connection. During the past two
years several petitions have been made
and suggestions offered, having for their
purpose the segregation of the timbered
areas of the Sacramento mountain region
in southern New Mexico as a permanent
forest reserve. These petitions and sug-
gestions have emanated from citizens of
New Mexico who were prompted by mo-
tives of public interest. Each time the
matter has been agitated it has raised a
storm of protest on the part of certain
citizens of the town of El Paso, Texas,
who assert that such a course would pre-
vent the industrial and commercial de-
velopment of the region in question. It
is safe to say that the people of New
Mexico would be the last to throw any
obstacles in the way of the development
of any part of their own Territory.
When New Mexico was annexed to the
United States her people were promised
statehood atanearly day. For fifty years
THE FORESTER.
March,
this boon has been withheld. To-day
her people, both the descendants of the
original Spanish-American stock and the
immigrants from the eastern States, are
at one in their enthusiasm for the admis-
sion of New Mexico into the Union as a
State. Under such circumstances it is
highly improbable that even a small part
of the citizens of the Territory would
jeopardize their political interests merely
to spite a rival commercial community.
The Sacramento mountains are of con-
siderable altitude, that of Sierra Blanca
being 11,982 feet, and as the rainfall is
abundant, many of the slopes are covered
with a heavy growth of fine timber. The
streams issuing from these mountains are
of some local importance, as they make
possible the development of agriculture
in the arid valleys below. The climate
is mild, the productions are varied, and
these valleys, when properly developed,
will undoubtedly support a thriving popu-
lation. With this desired end in view it
certainly cannot be said that the estab-
lishment of a forest reserve, to include.
all the lands not suited for agriculture,
would work injury to the interests of any
one now concerned. On the contrary,
such a course would insure the most
equable distribution of the water supply
throughout the growing season, and it
would at the same time provide for the
perpetuation of the forests in a produc-
tive state, with an assurance of an ample
supply of timber for local needs for all
coming time. For these reasons it would
also be for the best interests of the city
of El Paso itself if, as is claimed, this |
region is to become permanently tribu- |
tary to that growing commercial center. |
It is true that El Paso might be thef
gainer temporarily if those splendid for- |
ests were to be stripped to meet a demand |
would not compensate for the reaction |
that would surely follow when the forests
were exhausted and the highest agricul- |
tural development seriously, if not per- |
The new railroad |
which has been built from El] Paso into |
the Sacramento mountain country may
manently impaired.
|
\
1899.
not pay as high a dividend during its
earlier years if such a conservative policy
is adopted, but in the long run its pro-
moters would be justified in encouraging
the very movement they now seck to
oppose.
Much of the land in the Sacramento
mountains is not fit for agriculture. It
is destined by nature to produce forest
crops and nothing else. If its forest
cover were removed it would sooner or
later become a barren waste, unproduc-
tive and incapable of holding in check
the rapid descent of waters that might
otherwise be utilized for irrigation. The
retention of lands better suited for agri-
culture or mining has never been advo-
cated even by the most ardent forestry
enthusiast. Moreover, it is not proposed
to withhold the products of the forests of
any reserve from the use of the people
for whose benefit all reserves are created.
The regulations of the Department of the
Interior make ample provisions for the
use of timber from the reserves for do-
mestic,agricultural,and mining purposes.
The establishment of a reserve within the
bounds of the region indicated would not
interfere with the rights of any one, but
in the end it would inure to the benefit
of all.
New Forest Reservation.
By proclamation of President McKin-
ley, dated January 30, the Trabuco
Canon Forest Reserve in Southern Cali-
fornia was enlarged by the addition of a
contiguous area estimated to contain
50,000 acres. The total area is now
109,920 acres. It was enlarged as the
result of the petition of the residents of
adjoining valleys.
On February 10 two new reservations
were created by executive proclamation
—the Fish Lake Reserve in Utah and
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 69
the Gallatin Forest Reserves in Mon-
tana. The Utah Legislature had memo-
rialized Congress to grant a part of the
Fish Lake tract for use as a State park.
As it is difficult to secure the passage of
such a measure Representative King, of
Utah, concluded that a forest reserve
would answer practically as well. The
lands embraced within the limits of this
reserve are all of a mountainous character
and surround the lake from which it
takes its name. Its area is 67,480 acres.
The Gallatin Forest Reserves include the
even-numbered sections on a tract that
is drained by the Gallatin River near
Bozeman. These 640-acre_ reserves,
whose aggregate area is 40,320 acres,
were created at the request of Mr. S. M.
Emery, Director of the Montana Agri-
cultural Experiment Station, and others
who were equally as interested, The
odd-numbered sections in the tract are
embraced within the limits of a railroad
land grant, thus necessitating thecreation
of separate reserves of each of the even-
numbered sections. Although technically
the Federal Government will have no
jurisdiction over these unreserved lands,
yet it is plain that they will be benefited
for they will at least be protected from
the ravages of fire by the forest patrol.
Reference is made elsewhere in this
issue Of THE FORESTER to excessive tax-
ation of pine lands in Minnesota. Ina
recent letter on this subject Mr, H. B.
Ayers, of Carlton, Minn., states that in
1898 he paid $3.94 1n taxes on a tract of
thirty six acres of pine land which is
valued at $3.00 per acre, virtually at a
rate of 3.64 per cent per annum on the
actual market value. On another tract
of forty acres, also valued at $3.00 per
acre, the tax was $6.58, amounting toa
rate of 5.4 per cent.
70 THE FORESTER.
March,
Recent Publications.
The Adirondack Spruce, by Gifford Pinchot.
(The Critic Company, New York City.) ‘‘The
owners and operators of Spruce lands in the
Eastern United States will find within the
covers of this little book a collection of facts
and figures which is intended first of all to be
of practical use. The information it contains
is the product of a prolonged investigation con-
ducted throughout with that intention. If its
results have any merit, therefore, it must be
because they are capable of assisting American
lumbermen to get better returns from their
investments in Spruce lands through conserva-
tive lumbering and successive crops than they
could by considering the productiveness of
these lands as of merely temporary interest.”
These words, with which the preface opens,
will serve to indicate at once the author’s aim
and the reader’s standard of criticism.
To begin with, a word must be said about
the investigation which forms the pith of the
text, about its subject-matter and the handling
ot it. Ne-Ha-Sa-Ne Park, on the western side
of the Adirondacks, was the principal field of
work. Dr. W. Seward Webb, its owner, con-
tributed the funds needed for the work; while
Mr. Pinchot undertook the task of supervision,
and afterwards, that of throwing the material
collected into the form of the present book.
The measurements taken, which cover nearly
2,500 trees and over 1,000 acres, were made for
the most part under the direction of Mr. Henry
S. Graves.
To turn now to the book itself. Its con-
venient size and business-like appearance
suggest what we afterwards find true of its
contents, From first to last the writing is
terse, clear and straight to the point. We are
not drawn into the details through which the
material had to pass on its way to completion;
but are given the valuable results in an in-
teresting, almost a pictorial, form. By means
of a couple of simple devices we are made to
see the forest before we are asked to follow the
author in his statements and reasonings about
it. The devices are these: First, the forest as
a whole is classified under four types, dis-
tinguished according to soil and elevation, and
further emphasized by the addition of figures
showing the relative extent of each type:
Swamp lands, 22 per cent ; Spruce flats, 10 per
cent; Hardwood lands, 42 per cent; and
Spruce slopes, 26 per cent. Second, a table
for each one of these types shows the average
size and occurrence of Spruce, and associated
trees, over its particular area. When once we
have thus got a picture of the forest in our
mind's eye, there is no difficulty in following
the exposition from this point. The Spruce
in its silvicultural character is treated next,
and then come the species associated with the
Spruce within each of the four types. From
this presentation of the general forest con-
ditions the author now comes down to a pre.
liminary practical question: What are the
effects of cutting on subsequent growth? The
answer is supplied in an important table (No.
7), which is based, like all the tables in the
book, on unquestionable data, and offers a
valuable working suggestion. Growth in the
original forest, whichis next considered, comes
out in contrast.
The most valuable tables in the book are the
Yield Tables. These ‘‘are prepared for the
purpose of predicting future crops of timber
after cutting to a given limit on lands yielding
a known amount of Spruce.’’ By the aid of
tables of volume, or cubic contents, and the
tables showing the rate of growth under a
variety of conditions, it is possible, if we know
how much Spruce has been cut on any given
number of acres, and down to a given diameter
limit, to tell how soon again a like crop can be
cut from the same area, And by comparing
the amount of a given crop and the limit to
which it has been taken with the time required
to replace a similar stand, or with the time
required to replace a stand of some other
diameter limit, we are able to determine what
diameter limit it is most profitable to choose in
each case, according as we wish to reap the
full return at one general cutting or to defer
part of the return for any preferred number of
years. The working of these yield tables is
pointedly illustrated by a number of problems
which they are made to solve.
The second part of the book contains a work-
ing plan adapted to the conditions described 1n
the first part. As a part of it there are here
given the following nine general rules for
cutting under conservative methods:
‘rt, Only trees marked by the forester must
be cut, and each tree marked must be cut un-
less a reason satisfactory to the forester can
be given for leaving it.
“2, No timber outside the line of a road
shall be used for corduroys, culverts, or other
road purposes, until all timber cut tor the
clearing of the road has been utilized; and
when more timber is necessary, all available
trees of other kinds within reach must be used
before any Spruce is taken.
“3, All lumber roads must be marked out by
the contractor with the co-operation and assist-
ance of the forester.
“4, As a protection against fire all tops must
be cut or lopped so that the thin branches will
be brought in contact with the ground by the
weight of the winter’s snow.
‘5, Extreme care must be taken to prevent
fire. No fire must ever be lighted where it
can get into a rotten log or into duff.
‘6. Great care must be taken not to injure
young growth in felling timber, or to bark
valuable young trees in skidding.
‘7, Felled trees must be cut into logs at
1899.
once, to release young growth crushed by
their fall, unless a reason satisfactory to the
forester can be given for some other course.
“8, Any young growth bent over by felled
trees must be released and allowed to straighten
without delay. ©
“g Provision for carrying out these regula-
tions should be made in all contracts with
lumbermen, and fines should be imposed by
the contracts for failure to comply with them.”
The author adds: ‘‘ The application of such
general rules to specific cases is the province
of the forester.”
This working plan, which, as has been said,
was drawn up to meet the conditions of
Adirondack forest management, and more
especially the conditions in Ne-Ha-Sa Ne
Park, has been in operation for nearly a year,
over the property of Mr. Webb and that of
Mr. Wm. C, Whitney, an area of 106,000 acres.
Mr. Patrick Moynehan, a very successful
lumberman of well-known practical ability,
has done the cutting under the working plan
and is thoroughly convinced that it is a good
thing. It is gratifying to know that other
owners of Adirondack lands have expressed
their intention to have similar plans prepared
for their forests also by the Division of Forestry.
Thus the book has done what it was intended
to do.
It is a significant fact that many of the data
put to use were collected on the property of
the Santa Clara Lumber Company, near Santa
Clara, Franklin County, N. Y. This, together
with the approbation of the practical lumber-
men who are doing the work it recommends
and the spirit and scope of the book itself,
renders it specially valuable as a sign of the
growing friendliness between lumberman and
forester, who at the last are dependent on each
other.
A review of The Adirondack Spruce, how-
ever slight and cursory, must at least mention
the illustrations with which the teachings of
the text are so tellingly brought home. These
add, besides, an air of completeness and verity.
Measuring the Forest Crop, by A. K.
Mlodziansky. (Bulletin No. 20 of the Division
of Forestry, prepared under the direction of
B. E. Fernow.) A salient fact of this publi-
cation is that almost throughout it employs the
cubic foot, a unit of measurement practically
unused in this country. The board foot, the
unit in general use in all parts of the United
States, is mentioned in two connections, once
on the first page, where it receives scant but
contemptuous mention, and again in the dis-
cussion of the determination of the volume by
sample trees and sample areas. The method
of treatment adopted is perhaps more largely
responsible for this result than any deliberate
disregard of the American lumber unit, but the
effect is the same.
It might be said in justification of this course
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 71
/
that the board foot is in itself misleading and
uncertain as a.standard, and that in conse-
quence it is not important that it should receive
any but the most casual reference. This re-
ply would overlook the fundamental fact that
the board foot is a vastly more practical unit
than the cubic foot, for the reason that it tells
a man not what absolute quantity of wood
there is in his log, without reference to waste
in manufacture, as the cubic foot does, but
how much usable wood his log contains, with
all due allowance tnade for necessary loss be-
fore the log can be converted into merchant-
able lumber. This, and not the absolute cubic
contents, is the fact of importance. It is
quite true that the variety of log-scales in use
in different parts of this country tends to con-
fusion, and that in other ways thereis room for
improvement, but when all is said the fact re-
mains that the board foot isan immensely more
practical and usable measure than the cubic
foot. The different conditions of the lumber
trade in the various partsof the United States,
which determine in one place that a log is
merchantable when it will square four inches,
and in another not till it will square twelve,
demand a unit which will expre:s the mer-
chantable value, not the utterly irrelevant solid
contents of a tree or a forest. Evenif that
were not true it would be unwise in a publi-
cation of this kind to ignore the unit in gen-
eral use in the country for which the book was
written. To do so is to create a needless prej-
udice against the book and the Division from
which itemanates It is but fair to the latter to
add that its course during the last few months
indicates unmistakably that no such lack of
practical application will be found in any of its
future bulletins.
Considered strictly asa summary of European
methods there is much to be said in praise of
Bulletin No. 20. It covers fairly the best of
them, and in some respects it is the most
usable treatise of the kind in the English
language. On the other hand the rigid man-
ner of presenting these methods robs them of a
large part of whatever elasticity they have in
their original forms, and the direction for work
in the field at times suggest that the author is
quietly amusing himself at the expense of
his reader, as when on page 26 he advises
kim to have his sample tree sawed up
to ascertain its contents in lumber. Such a
procedure would seem superfluous to the prac-
tical American mind when the same result can
be reached with all the accuracy the method
permits by simply consulting a little book
which may be carried in the vest pocket.
Water Supply and Irrigation Papers, Nos.
17 and 18, published by the U. S. Geological
Survey, have been received. They are both
written by Carl Ewald Grunsky, who treats, in
the first, of Irrigation near Bakersfield, Cal.,
and in the second, of Irrigation near Fresno, in
=2 . THE FORESTER.
the same State. A third paper is to follow,
which will complete the set of three, dealing
with irrigation in San Joaquin Valley, of which
Nos. 17 and 18 are the first and second. The
papers give careful and graphic descriptions
of the local methods of irrigation, and are
specially well illustrated with maps and half-
tones.
Glaciers of Mount Rainier, by Israel Cook
Russell; with a paper on The Rocks of Mount
Rainier, by George Otis Smith. This pam-
phlet is an extract from The Eighteenth Annual
Report of the U. S. Geological Survey, Part
II. These papers are chiefly of a theoretic
nature but they contain much that is of general
interest and many illustrations as well. Mount
Rainier lies eleven miles west of the crest of
the Cascade Mountains and forty-two miles
southeast of the city of Tacoma and in the
northern part of the great forest reserve which
bears its name. The forests by which it is
surrounded, especially those on the side toward
Puget Sound, are among the most magnificent
on the continent. The Pacific Forest Reserve,
an area about thirty-five miles square, was
originally mace by proclamation of President
Harrisonin1893. By proclamation of President
Cleveland, dated February 22, 1807, this reserve
March,
was enlarged to include more than 2,200,000
acres, since which time it has been known as
the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve.
American Lumber, by B. E. Fernow, in
The Chatauguan for February.
This is a popular article, which gives im-
portant facts about American lumber; the
various species now used, the development of
the lumber industry in the last fifty years—
attributed chiefly to the railroads—the pros-
pects of future development and supply, and
the statistics which serve as a basis for calcu-
lations in dealing with the treatment of our
forests and with the problem of permanent
supply. It notes that though we possess in all
not more than 500,000,000 acres of so-called
forest land, yet millions of acres within this
area are barren of merchantable timber, while
if our present rate of consumption is to go on,
we need 600,000,000 acres under full forest. It
emphasizes our wastefulness in using wood
where stone or iron would be better, and
points out that lumbermen of intelligence all
over the country are alive to the fact that the
forester stands for their own better judgment.
Dr. Fernow does not neglect to call attention
once more to the great variety of useful species
which renders our country unique,
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Bump Rock Road, Park and Page Fence
3 Premises of R. B. SYMINGTON,
At Cape Cod, Mass. —=aaii—
In order to preserve the innate beauty of this rustic scene
Mr. S. was not willing to have it marred ig even a fence
post. He used the
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE
Nineteen horizontal wires—s58 inches high and stapled it
to the trees from 30 to 60 feet apart : 5
SEE! It does not Lag nor Sag between the supports.
eosesssscanoms
Meee its, OF] SLOCK AND FARM FENCES
CONSTANTEY,-ON HAND
WRITE FOR DESCRIPTION.
——_———_——-~
sweneneausemannaansessanes™ ss caentomnanenmnazannascee i
Page Woven Wire Fence Co.,
ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.
BOX 65.—_—..wy
THE FORESTER.
H. J. KOKEN Cc. P. HANCOCK
OVA
ING High-Class Designs and
Illustrations
Half Tone and Line
Engraving
Brass and Metal Signs
Rubber Stamps
a
FORESTRY SCE eG
At BILTMORE, N. C.
For circular and information apply to
C. A. SCHENCK PhD:
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE.
WASHINGTON, D. C. -
Les
APRIL, 1899. No. 4.
A monthly magazine devoted to the care and use
ef forests and forest trees and to related subjects.
SSS ==
PUBLISHED BY
The American Forestry Association.
SS Ses Ee
Price 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D. C., as second class matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INGE ELCIIELY Wiis hleseethcsbavadstedve ‘esse ssheesaseenseasseanenenrenees sceneeeeee AIA a SI HNMR ESNE ART RB eth 3. 38
Why Miners Should Join the American Forestry Association...........:::0eecssscssseeseeseseeser arenes 75
Government Forests and Their Preservation........... Ae cece RE Ge Lat bah ses atolets wpaiotne abs atberee gaia eet oe ae
Forest Administration: | Mining in Forest. Reserves. i.i...1.00 i. ceecsnsssenssieoransenseeou tna seems esilat 79
MOrOst POMC y. ihcck iis ce sleldncdecasysatensycnveanbso'l esudjenps deeselsabsdeeelianeebheyade aalemus hey Bays sl etle vit eoeM datas eam 81
PA FROASONEDIC POLICY, (iiss c jee ceessccononusevccestokonbecsedebbacsscoanadasdecisperebhaiataunty neesluneh dey sider aie ae 84
The Gila River Forest Reserve ............. eseeecneceensasseseneeeee sesccecuccecauererssssnssenoneonecessesececea 85.)
The Sheep Industry in Tulare County, California 2. ..iio. oh. is cc in sscecensssnecsencenacs cscessueupuccesenses 86 ig
POPs t Mana moment: i. i. ees th cen vas sero dncvur eens sunvoncuh Gavesnapy chy sisiecwy tan oi nadlasocetalekeme yds tie anise seaee 86
Forest Utilization: ;
BICAPCILY OF | MING PImMDGLS, (5 5050 ss cccesc ceo velowcondaadaes daadeedsopetplays lis teuaisledine ueul otuea bs ae Renee Caen 87 :
PHO PDEVEESION OE! SPT! aye cs cio: ee suse ccasemendes bubcpnmen hb Ane anbibeewete de legates eh. deal mUan edna eee 88
PS EPO eon hia swab uvagy ot Lia icy oes denvoorndus pnp ech ste olaoee SORoM Rem accip sae) comer cael et nae aati ca ae eet aan 89 #
Me Lumberingin the North west: iio. cs. ccs nc keds oe sdecetcan oes sap oh dmetece cand set Saeeee Sod atte mean ian CH yen eile 90 a
State Associations:
Sonthern Calilormia's so. lyecvakedessseciosecceedesxconcbasnbenmedecghest aaespaa pl aeaugioecseeane Enaen cpeamaeet atau tam ol om
MIAN Ve aU eed cau ou sivees Vaeouk tess oses Uke Camainl swans Mesbhivebisiehideelebly GIL te ntact basi eae BUD tae ata el ae 92 a
Recent Legislation: i
DATRHES OEE eee ee bea tei sole olscad Adodtecks hy soknane eke wed anode pus uc Oe OULONR MEIC a) Be Ice Cana ae 92
Indiana Forest; Dax: Lieoislations, oi fic2....1, 05s anceds uewek enebcddey oof ch Foeb eco actus gedaan ane ae Meee tals 93
ime New National Parte 00, Wilde fitaeivecudusedoshcsodel adeeb aes ch adveas cas eo ka ven eae: ne die cena anGmuaar ae Ent ma 94
PURSE Ne 1s ULE COL sda was aalsves ofc da'sdo codosiicde same dee ae oul Rey mide oaaae eds Meylaae beh Minty AID Sites see an aMED 94
Editorial:
New Members—Life Member... 5.ii.35-4 ky ok Sed ae aw eek hee BUN ae rec eae Mer a 95
FRBCORESEUDNOATIONS, 3 cies ssc sehscdechccsscvevvevscabwans cvinddoluateebeekiaue lasts See sabe eh paD aU Geb” DDE SRAN en aaeE ame 96
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882. i
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 1899.
President.
Hon. JAmMEs WILson, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President,
Dr. B. E. Fernow.
Recording Secretary and Treasurer,
GrorGE P, WHITTLESEY. ;
Directors,
Epwarp A. Bowers.
ARNOLD HAGUE.
GIFFORD PINCHOT.
Vice Presidents.
James WILSON, Cuar.es C, BINNEY.
B. E. Fernow, Henry GANNETT,
GroRGE W. McLAMAHAN,
Sir H. G. Joty pg Lorsinikre, Pointe Platon,
Quebec.
CuHarLes Mour, Mobile, Ala.
CHARLES C, GEoRGESON, Sitka, Alaska,
D. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Tuomas C. McRAkg, Prescott, Ark,
AszoTrt Kinney, Lamanda Park, Cal.
E. T, Ensien, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rosert Brown, New Haven, Conn.
Ws. M. Canzy, Wilmington, Del.
A. V. CLusss, Pensacola, Fla.
R. B. REPPARD, Savannah, Ga.
‘J. M. Coutter, Chicago, Ill.
James Troop, Lafayette, Ind.
Tuos. H. MAcBripg, Iowa City, Iowa.
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans.
Joun R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky.
Lewis JoHnson, New Orleans, La.
Joun W. Garrett, Baltimore, Md.
Joun E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me.
J. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass.
W. J. Beat, Agricultural College, Mich.
C, C, ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo.
CHARLES E, Bressry, Lincoln, Neb,
‘H.C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
Corresponding Secretary.
F. H. NeweEt,
FREDERICK V. CovILLe,
F. H. NEwe.t,
GrorGE P. WHITTLESEY.
Wo. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
JouHn GirForD, Princeton, N. J.
Epwarp F. Hosart, Santa Fe, N. M.
Warren Hictey, New York, N. Y.
J. A. Homes, Raleigh, N. C.
W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
REUBEN H. WarpeEr, North Bend, Ohio,
WILLIAM T. LitTie, Perry, Okla.
E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
J. T. RorHrock, West Chester, Pa.
H. W. Frencu, Manila, P. I.
H. G. RussE.1, E. Greenwich, R. I.
H. A. Green, Chester, S. C.
Tuomas T, Wricut, Nashville, Tenn.
W. GoopricH Jongs, Temple, Texas.
C. A. WuitTinc, Salt Lake, Utah.
REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt.
D. O. Nourse, Blacksburg, Va.
EpMunD S. MEany, Seattle, Wash.
A. D. Hopxins, Morgantown, W. Va.
E1woopv Mean, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Grorcr W. McLanauan, Washington, D.C
Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
Wo. LITTLE, Montreal, Quebec.
‘OdVNOIOD ‘LOINLSIG YAAAO A'TddIyO NI ANAS
{SYANIW Ad HAAWIL AO ASN
News
Timber is being furnished from Or-
egon forests to be used in the construc-
tion of a Russian railroad in China.
A paper mill, to cost $600,000, is to
be erected at White Rapids, on the
Menominee River, upper Michigan, this
year.
Cedar logs have been exhumed in New
Jersey which geologists affirm are fully
4,000 years old. They are in perfect
condition.
There are now thirty-five forest re-
serves. The aggregate area within the
boundaries of the land thus reserved is
45,913,794 acres.
The surveyor general of the Minneap-
olis district, Minnesota, estimated that
the cut of logs on the upper Mississippi
River would be, this season, not far from
600,000,000 feet.
Tue Forester is under obligations to
the American Lumberman, of Chicago,
through whose kindness it is enabled
to produce several of the illustrations
which appear in this issue.
A walnut tree was cut down on the
Woods farm in Wabash County, Indiana,
says the /ndiana Farmer, which was
nine feet in circumference at the base
and sixty feet to the first limb.
Mr. Elwood Mead, who for ten years
past has been State Engineer of Wyom-
ing, has resigned to accept a position as
Irrigation Expert in charge of investiga-
tions in the Department of Agriculture.
W. J. Hoover, of Hoover & Slavin’s
lumber camps, near Glen Campbell, Pa.,
The Forester.
APRIL, 1899.
Items.
reports the cutting of a big Pine tree
which was 51 inches in diameter, and
which cut 10,000 feet. The butt log
scaled 2,240 feet.
We wish to call attention to an error
of proof reading in the March number of
THE Forester, in which, on page 54,
the names Red Fir and Yellow Fir
should have been used instead of Red
and Yellow Spruce.
The great pontoon bridge for the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
across the Mississippi River at Prairie du
Chien, Wis., was launched lately. It
absorbed in its construction 500,000 feet
of Washington Fir.
The world’s supply of timber bids fair
to last for many years yet. It is stated
that in the Province of Archangel, in
Russia, there are forests belonging to the
Government which cover 88,970,400
acres in which the ring of the woodman’s
axe has scarcely yet been heard.
The German Government has been
purchasing Puget Sound Fir decking for
its new war vessels. One ship recently
took 1,200,000 feet of decking for Ham-
burg and other shipments were to follow.
Heavy purchases have also been made
for the same purpose by Philadelphia
ship yards.
Labor has been in great demand in
the lumber camps of Michigan, Wiscon-
sin and Minnesota during the past winter.
Common laborers have received as
high as $35.00 per month, while skilled
woodsmen have commanded higher
wages than they have been able to do
for many years.
74 THE FORESTER.
The North American Paper & Lumber
Company has recently secured from the
Nova Scotia Legislature the lease of a
tract of nearly 1,000 square miles of
land in Victoria and Inverness Counties,
Cape Breton. The lands are leased for
the purpose of converting the timber
thereon into pulp and paper.
During the last month tree bounties
to the total of $19,563 68 were paid
out to farmers in Minnesota who have
planted trees under the act of the Legis-
lature in that State giving bounties to
those who thus plant. Bienville County
has 1,761 acres of trees planted, the
farmers receiving therefor a total of
$4,226.
General Andrews, the chief fire warden
of Minnesota, is authority for the state-
ment that while that State for the past
twenty-five years has been paying the
annual sum of $20,000 in bounties on
tree planting, the destruction of forest
growth has far exceeded the renewals;
at a rate which, he believes, will exhaust
the White Pine supply of that State in
fifteen to twenty years.
By the sale of Pine logs in the years
past the Menominee Indians, in north-
eastern Wisconsin, to the number of
1,300 men, women and children, have
accumulated a fund of $1,000,000, which
is held for them, in the form of interest-
bearing bonds, by the Government. This
fund grows from year to year. The tribe
expends about $75,000 a year in logging
operations, and annually clears from
$50,000 to $100,000.
Prof. James Troop, of the Indiana
Agricultural Experiment Station, has
been appointed State Entomologist.
Under the law recently enacted by the
Legislature of that State he is required
to inspect all nurseries in the State,
April,
where trees or plants are grown for sale,
at least once a year, and report upon the
discovery of insect pests infesting nur-
sery stock.
The biggest sticks of timber ever cut
in Portland, Oregon, were cut at the
mill of Inman, Paulsen & Co. recently.
They were of Fir, and were three feet
square, anda little more than forty-eight
feet long. They contained 5,200 board
feet, and weighed about 20,000 pounds
each. The timbers were sawed without
the aid of special machinery, and were
handled easily by the ponderous appa-
ratus at the mill.
One of the most persistent and active
workers in the cause of forestry for
several years past is Mr. John P. Brown,
of Connersville, Ind., who has been
elected president of the newly organized
Indiana Forestry Association. It was
due to Mr. Brown’s tireless efforts that —
the Indiana Legislature passed the law
for the encouragement of the care and
preservation of forest lands in that State,
mention of which is made elsewhere in
this issue of THE FORESTER.
The snowfall in the mountains of Col-
orado during the past winter seems to
have been unprecedented in quantity.
Some of the lines of railway were not
reopened for traffic until March 20,
having been completely blockaded by
snow for two months. Capt. Edward L.
Berthoud, of Golden, Jefferson County,
who is one of the most active members:
of the American Forestry Association in
Colorado, reports the snowfall for the
winter as follows: September, October
and November, 2734 inches; December,
1534 inches; January, 10% inches; Feb-
ruary, I2 inches; March, 734 inches; '
total 734 inches, and it is probable that
it was much heavier in the higher ranges.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 75
Why Miners Should Join the American Forestry
Association.
By THE DIRECTOR OF THE U. S. G&kOLOGICAL
The interests of miners in the protec-
tion of timber is a vital one. In the
Popular Science Monthly of February,
1898, I said:
‘¢Mininc INTEREsTS.—The mining in-
terests of the Western States should be
the most urgent in the demand for care
and protection of the forests under
Government direction. Upon the abund-
ance or scarcity of timber will depend
the development of many mining enter-
prises, and through them the advance or
retardation of the growth of the State
in which they are situated. That scarcity
of timber will limit mining is without
question, unless the mines are sufficiently
rich to pay the added cost that transpor-
tation from a distant source of supply
will entail. This will apply particularly
to the small mine owner, and to the
miner with little capital who wishes to
develop promising prospects.
‘‘There is no doubt that the abundant
timber supply of the Black Hills of
South Dakota has given great impetus
to the development of the mineral wealth
of the region. It is equally true that if
that timber supply is removed by being
wasted, or is destroyed by forest fires,
the future mining of the region will be
limited to the working of a few rich
mines which can afford to pay high
prices. Scarcity of timber all over the
West is not a remote contingency if the
present waste and destruction are per-
mitted to continue; it is already in sight.
Indeed, it will not be long before the
magnificent forests of the Pacific coast
will be so greatly injured by fire and
wasteful cutting that the mining com-
munities will have to draw their best
timber from Canada and Alaska.
‘« The opponents of the forest reserves
have frequently stated that the reserva-
tion policy would cripple the mining
industry. It is believed, however, that
there would be much more truth in the
SURVEY.
statement that the destruction of the
forests would seriously injure and in
many instances ruin the mining industry.
This industry demands a permanent
source of supply of timber, and it hardly
needs to be said that, without some such
policy as that of forest reservation, no
such source of supply can be maintained.
If mining men can be brought to under-
stand that their industry el be pro-
tected by the proper administration of
the reserves, the future of both the
mining and the lumber interests of the
West will be provided for.”
There are great areas of Western
forest lands no longer held by the
Government, the protection of which
from waste and destruction is as impor-
tant to many mining regions as that of
the forest reserves themselves. Such
protection should not mean the with-
drawal of any part of these lands from
use, but the harvesting of their timber
product without destroying their capacity
to produce valuable trees. Many timber
owners do not realize how quickly young
trees too small to cut grow to merchant-
able size if protected, and how simple
are the methods by which the forests can
be kept from losing their productive
power.
Among the objects of the American
Forestry Association the prevention of
forest fires and the introduction of simple
and effective improvements in lumbering
stand pre-eminent. It is particularly
fitted for such work on account of its
membership, which includes many promi-
nent lumbermen and nearly all the prac-
tical foresters in the United States. Its
membership includes men interested in
forests and forestry from every point of
view, and it unites for the common
object all these different influences,
which otherwise would be scattered and
comparatively ineffective. Its efficiency
in attaining its chief end, the preserva-
76 THE FORESTER.
tion of the forests by use, is greatly in-
creased by the publication of THE
Foresver, through which medium it
reaches miners, irrigators, and lumber-
April,
men, as well as those who have a less
direct interest in forest protection.
CHARLES D. WatcorTt.
Government Forests and Their Preservation.
By THE COMMISSIONER OF
There is so much theory and so much
real poetry and romance in the bare men-
tion of forests and forest life, and their
association with untrammeled nature,
that it becomes difficult to divert the
mind to the more artificial phase and
the practical details of forest preserva-
tion and management. It is, however,
with this view I have to deal now. So
important has this subject already be-
come in its far-reaching result that it
may be said to affect more or less every
great industry of the nation. Agricul-
ture, manufactures, and mining are per-
haps at present more closely related to
the fate of the forest than most other
industries. Having disposed of the larger
portion of its forest wealth to those
whose selfish ends look only to the 1m-
mediate present, the General Govern-
ment at last has come to the rescue and
through tardy legislation and limited
appropriations has partially provided for
the preservation of its remaining forests.
In this wise policy it has in view a two-
fold purpose—the encouragement and
protection of the timber growth and the
conservation of the watersupply. These
are so interdependent that to remove
either one, both are destroyed. The
most formidable foes to forest life are the
wasteful acts of man and the devastating
fire. The object of the Government is
to restrain and limit the one, and to pre-
vent the other. It is not essential to
the preservation of the forest that it be
walled in and its products entirely with-
held from use. The prime object of the
reserve is that it shall the more largely
contribute to a beneficial end. Experi-
ence in other nations has demonstrated
that much of the matured timber should
be judiciously culled from the forest, and
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
while this surplus is utilized the forest
growth is greatly improved. Such cut-
ting and removal, however, should only
be permitted after the dead or matured
tree has been selected and designated,
and where so located that its removal
shall not result injuriously to the forest
cover and the tree life surrounding it.
The purchaser, under our rules, “is
obliged to remove or destroy the branches
and waste material of the fallen trees not
essential for use, thereby preventing an
accumulation of dry matter which is so
conducive to fires. That reasonable
compensation may be had to the Govern-
ment, the timber is estimated and ap-
praised and the price paid by the
purchaser, and this forms a fund in
partial aid of forest administration. So
systematic and so businesslike and eco-
nomical is the management of other
countries in the disposal of the surplus
timber from their forest domain that
some nations actually count the annual
wood yield as among their most profit-
able revenues. For instance: India col-
lected in one year three millions of dollars _
net, while Prussia received an income
from her forests of six millions of dollars
net. The amount expended by the latter
country in the management of her forest
domain in one year amounted to the
enormous sum of eight millions of
dollars.
Not only as to the removal of timber, |
but in other respects is our Government
liberal in allowing access to the forest |
reserves. Prospecting and mining, with |
the free use of timber for such purposes
is allowed; while roadways, bridges,
church buildings and school-houses may
be constructed and timber used therefor.
To the small user of timber, resident in |
1899.
the reserve, permission is given to remove
free of charge in any one year timber to
the amount of one hundred dollars for
individual use on his own claim, subject
to the usual restrictions and supervision.
To discourage the demand for reserve
timber no export removal of the same is
allowed from the State or Territory
wherein cut. The precaution against
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, TG
were, with few exceptions, excellently
protected. The largest single reserva-
tion is in Oregon ; it contains nearly four
and one-half millions of acres, and ex-
tends from north to south over 234 miles.
For a third of a century inthe fall of the
year it was rare that a clear view could
be had in all that distance of the high
mountain ranges, least of all of that
VIEW OF BURNED
fires, the methods adopted for extinguish-
ing the same, the penalties for causing
them, and the discipline which supervises
the fire patrol are all so minute in detail
as to forbid more than a reference to
them. Though but one year has elapsed
since the organization cf an efficient for-
estry force, yet the most gratifying re-
sults are already the reward. Though
numerous most destructive fires last year
swept over the great forests not under
reserve, yet those under reservation care
FOREST,
RESERVE.
PRIEST RIVER
majestic, far-famed and ever sought for
Mount Hood. Travelers from remote
countries came to gaze upon its snow:
capped summit and lofty height as it
towers far above all the higher mountains
of the range, but usually so dense was
the volume of smoke as it ascended from
the burning forests that no satisfactory
observation could be had. Last year,
however, so thoroughly had the forest
rangers guarded the reserve that not a
single day was Mount Hood or any of the
aS THE FORESTER
entire Cascade Range obscured from
view by smoke. So noticeable was this
relief that the leading newspaper of the
Pacific Northwest conmented editorially
as follows:
‘Usually from the first of July to the
middle of September the air has been
heavy with smoke and cinders and the
destruction of timber great. As aresult
of the vigilance of the range patrol the
valleys of the Umpqua and Rogue rivers
are now free from smoke, no fires being
in progress in that section. oe
The absence of the forest fires in the
mountains of southern and southwestern
Oregon as the result of this system for
the first time in many years may be held
to have proven its efficacy under a vigi-
lant supervision.”’
Reports from superintendents of other
reservations in other States all contain
testimony as to the great exemption of
fires from the forests within theircharge.
The progress thus far made in reserv-
ing forest area can best be appreciated
when it is known that at the present date
there have been nearly forty-six millions
of acres set apart and withdrawn from
entry, or a quantity which would about
equal thirty-one times the size of the
State of Delaware. The reserves are
situated in eleven States and Territories.
The area embraces thirty-five distinct
reserves, not including the Afognak
Forest and Fish Culture Reserve in
Alaska. Tosuperintend, supervise and
patrol this vast empire of forest land
there will be employed during most of the
present year nine superintendents, twenty-
seven supervisors, and 275 rangers or fire
patrolmen. Thereserves are all mapped
and each fire patrol district is designated,
so that reference to the map will indicate
the location of each supervisor and of all
the rangers under him. Reports are
promptly made at stated periods from
which can be seen where each official has
been at any particular day and the kind
of service engaged in. Campers, tourists
and hunters while in the reserves will be
under the constant supervision of the
rangers, who will visit the camps and
inspect the fires and see to their extin-
April,
guishment when the camp is abandoned,
and who will make arrests of persons
violating the regulations or permitting
fires to extend into the forest, and in
further aid of this purpose the Depart-
ment of Justice has been requested to
direct United States Marshals to deputize
all forest rangers in order that they may
have authority to make arrests within
the reserves for offenses committed in
violation of the forest regulations.
We can never fully comprehend the real
value of the forest relative to conserva-
tion of the water supply until we are
reminded of the vast domain of our
country now remaining vacant and un-
appropriated, aggregating 546,549,655
acres, exclusive of Alaska and our recent
Island possessions. Of this aggregate
332,176,000 acres require the aid of water
to render them of utility for farming, and
of these acres 69,000,000 are barren, irre-
claimable waste. Under the best eco-
nomic management sufficient water is
available for the reclamation of only
71,000,000 acres for agricultural crops.
One thing yet remains to make the
success of the Government complete as
to its forest administration, and that is in
a more earnest co-operation on the part
of the States and land-grant corporations
having lands within or near the reserves.
A patrol of the even sections of the Gov-
ernment can never be adequate so long
as the corporation owning the odd sec-
tions fails to exercise like vigilant care
as tothem. Where sheep grazing is per-
mitted on the odd section it cannot be
prevented on the even section except at
an enormous cost to the Government.
Fire originating through carelessness or
design on the one section quickly com-
municates to that adjoining, whatever
may be the efficiency of the patrol. The
General Land Office is now in corre-
spondence with State authorities, and
with land-grant companies owning lands
within or near the reserves, with a view
to mutual co-operation for forestry pro-
tection, and I am glad to say that already
many cordial assurances are received in
response. A further suggestion still re-
mains. There exist vast bodies of vacant
1899.
forest lands not yet reserved, which
having no responsible patrol become the
prey of the depredator and the fire fiend,
and each year, until remedied, we shall
continue to read in the dispatches of the
magnificent forests and great wealth
which go up in smoke and down in ashes
with no sufficient power to control the
devouring element. The same laws,
tules and regulations which now govern
the forest reserves, should be extended
over all such unreserved forests, with
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 79
the same powers and safeguards for their
protection and disposal. It is a solemn
and imperative duty the citizens of our
country owe to posterity to co-operate
singly and collectively in the care of the
great forest wealth of the nation, for in
so doing they contribute not only to the
industrial wealth, but alike to the happi-
ness and health of the unborn millions
who are to succeed us.
BINGER HERMANN.
Forest Administration.
Mining in Forest Reserves.
The laws for the regulation of mining
in forest reserves make ample provision
for the protection of the miner’s interests
and permit the exercise of every privilege
that is consistent with public welfare.
Among the provisions of the law are the
following :
“It is not the purpose or intent of these
provisions or of the act providing for such res-
ervations to authorize the inclusion therein of
lands more valuable for the mineral therein, or
for agricultural purposes, than for forest pur-
poses.
‘“The Secretary of the Interior may permit,
under regulations to be prescribed by him, the
use of timber and stone found upon such res-
ervations, free of charge by bona fide settlers,
miners, residents and prospectors for minerals,
for firewood, fencing, buildings, mining, pros-
pecting and other domestic purposes, as may
‘be needed by such persons for such purposes,
‘‘Nor shall anything herein prohibit any per-
son entering upon such forest reservations for
all proper and lawful purposes, including that
of prospecting, locating and developing the
mineral resources thereof, provided, that such
persons comply with the rules and regulations
covering such forest reservations.
‘‘All water on such reservations may be
used for domestic, mining, milling or irrigat-
ing purposes, under the laws of the States
wherein such forest reservations are situated,
or under the laws of the United States and the
rules and regulations established thereunder.
‘Upon the recommendation of the Secretary
of the Interior, with the approval of the Presi-
dent, after sixty days’ notice thereof, published
in two papers of general circulation in the State
or Territory wherein any forest reservation is
situated, and near the said reservation, which
after due examination by personal inspection
of a competent person appointed for that pur-
pose by the Secretary of the Interior shall be
found better adapted for mining or agricultural
purposes than forforest usage, may be restored
to the Public Domain. And any mineral lands
in any forest reservation which shall have been
or which may be shown to be such and subject
to entry under the existing mining laws of the
United States and the rules and regulations
applying thereto, shall continue to be subject
to such location and entry, notwithstanding
any provisiors herein contained.”
Under the authority vested in the Sec-
retary of the Interior by the act to insure
the objects for which forest reservations
are created, rules and regulations were
prescribed June 30, 1897, by the Com-
missioner (24 L. D., 189), among which
the following are important :
“‘3, Itis the intent to exclude trom these res-
ervations, as far as possible, lands that are
more valuable for the mineral therein, or for
agriculture, than for forest purposes; and where
such lands are embraced within the bounda-
ties of a reservation they may be restored to
settlement, location and entry.
‘‘t9, The law provides that ‘any mineral
lands in any forest reservation which have been
or which may be shown to be such and subject
to entry under the existing mining Jaws of the
United States and the rules and regulations
applying thereto, shall continue to be subject
to such location and entry, notwithstanding
the reservation.’ This makes mineral lands
in the forest reserves subject to location and
entry under the general mining laws in the
usual manner.
“¢90, Ownersof valid mining locations made
and held in good faith under the mining laws
of the United States and the regulations there-
under, are authorized and permitted to fell and
remove from such mining claims any timber
growing thereon, for actual mining purposes in
connection with the particular claim from
which the timber is felled or removed.”
80 THE FORESTER,
Special Agent Frank Gryglar, of the
United States Land Department, is nowin
Alaska investigating timber depredations.
It seems that while the squatter has a
right to timber, he has no right to cut
timber for sale. A number of yards in
Skagway are well stocked with Fir wood,
and it is said that some of these parties
have already been proceeded against in
the court. Some of these made applica-
tion for settlement, some explained that
they were cutting for others. The rail-
road company had a certain right-of-way,
which had to be cleared, and they gave
certain parties the timber on condition
that they would clear it. This has been
investigated already and _ permitted.
Where the fire went through last summer
the removal of the injured timber has
been allowed. Outside of these two
instances all who cut and sell timber will
be prosecuted.
Mr. Gryglar has over 200 cases of lands
in Alaska located for speculative and not
for bona fideimprovement. Such locators
have been warned not to cut the timber.
The idea of the Government in this is
the protection of the country, since strip-
ping the hillsides near Skagway would
allow the cold winters to sweep down on
the town unhindered and would make
snowslides more easy of occurrence. —
Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
From present indications there will
be no sheep in the San _ Bernardino
Forest Reserve this summer, for the
authorities are already making prepara-
tions to keep the bands out.
Deputy United States Marshal Pourade
came in from the reserve Wednesday
and found orders awaiting him | from
B. F. Allen, Forest Superintendent at
Los Angeles, instructing him to be on
the watch for sheep and not allow
them to infringe on the reservation.
Pourade says that he will enforce the law
even if it is necessary to call out the
troops to do so. Sheep are not re-
stricted from passing along the roads
but will not be allowed to graze on the
reserve.
The sheepmen have received notice
April,
from the officials to notify them when
they desire to take their sheep through
the mountains, and a patrol will be sent
to accompany the bands and see that
no harm is done. It is thought that
the sheepmen will take kindly to the
work of the officials and will not en-
deavor to break the law, but if such
should not prove to be the case, they
will be severely dealt with.—San Bernar-
dino (Cal.) Times-Index.
A half million feet of Red and White
Pine lumber were sold at noon yesterday
by United States Marshal Bailey.
Thesale was conducted in Park County,
about eighteen miles west of Cripple
Creek. This is the largest sale ever held
in this State, of replevined lumber ille-
gally cut from Government lands. The
original value of this lumber when cut
was from $10 to $15 per 1,000 feet.
United States District Attorney Whit-
ford said yesterday that the Government
would be glad if $5 per thousand was
realized by the sale. Both the men who
cut this timber have paid fines for their
offense.
The price obtained by Marshal Bailey
will not be known until after his arrival
in Denver to-day. Several Denver lum-
ber dealers sent representatives to bid on
the lumber.—Denver Republican, Feb-
ruary IO.
The officeseeker has -discovered that
there is an office at the city hall to be
filled, or will be as soon as the ordinance
creating a city forester has become a law,
and the mayor’s office is besieged with
applications forthe place. The appoint-
ment will be made by the board of public
works, but any recommendations in this
line offered by the mayor will be con-
sidered. Yesterday he stated that he
would recommend no one for the place
who was not thoroughly posted in regard
to the planting and care of trees and who
was not young and active enough to
get around and do the work.—<Xansas
City Journal.
The Government officials are having
1899.
trouble with the owners of saw-mills in
the hills, who have been cutting down
timber on public land.
John Norris was arrested by Deputy
Marshal Crocker, twelve miles north of
Florissant, El Paso County, charged with
cutting the prohibited timber. He was
taken before James B. Severy, United
States Commissioner, Colorado Springs,
and gave $500 bonds.—Denver ( Colo.)
Republican, March 2.
Forest Superintendent W. H. Bun-
tain, “successor of J. D. Benedict, is
actively at work in his new position at
eee
The National Wholesale Lumber
Dealers’ Association held its annual
meeting at Boston, Mass., during the
first week in March. The meeting was
concluded by the usual banquet, and
among the speakers on that occasion was
the Hon. John M. Woods, of Boston, a
member of the Massachusetts Forestry
Association, who was introduced to
speak concerning a lumberman’s interest
in forestry. Mr. Woods said, in part:
‘«‘Gentlemen, I want to say to you here
that you think perhaps in some parts of
the country the lumber business is old,
I want to say to you here that you are
meeting here to-night on the anniversary
of the first exportation of lumber from
the United States—200 years ago from
this part of the country the first cargo
was sent abroad.
‘As the chairman has said, I have one
or two specialties. I will touch on only
one of them now. The first is on the
lumber business—the forestry of the
United States, and something about the
legislation that has taken place in this
country. As you know, the Pilgrims
landed in 1620, and in 1631—eleven
years afterward—the first law that was
ever made in this country was passed in
regard to it. It was enacted by the Pil-
grim colony that there should be no fires
set on the Lord’s day and that any one
that set any fire, if it did any damage,
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 81
the Federal Building. He was assistant
postmaster at Momence, IIIl., where his
father was postmaster; but his health
was not good because of the confining
work, and he came West.—Santa Fe New
Mexican.
The Leader learns that Superintendent
E. B. Hyde, of the forest reserve, on
Friday seized a lot of logs near Twenty-
five Mile creek, belonging to Jerry Dun-
lee, on the charge that they were illegally
cut on the reserve.—Chelan (Wash.)
Leader. :
poten
should pay ten shillings or be publicly
whipped In 1639 it was further enacted
that no man should set a fire on the
Lord’s day, the last day of the week, and
if he did, and it did any damage, he
should be required to pay a fine of forty
shillings, and if it were done by a minor
his parents or guardians should pay. In
1697 the first effort was made to find out
the value of woods in North America.
The English Government sent a commis-
sion here. The chairman was Mr.
Bridges, who was a ship builder in the
English dock yard at Portsmouth. He
came here under a royal commission, and
the commission read that he was to ascer-
tain the conveniences of the woods of
North America for furnishing woods for
the royal navy. In 1699 the first cargo
was shipped abroad. The largest part
of this cargo was cut on the Piscataquis
River, a little river that runs up from
Portsmouth, N. H., about forty miles
from here.
‘‘There was no further legislation to
amount to anything during the colonial
period, and there never has been since
to amount to anything. In 1743 Gov-
ernor Wentworth, of the territory of New
Hampshire, was appointed commissioner
of all his majesty’s woods in North
America. Youcan have some idea, gen-
tlemen, of the size of his commission.
The king instructed the commissioners
82 THE FORESTER
to mark a large number of trees for use
for the royal navy and this was done, but
this commissioner, like the commission-
ers of later days, was human. He was
denounced as a fraud and a villain and
complaint was made to the royal governor
of Massachusetts, who was governor of
the territory of New Hampshire, and a
petition was sent to the king for his re-
moval, but they had ‘pulls’ in those days
as they do in these days and he managed
to hold his place for many years.
«We have seen the woodworking bus-
iness from this country depart. Gentle-
men around this board who are or have
been in the business any length of time
know that Boston forty years ago was
the center—and the circumference, I
might say—of the furniture business of
this country. It has now gone where
the raw material is. We have an incor-
porated society, and our idea is this:
The first thing—and we believe it is the
proper thing to do in the first place—is
to educate public opinion to realize the
necessity of the preservation of what we
have. There is a bill before the legisla-
ture now which asks for an appropriation
of $4,000 to make a forest survey of the
State. The forests in this State prac-
tically amount to nothing. There area
few box boards in this State and some-
thing of that kind, but we believe that
the time has come to agitate this ques-
tion and to ask the State—not only this
State, but other States and the National
Government—to reserve forests as na
tional domains. There are a quarter of
a million of acres in this State which are
valueless for taxation and we purpose to
ask the Government to reserve those. It
has been demonstrated that it is possible
to make this a paying investment for the
State, so that this land which is prac-
tically valueless shall make some return.
I will give you one illustration: In Ply-
mouth County, less than forty miles from
here, is a small tract of Pine land, and I
will say to you for the benefit of those
who are not aware of the fact that Cape
Cod is a sandy district, and sandy land
is adapted for the growing of Pine.
There are two tracts of land down there
April,
owned by different owners, and one of
these was sown forty years ago with Pine
seed, while the other was allowed to run
wild. The result is that now the one
tract is assessed for $150 an acre and the
other for $2.50. That demonstrates that
it is practicable to do something along
these lines. It does not need any argu-
ment to show that we can do it. The
chairman has referred to the fact that
Memphis is the great market for hard-
wood to-day. Indianapolis was the great
center not many yearsago. Ilived there
from 1869 to 1873 and I have heard it
said that it was impossible to exhaust
the hardwood of Indiana, but you and I
know that forty per cent of the hardwood
to-day is brought in there. It behooves
us to lock the door before the horse is
stolen. We have public-spirited men
in this State and they have taken hold
of it. The idea is to enlighten the pub-
lic and to influence the legislature to
take hold of this matter.
‘Another thing I might touch on is
that our water supply depends on the
forests. This Commonwealth has spent
more than $50,000,000, or will have
spent, when the water-works system is
completed, to maintain her water supply,
when if our forests had been saved and
cared for at least one-half of that sum
would have been saved. In New York
State through her Forest Commission
they are saving the Adirondacks largely
for this reason.
‘‘Tt is a practical question, gentlemen,
and I commend it to you for careful study
and to take home with you. As the hon-
orable president has said, it is a serious
question where they are going to get the
supply for the future from unless some-
thing is done along these lines.”’
Mr. Woods was followed by Hon.
Robert C. Lippincott, of Philadelphia,
who spoke of the growing interest in the
question of forest conservation in his
own State, briefly outlining the legisla-
tion that has been enacted and commend-
ing Dr. Rothrock for the faithful and
efficient service which he has rendered
as Commissioner of Forestry. Mr. Lip-
pincott closed with the assertion that the
tt A IE ES A ES
1899.
forestry question is one that should be
seriously considered by lumbermen; that
when as a class they did take the matter
up it would be well taken care of.
In the March number of The /rrigation
Age there appeared a paper on ‘‘ The
Irrigation Problems and Possibilities of
Northern Wyoming,” by Capt. H. M.
Chittenden, Corps of Engineers, U.S. A.
The purpose of Captain Chittenden in
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 83
in the Bighorn Mountains under the patronage,
I believe, of the Burlington Railroad, It may
have been the surpassing beauty and sublimity
of the scenery around Cloud Peak Lake, which
I had seen but a week before, that caused this
much-advertised spot to appear altogether tame
in comparison. More probably, however, it
was the desolate appearance of the surrounding
country, which is almost divested of the noble
forests that once covered it. Here indeed is
an impressive example of the ruin that has
spread over many forest areas of the West. It
alone is sufficient to convince any believer in
the necessity of preserving our forests, that
LOGGING SCENE IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
making a tour through Wyoming in the
months of August and September, 1897,
was to investigate the question of the
construction of reservoirs in the arid
regions through the agency of the Gen-
eral Government. As aclose observer
he does not fail to note the importance
of forest preservation in the region in-
cluded in his professional investigation.
Of the effects of forest destruction he
writes:
On our second day out from Sheridan we
-visited Dome Lake, a nascent summer resort
prompt and vigorous measures ought to be
taken by the Government to save what remains
and to restore what has been lost.
In this connection I may mention a matter
which came to my attention about a week be-
fore. I made a short excursion from Buffalo,
up the valley of Clear Creek to the old military
reservation of Fort McKinney, where I had
spent some time nine years before surveying
its boundaries I passed through the aban-
doned post, now the property of the State of
Wyoming. The perfect state of preservation
and the neat appearance of everything spoke
highly for the care with which this piece. of
property is being preserved. But I imagine
that the State is at a loss to know what to do
84 | THE FORESTER,
with it. It at once occurred that here was a
central position from which to protect the for-
ests of the entire Bighornrange Let the post
of Fort McKinney be reoccupied by United
States troops, held there to do duty as foresters. -
If this is not considered a proper function for
the regular troops, let a regiment be raised
whose duty shall be confined to that of forest
protection and let a portion of it garrison this
post. There is no good reason that I can think
of why the army should not afford the basis of
an efficient police system for our national for-
ests; there are many and excellent reasons
why it should.
Captain Chittenden presents some very
strong evidence in support of the asser-
tion that the preservation of forest cover
on mountain slopes is absolutely neces-
sary in order that soil erosion may be
reduced to the minimum—a fact that is
almost always overlooked by those who
oppose a conservative forest policy, In
describing his journey through the mount-
ains he says:
Teton Pass is incomparably the most difficult
pass I have met with in the mountains. Its
slopes are so steep that one would scarcely
believe it possible for wagons to cross did he
not see the evidence of their having done so,
Unlike most passes, the two slopes of this one
come together almost like the top of a roof,
with no space on top; and it is but a mild ex-
aggeration to say that a saddle horse on arriv-
ing at the top is laboriously digging its way up
on one side with its hind feet and vigorously
bracing with its fore feet to keep from sliding
down on the other.
On the summit of this pass we were in dense
clouds, from which the rain came down in per-
fect floods until we were drenched through and
through. The road carried such torrents of
water that it seemed unsafe to travel in, but
the occasion afforded an excellent opportunity
of seeing: how forests protect mountain slopes
from erosion by the elements. - The heavy rain
caused streams of water to pour down every
gully or depression, but wherever this was in
the forest areas the water came out clear, not-
withstanding its heavy volume. Wherever we
came upon open tracts destitute of vegetation
the surface water was invariably laden with
sediment.
A Reasonable Policy.
The following, in reference to forest
reserves, has been furnished the /ourna/-
Miner by a gentleman who has made a
study of the proposition, and hence is
conversant with the subject, and will be
found of special interest at the present
April,
time, inasmuch as it corrects some erro-
neously conceived opinions on the sub-
jects
‘There seems to be a general dis-
position upon the part of those interested
in sheep grazing and other pursuits in
the vicinity of forest reservations to con-
fuse them with Indian and military reser-
vations, upon which none are allowed to
trespass, and which are set aside for
specific uses of the Government.
‘¢The forest reservations are of en-
tirely different nature, and are set aside
by the Government for what is considered
the public good of the Territory. Scien-
tific men, men of wide experience, who
have been interested in this subject, have
made thorough reports upon the arid
condition of the Southwest and the
necessity for the conservation of its
meagre water supply. They came to
their conclusion by years of careful ob-
servations, and in an unbiased manner,
without interest, except the general wel-
fare and prosperity of the country.
‘‘Aside from this great question of
water supply, there are other questions
of equal importance to the people of
Arizona, in whatever business they may
be interested
‘‘Remove the great pine forests, strip
the territory of its magnificent belt of
timber, and what have you left? A few
rich men, who cut and sold the timber,
upon one hand, and upon the other a
vast territory denuded of its threefold
value; the timber gone that should be
used in the development of the Terri-
tory’s great mineral wealth ; the means
for impounding water shipped to other
States, and thousands of acres of worth-
less, barren, non-taxable, untillable land
reverted to the Territory.
‘‘Just where the reasoning man can
find objection to the forest reservations,
under the existing conditions, is difficult
to say. The general rule governing
forest reserves allows grazing privileges
to all stock except sheep. In the San
Francisco reservation even sheep are
allowed to graze, and it is very probable
that this ruling will be permitted so far
as this reservation is concerned; the
1899.
reservation does not prevent the sale of
timber to people of the Territory for all
uses and purposes when there is need of
same; it does not prevent bona fide
entrymen from taking up land that is
more valuable for agricultural purposes
than for timber or mineral.
«A reservation does prevent fraudu-
lent entries as homesteads on timber
lands ; it does prevent an indiscriminate
slaughter of timber; it prevents the
vast waste of timber by forest fires ;
it prevents a few people from deriving
all the benefits from our forests to the
detriment of the people in general.
‘Tt is not the intention of the Interior
Department or any of its representatives
to put hardships upon the people of
Arizona, but to preserve for her citizens
those things which will, some time in the
future, make her a proud sister among
the sisterhood of States; it is their desire
to people the Territory with men who
come to make Arizona their home, and
to protect them against those who come
to glean, gather, and go.”—Arizona
Journal-Miner.
The following statement of the effect
of forest removal on the water supply is
extracted from Weekly Bulletin No. 28,
Colorado Experiment Station. The bul-
Jetin was prepared by Prof. L. G. Car-
penter and relates to the discharge of
water by the Cache la Poudre River dur-
ing the season of 1808:
‘Since the early settlement the areas
of forest have become much less from
fires, denudation for mining, and railroad
purposes. The amount used for domes-
tic purposes is of small importance, ex-
cept as careless and irresponsible cutting
gives conditions favoring the spread of
the devastating forest fires. From the
standpoint of the water supply on which
agriculture depends, the protection of
the forests becomes of vital importance.
The protecting influence of the forests
on the™snow cover is of the greatest im-
portance. The letting in of the sun and
wind melts and evaporates the snow
without sensible formation of water, dries
the springs and lessens the amount of
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 85
water available for use. It is safe to say
that with the former forest cover, even
with the small snowfall and little rainfall,
the low stage of the river would not have
fallen to thirty-four second-feet as it did
this year, but would have been several
times more, for the innumerable small
springs would have continued their sup-
ply. If the forest cover continues to be
removed, autumns of low water like the
present will cease to be exceptional, but
become the rule, the river will be lower
than it has been this year, and may be
come as dry as some of the tributaries.”
The Gila River Forest Reserve.
By proclamation of President McKin-
ley, dated March 4, The Gila River
Forest Reserve was formally segregated.
It embraces a rough, mountainous region
in the southwestern part of New Mexico,
the Black Mesa Forest Reserve adjoin-
ing it on the west. It includes part of
the Mogollon, Black, San Francisco and
other ranges of mountains. The land is
exceedingly rough, having no roads and
but few trails through it. There are not
many settlers within the bounds of the
reserve. Those whoare there are stock-
men. ‘They have a great many cattle,
but not many sheep Considerable areas
of the forests within the reserve have
been burned over. It is asserted that
the Cliff Dwellers once inhabited the
gorges and cafions within the bounds of
the new reserve, and that remains of
their dwellings are still in existence.
The Gila, San Francisco, Tulerosa,
and Mimbres rivers and other streams
have their sources in the mountains of
this reservation. As several of these
streams flow into Arizona, the people of
that Territory have some interest in the
preservation of the forests on their moun-
tain water sheds. The rich alluvial val-
leys through which these streams run
after emerging from the mountains, and
the mild but arid climate, makes the con-
servation of water a matter of prime im-
portance there.
The business men of this city have no
86
desire to see the sawmills shut down or
the post and wood haulers deprived of
their business through the establishment
of a forest reserve, and would not advo-
cate the establishment of such a reserve
if they thought it would have that result.
They, as well as the timbermen, are
satisfied that the establishment of a forest
reserve will not interfere in the least with
these industries, and therefore they ad-
vocate it.—Fort Collins (Colo ) Express.
The Sheep Industry in Tulare County,
California.
A writer in the Pacific Rural Press for
March 4, 1899, states that in Tulare
County, California, the value of taxable
real estate and personal property is $41,-
775,133; of sheep and lambs, $299,712.
The sheep owners therefore pay only
about seven-tenths of 1 per cent of the
county taxes. The writer of the article
then says:
If it is true, as it appears upon the records,
that this great sheep industry pays less than 1
THE FORESTER.
April,
per cent of our taxes ; if itis true that our Gov-
ernment has placed it upon the protective tariff
list; if it is true that our Government is to con-
tinue to furnish them pasturage free in future
as it has in the past; if it is true that they are
very largely responsible for the destruction of
our forests, which means the destruction of our
water supply; then I would suggest in all can-
dor, and with due respect to the 99 per cent
industry, that, as a financial proposition and as
a proposition looking to the welfare of ourselves
and our children, to the saving of our farms,
our orchards, our vineyards, in short, all that
we hold dear, that if we expect to continue to
live here, we would better purchase this 1 per
cent industry and ship it to another country,
and thereby save our homes,
In a private letter, from which THE
ForRESTER is permitted to make an extract,
President James Reid, of the Montana
College of Agriculture, says:
I am glad that the President has seen fit to
set apart the Gallatin Reserves, and sincerely
hope that a much larger tract may be added,
including all the headwaters of that river.
There are many fertile valleys in the State of
Montana and throughout the Rocky Mountain
region, whose fertility can be made permanent
only by making reserves at the headwaters of
the streams that supply them.
Forest Management.
In a letter to the Evanston Wyoming
Press Mr. W. F. Hill writes as follows
of the wasteful way in which the timber
is being stripped from the mountains in
the vicinity of the town of Wells:
Th2 Rock Springs Lumber Company now
has a large force of men at work cutting tim-
ber on Townships 38 and 39 North, Ranges 1009,
tto West, which land is not yet open to settle-
ment. Itisclaimed that they have bought this
land with soldier scrip, and it is claimed as ag-
ricultural land, and that removing the timber
Is necessary to put it in condition for settle-
ment. Now every one in this country knows
that such land is not, and never will be, of any
account for agricultural purposes, the soil being
shallow and situated on sidehills too steep to
admit of cultivation. The settlers of this sec-
tion have asked repeatedly to have an investi-
gation ordered from headquarters, but so far
very little attention has been paid to our de-
mands. However, there are too many people
interested in the matter for it to be put aside
for long. The amount of timber in this coun-
try is comparatively small and the future in-
terests of a large and prosperous community
demand that it be protected. This outfit pays
no attention to either the rules of common sense
or of the Interior Department in regard to the
prevention of fires, and it is certain that if left
alone they will cause great damage to what
timber they do not cut, by fires which will un-
avoidably start among the refuse left by them.
There is no law by which they can take this
land without swearing thatit is agricultural land
and such a statement would be utterly false.
1899.
Scarcity of Mine Timbers.
While the mining situation nere con-
-tinues to improve
are many factors which are likely to re-
tard operations for
many weeks to
come. There is no
difficulty, particu-
larly, in the actual
mining of ore. If
other conditions
were favorable the
tonnage of the camp
would be up to the
standard of 1,800
tons per day. But
there are several
almost insuperable
difficulties in the
way. In the first
place, the roads are
wretched. The ore
teams have recently
discarded their run-
ners andare making
Bmestrips with
wheels, but the
snow is soft, and
great ruts are cut
down through the
slush, into which
the wagons sink up
to the hubs. At
one time yesterday
afternoon at least a
dozen teams were
stuck on East Fifth
Street, near Harri-
son Avenue, and it
was all that four
and six horses, aided
by the picturesque
vocabulary of the
orehaulers, could do
to raise the block-
ade. Even with a
four-horse team it is necessary to move
only about half a load.
are greatly in favor of the conditions
getting rather worse
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Forest Utilization.
steadily, still there
LOGGING ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER.
The chances
than better, for
87
several weeks at least, unless another
very cold snap should occur.
Then there is the timber famine.
is a cold, hard reality, as a visit to the
This
saw mills very clearly
proves. This camp
in ordinary times
can consume about
five carloads of logs
per day, but in Feb-
ruary only three
cars reached the
city, and there is
but little improve-
ment in the situ-
ation. Logs have
KISeN: iN), price. ait
least 33%4 per cent
and it will be a
month before there
iS any improve-
ment. Mr. Winten
Morrell, of Guller
o&. Co. Starw. mill
men, explains that
last year the log-
gers were getting
very low prices for
their logs, and asa
result many of them
were compelled to
turn their attention
to other channels
of business. They
couldn’t make a liv-
ing at the prices
they were then re-
ceiving. During
the winter the local
lumber dealers ad-
vanced the _ price
slightly, and there
was a decided stim-
ulus in the log mar-
ket. But the block-
ade came, tying up
the sources of supply on the Blue River
and the Frying Pan.
logs have been bringing from 60 to 65
cents, while a year ago the same logs
Lately eight-inch
88 THE FORESTER.
brought 30 cents ; seven-inch logs 30 to
35 cents, former price 20 cents ; ten inch
logs 70 cents, former price 60 cents;
twelve-inch logs go cents, formerly 65
cents. Tothese figures 15 cents is added
by the saw mill men for framing, etc., this
being their regular figure at all times.
Of course the timber bill for the big
mines, under these conditions, is in-
creased from one-third to one-half, but
probaby the mine manager would not
complain providing there were plenty of
timbers. But even at these fancy prices
only a stray carload now and then can be
secured, and the shrewd logger naturally
holds out for the highest prices. In
fact the local saw mill men have had to
bid very lively in order to secure what
few timbers they have on hand, which
accounts, partially, at least, for the
high prices now prevailing.
The result of this timber famine is
apparent. The big mines gobble up
every stick of timber on the market.
The small lessee is the one who par-
ticularly suffers. He is unable to pros-
ecute his operations, particularly in
catching up the iron stopes, and as a
result a large amount of this work has
had to be abandoned. Jn fact some of
the lessees have found themselves in a
rather serious predicament, and several
of them have had to temporarily aban-
don work.—Leadville (Colo.) Herald-
Democrat.
The frontispiece of THE ForesTER is
a view of the entrance of a mine in the
Cripple Creek (Colo:) -district in its
earlier stages of development, and illus-
trates some of the uses to which timber
is put in the mining industry, while the
hill in the background, once heavily
timbered, shows that a mining commu-
nity utilizes practically all of the timber
at hand. The interior timbering of the
mine is necessarily not shown, but in
many formations it is most important
and the quantity required for this purpose
is large. On page 77 is presented a
view of a forest in a reserve near one of
the largest mining camps in the North-
west. It tells its own story—a story
April,
that must appeal strongly to the mine
owner. It is true that he may secure
many good mine timbers from the charred
trunks of the burned forest, but if he
cares for the perpetuation of the great
industry in which his interest lies he
must feel a personal responsibility in
hastening the adoption of a policy which
will limit if not prevent the occurrence
of forest fires in the mining regions.
The Diversion of Spruce.
Emphatically the pulp material is
Spruce. No other wood, available in
large quantities, has to so high a degree
the requisites for this class of manufac-
ture as has the leading element in the
forests of New England. Its fiber is
long and tenacious and the logs are both
easily handled and worked; so that as
the business of paper pulp manufacture
develops greater and greater have been
the inroads upon the Spruce supply for
this purpose, and it is rapidly being
diverted from its use as a lumber timber
to the purposes of the pulp makers.
Ten years ago Spruce was the leading,
or one of the leading, woods in use in
New England and adjacent territory, and
the condition of the Spruce market was
of more interest to Eastern lumbermen
than that of any other wood excepting
White Pine, and perhaps exceeding that
wood in its real significance. But Spruce
lumber is rapidly becoming a thing of
the past. Elsewhere in this issue of the
Lumberman wiil be found a review of the
changes which have taken place and are
now in progress in the Spruce hold-
ings and manufacture in New England.
They come from the fact that, manufac-
tured into paper, Spruce is many times
more valuable than when made into
lumber. The pulp business originated
more than ten years ago, but even as
recently as that the Spruce put into pulp
consisted mainly of timber too small for
profitable lumbering operations. The
saw mills took the saw logs, and what
was left on the lands, ranging perhaps
from four to twelve inches in diameter,
was taken to the pulp mills. But now
1899.
entire tracts are logged for pulp manu-
facture.
The article referred to has one forcible
illustration of this change, in connection
with the production of wood pulp on the
Androscoggin River. In 1888 the con-
sumption of Spruce timber on that
stream in pulp manufacture was only
22,000,000 feet; in 1898 it was 195,000,-
ooo feet. The same thing has been
going on all over New England, though
resisted in some sections, as on the Pe-
nobscot River. Spruce therefore is rap-
idly becoming a material not available
for the lumber manufacturer, who 1s out-
bid for its possession by the pulp maker.
While New England is the home of
the Spruce, the idea that it is confined to
that section of the country is errone-
ous. There are large quantities of it in
the Allegheny Mountains and no small
amount in the upper peninsula of Michi-
gan and in northern Wisconsin. There
are a few million feet of Spruce lumber
produced in Michigan, but the real use
of the wood there as elsewhere is for
pulp making. Two of the greatest
centers of wood pulp manufacture in the
country are now to be found in Wiscen-
sin, the Spruce districts in that State
being respectively on the Fox River, in
the eastern part of the State, and on the
Wisconsin River. The Spruce in that
section ordinarily does not grow in solid
bodies of any size, but is scattered in
narrow belts through the other timber or
is found mixed with other growths.. But
in the aggregate the output is consider-
able, and the traveler along the railroad
lines which penetrate the upper penin-
sulasees at every station piles of pulp
wood bolts brought in by the farmers and
small jobbers, to be shipped to the pulp
mills further south. Spruce has had its
day as a lumber wood, but is even more
valuable as standing timber available for
the use of pulp making than it was when
its only or chief use was the production
of lumber.—American Lumberman.
Mine Props.
It is generally known that in all coal
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 8g
mines the roof above the coal vein has
to be propped up as the coal is dug out.
This is done with wooden props made of
round timber cut to proper lengths. In
this country the coal mines are usually
situated in wooded localities, and the cost
of the mine props is a small matter ; but
in the United Kingdom and some States
in Europe the trade in such timber is an
important one. By the by, mine props
in England are called ‘‘pit props” and
‘pit wood,” and they come largely from
the Scandinavian countries. While there
is a limit to the amount of lumber timber
in this country, the amount of small tim-
ber suitable for pit props may be truly
said to be inexhaustible if used for no
other purposes. We have had some in-
quiries as to the feasibility of shipping
pit wood from the hardwood section of
the Central South to British ports. The
data as to prices, cost of freight, etc.,
available at present is not sufficient to
permit any satisfactory answer; but it
may be of interest to inquirers to know
that English experts have some queer
ideas as to the crushing strength of tim-
ber. The following extract is from 77m-
ber of March 4, 1899. We do not know
just what is meant by ‘ordinary oak
props”:
‘‘Ata general meeting of the Federated
Institution of Mining Engineers, held at
Shelton, Stoke-upon-Trent, on the 22d
ult., Prof.,H; Louis read a paper, en-
titled ‘Further Notes on Pit Props,’
stating that of half a dozen ordinary oak
props he had tested the best result was
given by the straightest prop; yet this
was only 1.11 tons per square inch,
while the average of the six was only 0.g2
ton per square inch. This figure com-
pared very unfavorably with the result
obtained from ordinary Baltic soft-wood
props—viz, 1.571 tons—being only 60
per cent of that figure. The lowest
figure obtained from soft wood—1.1
tons—was equal to the highest given by
an oak prop. It was, therefore, impossi-
ble to doubt that the oak prop was far
weaker than an ordinary Baitic prop.”
Southern Lumberman.
go THE FORESTER:
Lumbering in the Northwest.
Graphic reproductions of forest scenes
and lumbering operations are always in-
teresting, even to the most casual ob-
server. Especially is this true of the
great forests of the Pacific Northwest,
where the trees are of truly gigantic pro-
portions, the growth upon the ground
very dense, and where lumbering meth-
ods are necessarily upon a scale com-
mensurate with these conditions. In
this issue THE Forester presents three
lifelike illustrations of some of the
methods in vogue in the lumber camps
of that region. The above scene and
one on page 87, are from Oregon, twenty
miles below Portland, on the Columbia
River, and another, on page 83, is from
April,
a point in the southern part of the State
of Washington. The latter represents a
view of a waterway where the great logs
are received to be floated to the sawmill.
The two Oregon views show something
of the methods by which great obstacles
in the way of successful logging have
been overcome by the ingenuity of re-
Timber slides
are constructed, upon which immense
logs are quickly drawn up a steep hill-
side by means of steel wire cables, oper-
ated by machinery. Similar slides
are used to conduct logs down hills or
mountain sides to the mill, road or water-
way. THE Forester will present other
views of equal interest from time to time.
sourceful lumbermen.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. gI
State Associations.
Southern California,
The meeting called by the Southern
California Academy of Sciences was held
yesterday forenoon in the assembly room
of the Chamber of Commerce to organize
a Forest and Water Society. There were
about forty men present, representing
several branches of the Fruit Growers’
Exchange, and other organizations, as
well as a number of persons engaged in
water development and hydraulic engi-
neering.
B. R. Baumgardt acted as temporary
chairman, and Abbot Kinney was elected
president and W. H. Knight secretary.
The president read a paper on forestry,
and a number of persons participated in
a discussion of the work to be done.
It is the object of the society to pro-
mote the interests of forestry and irriga-
tion by inducing the Federal Government
to take greater interest in the subjects,
though so far as could be ascertained,
the society is not prepared to make any
suggestions to the Government of specific
irrigation development to be undertaken.
Acommittee of five, consisting of A. R.
Sprague, T. P> Lukens, G. H. A. Good-
win, A. Campbell Johnston and B. R.
Baumgardt, were appointed to draft reso-
lutions and report a constitution and by-
laws. They urged the Executive Com-
mittee to secure the membership in the
society of all organizations and individ-
uals interested in the work ; endorsed the
forest school conducted under the aus-
pices of the University of Southern
California; request the Secretary of the
Interior to recognize forestry graduates
on forestry patrol; and endorse the es-
tablishment of a botanical garden in one
of the public parks of Los Angeles.
Vice presidents will be appointed for
each county in Southern California.
Three were named for the following
counties: Los Angeles, W. G. Kerckhoff;
Ventura, N. W. Blanchard, and San
Bernardino, Col. Adolph Wood. The
others will be appointed later.
Some idea of the scope of the work of
the society may be gathered from the
committee work provided for in the Con-
stitution. The Committee on Forestry
shall devise plans for the conservation
of our forests, and adjust conflicting in-
terests; that on flood waters and reser-
voirs shall obtain data regarding suitable
sites for storage ~eservoirs, and their cost
of construction; that on the distribution
of waters shall consider how the waters
of this section can be best utilized for
agricultural and industrial purposes; and
that on legislation shall endeavor to
secure such State or National legislation
as may be approved by the association.
Much enthusiasm was manifest in the
meeting. The president spoke of the
annual destruction by fires that are de-
nuding the mountains of their beautiful
forests, which serve not only to increase
precipitation, but act as natural storage
reservoirs for holding the snows and rain-
falls on the mountains. This work of
conservation must be taken up at once,
he declared, or the mountains will be
bare in a few years, and we shall leavea
heritage of shame to the next genera-
tion.
Olaf Ellison spoke of the work that
had been accomplished in various parts
of Europe, in France about the Bay of
Biscay, in the Peninsula of Jutland, and
in Sweden and Norway.
Capt. S. S. Mullins felt an eager, ab-
sorbing interest in this question. He
had witnessed the vandal work of shep-
herds, who build four fires a day, one for
each meal and one at night, if it is cool.
They do not, like intelligent hunters, see
that their fires are extinguished before
leaving them, but leave that matter to
chance and to the grossest neglect.
Col. Adolph Wood, of the Arrowhead
Company, thought that shepherds should
be forbidden to take their flocks into or
over aGovernment reserve. He consid-
ered the subject one of vital, far-reaching
interest.
A. W. Koebig, Dr. C. G. Baldwin,
George H. Peck and others were among
the speakers. —Los Angeles Times, Mar. 9.
92 THE FORESTER.
Indiana.
The Indiana Forestry Association was
formally organized at a meeting held in
the rooms of the Commercial Club, at
Indianapolis, on March 16. Rees
The purpose of the new association 1s
to awaken public interest in the care of
forests and woodlands; to promote the
afforestation of land which is at present
unproductive and to encourage the plant-
ing of trees in public parks, private
grounds and along streets and highways.
A congratulatory letter was read from
Dr: C. A. Schenck, of Biltmore, N.C.
It is expected that the association will
eventually have a membership of from
300 to 500. John P. Brown, of Conners-
ville, was elected president; William H.
Drapier, Amos W. Butler, John H. Hol-
liday, Albert Lieber, of Indianapolis,
and Alexander Johnson, of Fort Wayne,
vice presidents; William Watson Wool-
len, secretary, and Lewis Hoover, treas-
urer; William Watson Woolen and
John P. Brown and Alexander John-
son were chosen as a committee on
forestry, while J. Clyde Power and John
R. Pearson were named as a committee
on parks.
The officers elected were constituted
April,
an executive board, to have entire charge
of the work of the association. It was
agreed to hold monthly meetings on the
second Saturday in each month. The
annual meeting will be held on the
Wednesday following the second Mon-
day in January next.
The present membership comprises the
following: John P. Brown, William Wat-
son Woollen, James A. Mount, Dr. C. A.
Schenck; Biltmore; NimG. 7) |) Clyde
Power, John H. Holliday, Albert Lieber,
Alexander Johnson, of Fort -Wayne ;
A. W. Butler, William H. Drapier, Dr.
]. We Bates, DruGe Ne Woollent rer
D. M.. Geeting, Hugene |.+ Barney, ot
Dayton, O.; George H. Cooper, Mont-
gomery Marsh, Prof. John S. Wright,
James G. Kingsbury, Lewis Hoover and
John R. Pearson.
The following honorary members were
elected: J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska;
A. J. Brown, secretary of the Nebraska
Forestry Association; Mr. Allen Cham-
berlain, secretary of the Massachusetts
Forestry Association; Prof. Samuel
Green, of the University of Minnesota ;
Prof. Ellen Hayes, of Wellesley College,
and Prof. William Trelease, director of
Shaw’s Botanical Garden, St. Louis.
Recent Legislation.
Minnesota,
‘‘An act to encourage the growing and
preservation of forests, and to create
forest boards and forest reserves” has
passed the Minnesota House of Repre-
sentatives and seems likely to pass the
Senate also. This bill profits by pre-
vious forest law and contains most of
the points which the history of the sub-
ject in this country has shown to be most
important or most helpful. Some special
points deserve mention here.
There is to be a State Forestry Board
of nine members. The Chief Fire War-
den and the Professor of Horticulture at
the State University are to be ex-officio
members; three other residents of the
State are to be selected by the Board of
Regents of the University, each of them
chosen for his. knowledge of special
conditions; and The Minnesota State
Forestry Association, the Board of Man-
agers of the Minnesota State Agricultural
Society, the Minnesota Horticultural So-
ciety and the State Fish and Game Com-
mission are each to appoint one of the
remaining four. There will be a presi-
dent, vice president and secretary, ap-
pointed by the Board, and an executive
committee ; tne State treasurer is to be
the treasurer of the Board. The Town
Boards of Supervisors and the County
Commissioners, respectively, are to be
town and county forest boards, which are
to have such authority only as is ex-
pressly conferred by legislature.
1899.
The forest preserves are to consist of
tracts (1) set apart by the State for for-
estry purposes, (2) deeded, devised or
granted to the State for these purposes
by persons or granted by the United
States Government, or (3) given or de-
vised outright by persons.
The Board is empowered to accept
certain classes of lands deeded by their
owners, in which case the lands are to be
permanently devoted to forestry pur-
poses; to sell dead and down timber and
mature timber ; to deed tracts whenever
the growth of towns, railroads or need
of water-power may demand it; to cut
and sell forests or trees or sell tracts
with the right to cut and sell timber
thereon; but the proceeds of such sales
must be divided like the rest of the in-
come from the forests. This income is
to be divided, at least once in every five
years, one-third going to reimburse the
State for the expenses of forest manage-
ment and for the non-payment of taxes
on the tracts deeded, the State receiving
one-half and the county and town each
one-fourth of this third; two-thirds going
to support the educational institutions or
systems of the State.
As a source of revenue, or for their
protection from the fire Board may lease
(2) low meadow tracts and (4) other
tracts for pasture, when this can be done
without endangering the growth of trees.
If this bill passes, as it bids fair to do,
the State of Minnesota will have joined
the good movement for perpetual State
ownership and protection of forest lands
in which New York and Pennsylvania
have already made such noteworthy
progress.
Indiana Forest Tax Legislation.
The General Assembly of Indiana en-
acted a law during its late session which
has for its object the encouragement of
the preservation and proper manage-
ment of timber lands in that State. It
provides that upon any tract of land in
the State of Indiana there may be se-
lected by the owner, or owners, as a per-
manent forest reservation, a portion not
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
93
to exceed one-eighth of the total area of
said tract, which shall be appraised for
taxation at one dollar per acre. If the
tract is original forest with not less than
170 trees on each acre its owner may
avail himself of the benefits of this pro-
vision immediately by filing a descrip-
tion of the selected tract with the county
auditor. If the land owner elects to
plant a tract he must cultivate the same
and have not less than 170 trees growing
onit at the end of three years before he
can have his reservation confirmed for
the reduced assessment. In all cases
dead trees must be replaced by new ones
planted so that the minimum number on
each acre shall not fall below 170; and
it is further provided that no land owner
who receives the benefits of this law
shall permit cattle, horses, sheep, goats
or hogs to pasture upon such reservation
until the trees are four inches in diameter.
Not more than one-fifth of the full num-
ber of trees on any such reservation shall
be cut in any one year, except that dead
trees may be removed and other trees
planted in their places.
One section of the law enumerates the
trees which shall be considered as forest
trees within the meaning of its provi-
sions. About twenty varieties of timber,
including probably forty or more species
of trees, are specified. It would not
seem to include the Beech, Sycamore,
Cottonwood, Black Cherry, Hackberry
and Juniper, all of which are indigenous
and each of some economic value, al-
though the Kentucky Coffee, Osage
Orange, Sassafras and Catalpa are given
in the list that will be considered as forest
trees within the meaning of the law.
It is made the duty of the county
auditors to keep a record of all forest
reservations. They are also to require
owners or agents to subscribe under oath
to the extent and description of the land
reserved. It is made the duty of asses-
sors to personally examine the various
forest reservations when the real estate
is appraised, and to note upon the return
the conditions of the trees, in order that
the intent of the law may be fully com-
plied with.
O4 THE FORESTER.
A New National Park.
By an act of Congress approved March
2, 1899, a tract of land eighteen miles
square, embracing in all 207,360 acres,
and including Mount Rainier itself, was
withdrawn from the Mount Rainier For-
April,
est Reserve and dedicated to the pur-
poses of a national park, ~It, is to be
known as the Mount Rainier National
Park. The Mount Rainier Forest Re-
serve thus reduced contains 2,027,520
acres.
Educational.
The College of Forestry recently added
to the curriculum of the University of
Southern California, was formally opened
in the college building at West Los
Angeles yesterday morning. The exer-
cises and lectures were held in the bio-
logical lecture room, and will continue
to be given there for the present. After
a few remarks by President George W.
White the first lecture in the course was
delivered by the Hon. Abbot Kinney.
In an exhaustive discourse upon ‘‘ The
History of Forestry and Its Need in
Southern California,” Mr. Kinney set
forth the original cause of a study of
forestry in the dependence of primitive
man upon the forest and its products for
subsistence. The nations of Europe
have made a science of forestry and it is
conducted under governmental super-
vision.
To Southern California, with its tree-
less plains and scant rainfall, this subject
is all-important, and this school will
meet the want by turning out trained for-
esters, who will carry out this work under
Government control. Their efforts will
be directed to preserving and enlarging
the present forest area on our watersheds.
At 1.20 p.m, ‘Professor ©) Ps ehallips
addressed the students upon ‘‘The
Botany of Tree Growth.” In brief he
described the method of tree growth and
the absorption of moisture from the
atmosphere by the leaves and the slow
evaporation of the moisture from the
soil through the trees.
Prof. Laird J. Stabler followed with a
lecture on ‘‘Soi] Physics.”” He described
the meteorological instruments used in
practical forestry and explained the effect
of forests on the rainfall.—ZLos Angeles
Flerald, March 4.
Mr. Peter Barr, a prominent horticul-
turist and arborist, of London, Eng.,
who is visiting Ottawa at present, makes
a suggestion that is well worth the atten-
tion of the Government. It is the estab-
lishment of a School of Forestry for
instruction in the propagation and con-
serving of the forests. Much attention is
being directed to this branch throughout
the British Empire, especially in India,
where it is a well-organized departmental
work, the country being divided into dis-
tricts under foresters and rangers. There
is no School of Forestry in the British
dominions in North America, and Mr.
Barr thinks that the Imperial authorities
would make a grant for the support of
such an institution where thorough in-
struction could be imparted in the
growth, care and preservation of timber,
and that Ottawa is just the place for its
location,— Canada Lumberman.
1899.
hHeE- FORESTER.
PUBLISHER’S ANNOUNCEMENT.
Tur Forester is published menthly by the
American Forestry Association at
No. 117 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents,
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FoRESTER.
New Members. .
Since the last issue of THE Forester the
following named persons have been elected to
membership in the American Forestry Asso-
ciation :
Austin Corbin, 102 Broadway, New York,
INIG: Whe
Sydney Arnold, Box 308, North Yakima,
Wash.
Wm, J. Roberts, Pullman, Wash.
Joel Shoemaker, North Yakima, Wash.
Geo. H. Wallis, 333 Bay St., San Francisco,
Cal.
Douglas T, Fowler, Berkeley, Cal.
Ezra F. Stephens, Crete, Neb.
Henry O'Sullivan, Indian Lorette, Prov.
Quebec.
James Dun, Topeka, Kan.
Hon, Joseph M. Carey, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Hon, Henry C, Dillon, 321 Bullard Block,
Los Angeles, Cal.
Arthur Gunn, Wenatchee, Wash.
Charles H. Baker, Seattle, Wash.
Peter Koch, Bozeman, Mont.
Henry E. Glazier, Stillwater, Okla.
W.N. Wiley, Holly, Colo.
Oscar R. Young, C. E. McCormick Building,
Salt Lake City, Utah
Norval W. Wall, C. E., Colorado Springs,
Colo,
F, A. Hutto, Stillwater, Okla.
Walstern R. Chester, 27 Doane St., Boston,
Mass.
W.H. Howcott, 838 Common St., New Or-
leans, La.
E. L. Tebbets, Locke’s Mills, Maine.
Fred Larkins, White Springs, Fla.
Geo. J. Krebs, Cairo, Il,
Richard Thornton Fisher, 44 Brattle St.,
Cambridge, Mass.
G. Fred Schwarz, Department of Agricul-
ture, Washington, D. C.
Nathan B. Prescott, 28 Boylston Terrace,
Jamaica Plain, Mass,
C. H. Shinn, Berkeley, Cal.
Geo. S. Edwards, Commercial Bank, Santa
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 95>
Barbara, Cal.
A, Edwards, Commercial Bank, Santa Bar-
bara, Call:
Ee: H. Frink, 725 State St., Santa Barbara,
al.
es P, Dunn, Arlington Hotel, Santa Barbara,
Cal.
Clio L. Lloyd, Morning Press, Santa Bar-
bara, Cal.
Res) 1a
Cal:
J. M. McNulty, M. D., Santa Barbara, Cal.
D. B. Harmony, cs oe
Be Cyballant: ae AG
E. M. Pyle, ce S
HaC) Roeder; 3¢ ate
Jonn F. Diehl, es a
i= AS Canant- ct “6
T. R. Dawe, os uC
Garrett S. Richards, Be 6
C, A. Storke, OG “
Bennett Fithian, ac ve
A. W. Maulsly, es Gr
O. A. Stafford, Hope, Cal.
D. L. Wiggins, Ashland, Wis.
C. F, Latimer, Ashland, Wis.
Frederick Abbot, Milwaukee, Wis.
Mack Morris, Trenton, Tenn.
Winchester, M. D., Santa Barbara,
Life Member.
Mrs. Edward Whitney, Belmont, Mass.
To THE EDITOR:
I note in your last issue the patriotic criti-
cism which the reviewer of the Bulletin om
‘‘ Measuring the Forest Crop” makes because
the cubic foot measure has been employed, at the
same time breaking a lance for the American
lumber foot.
In this attempt the critic recommends and at
the same time discredits the usual log rules,
which, as is well known, are not really a meas-
ure but a complex agreement dependent in
part on volume and on usage in conversion.
Will you please explain for the benefit of
your readers how one can measure trees di-
rectly with the lumber foot, and how, for in-
stance, a pulpman may know how much a
given parcel of land or a lot of logs contains, if
the report merely gives the amount of ma-
terial according to the Doyle or Scribner rule.
Sincerely yours,
Wm. B. HowArp.
Utica, N. Y., March 31, 1899.
In our criticism of Bulletin No. 20 of
the Division of Forestry, ‘‘ Measuring
the Forest Crop,” by A. K. Mlodziansky,
in the March number of THE FORESTER,
we did not state that directions for com-
puting the contents of trees in cubic feet
should have been entirely omitted, but
96 THE :-FORESTER.
we. criticised the lack of directions for
measuring timber by American methods,
namely, the board foot, standard, and
cord. These measures will be used in
this country for many years, both by lum-
bermen and foresters, and any treatise
which subordinates them to a method
used in some other country and almost
never used in America is not complete
and can have but little practical value.
The report of the Special Committee
-of the New York Legislature appointed
to investigate as to what additional lands
shall be acquired within the forest pre-
serve in order to protect the watersheds
and for the Agricultural Experiment Sta-
tion has been printed under date of Feb-
ruary g. It is a document of sixteen
pages, chiefly occupied with puffs of the
regions visitéd by the Committee. Its
April,
recommendations are supported by no
arguments of consequence and appar-
ently by little actual examination. The
report as a whole is inconclusive and in-
complete. It represents an exceedingly
small return for the expenditure of the
three thousand dollars appropriated for
the Committee which made it.
The edition of THE Forester for No-
vember, 1898, having been exhausted, it
has been found necessary to have a new
one printed. Members of the Association
and subscribers who may need copies
of that issue (No. 11, Vol. IV,) to com-
plete files for binding, will be supphed if
they notify the publishers to that effect.
A limited number of complete copies
of Vol. IV of THE Forester are offered
for sale. Price $1.00. Previous vol-
umes are out of print.
Recent Publications.
The European and Japanese Chestnuts tn
the Eastern United States, Bulletin No. 42,
Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station, by
Prof. G. Harold Powell, treats of chestnut cul-
ture from a horticultural point of view. The
history of the introduction of the cultivated va-
rieties of the chestnut from France and Japan is
briefly sketched and several pages are devoted
to a discussion of the value of its fruit as food.
Four pages are filled with the botanical con-
sideration of the American, Asiatic and Euro-
pean types, their similarities and differences.
Cultural suggestions include production of va-
rieties from seedlings and hybrids; propaga-
tion, by budding and grafting; the treatment
of the planted orchard and the grove of top-
worked sprouts; subsequent care of trees; in-
sect enemies and fungous diseases. The merits
and advantages of the two introduced species
are compared and the conclusion is drawn that
the Japan Chestnut is the more desirable for the
nut culturist, although the European species is
accorded a higher value as atimber tree. A
great development for this branch of horticul-
ture in the Eastern States is predicted. A list
of thirty-six desirable varieties, about equally
divided between the two species, with brief
descriptions of each, completes the pamphlet of
thirty-five pages. It is well illustrated and
well written, and serves excellently as an
introduction to the subject under consider-
ation.
Bulletin No. 40 of the Wyoming Experiment
Station is entitled Zhe Trees of Wyoming and
flow to Know Them, This bulletin of fifty
pages was prepared by Prof. Aven Nelson,
botan‘st of the Wyoming Station. It is a brief
but comprehensive description of the native
arborescent flora of Wyoming, and, with Prof,
Buffum’s bulletin on the shade and forest trees
inartificial plantations, it makes avery complete
exposition of the subject of trees and tree cul-
ture in that State. In consequence of the
great altitude of the mountains of Wyoming
and the arid conditions prevailing on the plains
the forests are limited in area and it is but
natural to presume the list of species included
would not be large. Prof, Nelson has listed
thirty-one species in this bulletin, although
not all of these would be classed as timber
trees. Of these eight are conifers, three Pines,
two Spruces (Pzcea), the Douglas Spruce
(Pseudotsuga), and two Junipers, The de-
ciduous trees enumerated include five species
of Poplar, two of Birch, one of Oak, three of
Maple, and one of Ash and a number of species
of lesser importance. The bulletin devotes
some space to observations on the growing
interest in trees and tree culture, forests and
forestry and advocates an extension of theforest
reservation system in Wyoming. It is well
illustrated with half-tones and drawings of
forest scenes, trees, twigs, foliage, flowers and
fruits of the species described, and altogether
it is a very interesting and instructive bulletin.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Bump Rock Road, Park and Page Fence
Premises of R. B. SYMINGTON,
At Cape Cod, Mass. —=aii—
In order to preserve the innate beauty of this rustic scene
Mr. S. was not willing to have it marred Py even a fence
post. He used the : :
PAGE “WOVEN WIRE FENCE
Nineteen horizontal wires—s58 inches high and pape it
to the trees from 30 to 60 feet apart :
SEE! It does not Lag nor Sag between the supports.
scnstarensseSSuqgesssSteasems
=
Mipsis S OF STOCK AND PARM- FENCES
CONSTANTLY ON) HAND
WRITE FOR DESCRIPTION.
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Page Woven Wire Fence Co.,
ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.
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THE FORD S Ei
H. J. KOKEN
TENTH STREET AND PENNA. AVENUE,
C. P. HANCOGEK
Ze
High-Class Designs and
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WASHINGTON, D. C.
FORESTRY, SCHG@O@E,
At BILTMORE N. C.
For circular and information apply to
C. A. SCHENCK rh: im.
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE
ae
new WIT, TIAIVIE) ear TLLUOITIAIEU
v MAY, 1899. No. 5.
it :
| A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
z devoted to the care and use of
: i forests and forest trees and
q to related subjects.
PUBLISHED BY
; The American Forestry Association.
ft
SSS 0 = SS
Price 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D, C., as second class matter,
THE OF IN
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS. f
IMO HRCA TNT Teh a ae eels a Frontispiece 4
Tue New Mount RalniER NaTIONAL PARK. Illustrated. 22... ce snesccssmeeeensecsnene O77 i
(By permission of the Director of U. S. Geological Survey.) is
THE TRAINING OF PROFESSIONAL FORESTERS IN AMERICA.. ..sss-0- Wi asda aeurelasa tote 103
(A symposium in three papers.)
I. By the Director of the New York State College of Forestry.
II. By the Forester of the Biltmore Estate.
III. By the Forester of the Department of Agriculture.
TIMBER TE ROTECTIONUIN I METINNESOTA: 6555 A OUARO ET ONC Tyee ee Ps 1 ae
PPREE | PLANTING VIN FOANSAS. 0002110 Cc ON nee Ween CL MERON ih Ute bes
fF Raise (NLAHOGANY.?)) OF SOUTH AMERICA 22 2A oe Co ee poy ie
PERICRUAINNGER TIN OTS kc Aa A cece tS ny ea eC
Man MOR THCOMING WY BARS OOK yc) REIN IS ST eas Sah Sp eee eee
Work of the Division of Forestry for the Farmer.
Notes on Some Forest Problems.
(From advance sheets by courtesy of Secretary of Agriculture. )
A BOLD (STROKE GFOR (TE RRIGATION: 6000 e ee NC RUC ek Tea ent a ale EL
COLGRADG A DVICH ee RU! LY Bi NU EO Rae MAE A) hia seed eee a eu Ae
COLORADO! VE XPERVENGE ice e000) Ln PA I oe CP ce SALA OS Ae Ua ee
RECENT PLEGISEATION: oct CAE MU eek Ray nS nel Oe VACA Cah aa NAG EAE i
New York. Missouri. Arkansas.
Minnesota. Wisconsin. Canada.
DseGiSuATION “PENDING. O00 0 Pen CE CA OTE Red AL nrc aay
Minnesota.
A Scarcity oF TIMBER AND ITs HINDRANCE .......... Og ae SL ae Mi GPA a es Oe
WATER SUPPLY AND FORESTRY vccsossssssssssssssenssssssssstssussessseecepnssese BHR ae rca. AN, NE 3 8 2,
EDL GW) 2 VN SRN EMR Ata Ati Ma Re a Rene aon SALAS CUSSED I BY PRGA Ni
Special Announcement.
Editorial Note.
INVER SHURE MTS: tc ce EN RE a0 NST OE on
Miscellaneous.
Forest Fires.
Timber Prospects in Cuba.
Utilization of Water Power.
Snowslide or Landslide Next ?
IRECENT NEUBLICATIONS : 001504 20. a U0) aaa CR a LA
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109
110
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The Forester.
WOE, V.
MAY, 1899 Non" 5):
Meno tount Rainier National Park.
Compiled partly from official data hitherto unpublished.
{Published by permission of the Director of the U. S. Geological Survey.|
The first suggestion for the establish-
ment of a Rainier National Park came
from two widely traveled foreigners. In
1883 they visited Mount Rainier, the one
Prof. Karl Zittel, of Munich, a geologist
familiar with all the aspects of Europe,
and the other the Hon. James Bryce, a
member of the English Alpine Club, and’
a traveler whose mountaineering con-
quests included Ararat. Ina joint letter
these gentlemen wrote:
““The scenery of Mount Rainier is of rare
and varied beauty. The peak itself is as noble
a mountain as we have ever seen in its lines
and structure. The glaciers which descend
from its snow fields present all the characteris-
tic features of those in the Alps, and though
less extensive than the ice streams of the
Mount Blanc or Monta Rosa groups, are in
their crevasses and serracs equally striking,
and equally worthy of close study, We have
seen nothing more beautiful in Switzerland or
Tyrol, in Norway or in the Pyrenees, than the
Carbon River glacier and the great Puyallup
glaciers; indeed, the ice in the latter is unusu-
ally pure, and the crevasses unusually fine.
The combination of ice scenery with woodland
scenery of the grandest type, is to be found
nowhere in the Old World, unless it be in the
Himalayas, and, sofar as we know, nowhere
~ else on the American Continent. * * #*
We may, perhaps, be permitted to express a
bope that the suggestion will at no distant date
be made to Congress that Mount Rainier should,
like the Yosemite Valley and the geyser region
of the Upper Yellowstone, be reserved by the
Federal Government and treated as a National
park.”
The hope expressed by these foreign-
ers found no response in legislative ac-
tion until the winter of 1895. Then a
memorial prepared by a committee repre-
senting the American Association for the
Advancement of Science, the Geological
Society of America, the Sierra Club of
California, and the Appalachian Moun-
tain Club, was presented to the Senate
by Mr. Squire, the Senator from Wash-
ington. In 1897, the action of which
this memorial was a feature, led to a bill
designed to establish a National Park,
which passed both Houses of Congress,
but failed of signature by the President.
In the winter of 1899 this bill, with
slight modifications, was again intro-
duced, passed both Houses, and receiv,
ing the signature of the President, be-
came a law on March 2.
The bill provides for a National Park
eighteen miles square, designed to in-
clude the glacial system of Mount Rai-
nier, its parks, and some part of the sur-
rounding forests. The boundaries are
laid off according to township and range
lines of the Government Land Survey,
beginning at a point three miles east of
the northeast corner of T. 17 N., R. 6 E.
of the Willamette meridian. The square,
eighteen miles on a side, is broken on the
eastern line to an unknown extent by the
provision that: ‘‘In locating the said
easterly boundary, wherever the summit
of the Cascade Mountains is_ sharply
and well defined, the said line shall fol-
low the said summit where the said sum-
mit line bears west of the easterly line
as herein determined.”
It is provided that the National Park
shall be under the exclusive control of
the Secretary of the Interior, whose duty
it shall be to make and publish such
rules and regulations as he may deem
necessary for the management of the
same. The Secretary may, in his dis-
cretion, grant parcels of ground for the
erection of buildings for the accommo-
dation of visitors, and all the proceeds
of the leases, and all other revenues that
may be derived from any source, con;
nected with the Park, are to be expended,
under his direction in the management
of the same and for the construction .of
roads and bridle paths therein. Rights.
of way may be granted to railway or
98 THE FORESTER.
tramway companies for access to the
Park, fish and game are to be protected
from wanton destruction, and police au-
thority is given. Provision is made to
compensate the Northern Pacific Kail-
way Company for such part of its land
grant as falls within the boundaries of
the Park, it being authorized to select
other non-mineral lands in lieu of those
taken. The last section of the law ex-
tends the mineral land laws of the
United States to the lands lying within
the Forest Reservation and Park.
The occasion for creating the Rainier
National Park cannot be more concisely
stated than in the quotation from Profes-
sor Zittel and Mr. Bryce: ‘‘The com-
bination of ice scenery with woodland
scenery of the grandest type is to be
found nowhere in the Old World, unless
it be in the Himalayas, and, so far as we
know, nowhere else on the American
Continent.’”’ The district lies wholly on
the western side of the Cascade Range,
where the moist and equable climate
promotes the growth of vegetation, and
the heaviest forests of the United States
clothe the slopes. These virgin forests
of the Cascades are deep and dense.
The tall, light-loving trees, tower to
heights of 250 feet or more, on relatively
slender shafts, which near the ground
are 6 to 10 feet in diameter. Beneath
their interlacing crowns grow trees more
tolerant of shade, bearing branches to
within a few feet of the ground. Shrubs
crowd among the tree trunks, rising
from rich ferneries, vines and matted
mosses. The air is damp, the light
sombre, the solitude becomes oppres-
sive. But little animal life is seen, and
few birds. The wind plays in the tree
tops far overhead, but seldom stirs the
branches of the smaller growth. The
great tree trunks stand immovable.
The more awful is it when a gale roars
through the timber, when the huge col-
umns sway in unison and groan with
voices Strangely human. The upper
limit of the dense forest is about 4,000
feet above the sea, but trees of less
wigOrous growth cover the slopes and
ridges up to 6,000 feet, and the limit of
May,
tree growth in many places meets the
snow line at 7,000 to 7,500 feet.
From the sea of the evergreen forest
the gigantic snow peak, Mount Rainier,
rises solitarily to an altitude of 14,530
feet. Its form is that of a many-sided
pyramid, 5,000 feet in height, rising
from a broad and deeply-carved base.
The summit consists of three peaks, two
of which are nearly a mile apart, and
their broad expanse is deeply covered
with a mantle of glistening snow. The
sides of the pyramid are precipices,
which descend into vast amphitheatres.
Glaciers flowing from the nevée fields of
the summit hang upon the cliffs, break
in avalanches over their steepest facets,
or descend in cascades of flashing ice
pyramids to the broader platform. Gath-
ering their spray, as it were, beneath the
steep scarps, the ice rivers flow outward
in all directions and descend far into the
forest-clad valleys. Forest, glacier and
precipices combine to form scenes of the
wildest grandeur and the deepest sub-
limity.
Strangely environed in this rugged
scenery lie alpine meadows of exquisite
beauty. In July and August they bear
a richly-tinted flora, comprising more
than 400 species of flowers, and they are
set with groves of exquisitely symmetri-
cal Firs, whose dark foliage is a foil to
the brilliant coloring of the flowers and
the pearly aspects of the snow peak.
These are the scenes which no student
of nature can visit without interest, nor
any one view without realizing an in-
spiring and uplifting influence.
At present there is but one easily ac-
cessible route to the Park. This is by
stage from Tacoma southward to the
Nisqually Valley and thence eastward to
Longmire’s Springs. The distance is
about 60 miles and the roads are not yet
adequately constructed. From Long-
mire’s, Paradise Park, one of the moun-
tain meadows on the southern slope, is
reached by a mountain trail 7 miles in
length. Beyond Paradise Park all ex-
cursions involve mountaineering of
greater or less difficulty. A second
route extends from Wilkeson, at the end
1899. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 99
NORTH BOUNDARY FOREST RESERVE
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of the railroad north of Mount Rainier,
southward across Carbon River to the
northwestern spur of the mountain, and
reaches a district known as Spray Falls
MAP
SHOWING POSITION OF THE
MT. RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
IN THE
RAINIER FOREST RESERVE,
WASHINGTON
AND PROPOSED AMENDED BOUNDARIES.
COMPILED BY :
Bw
Park. The distance is about 30 miles
over a well built bridle path, which is
now, however, in poor repair. It wasat
one time easily possible to leave Wi!ke-
10o
son in the morning and watch the sunset
from a camp at an elevation of 7,000
feet on the northwestern side of the
snow peak. The wanton destruction by
fire of a bridge across Carbon River ren-
ders necessary a dangerous ford at that
stream, and now makes this route un-
available for any except mountaineers.
Other lines of access which may be
opened up but are not now used are (1)
from the southwest up the Cowlitz River,
which rises in the glaciers on the south-
eastern slope of Mount Rainier, (2) from
the east through the Cowlitz Pass in the
Cascade Range, and (3) from the north
along the summit of the Cascades. The
Cowlitz Pass has repeatedly been ex-
amined as a possible route for railroad
construction, and it is probable that the
establishment of a National Park may
lead to the construction of a railroad
across the range at this point. In all
legislation relating to the National Park,
care should be taken not to close the
Cowlitz Pass against traffic, as it affords
an important line of communication
between the Yakima and the lower
Columbia Valleys.
Access to Mount Rainier from the
north along the summit of the Cascade
Range is at present practicable only with
a pack train. There is a rough trail
which may be followed by mountaineer-
ing mules, and which may serve to sug-
gest a great driveway that shall be built
to connect the Northern Pacific Railroad
with the Cowlitz Pass and the National
Park. Such a road will be about 50 miles
in length, and will throughout much of
the distance run at altitudes of 5,000 to
6,500 feet along the somewhat evencrests
of the range. Formany milesthe traveler
along this road will have Mount Rainier
in view beyond mountain slopes which
sink from his feet into the vast expanse
of the great forest. Abreast of Mount
Rainier the road will be 12 miles distant
from the summit, and the splendid snow
peak will rise from the depths of canyons
far below to a height of 8,000 feet above
it. That it is practicable to lay out this
road there is no doubt, and that it will be
found profitable and will be built is more
THE FORESTER.
May,
than probable. It will challenge the
world for its equal in variety and majesty
of scenery.
Two central points for tourists are de-
termined by the topography of the dis-
trict. These are Paradise Park on the
southand Spray Falls Park on the north.
Both of them lie at elevations of 6,500
to 7,000 feet, between adjacent glaciers.
Routes within the Park will be developed
chiefly for communication between these
two points and for the ascent of the
mountain. At the present time to pass
around Mount Rainier at a low altitude
is an extremely arduous undertaking, and
at higher altitudes across the glaciers a
task requiring alpine experience. At the
higher levels the construction and main-
tenance of trails will never be practicable,
as four-fifths of the way is across the ice
and through mazes of crevasses, but
below the glaciers trails may be laid out
to the east or to the west of Rainier,
traversing the canyons and _ winding
through the forests, where the traveler
will te charmed with the harmony of
tints in the vegetation, delighted with
waterfalls, and transported with glimpses
of the snowy summit far above them all.
The ascent of Mount Rainier can
never become a popular pastime, as
under the best conditions it demands
unusual strength and steadiness of nerve,
yet a considerable number of climbers
have already ascended the peak, and
with due care the ascent may be made
from Paradise Park across Gibraltar
Rock and the snow fields beyond without
serious risk. Many who might be un-
equal to the task of ascending and de-
scending the peak in the same day will
avail themselves of the caverns within
the crater of the mountain. There, pro-
tected by a roof of ice from the freezing
blasts without, and warmed by the steam
which issues from many vents in the old
volcano, they may pass the night, divid-
ing their dreams between Jack Frost and
Pluto. All other ascents of Mount Rai-
nier than that by Gibraltar involve great
risk and should be undertaken only by
experienced mountaineers familiar with
work among crevasses. The climb has
Iol
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
1899.
j=
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FEE
2,000
ELEVATION
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RAINIER
MOUNT
FOREST ON SLOPE OF
The figure of a man
bout to feet.
may be seen to the right of it.)
eenisa
int s
ir at the lowest po
(The diameter of the large F
I02
been successfully made up the glacier on
the western slope, and also from the
northeast and east up the great ice mass
that covers the eastern slope, but the
conditions which made success possible
in these instances are constantly chang-
ing with flow of the ice and variations of
the seasons.
The boundaries to the Park as now es-
tablished by law are not well considered
for its future development. They are
too limited. They fail to include dis-
tricts whose scenic aspects are essential
to the unity of the Park and whose fea-
tures should not be left outside of its
protection. This is most especially true
of the western limit, and it is to some
extent true of the northern and southern
bounds.
According to the best information
available, the western boundary of the
established Park traverses the spurs of
Mount Rainier at altitudes which range
from 2,500 feet in the canyons to about
7,000 feet on the ridges. The extremities
of several notable glaciers probably ex-
tend to or beyond the Park limit. The
valley of the headwaters of the South
Fork of the Puyallup has a northwest
course in the three-mile strip which lies
west of the National Park and within the
boundary of the Rainier Forest Reserve.
The most accessible route for communi-
cation around the mountain from the
Nisqually Valley to Spray Falls Park
should cross the low divide north of the
Nisqually and traverse this valley of
the South Puyallup. Such a route
should be within the Park limits.
The valley of the Puyallup is heavily
timbered, and if preserved within the
National Park may be protected from
those operations of the lumbermen which
it is part of the economic policy of the
Forest Reserve to a certain extent to
promote. It is not much to demand that
the virgin forest within a strip 3 miles
wide by 18 miles long should be pre-
served for all time to come.
North of Mount Rainier hes a group
of jagged peaks rising to elevations of
7,000 to 8,000 feet, known as the Sluis-
kin Mountains. The boundary of the
THE FORESTER,
May,
established Park crosses these summits
apparently through the highest peaks of
the group. It may probably be desirable
to extend the National Park northward
approximately 6 miles to the northern
boundary of the Forest Reserve. The
northeast corner of the established Park
probably includes some portion of the
Summit mining district, which is sep-
arated from Rainier by a high spur of
the Cascade Range. It may be necessary
here to curtail the limits of the Park in
such manner as to exclude the mining
district.
It has already been stated that the
Cowlitz Pass should be left open for
railroad construction, but in order that
the routes into the Park may have a
rational development it is desirable that
the Park boundary on the east should
extend along the summit of the Cascade
Range southeastward to the Cowlitz
Pass, and that the southern limit should
follow thence down the Cowlitz River
probably to the western side of the For--
est Reserve. This will include in the
Park the Tatoosh Range, south of Mount
Rainier. The rugged peaks of this range
form part of the environment of the snow
mountain, and are to some extent still
densely forested. A broad area of burnt
forest covers their northern portion and
extends to the headwaters of the Cowlitz
River. Under the practical management
of the Forest Reserve this broad area
will be reforested, but it is desirable to
preserve that forest against future cutting,
except as may be necessary to promote
its proper growth, if the object of the
National Park as a tourist resort is to be
fully attained.
If these amendments to the bound-
aries should be carried out, the northern
and western boundaries would remain
straight lines artificially determined by
U. S. land surveys; the eastern bound-
ary would be defined by a spur and the
crest of the Cascade Range, and the
southern boundary by the Cowlitz River.
The two last are natural features, always
to be preferred, where practicable, to
artificial lines extended across a moun-
tainous country.
1899.
The bill which has been passed creat-
ing the National Park is without effect
because it carries no appropriation. Be-
fore anything can be done toward the
appointment of an administrative force,
for the accomplishment of surveys neces-
sary to intelligent plans, or for the pro-
tection of the district from careless
campers, means must be provided and
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
103
modifications of the boundaries must be
adopted.
The societies which have been active
in presenting the matter to Congress and
all who appreciate the inspiring influ-
ence of Nature in her most majestic
aspects should energetically interest
themselves in the further development
of the Rainier National Park.
BaILey WILLIs.
The Training of Professional Foresters in
America.
A Symposium in Three Papers.
ieee bine DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF
BORE ST RY, IT HAGA ON. -Y.
There are many roads leading to Rome
and there are many ways of getting an
education or a preparation for a profes-
sion, and according to the make-up of
the man is the one or the other best to
travel.
I know a most competent scientific in-
vestigator, an excellent teacher and
manager, who started life as a cowboy ;
yet, though undoubtedly his early ex-
perience of independent thinking and
acting benefited him, we would hardly
prescribe such a preparation for general
use. The next man might remain a
cowboy.
Even if we knew the ideal way to
knowledge, practical limitations often
forbid to follow it, and finally we find our-
selves forced to take the main-traveled,
broad road of uniformity, which our
educational institutions, schools, col-
leges, and universities have built, with
the prescribed or at least systematically-
laid-out curricula, without regard to in-
dividual requirements or dispositions,
except so far as the student is left to select
his studies within a prescribed circle.
For a profession which, like forestry,
has to deal with the direct application of
knowledge to practical problems, the
need of an opportunity to see such ap-
plication in actuality and to have a hand
an the practice early, is obvious, just as
in the engineering or medical professionor
in fact almost any other profession. Yet we
must not forget that all practice is based
on theory ; and the more thorough the
theoretical knowledge, the more intelli-
gent and more sure will be the practice,
The attempt to satisfy the popular but
ignorant cry for so-called ‘‘ practical in-
struction” usually leads to the production
of superficial and incompetent prac-
titioners, lacking a safe guidein thorough
knowledge, although by no means lack-
ing in self-assurance. I would, there-
fore, advise any student of forestry in
this country, as well as in any other, to
lay as broad a foundation of theoretical
knowledge as he can afford ; he will be
more successful in the end with his
practice.
As to the time and manner of acquir-
ing practical insight, whether it should
precede or follow the theoretical studies
or be interspersed with the latter, opin-
ions vary. Even the Germans, who have
the reputation of being good educators,
have not been able during the hundred
years of forestry education to come to a
final verdict.
Yet, if we may take the number of
students as an indication of the prefer-
ence of methods, we find that the Uni-
versity method which leaves much choice
to the student in electing his studies and
104
seeking practical instruction where and
when he can, seems to be in favor, for
the College of Forestry at the University
of Munich shows by far the largest at-
tendance—namely, 140 students during
the last term, more than double that of
the best attended separate schools, ex-
cepting only its own preparatory school
at Aschaffenburg, the total number of
students inscribed at all the eight forestry
schools being 587.
I should be inclined to advise Ameri-
can students, if they can find the oppor-
tunity, to begin their forestry education
in some well-conducted lumber camps,
in actual employment, either before or
after the Freshman and Sophomore
years of their college education, so as
to learn the practical side of forest ex-
ploitation—forestry, largely, being mere-
ly an improvement on lumbermen’s
practice. Then after laying the founda-
tion of theoretical knowledge in profes-
sional forestry at the Cornell State Col-
lege of Forestry, or wherever else it may
be attainable with as much _ practical
demonstration in this country, a visit to
European forest districts for inspection
of object lessons, which are, as yet, not
at hand in this country, would be advis-
able. Such a visit after the theoretical
instruction will be more instructive and
helpful than if timed otherwise.
As to qualifications, we must not over-
look the fact that forestry, like all other
professions, when once established, will
soon call for specialization. We shall
need not only captains, but leutenants
and privates, managers as well as in-
structors, investigators, etc. In the
end, therefore, the qualifications re-
quired for this profession are no more
nor less than for any other.
Yet before the profession is further
established, I would not advise to enter
it, any one who is not possessed with a
spirit of enterprise and independent
thinking, who has not the capacity for
finding a way where none is marked out
for him, and who has not a large amount
of business sense or gumption. For
finally the fully-equipped forester is a
business manager, whose business it is
to turn into profit the product of a forest
THE FORESTER.
May,
property sustained incontinuous revenue-
producing capacity. This under our
economic conditions is not easy and re-
quires judgment. Judgment, to besure,
is formed by experience, nevertheless
there is a disposition of mind which
ripens experience into judgment, sooner
in some than in others. It is alertness.
of observation and capacity for combi-
nation which we call practical sense.
The student, therefore, should be sure
that he possesses this disposition, that
he is interested in technical, as well as
in practical things, such as the manage-
ment of a property represents.
I may only add, that at the newly-
established New York State College of
Forestry, the aim is to run it on broad
University principles, allowing students
who have attained the proper degree of
knowledge in their Freshman and Sopho-
more years in Natural Sciences, Mathe-
matics and other supplemental branches,
to’ elect their forestry studies in
the Junior and Senior years as_ they
desire, except those studying for a de-
gree, who are expected to elect a com-
plete prescribed course. As much prac-
tical demonstration as possible is given
during the terms, and there is more
opportunity for this than had been an-
ticipated. The summer vacations are to
be spent in practical work in the experi-
ment forest or wherever else an oppor-
tunity may offer.
The beginning has been encouraging,
for during the first two terms there have
been in attendance in the five strictly
forestry courses (excluding duplication
of names in the different courses and
also excluding students of the College
in the Freshman and Sophomore years),
thirty-six students, taking either one or
several courses—namely, students of
Civil Engineering, Architecture, Agri-
culture, Political Economy, besides those
who propose to make forestry their pro-
fession. The experiment forest coming
into the possession of the College only
by the 1st of April, the work has not
yet begun; but the students will be
largely employed in making the neces-
sary surveys and working plans.
B. E. FERNow.
—
1899.
i.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
105
Bie) LO oth. OF THE BEeERMORE ESTATE, BILT-
MORK. Nive
All thinking people realize that the
financial result of forestry consists in
part of a positive gain obtained, and in
part of economic losses avoided—losses
threatening navigation, water supply,
public health, etc. And all must agree
that forestry on a large scale in the long
run is not possible unless it be found to
be remunerative one way or the other,
unless it be established as a well paying
business.
The American forester, in almost any
position, must be a business man.
Abroad, things may differ where large
forest areas are controlled by thecommon-
wealth and municipalities, or consist of
entailed property, institutions for which
business considerations do not hold good,
perhaps, altogether. In this country, at
least 85 per cent of all woodland is
owned by private individuals, who can-
not possibly be compelled to manage
their forests for the general welfare, when
such management interferes with the
owners’ financial views.
The American forester, being employed
for business purposes, must be well ac-
quainted above all with the economic con-
ditions of the various sections of the
United States, and more especially with
their lumber interests. The more time
he spends traveling in the woods, in the
dumber camps, in saw mills and wood-
working establishments, the better for
him. Knowledge thus acquired will be
more valuable to him, the business for-
ester, than a thorough acquaintance with
chemistry, physics, zoology, mineralogy,
geology and mathematics, with which for-
est students are packed full in Europe.
If the American forest student mas-
ters the principles of botany, survey-
ing, political economy and private law,
he will not know enough to pass as an
expert, but enough to take a deep plunge
into any question connected with forest
botany, forest surveying and so on that
May present itself; and if he finds the
question too difficult for his own head,
there are plenty of specialists to whom
he may appealforhelp. It is impossible
for one single individual to be a thorough
botanist, zoologist, chemist, geologist,
mineralogist, surveyor, economist and
lawyer; besides, more important than the
theoretical knowledge, however valuable
it may be, is the practical knowledge for
the forester as a business man. It is
just as little feasible to study forestry
from books or at a university alone, as it
is possible for the physician to become a
master in his branch unless he have
large experience in clinic and hospital
work. True, the physician must know
something of chemistry, of botany, and of
physics; but it would be preposterous
for him to devote more time to the study
of such branches than will be justified
by the needs of the practice.
A young man who is anxious to take
up forestry as a profession should, I
think, adopt the following course of
studies:
The first year should be given to the
study of botany, surveying, political
economy, law and, to a certain extent,
mathematics, chemistry, physics and
geology. The proper place to study is
at a university, which offers concentrated
courses suited to the needs of the forest
student.
The second year should be devoted to
the study of forestry under the guidance
of a forester of some experience and ina
range where forest administration is
conducted on a comparatively large scale.
If, as is the case at Biltmore, N. C., daily
lectures on forestry are given at the same
time, the young man will have a chance for
the study of forestry as well as fora sort
of apprenticeship, which we might com-
pare to the hospital or clinic practice of a
medical student. All operations in for-
estry (logging, road making, planting,
and whatever there be) repeat them-
selves, as a general rule, in the course of
ayear. Thus a twelve-months study of
forestry at a place like Biltmore seems
sufficient.
The third year should be spent partly
106
in lumber camps and lumber mills;
partly on atrip to Germany or France,
where silvicultural principles may be
studied, and nothing else. The eco-
nomic conditions on the other side of the
water are so different from those prevail-
ing in this country that it is futile to try
an adaptation of European forestry to
American woods—silvicultural principles
excepted.
We cannot import German forestry
unless we import German conditions,
conditions under which conservative
forest management pays better than
rapid lumbering. If our lawmakers were
filled with the conviction that the com-
monwealth needs forests, and that it should
pay for forest maintenance just as much
as that maintenance is worth; if our
Government would only provide and pay
for a state of affairs making conservative
lumbering of forests more remunerative
to the owner than rapid forest destruc-
tion, we would get ‘‘ European Forestry”’
at once.
The legislatures, the people, we our-
selves are guilty of committing the crime
of deforestation by carelessly allowing
conditions to remain unchanged which
make forest destruction more remuner-
ative to the owner than forest conserva-
tion. Release the heavy burden of taxes
on young forests not yielding immediate
returns ; save maturing forests from the
short-sightedness of local tax assessors ;
protect young and old forests from fire and
theft as well as any other property, and
youwill have forestry, because it will pay.
THE FORESTER
May,
The change in American forest econ-
omy must come, and must come soon.
Forest proprietors have anticipated it in
sections where the conditions are less
unfavorable, and have begun to apply
conservative management to the forests
which they control.
Still the forests of the United States
do not offer illustrations exhibiting the
effect of applied silviculture. Even
those at Biltmore show only ten years’
management. Thus it will be advisable
for the forest student to visit countries
where silviculture has been practiced for
overacentury. Hesimply follows the ex-
ample of the American artist who studies
those masters in the Old World which
the New World does not yet offer.
In the course of three years a young
man will be ready to fill a position in a
forest undertaking. It will depend on
the work to which he is put whether he
has to enlarge upon his knowledge of
botany or on his knowledge of law or
political economy and so on, and so on,
Neither the physician nor the forester
can ever stop learning. It is impossible
in this complicated world to be prepared
for all emergencies. Any new situation
necessitates new study.
Again and again, forestry is business,
the forester a business man, and the
primary training he needs in order to
become a ‘‘ master of his art,” is a com-
mon sense and business training.
CalA SCHENCK
Ill.
a
~ The general objects of training in for-
estry are: first, to develop what may be
called, after the French, the forester’s
eye—that is, the capacity to observe and
understand the condition and needs of
forest land; and, secondly, to give such
a knowledge of methods and circum-
stances that the forester may be able to
act intelligently, in accordance with the
facts he has observed. To reach these
ends the forest student must have some
BY THE FORESTER OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
knowledge of physical science, a good
working acquaintance with the theory of
forestry, and a considerable experience
with the forest itself under a variety of
conditions. The first step, in my judg-
ment, should be a college or university
training, wherever that is possible.
Forest work, on the rougher side, de-
mands great bodily endurance and strong
enthusiasm, but there are other divisions.
of the subject which make less stringent
1899.
physical demands. It may be said in
general, however, that none but the
completely sound in body should under-
take the active work of a forester.
The more important auxiliary subjects,
a knowledge of which should in most
cases be obtained, at least in part, be-
fore the training in forestry itself is be-
gun, are:
(1) Botany, emphasis to be laid
chiefly on the structure and life of plants.
Systematic botany need not be dwelt on
at length. The knowledge essential to
the determination of the species of trees
is, naturally, of greatimportance, Cryp-
togamic botany should not be entirely
neglected, although only a general view
is required.
(2) Geology, with special emphasis
on the origin and meaning of the surface
features of the earth.
(3) Some Physics and Chemistry is
essential, and a slight knowledge of
Zoology and Entomology should not be
omitted.
(4) Mathematics shouldinclude Geom-
etry and Trigonometry, and, preferably,
Mechanics also. A good working knowl-
edge of Surveying should be acquired.
(5) Some knowledge of Law and busi-
ness methods.
(6) German or French, preferably the
former, and still better both together.
(7) A good course in Economics.
(8) History and Geography of the
United States, with special reference to
economic development and production.
A considerable part of these auxiliary
subjects may be acquired during a col-
lege or university course. If, however,
work in forestry begins after graduation
and without previous training in auxiliary
subjects, it should be commenced by
several months of practical work in the
woods. Indeed, it will be well, in all
cases, for the forest student to begin
practical work before plunging too
deeply into his theoretical training.
For this purpose the position of Stu-
dent Assistant in the Division of For-
estry, United States Department of Ag-
riculture, offers a valuable opportunity
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
107
to a few well-qualified men to become
acquainted with the true nature of forest
work. Students are paid at the rate of
$300 per annum, and all field expenses
are borne by the Division.
After such an experience in the field,
when the forest student has achieved a
correct conception of his future work,
the auxiliary training should be begun,
followed by a year or more in forestry at
a forest school, with the vacations spent
in the woods, and, finally, not less than
a year abroad. To my mind, this final
year is of very great value, because in
this country it is not possible to gather
an adequate conception of the response
of forests to treatment through long pe-
riods, or of the application of remedies
to defective forests and the results.
Forest management in this country is
still too young to offer the necessary ex-
amples.
It will be essential for the American
student to acquire some considerable
knowledge of lumbering and the forests
in the United States before going abroad,
where much that he sees will interest
him only as to the principle involved
and not as toits practical application.
Not less than three years should,
in general, be devoted to the special prep-
aration of a forester for his profession.
At that time he may reasonably look
for paying employment either from pri-
vate owners of forest land, such as great
companies or wealthy lumbermen, from
States such as New York or Pennsylva-
nia, or from the Government, either in
the General Land Office, where the na-
tional forest reserves are administered,
in the Geological Survey, where they are
mapped and described, or in the Divi-
sion of Forestry, to which the general
progress of the science and art of for-
estry is assigned, together with all tech-
nical forest work, and in which the in-
terests of the vast area of private forest
lands are considered. At present the
pay of foresters is on about the same
plane as that of the instructors and pro-
fessors in a university.
GIFFORD PINCHOT.
108
THE FORESTER.
May,
Timber Protection in Minnesota.
The bill to repeal the Fire Warden
Law in Minnesota was defeated at the
last session of the Legislature. The
wisdom, and, in fact, necessity of afford-
ing efficient protection to these timber
lands is shown by the following state-
ments.
Commissioner Hermann, of the Gen-
eral Land Office, said :
‘<Instead of repealing the law it should
be made more stringent, and every effort
made to bring about co-operation with
the Federal authorities. In many in-
stances the public timber of the United
States and of a State are so contiguous
as to make protection of one protection
of the other. This should be mutually
in the matter of surveillance. The ten-
dency of most States is to protect the
timber interests, and recent legislation
in New York is in the interest of forest
preservation in the Adirondack region.
I have noted, with interest, the relation
of Minnesota to timber interests. The
State lands of Minnesota aggregate a
great deal, and an important part of their
value comes from the timber contained
on those lands. The forests of that
State, I presume, in common with the
forests of the General Government, are
subjected to great depredations, and the
greatest depredator of all is the fire fiend.
The loss sustained in one of the last
notable fires aggregated more than would
compensate for fifty years’ appropriations
for the administration of forestry. This
subject is of great importance to Minne-
sota, and I cannot understand a desire
to relax from the most efficient efforts
that can be made for the protection of
her forest interests.
“<The chief difficulty we have experi-
enced is to secure active co-operation on
the part of the States with the Federal
authorities in aid of prevention and ex-
tinguishment of fires, as well asin the
apprehension of depredators on forest
lands. Efforts should be made by the
Legislatures in all States to make their
legislation in line with that of the Federal
Government. I have urged that the for-
est rangers on the several reservations
should be better equipped to enforce the
law. Our department has asked the
Attorney General of the United States
to have United States marshals deputize
the rangers to make arrests for offenses
committed in defiance of forest regula-
tions. I have been in some correspond-
ence with executive officers in different
States asking that co-operation may be
had on the part of forest wardens of
such States with Government officials,
which would inure to the benefit of the
Federal and State interests. I would be
glad also if the Federal forestry officers
could have authority to act as game war-
dens, so that while protecting timber
interests they could also aid in protect-
ing game on the reservations without
additional cost to the State
“<The State laws of Minnesota for the
protection of timber interests are equal,
if not superior to, those of any State,
and the annual reports of the State off-
cials contain much interesting and val-
uable information, and it is to be hoped
that the State authorities will strengthen
rather than detract from the efficiency of
their laws for forest preservation. This
forestry question is becoming more im-
portant every year, and statistics show
that if losses by fires are not speedily
checked our great timber interests will
soon be things of the past. State and
Federal authorities in this country may
with profit study the results and experi-
ences of Prussia and other European
countries in promoting their export trade
in timber by wise national laws for for-
estry preservation and development.”’
Gifford Pinchot, Forester of the De-
partment of Agriculture, who is familiar
with Minnesota’s law to prevent forest
fires, regards it as oneofthe best in force.
He said :
‘¢Tf the bill under consideration is in-
tended to do away with the office of chief
fire warden and suspend the work which
has been conducted by Gen. Andrews I
disapprove of it heartily. Whatever the
actual accomplishment of Gen. Andrews
during his tenure of this office (and in
my judgment the good he has done is
1899.
very great), the mere fact that there is
a law on the statute books intended to
guard against the damage from forest
fires is in itself of great value. Protec-
tion against fire can never be fully suc-
cessful until it is based on an active and
healthy public sentiment.
«¢Such sentiment, as I understand it,
the present law has done very much to
promote. That it is capable of im-
provement I have no doubt, but to re-
peal it instead of improving it would be
a backward step, especially in view of
the enormous loss of life and property
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 10g
caused by so recent a conflagration as
the great Hinckley fire,
‘¢The Minnesota law is one of the best
and most progressive in force in any
of the States, and it would be a national
misfortune if it should be repealed,
Public sentiment throughout the coun-
try has made such important strides in
the last three or four years in the direc-
tion of a keener and more effective in-
terest in forest protection that any retro-
grade step is all the more to be regret-
ted 2
Tree Planting in Kansas.
Kansas has been settled for a long
time, but its timber-covered area is not
increasing very rapidly. To readers of
the papers it must seem that there are
more persons writing about the de-
sirability of increasing the timbered area
than there are persons planting trees and
tree seed. There are so few planting,
because every one wishes to reap the
results of his labor at once. They can-
not afford to wait a few years. If this
Spring and every Spring, land owners
would all plant an acre to trees, Kansas
would improve in beauty, climatic con-
ditions and prosperity, to such an ex-
tent that a Kansan returning to his
State fifteen or twenty years hence would
scarcely recognize it. Another reason,
aside from selfishness and impatience,
why so little planting is done, is in-
experience. Very few know how easy
it is to raise a large supply of forest
trees, such as Box Elder, Soft Maple,
Ash, Walnut, Pecan, Oak, Catalpa,
Honey Locust, and many others. It will
take but an earnest trial, properly made,
to convince most farmers that they can
Taise trees as well as corn.
To start a forest plantation by buy-
ing the trees is rather expensive ; but to
start one by raising the trees costs only
a little more than the work. Seeds of
many kinds may be obtained from trees
_that grow naturally along the streams.
Of other kinds the seed may be pur-
chased of seed supply houses. Addresses
of such firms will be furnished by the
Horticultural Department of the Kansas
State Agricultural College ; or the De-
partment, if requested at the proper
season, will often be able to gather and
ship seeds of some kinds such as are
mentioned above, excepting Pecans, for
the cost of the labor.
For Box Elders and Soft Maples the
seeds should be gathered in July or as
soon as ripe, and planted immediately
in loose, moist soil, covered very lightly,
not more than one-half inch deep. Four
feet apart is a good distance for the
rows. They will come up at once; if
too thick, they can be thinned, but more
and better trees will be obtained by re-
setting in similar rows, placing the trees
a foot apart. In three or four years,
with careful cultivation, they will be
ready for the plantation.
Most seeds should be gathered in the
fall and stored in moist sand till spring.
If they are surrounded by a hard shell,
as Walnut and Honey Locust seeds, it
is essential that they be placed where
they will stay moist and be exposed to
the freezing and thawing of winter.
Plant in spring as soon as the ground
will work well, letting the size of the
seed govern the depth of covering.
Walnuts, Butternuts, and Pecans should
be covered two or three inches deep. If
the ground is not needed for other pur-
poses, these can be planted where they
are to remain; but most trees should be
grown in nursery rows for a few years.
With the work and attention one
I1o
gives to a potato crop he can in a few
years raise trees in vast numbers and of
sufficient size for a plantation of many
acres. Let every land owner help to
cover a proper portion of Kansas with
THE FORESTER.
May,
useful trees, largely for his own good
and for the good of those who are to
follow.
CPS A aerLey,
Kansas Agricultural College.
“False Mahogany”
Here, in a growing country, clothed
as God seldom has clothed any land
with all that makes a forest grand and
glorious, stand remarkable trees from
which no man’s axe has ever taken a
chip, and scattered throughout the land
are varieties more beautiful than Ma-
hogany.
All things considered, probably the
greatest aggregate value in any one va-
riety of tree growing in tropical America,
based upon abundance, availability and
adaptability, will be found in the ‘‘Cam-
pano Espabi” or ‘‘ False Mahogany.”’
The great round magnificent trees grow
absolutely clear of surface defects, from
which, all conditions being equal, the
Indians and Negroes of the entire coast
from Honduras down prefer to make the
large and beautiful canoes which enter
so largely into the lives and methods of
these people.
A trunk starting from the root like an
upright section of an iron water main,
averaged not far from seven feet in di-
ameter, and forty to fifty feet to the first
limb, above which there was nothing of
value. A tree with a fifteen-foot stump
was estimated to contain 65,000 feet of
of South America.”
strictly surface clear. Near by wasa com-
pleted canoe 43 x9 x 4% feet hewn from
a tree 13 feet at stump, running 58 feet to
the first limb; and neither on stump,
canoe nor trunk was there a defect of any
kind.
No wood can work more kindly under
axe than this, and none can be less
affected by time, wind, water, or any of
the elements of decay. Your knife will
tell you it is as susceptible to finish
as walnut; and being free from sap,
pitch or gum, you can readily see how
it would receive paint. It shrinks so
little that a great canoe—broken, aban-
doned, and so long forgotten as to have
good sized trees growing around and
over it—stands exposed to the sun and
wind, the rain and dews of a tropical
climate, and has not opened a single
check. I think time will show that in
this lies the greatest source of wealth of
Colombia’s forest resources—but there
are others.
*An American explorer, A. H. Winchester,
of West Virginia, has written from Cartagena,
United States of Colombia, to the American
Lumberman, an interesting description of that
country, from which these excerpts are taken.
At the commencement (March 24) of
the Minnesota School of Agriculture,
three young women and thirty young
men were graduated. This school is
taxed to its utmost to care for all those
who are knocking for admission within
its doors. ‘‘ Packed like sardines in a
box” fully describes the situation there.
—Minnesota Horticulturist.
It is stated as a conservative estimate
of the usefulness of forest reservations
that the forests under the control of the
State of New York will be more valu-
able as a source of income and wealth
than all the iron and minerals which the
State has produced.—American Lumber-
man.
An association has been formed in
Chicago of the retail lumber dealers of
Cook County, forty-two of the leading
firms being represented in the member-
ship.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, Tie
The Forthcoming Year- Book.
Review of Two Papers by Gifford Pinchot Relating to Forestry.
(From the advance sheets, by courtesy of
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)
Work of the Division of Forestry for
the Farmer.
‘No part of the work of the Division
of Forestry is without a distinct in-
fluence for good upon the farmer: For
example, its study of forest fires, re-
cently begun, has the closest relation to
the farmers of Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin, while, in all mountainous regions,
the protection of the forest from fire is
of vital interest to agriculture. So with
the supply of lumber, to maintain which
is the object of the studies by the Divi-
sion of methods of lumbering, also re-
cently undertaken with a view to im-
proving their effect on the future of the
forest without sacrificing the profit of
the lumberman.
‘‘Practical assistance given to the
owners of forest lands has the same
general object in view. A knowledge of
the yearly rate of growth, in cords or
board feet, of commercially valuable
trees per acre of forest is of great value
to every man who owns awood lot ; and
this knowledge the Division is engaged
in providing, with particular attention to
the trees which, like the Loblolly, or Old
Field Pine, are sure to increase in 1m-
portance as time goes on.
‘¢But however close the relation of
the others, two branches of the work of
the Division are related to the welfare of
the farmer in a special manner. The
two are concerned with the _ intro-
duction of suitable trees for planting in
the treeless portions of the West, and
with the better handling of the wood
lots on farms in the regions where trees
now grow. fe a
«©Of the 623,000,000 acres of farms
in the United States, according to the
Census of 1890, more than 200,000,000
are under wood. ‘This enormous total,
broken up into wood lots over a very
large part of the United States, exerts a
most powerful influence on the welfare
of the farmer to whom it belongs. Yet,
as a rule, the treatment which farmers”
wood lots receive is calculated to de-
stroy rather than increase their pro-
ductive capacity and value, The object
of the undertaking described in the
pages following is to devise, and assist
the farmer in applying, better methods by
which the forest on his wood lot will be
improved without appreciably increasing
the cost of harvesting the forest crop, or
simply to apply such methods where
they already exist. si 7 “3
‘¢To benefit the owner and the forest
at the same time is the real problem.
In other words, the cost of harvesting
the timber crop from a wood lot in the
usual way differs but little, if at all, from
the cost of harvesting it, so that its pro-
ductive value will be improved and in-
creased. Thus, the difference to the
farmer in expenditure will be very small,
while the difference in result, both to the
individual and, from the enormous area
of all wood lots taken together, to the
nation at large, will be very great.”
The pamphlet concludes with a com-
plete working plan for a wood lot at
Oakland, N. J., as set forth in detail by
Henry S. Graves, superintendent of
working plans. This is illustrated by
two drawings and numerous tables sum-
marizing the work done. The methods
of cutting recommended, the details of
the cutting plan, and the rules which
should be observed to secure the best
results from cutting, are given in con-
densed form.
T12
Notes on Some Forest Problems.
The public standing of forestry has
made notable progress in the last few
Still the forester and the lum-
years.
berman are often not fully agreed. Yet
‘‘the forester, without the special
knowledge of the lumberman, can never
do effective work in preserving the for-
ests by using them nor succeed in a
money way; while without the methods
of the forester the lumberman will speed-
ily exhaust his supplies of timber and
disappear with the forests he has de-
stroyed.”
Forestry in the treeless West deals
with the supply of water as well as wood,
and consists largely in tree-planting.
<¢« At first blush such work might seem
to fall outside the province of the fores-
ter, on the ground that it has to do with
trees and not with forests. But when it
is remembered that protection and wood
supply are the two objects of the work,
and how important a public service may
be rendered by the introduction of bet-
ter trees and better ways of planting
them, it appears at once that this also is
~one of the tasks of true forestry.”
After referring to the deplorable dis-
persion of the Government’s forest work
-among three agencies, heavy taxes on
timber land are characterized as ‘‘a
premium on forest destruction, a pre-
‘mium that is doing more than any other
~single factor to hinder the spread of con-
-servative lumbering among the owners
of large bodies of timber land,” for the
reason that these owners cannot afford to
hold their lands for a second crop.
Another powerful factor in preventing
dumbermen from adopting improved
amethods hes in their inability to answer
“this question: ‘‘ How can the lumber-
man get out his logs without destroying
the capital value of his lanl ?”
Here the Division of Forestry steps in
with the offer of practical assistance on
the ground, under the conditions set
forth in its Circular 21, the fundamental
idea of which is ‘‘to provide successful
-examples of conservative lumbering, and
4y giving them wide publicity to ac-
THE FORESTER.
May,
quaint fresh owners with better ways of
handling their timber lands.’”’ Applica-
tions for such assistance had, at the time
the paper in question was prepared,
reached more than 1,000,000 acres. At
present, we are informed, they surpass
I, 500,000.
‘«The question of forest grazing has
aroused more opposition to the forest
reserves than any other single issue. At
present the advocates of forest protec-
tion are successful at many points,
though not everywhere. A careful and
trustworthy study by Mr. Frederick V.
Coville of the effect of sheep grazing,
leads to the conclusion that ‘‘to regu-
late pasturage, if it is rightly done, is
better than to prohibit it altogether,”
although ‘‘many forest regions should
be entirely protected against sheep.”
Forest fires are enormously harmful
even when, as in the majority of cases,
they do not kill the older trees. Light
surface fires are often the direct cause of
unsoundness and disease. Great fires.
while they may destroy the forest tempo-
rarily over great areas, are very seldom
able to prevent its return in the end,
«« The devastating fires which have swept
over this country for centuries have not
succeeded in leaving it barren of trees.”
A Bold Stroke for Irrigation.
The Pacific Improvement Company,
which is only a convenient name for one
of the departments of the Southern
Pacific Company, is about to inaugurate
a novel and extensive irrigating scheme
near Santa Barbara in connection with
its seaside Hope Rancho of 2,000 acres,
a few miles westward of the city. A
3,000-foot tunnel is to be driven into the
neighboring mountain range to draw off
storage water at an elevation of 1,100
feet, and with the force generated by
piping this water down two miles and a
half larger volumes piped from lower
levels are to be raised by suction to a
height of fifty feet and allowed to pour
into Felton Lake, which is on Hope
Rancho, and has a storage capacity of
380,000,000 gallons, an area of about
my
1899.
sixty acres and an elevation at its bot-
tom of 138 feet above the level of the
ocean.
The plan contemplates the irrigation not only
of the Hope Rancho, but of 3,000 acres of rich
lowlands in the Goleta Valley, owned by many
different persons. It is believed that this dis-
trict, when properly watered, will produce
great crops of superior early vegetables for the
Eastern markets, which are already eager buy-
ers of early California celery, peas, carrots and
similar vegetables adapted to long-distance
shipment. The land, naturally rich for ordi-
nary farming, will, when parceled into small
holdings for Chinese or Italian truck gardeners,
be worth ten times its present value as a
source of revenue to its owners.
The company, by buying 2,000 acres of rug-
ged mountain, has executed a bold stroke, set-
ting completely at defiance all the claims of
riparian owners along the creek, the source of
which is to be practically undermined by the
mountain tunnel. Supreme Court decisions
and the testimony of experts are quoted to show
that the company has the lawonits side. One
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
bis oe =
of the best known cases is that of Sheffield vs.
Gould, in Santa Barbara, in which Gould was
upheld in having bored atunnel into the moun-
tain on his own property and secured by natural
percolation water that formerly flowed into a
little creek running through the Montecito
Valley eastward of Santa Barbara,
Work will be started on the tunnel imme-
diately, and will be prosecuted with vigor.
The water system will be completed within a
year, so that everything will be in readiness
for any further developments incident to the
inauguration in May, 1900, of the coast railroad
route which runs through Hope Rancho,
It will cost $25,000 to bore the tunnel, which
is expected to yield a constant flow of twenty
miner’s inches of water, a technical expression
better understood, perhaps, by the explanation
that twelve inches of water is equivalent to a
continuous flow of a stream one foot wide and
one inch deep.
State Mineralogist A. S. Cooper, of this city,
and City Engineer J. K. Harrington, of Santa
Barbara, both recognized autuorities on moun-
tain water tunnels, have been perfecting the
plans.—/ournal, N. Y.
Colorado Advice,
It is to be regretted that the legisla-
tures of Colorado have not given more
earnest attention to the preservation of
the forests of this State. There is no
one thing of so much importance. If
the time comes when the snows of the
mountains are no longer protected by
the shade of the trees, the prosperity of
the valleys will vanish. The injury may
not come to this generation, but will be
visited on those that come after us,—
Denver Republican.
Among the many interests of this
Western country some of the more im-
portant are our forests. To hold the
snows, increase the moisture and abate
the winds, our forests should have espe-
cial care. The Government is giving
them more attention, and minimizing the
constant wasteandalmost willful destruc-
tion that have been going on. These
forests are a most important factor in
the comfort and growth of the West.—
Western Progress, Denver, Col.
Colorado Experience,
The ice gorges in the North Platte this
season are unprecedented. That at the
Cheyenne & Northern bridge, a mile
south of Orrin Junction, is on a level
with the track. Superintendent Rasbock
has sent out a force of men with dynamite
to blast it away. The bridge built over
the Platte last season by the Platte Val-
ley Sheep Company, of which Governor
Richards is president, has already been
partially wrecked by gorged ice, and its
total destruction is said to be inevitable.
Higher up the river, at Fairbanks, the
county commissioners have had men at
work for a week fighting the formation
of a gorge, and they are now there per:
sonally superintending the work. This
latter bridge is of vital importance, as it
connects the iron mines at Hartville
with the Cheyenne & Northern Railroad
at Badger, over which the teams are
hauling ore.— Western Progress, Denver,
Col.
114
THE PORESTER:
May,
Recent Legislation.
New York.
The New York State Senate, by a vote
of 33 to 4, passed Senator Ellsworth’s
bill appropriating $300,000 for the con-
tinuation of the Adirondack land pur-
chases by the Forest Preservation Board.
The Special Committee which consid-
ered the bill advised the immediate pur-
chase of additional lands, both for the
protection of the water shed of the Hud-
‘son, and for the establishment and
maintenance of a large tract upon which
forest culture may be successfully insti-
tuted.
The number of acres of land pur-
chased by the State is the subject of a
‘statement by Superintendent Verplanck
‘Colvin of the State Adirondack Survey.
‘The total acreage of land included within
the Forest Preserve to which tne State
has title is 1,058,444.53. In addition
to this, 20,169.75 acres have been con-
tracted for and will be added thereto as
-soon as it is found that the present own-
ers can give clear title to the land.
Minnesota.
The Legislature has passed the bill
entitled, <‘An act to encourage the grow-
ing and preservation of forests and to
create forest boards and forest reserves,”
a review of which was published in the
April Forester. The bill was approved
and became a law April 13.
The Minnesota Senate Committee on
Logs and Lumber, after three meetings
with the lumbermen and the Surveyor-
General of Minnesota, has decided that
the fee for surveying logs shall not be
reduced from five cents to four cents a
thousand, on the ground that it would
impair the efficiency of the service.
In the Minnesota House of Represen-
tatives, the San Jose scale bill, shorn of
its bond and license features, was re-
ported by the forestry committee provid-
ing for State inspection to eradicate the
insect wherever found, and fixing fines
for violations of the law. The bill was
killed.
Missouri.
In a recent message to the Missouri
Legislature, Governor Stephens says
there are about half a million acres of
Government land in the State not yet
taken up, and that there are 5,000,000
acres of vacant land susceptible of culti-
vation. The timber supply, of the
finest quality of hard woods, will be
inexhaustible, it is said, if judiciously
handled.
Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Legislature has under
consideration a bill to exempt from all
taxation cut-over lands which have been
replanted with Pine according to cer-
tain provisions.
Arkansas.
An important act of the Senate of the
Arkansas Legislature was the passage of
the Buckner game bill. The act de-
clares all fish and game, except fish in
private ponds, to be the property of the
State of Arkansas, and the catching and
hunting of the same to be a privilege.
It is unlawful for any person to export
game or fish from the State unless he
personally accompanies it. The fine for
violation is from $25 to $100. It is un-
lawful for any agent of freight, express
or steamboat companies to receive fish
or game consigned to points outside the
State. An important provision of the
bill is a section which would subject to
a $25 fine a woman wearing a stuffed
bird on her hat.
Canada.
Canadian lumbermen from Georgian
Bay, Rat Portage and British Columbia
who petitioned the Dominion government
toimposea duty of $2 a thousand on Amer-
ican lumber, 25 cents on shingles, and
30 cents on laths, all of which are now
on the free list, got merely a hearing at
Ottawa. They said that a Canadian
duty equal to the Dingley duty would be
preferable to reciprocity with the United
States. Manitoba, which is a free trade
1899.
province, will oppose, because of its
advantage in low freights on Minnesota
lumber. After the arguments of the
delegation had been presented, Premier
Laurier intimated that before coming to
a decision in the matter officially, the
government would afford a hearing to the
interests representing the opposite side
of the case.
Legislation Pending.
Minnesota.—The ‘‘Staples Bill,” H.
R. 529, prohibiting the removal of either
timber or mineral from the State lands
before the taxes have been paid.
State Auditor Dunn, in a statement,
says: ‘‘It has been a common practice
with corporations and individuals owning
thousands of acres of timber lands in the
northern part of this State to allow the
taxes to accumulate for years, and then
go before the county authorities and make
a settlement which involves heavy loss to
the counties. In many cases the taxes
are not paid atall. It requires five years
for the State to acquire a perfect title
under tax foreclosure proceedings, and in
that time the land has been rendered
worthless by stripping it of timber.”
The auditor also calls attention to a
‘statement of a member of the State board
of equalization, before that body last fall,
when it was proposed to increase the
assessment upon the iron properties in
‘St Louis County. The member in ques-
tion advised the board that it would do
well to leave the assessment of St. Louis
County real estate as it was returned by
the county board, for if any increase was
made, the owners of producing mining
lands would refuse to pay their taxes,
and before the property thus delinquent
could be brought into the absolute pos-
session of the State all ore would be
removed from it, and the State and county
would receive no taxes whatever.
Under the law as it now stands, Au-
‘ditor Dunn says that many owners of
Pine lands bulldoze the officers of the
‘smaller counties into accepting whatever
‘taxes they see fit to pay. They tell the
officers plainly that if they do not accept
athe amounts offered they will cut all the
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
II5
timber from the lands and pay nothing.
Not all lumbermen do this, but the au-
ditor says he has personal knowledge of
the fact that many of them do.
Many large tracts are owned by non-
residents, ao have no interest whatever
in the State save for the Pine they hold
on these lands, and they are willing
to resort to any subterfuge to avoid the
payment of the taxes.
e
A Scarcity of Timber and Its
Hindrance.
The art of carpentry, as understood in
this country, can hardly be said to exist
in Persia, the greatest efforts in this de-
partment being there confined to the
construction of flat roofs of inconsider-
able span; and this might be expected
from the circumstance of timber being
there exceedingly scarce.
For farming roofs a sort of Poplar is
generally employed, but for other pur-
poses Oak, Chestnut, Plane, and other
kinds of hardwood are used. Hard tim-
ber, as sold in bazaars, is all of small
scantling, as it has to be brought from
the forests on the backs of mules or
camels.
In accordance with the invariable cus-
tom of all Eastern artisans, the carpen-
ter sits upon the ground while at work.
Instead of a bench, a strong stake is
driven down before him, leaving about
ten inches above ground, and upon this
he rests his work and keeps it steady
with his feet. The facility with which
the work is executed in this position has
always been a matter of surprise to
European workmen. In the royal arsen-
als English tools are used, and a better
system of working has been introduced
under the superintendence of British
officers, but in the native workshops the
workmen are still to be seen squatting
on the ground; and, being used to this
position from infancy, and their tools
being formed to work with more efficiency
when used in this way, any alteration is
scarcely to be expected. Their princi-
pal tools are the frame saw, adze, planes,
hammers, nails, and a few smaller tools.
—Southern Lumberman.
116
THE FORESTER.
May,
Water Supply and Forestry.
If there is one question above another
that comes nearer to the people of South-
ern California, it is that of an abundant
water supply—how to get it and how to
retain it; in other words, the preserva-
tion of forests and water, as the one nat-
urally insures and secures the other.
As it is, the rain which falls on our
mountains, which have been so much
denuded of vegetation, rushes in tor-
rents down the bleak slopes, and is re-
sistlessly carried through the canyons out
into the great ocean deep, instead of be-
ing arrested by tree and root, branch
and blade, and conveyed into the re-
cesses of the earth—nature’s great res-
ervoir for the natural storage of a vast
supply sufficient to meet all the demands
of man.
The thinking, prudent people have
become thoroughly awakened to the ne-
cessity for taking active measures to
remedy the trouble and as far as possible
prevent its recurrence. Organizations
are being formed, memorials presented
to the legislative authorities, State and
national, and measures suggested both
scientific and practical whereby to fur-
ther prevent the great forest destruction
which has been going on all these years,
causing the headwaters of our rivers and
streams to be laid bare, so that the wa-
ter, instead of seeping into the ground
and being deposited in the mountain
fastnesses of mother earth, is carried off
in torrents, causing, in many cases, great
flood and waste. It is a question of ac-
tion by the individual, and by the Gov-
ernment. The individual who owns or
controls large land areas should give
earnest and immediate attention to this
important question.
The Government has wisely created a
number of forest reserves, and the policy
is being continued in the setting apart of
others as their needs are understood and
the public necessities require. It is not
only the preservation of large trees
which is looked after, but also the smaller
growth which in their sphere perform an
important function in the economy of
nature through every twig and fiber of
which the rain and moisture percolates
the soil. The question is one of protec-
tion and promotion—protecting the ex-
isting growth from further destruction
by fire or otherwise, and also the pro-
motion of its growth. In this way can
the great watersheds be preserved and
effectually made to serve the great pur-
pose which nature intended them to do,
The primary object of Forest Reserves
is stated to be that of saving and im-
proving the forest for the purpose of se-
curing for the people a permanent sup-
ply of timber and also insuring condi-
tions favorable to continuous water flow.
Every public-spirited citizen who ap-
preciates and values these conditions is
gratified that the Pine Mountain and
Zaca Lake Forest Reserve was estab-
lished, the only regret being that it had
not been done long before. What is
left in the public domain of the Santa
Ynez Mountains—and which is now
chiefly valuable for forest-reserve pur-
poses—should have been included, as
they are situate right on our borders, in
fact at our very doors ; so close, indeed,
and so important as to seriously influ-
ence our continued and permanent water
supply, together with the prevention of
destructive fires which periodically sweep
over them, and not infrequently menace
property, and also to guarantee the bet-
ter care and preservation of the remain-
ing vestige of growth upon them.
It is a question of public concern, a
matter extremely vital to our present and
future welfare, and it is exceedingly grat-
ifying therefore to know that the proper
measures are being taken to have them
brought under the supervision of the
forest reserve control, so as to secure
and perpetuate these important safe-
guards against the possibility of anni-
hilating our forest and water supply.
—Editorial, Santa Barbara (Ca/.), Press.
1899.
mnie EORESTER.
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Devoted to Arboriculture and Forestry, the
Care and Use of Forests and Forest
Trees, and Related Subjects.
ANNOUNCEMENT,
THE ForEsTER is the Official Organ of
The American Forestry Association,
Hon JAmeEs WItson, Sec’y of Agriculture,
President.
THE OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS
No. 17 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents.
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
A change in the editorship of THE ForeEsTER
having taken place during the past month, the
incoming editor desires to c3ll the attention of
exchanges to this fact, with the request that
they note the address of Tur Forester as given
above, and see that their publicaticns are for-
warded promptly.
EDITORIAL NOTE.
The unfortunate confusion arising from the
great number of popular names for various
species of trees is no better exemplified than in
the case of the great lumber tree of the North-
west, variously known as Red Fir, Douglas
Spruce, Yellow Fir, Oregon Pine, Washington
Pine, Red Pine, Puget Sound Pine, ete. Our
attention has recently been called to the use
of several different names in various issues
of THe Forester, and the necessity has be-
come apparent that there should be but one
name for each tree. Most botanists prefer
the name Douglas Spruce on account of its
greater resemblance to Spruce than Fir. The
name Red Fir is used, however, far more
extensively than any other, both in the woods
and in commerce, and on that account it has
been definitely accepted by THE Forester and
will be used in all future references to the tree.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
ELY
The log cut in Maine this season is
estimated to aggregate 400,000,000 feet.
The State Board of Education of North
Carolina has sold a tract of 80,000 acres
of timber lands at $1 per acre.
The Baltic timber charter controversy
between the shippers and the shipowners
in Great Britain has been settled by a
compromise.
An interesting proof of the power of
wood to stand the ravages of time is
found in the uncovering, near the banks
of the Nile, of several Egyptian boats,
made of cedar probably in use 4,500
years ago,
There is still an immense amount of
virgin timber in West Virginia, but the
present rapid extension of railroads in
that State will doubtless bring every
valley and mountain cove within the
reach of transportation in a few years.
The lumber exports from Norway and
Sweden form a large proportion of the
annual export trade of those countries.
In one year Norway placed over $16,000, -
ooo worth of manufactured lumber in
the markets of the world, while Sweden
exceeded these figures by $30,000,000
in sawn and hewn lumber alone.
In view of the efforts toward reforest-
ing mountain sides in the West, a suc-
cessful experiment by the Marquis of
Athol, in Scotland, is interesting. The
grandfather of the present Duke planted
hundreds of thousands of Larches on the
barren hillsides of his estate, and saw
them covered in his lifetime by an enor-
mous forest, which began to pay divi-
dends on the investment thirty years
after the planting.
Kansas City is taking up the subject
of tree-planting in the most practical
Ata recent meeting of the City
way.
Council, ordinances were introduced
authorizing the planting of trees on
eleven different streets, for distances
aggregating about three miles. Tour of
118
the ordinances were passed immediately,
and a number of others referred. The
newly-appointed city forester, L. F.
Timming, is urging immediate action,
his plan being to finish all planting be-
fore May t.
A curiosity exists near the Red Bluff
Primitive Baptist Church in Ware
County, Ga. It isa mammoth Mulberry
tree and the heart has long since rotted.
Out of the heart of the Mulberry grows
a Cherry anda Peach tree, both of which
are eight inches in diameter. They grow
at a point ro feet above the ground. All
three of the trees are alive and bear fruit
every year.
The large number of applications for
positions as forest rangers at the Cas-
cade forest reserve, Oregon, coming
from men of every walk of life, some of
them old men and invalids, has led to
the announcement that the reserve is not
primarily a sanitarium, and that only
those will be appointed who have some
knowledge of woodcraft, and who are
vigilant, vigorous and fearless in dealing
with violators of the forest laws.
Ata public meeting in Pasadena, Cal.,
to arouse interest in the cultivation and
protection of the mountain forests of
that State, Abbott Kinney, in the course
of an address, said that it had cost the
Government $12,000 to fight fires in the
neighborhood of Pasadena last year. He
advocated the establishment of a well-
organized patrol, working on the block
system, by which fires might be immedi-
ately located and checked. This ‘‘ ounce
of prevention,’’ he said, would cost less
than half the amount of last year’s losses.
The most noted grove of Walnut trees
in the United States, containing fifty-one
Black Walnut trees, all of them of enor-
mous size, wassold at Cassopolis, Mich.,
for $10,000 cash. There was _ strong
competition from all parts of this coun-
try and abroad. The purchasers were
German and English parties, The logs
will be cut and squared for shipment.
THE FORESTER.
May,
It is estimated that one of the trees will
produce $1,200 worth of choice lumber.
It was over one hundred feet of good
logging size, its largest diameter was
seven feet, circumference 21.99 feet, and
it would require five men hand in hand
to encircle it.
Forest Fires.
Heavy forest fires raged during the
first week of April on three sides of
Eastport, L. I., resulting in the destruc-
tion of much valuable timber. Two
other fires devastated a large area near
Quogue and Riverhead. At the latter
place the smoke in the village was said
to be ‘‘uncomfortably thick,” which
fact, together with the destruction of
hundreds of rabbits and foxes in the
brush, resulted in energetic efforts to
stop the flames. The Pines Hotel at
East Hampton was saved by the sturdy
fight of volunteers.
Several thousand acres of woodland
in Plymouth woods near Wenham,
Mass., were burned in the first large
forest fire of the season in that State
recently. Some very heavy Pine wl
was burned, but most of that consumed
was small Oak and Pitch Pine.
Timber Prospects in Cuba.
A trio of Pennsylvanians who went to
Cuba to investigate the timber prospects
of the island, reached the conclusion
that ‘‘to invest in timber lands alone
would not be a paying investment, but
to cultivate lands by raising coffee and
tobacco, ‘there’s millions in it.’”” They
traveled 300 miles on horseback, cutting
their way through forests with machetes,
and inspecting 10,000 acres of timber
lands, of the following woods: Mahog-
any, cedro, majagua (a strong, flexible,
and plentiful wood, used for furniture,
trapeze bars, etc. ): jique (a hardwood
for finishing work, and making mallets ) ;
coguarau, like steel; fustete, or log-
wood ; coguaui, similar to coguarau ;
igaya, for shafts and wagon tongues ;
almiqui, like rosewood ; sabicu, a log-
wood; roble, used for axe handles ; and
1899.
almendro, avery springy dyewood. The
mahogany was found to be very disap-
pointing, and the uses and value of the
innumerable other woods still problem
atical.
Utilization of Water Power.
A company has been organized in
Clear Creek County, Colorado, for the
purpose of developing and utilizing the
water power in Clear Creek Cation. The
sum of $800,000 has been raised, all of
which will be expended in the construc-
tion of the plant, erecting lines for the
transmission of power and for the pur-
chase of the necessary real estate and
water rights. The contract has been
let for the construction of the central
plant which is to develop 2,000 horse
power. Its location has been so selected
that wire can be run to every part of the
adjacent mining district at a minimum
cost. While at all ordinary stages Clear
Creek will furnish enough water to oper-
ate the system, the company does not
propose to run any chances of loss on
account of low water, so it will construct
a reservoir above Empire that will have
a superficial area of 250 acres. Besides
its effect on the local mining industry by
supplying a cheaper and more conven-
ient form of motive power this enterprise
will benefit the ranchers below the mouth
of the cafion, as the storage of water
during the spring floods and its use later
in the season by the power plant will
make it available for irrigation at a time
of the year when there is a scarcity of
water for that purpose.
Snowslide or Landslide Next ?
At 3 o’clock last Saturday afternoon
there occurred in this town an accident
which was the cause of wonder to hun-
dreds of people who visited the spot
from that time until dark.
Gus Wold and H. T. Foy were getting
wood on the hillside northwest of town,
near the top of the hill, when a dead
Pine tree which they had just cut down,
started down the slope with fearful ve-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
11g
locity, and a few seconds later they
heard it go crashing through the houses
2,000 feet below. It ran along within a
few feet of B. Flaig’s house, and thirty
feet below it struck the roof of Iver Ol-
son’s kitchen, going through it just like
a bullet and passing out above and a lit-
tle to the left of the front door. Twenty-
five feet below this it struck the wall
of Mr. Nickerson’s dining-room, passed
through that and through the floor of
the front room and through the base-
ment, which is used as a_ woodshed.
The next house in line was the one occu-
pied by Mr. and Mrs. William Presley,
seventy feet below Nickerson’s. It en-
tered the back shed above the kitchen
door, through to the floor, finally plow-
ing up the floor half way across the
front room and stopping when it had
penetrated the frozen ground beneath.
The log was fifty-nine feet long and
two and one-half feet in diameter at the
butt, yet the holes which it made through
the different buildings were but very lit-
tle larger than the diameter of the log.
It passed within two feet of a sash door
in the Olson building without breaking
the glass. But the most remarkable
and fortunate feature of the novel acci-
dent is that no one was killed or even
injured. The effect of such a projectile
striking a human being is almost too
dreadful to contemplate. Four children
were playing in the Olson home when
the log passed just over their heads,
covering them with snow and broken
shingles and scaring them half to death.
Mrs. Presley had just left the bedroom,
and the moment the log struck, she had
just moved to the fore part of the front
room—the only safe place in the build-
ing. Mrs. Nickerson was at home also,
but out of the path of the destructive log.
The men who were the unwilling cause
of the disaster were almost beside them-
selves until they rushed down the hill
and learned that no one was injured,
when they immediately set to work to
saw up the log and repair the damages
to the buildings.x—Wardner (Ldaho)
News.
120
THE FORESTER.
May,
Recent Publications.
Biennial Report of the Yosemite Valley and
Mariposa Big Tree Grove Commission.—This
pamphlet shows the careful attention to the de-
tails of the work imposed upon this Commis-
sion. Despite the small appropriations for
needed improvements and the meagre allow-
ance for traveling expenses necessarily in-
curred by the members of the Commission, a
most commendable showing is made, The
Commissioners urge the establishment of free
roads and an increase in the protective patrol
force on the part of the General Government.
*
The U. S. Department of Agriculture has
just issued Farmers’ Bulletin No. 92, under the
title of ‘‘ Experiment Station Work, IX.” The
subjects included treat of Sugar Beets on Al-
kali Soils; Planting and Replanting Corn; Im-
provement of Sorghum; Improved Culture of
Potatoes; Second-Crop Potatoes for Seed; Cold
v. Warm Water for Plants; Forcing Head
Lettuce; The Date Palm in the United States;
The Codling Moth; Jerusalem Artichokes for
Pigs; Feeding Calves; Pasteurization in Butter
Making; Gassy and Tainted Curds, and Pure
Cultures in Cheese Making.
Experiment Station Record, Vol. X., No.
8, just issued by the Department of Agri-
culture, contains a description of the Agricul-
tural Experiment Station in Alaska; the Pro-
ceedings of the Twelfth Annual Convention of
the Association of American Agricultural Col-
leges and Experiment Stations; a review of
recent work in agricultural science, and other
valuable information covering a wide field of
usefulness.
Bulletin No. 152 of the New York Agricul-
tural Experiment Station (Geneva) is very
timely. It tells how to meet at every stage a
pest which was very much in evidence in or-
chards last year. The bulletin gives a full
account, illustrated, of the life-history of the
apple-tree tent-caterpillar, with concise direc-
tions for recognizing and fighting it when in
the egg, as larva, or in the cocoon. Notes are
also given upon spraying experiments against
the spring canker-worm; and two new insecti-
cides are recommended as both better and
cheaper than Paris green. Orchard owners
will be furnished free copies of the bulletin
upon making request to the Experiment Station,
The report of the Director of the New York
Agricultural Experiment Station (Geneva) has
been issued as Bulletin No. 153. It will be
found of much interest, as it shows what one
State institution is doing and trying to do for
agriculture. The extension of the buildings,
and the different lines of investigation under
way during the year are summarized and the ©
most important results noted. Well executed
half-tone plates add much to the appearance of
the pamphlet. Bulletin sent free upon request.
A review of the experiments made in Long
Island in 1898 to determine the amount of fer-
tilizer, per acre, which could be used profitably
in potato growing, has been published in Bulle-
tin No. 154 of the New York Agricultural Ex-
periment Station (Geneva), while the sugar-
beet industry of the State is reviewed in
Bulletin 155. Any of the bulletins of this
Station will be sent free upon request.
NOTE.
The edition of THE Forester for November,
1898, having been exhausted, it has been found
necessary to have a new one printed. Mem-
bers of the Association and subscribers who
may need copies of that issue (No. 11, Vol. IV,)
to complete files for binding, will be supplied
if they notify the publishers to that effect.
A limited number of complete copies of Vol.
IV of THE Forester are offered for sale.
$1.00.
Price
Previous volumes are out of print.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882.
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 18g.
President.
Hon, JAMes Witson, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President, Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. FERNow. F, H, NEWELL,
Recording Secretary and Treasurer,
GrEorRGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Directors.
JaMEs WILSON. CHARLES C, BINNEY. EDWARD A. Bowers. FREDERICK V, CovILLE,
B. E. FERNow. HENRY GANNETT. ARNOLD HAGUE, F, H. NEweE.t,
GEORGE W. McLamaHaAn, GIFFORD PINCHOT, GrorRGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Vice Presidents.
Sir H. G, JoLy pE Lorsinizre, Pointe Platon, Wo. E. Cuanv_er, Concord, N. H.
Quebec. JouNn GirrorD, Princeton, N. J.
CHARLES Mour, Mobile, Ala. Epwarp F. Hopart, Santa Fe, N. M.
CuHaRLEs C, GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska, WARREN HiG ey, New York, N. Y.
D. M. Rrorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz. J. A. Hormes, Raleigh. N. C.
Tuomas C. McRAg, Prescott, Ark. W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
AsBoTTt KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal. ReEuBEN H. Warper, North Bend, Ohio
E. T. Ensicn, Colorado Springs, Colo, Witi1am T. LittLe, Perry, Okla.
RosBerT Brown, New Haven, Conn. E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
Wm. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del: J. T. Rorurock, West Chester, Pa.
A. V. CLusps, Pensacola, Fla. H. W. Frencu, Manila, P. I.
R. B. Repparp, Savannah, Ga. H. G. Russet, E. Greenwich, R. 1].
J. M. Courter, Chicago, III. H. A. GREEN, Chester, 8. C.
James Troop, Lafayette, Ind. Tuomas T, Wricut, Nashville, Tenn.
Tuos, H. MAcBripe, Iowa City, Iowa, W. GoopricH Jones, Temple, Texas.
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans. C. A. WuiTinG, Salt Lake, Utah.
Joun R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky. REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt.
LEwis JoHnson, New Orleans, La. D. O. Nourse. Blacksburg, Va.
Joun W. GakreETT, Baltimore, Md. Epmunp S. MEany, Seattle, Wash.
Joun E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me. A. D. Hopkins, Morgantown, W. Va.
J. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass. H. C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
W. J. Beat, Agricultural College, Mich. E.twoop Meap, Cheyenne, Wyo.
C. C. ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn. Grorce W. McLANAHAN, Washington, D.C
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo. Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
CHARLES E. Bessey, Lincoln, Neb. Wo. Lirrire, Montreal, Quebec.
The object of this Association is to promote :
1. A more rational and conservative treatment of the forest resources of this continent.
2. The advancement of educational, legislative and other measures tending to promote
this object.
3. The diffusion of knowledge regarding the conservation, management and renewal of
forests, the methods of reforestation of waste lands, the proper utilization of forest
products, the planting of trees for ornament, and cognate subjects of arboriculture.
Owners of timber and woodlands are particularly invited to join the Association, as well as
are all persons who are in sympathy with the objects herein set forth.
THESEORE STE:
H. J. KOKEN C. P. HANCOCK
SZ
High-Class Designs and
Iustrations
Half Tone and Line
Engraving
Brass and Metal Signs
Rubber Stamps
... TIMES BUILDING...
a
TENTH STREET AND PENNA. AVENUE, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Bump Rock Road, Park and Page Fence
Premises of R. B. SYMINGTON,
At Cape Cod, Mass. ==
In order to preserve the innate beauty of a rustic scene
Mr. S. was not willing to have it marred by even a fence
post. He used the
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE
|
4
Nineteen horizontal wires—s58 inches high and stapled it
to the trees from 30 to 60 feet apart
ALL STYLES OF STOGCIGAND) FARM EE NCES
CONSTANTLY ON: HANS
WRITE FOR DESCRIPTION.
———— SS
Page Woven Wire Fence Co.,
ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.
BOX65;
WALLUIMIDTUUn Fameo Forest LUO TATED
Vot. V. ; JU!" 3, 1899. No. 6
te ee ta
_ The Forester
a A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
devoted to the care and use of
forests and forest trees and
to related subjects.
SS ——-
PUBLISHED BY
_._ The American Forestry Association.
a) se Se
i"
4
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D, C., as second class matter.
wrinurnaaera. —— <« ranrnrTgyn
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
VALE OMBROSAG sesssasseeecsnennnesnsenttnnsesecnneeenseeeeeeecertsununeetannnananmnrenengnuanaeaparaneceeerececcnseesanaset ia Frontispiece
Tue WorLD-FaMED ForEST OF VALLOMBROSA. Illustrated. aca al PoE 12
By the founder of THE FoRESTER. _
Tue New LAKE TAHOE FOREST RESERVE, CALIFORNIA .-sccscecccscosseeesssssenennnnseeseneteentseceets 124
(By courtesy of the Secretary of the Interior.)
FISHERMEN FOR THE FOREST S.e.sssssesscsesscssssorsseeepssnesnsestenenecsnsssnsestecensecneeescnnansnsenenseamessn asaneteametenns 125
Why Anglers Should Become Members of the American Forestry
Association.
Tuer RELATION OF FoREST PRESERVATION TO THE PUBLIC WELFARE...scssccsssseesesesse 127
By the Superintendent of the United States Forest Receives
in Montana.
Wouar Saat We Doiron) THE FOREST Pig Oe co edo 129
(A symposium in four papers.)
I. An Object Lesson of Forest Destruction.
II. The Need of Forest Legislation in Colorado.
III. The Advisability of Forest Culture.
IV. The Increasing Interest in Forest Preservation.
Vk, PROPAGATION OF FOREST TREESL Ed) ALBA f 50 DISA Sse 132
The State Sylvaton Society of North Dakota.
‘DHE LUMBERMAN’S VIEW OF THE FOREST co cect ct cccssdovarerinmrenstertcmonneeeseassstartaasenacntos EWR. Ge Ic
_ (A symposium in two papers.)
I.. Destruction.
II. Conservation.
FUMCENT: LEGISLATION (0500.05 ..)sccentieys lie shes Welle sh Shi cy ane AE BG A ALS GIP He ANT 136
New York, Massachusetts. Michigan. ©
New Jersey. Minnesota. * Colorado.
California. - Wisconsin.
A WEUMBER SCENE IN. San’ MaArreo Counmy; QO any) oy re eae ey ee
TUSDAT eh tS Ne Ee a ce a 138
Special Announcement.
Necrology—Life Member R. P. Flower.
A Steady Avance—New Members.
Ghips and Clips—News Items.
Forest Fires.
Educational.
RECENT) RUBETEATIONS |. 0.200000 UN I gy ale ee mre 144. i
AMERK wh FCRESTRY ASSOCIATION. (
CRESTS, MONOGRAMS,
COATS OF ARMS
EN WAGLASIOIN, 9 7. Lc als
RECEPTIONZAND <3) 551]
VISITING CARDS.
W. A. COPENHAVER, ay
Society Wngraver
and Stationer,
14th and G Sts. N. W., Washington, D.C.
Swell designs for every t) pe of engraving for
Schools and Colleges. ° ‘ : :
The Foremost School for Young Women|
a> VN AMERICA’...
ATIONAL PARK SEMINARY is named from its proximity to the great National Rock
Il ; Park, recently purchased by the Government and designed to become the most beauti-
ful reservation of the National Capital. This whole region is marvelously beautiful and
picturesque with its combination of forest, stream, hill and dale. It rises gradually
from the City of Washington till at Forest Glen the Seminary stands on an eminence four hun-
dred feet above the level of the city. Forty acres of sunny slopes and wild ravines, towering
trees and winding paths, babbling brocks and tangled dells, combine to form a site seldom
rivaled in varied and inspiring scenery, where the beautiful zs utilized to develop character
The altitude of its location precludes possibility of malaria, The equable climate, free fro
the rigors of a northern winter promotes health by inviting out-door sports. The buildit
itself crowns the highest hill and was erected and equipped at an expense of $80,000; it has
frontage of two hundred and seventy-five feet, with three large center halls thirty by forty feet
on each floor, which afford a charming rendezvous for student life; heated by steam and light
by gas, with bath rooms plentiful and sanitary arrangements complete. The house is situated
so that every room gets the sun at some time during the day.
The close proximity to the National Capital, with all the educational and social advan
tages appertaining to such a residence, offers wonderful facilities toits pupils. The Semin» ,
is within twenty minutes of the heart of the city and, with twenty trains daily, besides electric
cars, easy access is afforded to all the Libraries, Musevms, Departments of Government, Con-
gress and Foreign Legations. These with the official and social life of the National Capital offer
opportunities for profitable study.
The course of study is planned to produce womanly women. There are twenty-two
teachers and the limited number of pupils permits of much personal attention and individual
instruction foreach. Health zs a matter of first constderation always. There are no nerve-
Straining examinations, Thirty different States represented among the pupils, bringing
together the daughters of representatives families throughout the entire Union.
The Seminary’s watchword : ‘* We consider text-book training only a part of our work as
educators. We shall be satisfied with nothing less than the development of the whole being”
The yearly expenses at National Park + Address
are $350 to $500. Early application is neces. i ——— :
sary. Catalogue giving views of the school ¥ J. A. CASSEDY x Principal,
and opinion of enthusiastic patrons will be i 4,
tent a ea plication: = . i P. O. Box 100. Forest Gler, Md.
Kindly mention Tue ForesTer in writing.
THE FORESTER.
HENRY ROMEIKE.
The First Established and [Most Complete
Newspaper Cutting Bureau in the World.
10 Fifth Awenue, New York.
Established London 1881, New York 1884.
Branches: London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney.
‘The Press Cutting Bureau...
which I established and have carried on since 1881 in London and
1884 in New York, reads, through its hundreds of employes, every
newspaper and periodical of importance published in the United
States, Canada and Europe. It is patronized by thousands of sub-
scribers, professional or business men, to whom are sent, day by day,
newspaper clippings, collected from all these thousands of papers,
referring either to them or any given subject... .
Piety Rormeike,
@, 110 Fifth Awenue, New York.
Kindly mention THE ForesTER in writing.
f-punos8yovq ot{} tr 41g JOATIG JO S}so1oq Surmoys]
‘ALALILSNI AULSAAOM NVIIVLI IVAOW AHL—VSOUANOTTIVA
WO. Ve
The Forester.
JUNE, 1899. No. 6.
The World-famed Forest of Vallombrosa.
[Seat of the Roya! Italian Forestry Institute. |
With Illustrations from Photographs forwarded from Europe especially for
The Forester.
BY THE FOUNDER OF ‘f THE FORESTER.”’’
One of the most attractive places in
Europe is Vallombrosa. Every traveler
in Italy should not fail to visit it. No
matter what his profession he will find
something of interest. All admire the
beautiful views and the forests and enjoy
the fresh, dust-free mountain air and
pure spring water, far above the bells
and yells and smells of Italian cities.
The word Vallombrosa. itself means
‘shady valley.” ‘‘Thick as autumnal
leaves that strow the brooks in Vallom-
brosa, where the Etrurian shades high
overarched embower,’”’ says Milton, who
visited this lovely spot before he lost his
sight.
Such a place in Italy, where the forests
have been recklessly wasted, where al-
most every tree is lopped and pollarded
and where the mountains are bare, the
streams dry at times, at others rushing,
raging torrents, is certainly refreshing.
Vallombrosa was formerly one of the
richest and most famous of the monas-
teries of Europe, and is now of special
interest to foresters because the only
forestry school in Italy is located here.
It may be easily visited from Florence.
At S. Ellero, a short-distance up the
Arno, on the main line to Rome, the
traveler must change cars. High on the
mountain top in the distance Vallom-
brosa is partly visible, as a mass of dark
green foliage surrounded by bare moun-
tain sides. The little train, consisting
of one car and a small locomotive, as-
cends by means of a cog-wheel working
in a toothed middle rail. The engine
was built in Philadelphia and the car in
Belgium, although the latter was fin-
ished in American pine.
The train passes through many well-
kept olive groves and vineyards, the
scenery being very beautiful. _ The fruit
trees were in full bloom (April 5) and
the olives were a rich, silvery color.
Women dressed in bright-colored cos-
tumes were working in the soil, the men
were lopping the trees, to which the
vines are tied with willow withes. Others
were ploughing the rich, brown earth
with teams of large, pure white oxen.
Trees in Italy are planted for vine
props. The clippings they yield serve
for fuel and the leaves are used for fod-
der. The twigs take the place of twine,
Italian agriculture is partly arboricul-
ture. Almost every field yields grapes,
nuts, figs, olives, wood, fodder and grain.
We passed through a coppice of chest-
nut and oak with large mother ‘trees on
the steep mountain side. The ground
was carpeted with broom, gorse and
many other wild flowers, among which
we could hear the busy honey bees hum-
ming. The woods were filled with song
5 THE FORESTER.
birds, something unusual for Italy, where
formerly birds of every kind were cap-
tured for the pot in a wholesale fashion,
by means of ingenious nets. A few
sheep were visible, rambling amongst the
herbage. Here and there choppers were
cutting the young chestnut trees for vine
props, stripping off the bark, dipping the
ends in tar, and binding up the fagots.
In season, many peasants are occu-
pied in picking the wild strawberries and
raspberries and gathering mushrooms.
A large income is yielded by the chest-
nuts, from the flour of which the bread
of the peasants is made.
In the course of an hour the train
reaches Saltino, the terminus. Below
one, stretching for miles, is the well-
tilled valley of the Arno; all about one
the bare mountain tops of the Apen-
nines ; and plainly in the distance the
famous city of Florence, with its exten-
sive gardens and treasures of art.
About half a mile from the station of
Saltino, the beautiful silver fir forests of
Vallombrosa begin. The trees are large,
with tall, straight boles and dense, dark
green canopy. . The air is fragrant with
the orange perfume exhaled by the
leaves in the sunshine. One could easily
imagine himself in the midst of the Black
Forest at Herrenwies or St Blasien.
The trees are in lines, betraying the
fact that they had been planted.. In
truth the whole of the forests of Vallom-
brosa were planted by the patient and in-
dustrious Benedictine monks, who were
arduous agriculturists and foresters dur-
ing the Dark Ages. Itis to them in fact
that civilization owes much, and it was
often with much injustice that their prop-
erties were confiscated and their treasures
of art and science injured or destroyed.
Some beautiful stems, fit for the masts
of ships, were piled by the wayside.
They seemed almost out of place in a
land where twigs and fuel are often sold
by weight, and where a decent fire is the
greatest of all luxuries.
Soon one reaches an open meadow,
surrounded on all but one of its sides by
the amphitheater of green, forest-clad
June,
hills. It was. here, in about the year
1015, that San Giovanni Gualberto
founded the famous monastery of Vall-
ombrosa, under peculiar circumstances
too lengthy to describe in this connection,
Above the Silver Fir on the mountain
side a fine forest of old Beech is visible.
The Silver Fir being more hardy is
usually above the Beech. In order of
hardiness there comes first the Spruce,
then the Silver Fir, then the Red Beech,
and then the Chestnut. The monks, no
doubt, had’ some special purpose in
placing the Beech above the Fir. They
raised many pigs which fed upon the
mast.
In front of the thick-walled monastery
is the Albergo della Foresta, which is
large and comfortable. Near by there is
an old sawmill and ponds built by the
monks for the collection of ice. The
water here is excellent, coming from a
famous spring which was long supposed
to have great curative properties. Sev-
eral students dressed in uniform were
working in the nurseries. They are
called to their work by bugle blasts.
We presented our cards and were most
cordially received by the director, Comm.
F. Piccioli, and his accomplished
daughter, both of whom speak German
and French. Director Piccioli was sent
by his government to France to study
the reforestation of mountains, and his
report, entitled ‘‘Sui Rimboschimenti
Eseguiti in Francia,” appeared in. 1887.
We were shown the museum, the
library, the dormitory, the queer old
kitchen and the refectory, with many
portraits on the walls, including one of
Gualberto, the founder of the monastery.
The institution has eight professors and
about 35 students. These students are
of two classes—those who expect gov-
ernment work and those who do not.
The Italian Government possesses only
about 50,000 hectares of forest, so that
the number of foresters needed is not
large and their pay is small. The stu-
dents have four months vacation in win-
ter. From the prospectus the regulations
seem rather strict. The course covers
oe Le i it
1899.
four years and seems quite like the work
of a German forest academy.
Italy could not have a better object
lesson. She has had it many years and
it seems to have little effect. Were all
her mountains forested as at Vallombrosa
,
ANOTHER VIEW
she would be rich instead of poor. If
she had them it is doubtful, though,
whether they would be properly managed.
One leaves this beautiful region with
regret and with the thought that much
credit is due to the old monks who
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
123
planted these forests and instituted an
excellent system of agriculture, and that
much blame is due the Italian Govern-
ment for not following this excellent ex-
ample by planting the denuded mountain
tops—the birthplace of destructive tor~
OF VALLOMBROSA.
rents, and certainly the places above all
others which should be owned and regu-
lated by the State.
OHN GIFFORD, D.
Florence, April 16, 1899.
—
124
THE FORESTER:
June,
The New Lake Tahoe Forest Reserve, California.
President McKinley issued a procla-
mation on April 13, establishing the Lake
Tahoe Forest Reserve, in California,
upon the recommendation of the Secre-
tary of the Interior, after a very thorough
examination of the subject had been made
by that Department, during a period of
two years. The area of the reserve is
estimated at 136,335 acres.
On November 16, 1896, the Depart-
ment of the Interior referred to the Gen-
eral Land Office the petition of residents
of Carson City, Nev., to have certain
lands in E] Dorado County, California,
in the immediate vicinity of Lake Tahoe,
reserved for further disposal and set apart
as a public park. Among the signers to
this and other similar petitions were the
Governor of Nevada, the Chief Justice
of the Nevada Supreme Court, the State
Treasurer, the Attorney General and
other State officers, the University of
California (including the Lick Observa-
tory), the Leland Stanford, Junior, Uni-
versity, the Sierra Club, United States
Senators Stephen M. White and George
C. Perkins, and many other citizens of
California.
As the result of a special examination
of these lands and their suitability for a
forest reserve, the agent of the Depart-
ment made a favorable report in Decem-
ber, 1897, which is, in part, as follows:
‘<The land embraced within the bound-
aries of this proposed reservation is all
rough and mountainous with but little,
if any, agricultural land. There are no
public traveled roads and but few trails
in this territory.
‘The elevation at Lake Tahoe is 6,200
feet above sea level, and all of the land
in the proposed reservation is at a still
higher elevation, and consequently is
free from snow only in the lower portion
for about four months in the year. In-
cluded in the territory are mountains
which are never free from snow.
‘« The scenic features of the proposed
territory are of the finest possible de-
scription and will attract tourists from
all parts of the world. The highest
mountains between Lassen’s Butte, on
the north, and the Yosemite Reservation
on the south, a distance of several hun-
dred miles, are included within this pro-
posed reservation, as will appear from a
map of the Sierra Valley.
‘‘Fine forests of Pine and Fir are
scattered throughout the proposed reser-
vation, and constitute one of the most
interesting features of the landscape.
The general elevation is too great for
dense forests of Pine, or Pine of as large
growth as may be found 1n the Sierras at
a lower plane, but the forests are inter-
esting and exceedingly valuable in pre-
venting the rapid melting of the snows.
‘‘What people there are in this dis-
trict are only Summer inhabitants, that
is to say, they drive their flocks to this
region the latter part of June, pasture
them in the meadows and on the moun-
tain sides, and then return in October to
the valleys below. I did not find any
one except those connected with the fine
hotels about Lake Tahoe, who remain
in this region during the Winter. Snow
not unusually falls in this region to an
aggregate depth of twenty feet. The land
is of no possible value except for grazing
purposes in the narrow valleys during
three or-four months in the year.
‘‘Scattered through this region are
many lakes. Some of them have been
stocked with fish and have become a
place of considerable resort for mountain
tourists. If this plan of making a forest
reservation is carried out, it will be the
most convenient of access of any reser-
vation in California, and will be much
more visited than any other, and a great
National Park established, easily acces-
sible to all the people, and one which
will be visited much more than any
other.
«The region is so attractive that al-
ready many hotels and watering places
have been established and seem to re-
ceive a large patronage. Benefit will
result to all the people of the country by
1899.
the establishment of such a National
Park for their use, and as time passes
these benefits will be appreciated more
and more.”
On February 10, 1899, after a further
examination and reconsideration of the
proposed boundaries, in response to the
requests of various petitioners, a revised
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
125
plan, comprising seven townships, was
recommended as satisfactory to all the
interests involved. There are a few
claims of record within the limits of the
reservation, but their acreage forms so
small a part of the total area that their
existence presents no difficulties to the
administration of the reserve.
Fishermen for the Forests.
Why Anglers Should Become Members of the American Forestry
Association.
Although it has to do only with their
pleasure, yet anglers, more than most
men, are interested in the preservation
of the water supply. Fish must swim.
Without water there can be no fish, and
the angler who appreciates the condi-
tions governing the water supply is one
of the strongest advocates of forest
preservation. There are a thousand
reasons why he wishes to have forests
about the brooks and lakes that he
fishes.
As we become better acquainted with
the result of fish culture, the economic
aspect of fish and fishing has come to be
regarded as more and more important,
and this is a consideration which should
appeal strongly to the average man ;
but after all it is not with such results
that the.angler chiefly concerns himself.
He loves his art less for the fish that it
yields him than for the recreation it
affords, for the opportunity to employ
his skill, and for the absolute rest which
he derives from an occupation so differ-
ent from that of most of his life. Yet,
if there were no hope of catching fish,
he would not care to be an angler, and
so he greatly desires to have the fish
supply preserved and increased. With-
out an abundant supply of pure water
of the proper temperature, this cannot
be done and that water cannot be had
without the forests,
The forest and
aptly enough compared
its floor have been
to a great
sponge, which the me‘ting snows and
the Spring rains fill full of water, and
which holds this water, giving it out by
innumerable springs and rills through
the dry months, to make glad the thirsty
earth. This is above all things the
function of the forest: to gather water,
to hold it, and to send it out again little
by little, so that it may do the most good
possible. On the forests depend the
water supply, the food supply and the
shelter for the fish. They regulate, too,
the temperature an 1 purity of the water,
and are the home ‘f much of the food
which supports the 1.sh._ In view of all
this it is not strange ‘hat anglers as a
rule are earnest advovates of forest
preservation.
These are some of the reasons that
they give for the faith that is in them.
Well-wooded districts are subject to
more rain than treeless regions; and
the forests are vast reservoirs of humid-
ity, lessening the dryness of the sur-
rounding atmosphere, assisting the flow
of spring and stream, preventing fresh-
ets at the end of the Winter, and in Sum-
mer feeding spring and lake giving forth
the clear and cold water in which fish
delight and thrive. On the other hand
we know that when the forests are de-
stroyed the volume of the waterflow is
diminished and the fish is injured in
many ways. The disastrous freshets,
which are likely to occur, follow the
melting snows or the Spring rains, sweep
126 THE FORESTER.
down mud, sand and debris, covering
the spawning ground and the eggs which
are on them, suffocating them and the
young fish, or perhaps even floating eggs
and fry out of the stream, and, when the
water recedes, leaving them high and
dry on the bank to perish. Besides this,
freshets wash away and cover up food
and the sources of food supply, so that
the stream cannot support so great a
number of fish. Trees and shrubs keep
the water cool by their shade and fur-
nish a resting place and cover for food
for the fish, so that it will nearly always
be found that shaded brooks or those
running in part through woodland offer
to the angler better results than those
which flow through open meadows or
plains.
In ponds and small lakes, in which
the water supply has been diminished,
the shallow water freezing nearly to the
bottom gives iess freedom to the fish,
diminishes the air space for each, and is
likely to cause wholesale destruction.
Such diminished water supply, of course,
means a lessened area to the lake or
pond, which again means a less number
of fish. In like manner the reduced
shore line of the pond of lessened area
gives less feeding ground for the fish,
and so less food.
It is in the game fish that the angler
is especially interested, and it is for their
protection that he chiefly cares. They
live in fresh-water streams, and push
their way as fast as possible toward the
heads of those streams, into the depths
of the woods or high up on the mountain
side, striving always to reach those
sources where the water, cooled and
purified by the influence of the forest,
June,
is at its best. To preserve the best sort
of fish, therefore, we must preserve the
forests, and each angler should do his
part to strengthen the public sentiment.
in favor of this work. If the past few
years have seen an extraordinary growth.
of this sentiment, it is hoped that those
to follow will see one still greater.
So far as the water and its inhabitants:
are concerned, the forest acts as a great
governor or regulator. As it cools the
summer stream, so it warms the same
stream in winter; as it prevents bank-
bursting freshets which may cause incal-
culable harm, so in time of drought it
supplies from its secret sources an
equable, unfailing flow which gives life
to the fish and to all things that live in
the water and along the river’s bank.
And since the forests regulate the water
supply and its temperature and purify
it, it may fairly be said that those who
care for the forests care also for the fish
in the stream, and that when they pre-
serve the forests they preserve also the
game fish.
The summer traveler who journeys.
along the sun-baked, treeless slopes of
the southern Rocky Mountains or the
Sierras comes now and then upon a dry
watercourse in which, if he follows it up
and down, he will sometimes see a pool
standing in which trout are moving
sluggishly here and there waiting for the
passage of the week’s drought which
shall destroy them. Further to the
north, in the same chain of mountains,
where man or man’s fire has not swept
away all the timber, this is not seen.
There the streams are ever-flowing and
the fish are active and full of life.
Gero. BirD GRINNELL.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
12%
The Relation of Forest Preservation to the
Public Welfare.
(Being an address delivered on Arbor Day at the Montana State University at Missoula.)
By THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE UNITED STaTES Forest RESERVES IN MONTANA}
The celebration of Arbor Day seems a
most fitting occasion to consider briefly
the great question of our forests and to
note how we, as a nation, are guarding a
most priceless heritage.
When the Puritans of New England
and the chevaliers of Virginia blazed
pathways in the primeval forests, made
clearings, and laid waste vast areas of
mighty Oaks, sturdy Elms, and giant
Hickories, it was deemed by them essen-
tial and proper for the onward march
of cizilization and necessary for the pro-
ductiveness of the country. Conditions
have very materially changed since then,
and as we stand at the dawn of the
Twentieth Century, we begin to realize
what the loss of our mighty forests means.
We begin to estimate their value not
alone in dollars and cents, but as affect-
ing our water supply and as an adjunct
to human as well as animal and vege-
table life, and we are now crying aloud
and long: ‘‘Oh! Woodman spare that
M@ree;”’
I believe it is right and proper that the
subject of our forests should be brought
to the attention of our teachers and of
our schools, and that in the school-room
should be laid the foundation for the
rational treatment of the same. The
public generally, in years past, has given
but scanty attention to this great subject,
but if the youth of our land could but
be brought to understand the momen-
tous interests at stake the public would
gradually be led to realize the impor-
tance of the question.
The forest area of the United States
(exclusive of Alaska and our recent
acquisitions) is estimated in round num-
bers at 500,000,000 acres, Seven-tenths
of this is found on the Atlantic coast, one-
tenth on the Pacific, one-tenth in the
Rocky Mountains, and the balance scat-
tered over the middle Western States.
On the Pacific coast hard woods are rare,
the principal growth being coniferous
and of extraordinary development, Here
we find the gigantic Red woods, the soft
Sugar Pine, the hard Bull Pine, as well
as Spruces, Firs, Cedars, Hemlocks and
Larch. In the Rocky Mountains we have
no hard woods of any great commercial,
value, the growth being mainly Spruces,.
Firs, Pines and Cedars, In the Southern:
States we find the Cypress and a great
growth of hardwoods with some conifers
and some small quantities of Spruce, Fir
and Hemlocks. In the north Atlantic
States we find hardwood with conifers
intermixed, and the same along the lakes,
in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In 1896 it was estimated that there
was then standing throughout the United
States 2,300,000,000,000 feet, board
measure, of timber. In the census of
18g0 the value of forest products was:
estimated at $1,044,000,000. The value
exceeds ten times the value of our gold
and silver output, and three times the
annual product of all our mineral and
coal mines put together. It is three
times the value of our wheat crop, and
with all the toil and risk which our agri-
cultural crops involve they can barely
quadruple the value of the product
yielded by nature for the mere harvest-
ing.
The total annual cut is estimated at
40,000,000,000 feet, board measure, and
to this let us add the amount consumed
for fuel, fence material, the waste in the
woods and at the mills, and the loss by
fires, and we find that the total annual
consumption of wood in the United
States is easily 25,000,000, 000 cubic feet,
and this consumption, it is said, increases
in greater proportion than the popula-
tion. :
In considering this vast consumption
of wood it is interesting for Montanians
128 | THE FORESTER.
to know that Butte City alone consumes
300 carloads of cordwood a day. The
loss by fires varies from year to year, but
it is enormous, especially in the West.
It is estimated there is an annual loss of
$25,000,000o—and this is exceeded in
some years. From careful statistics and
records we know that the annual growth
of wood per acre and year does not
average more than fifty-five cubic feet,
though, under favorable conditions, it
may rise to double that amount with
some species. If we consider the pro-
duction of such sizes as are used in this
country our timber, at the age of 125
years, would be found to have grown not
more than thirty-five cubic feet per acre
per year.
Our present forest acreage, therefore,
even if well stocked and well managed,
could not produce our annual consump-
tion. We are consuming much more
than the area produces, probable dou-
ble this amount, and every year the
disproportion increases. It takes roo
years to produce a good-sized saw log.
Most of the timber we are now cutting
is over 200 years old. It is said that at
the present rate of denudation going on
in Minnesota that in forty years there
will not bea stick of timber left, and at
the present rate of cutting in Maine in
eight years its once grand forests of Pine
will be no more. In the light of these
facts and figures, taken largely from
governmental statistics and believed to
be accurate and reliable, should we not,
as a people, pause and consider the
situation that stares us in the face?
Having considered, so far, only the
commercial or money interests as at-
tached to our forest production, let us
now consider other features of this sub-
ject. Science has demonstrated that
‘forests temper the extremes of climate,
equalize the rainfall, equalize the flow of
streams, and so preserve fertility and
increase comfort.”” The humus in tne
forest cover is nature’s reservoir, the
forest cover affords a natural watershed.
The melted snows of winter and the
spring rains find lodgment there, gradu-
ally and naturally the many springs in
June,
our mountains are fed, and in turn are
the creeks and larger streams. A cer-
tain amount of humidity is disseminated,
essential to vegetable, animal and even
human life, and all nature, animate and
inanimate, feels the life-giving qualities,
the refreshing influences given or ex-
erted by the forests under the mighty
hand of Omnipotence.
Denude our forests and what are the
results? Tne humus becomes hard and
packed, being exposed to the hot rays
of the sun in summer and to winter’s
cold blasts, the forest cover disappears,
the melting snow and the heavy rain-
fall, not being able to percolate gradu-
ally and naturally through the hard
packed soil, rushes off down the moun-
tain side, swelling all the creeks and
larger streams and creating floods that
cause immense damage. Later, their
source of supply having become ex-
hausted, the springs cease to flow, the
creeks dry up, the streams are but empty
channels through the parched land, and
drought appears, vegetable and animal
life droop and wither, and a baneful
condition of affairs prevails. The pres-
ervation of our forests is essential, there-
fore, to other interests than those of the
woodsman.
The National Government proposes to
save what yet remains of our grand
forests. To this end the executive pro-
clamation of February 22, 1897, thirteen
forest reservations, with an aggregate
area of 21,379,840 acres, were estab-
lished, and the President is empowered
to increase the number whenever, in his
judgment, it appears wise and necessary.
The management of these reservations
is placed in the hands of the Commis-
sioner of the General Land Office, De-
partment of the Interior, Washington,
D. C. In Montana there are four forest
reservations at present with an aggregate
area of 5,043,680 acres, over one-fourth
of all yet established in the United
States. Each reserve has one superin-
tendent anda number of rangers. These
latter daily patrol a certain prescribed
territory in the reserve to which they are
assigned, and are ever vigilant against
Le pesiny -~h galiat aha sn anal
2a!” te? i aaah ee
|
1899. -
fires, an evil that does more than any
other one thing to destroy our forests.
It is also their duty to prevent timber
depredations, infringement against thie
land laws of the country and to enforce
the State laws in protection of game and
fish within the limits of the respective re-
serves.
This is a subject which should be dear
to the heart of every true American ; it
What Shall We
AMERICAN FORESTRY. ASSOCIATION.
Do: Foret ke
129
is a subject so large, of such immeasur-
able possibilities, of so vast importance,
that a far abler pen than mine is needed
to adequately set forth its value. Other
nations receive great profit from their
forests, why should not we? And then
think of the future, think of posterity.
My friends, it will, and it has a right, to
hold us, in this enlightened age, respon-
sible. J. BLatrcurorp Co.iins.
Forest ?
A Symposium in Four Payers.
Pa ODP CimilnssON OF FOREST, DESTRUCTION.
There is an ‘‘object lesson”’ of forest
destruction on the regimen of water-flow
in the streams and ravines of Jefferson
County, Colorado, and its mountain
neighbors, the mining counties of Gilpin
and Clear Creek, since their settlement
forty years ago. My observations began
in May, 1860, and have been more or less
continuous since that period, excepting
from May, 1862, to August, 1866, at
which latter date I returned from army
life,
In 1860 the creek valleys and the
mountains of these three counties were
filled with Pines and Firs, and the creek
bottoms were fringed with Alders and
Willows. Clear brooks, never dry in mid-
summer, were to be found in every bushy
ravine. Vasque Fork of the South
Platte (now called Clear Creek) flowed
clear. Snows and rains never swelled it
disastrously, even in June, and its afflu-
ents rarely appeared discolored by mud,
which in the main stream itself was but
very slightly discolored, Beautiful trout
abounded in all the larger creeks, and
well it deserved the name of Clear Creek.
In 1860-61-62 the unceasing rush to
the gold mines of these three counties
began the wholesale destruction of their
forest for fuel and mine timbering and
for the erection of thousands of cabins
and stamp mills, mining timbers espe-
cially requiring the best trees. This
wholesale consumption of our forest was
still further hastened by destructive fires
caused by criminal carelessness and in-
difference.
As these elements of use continued un-
abated as years rolled on, in 1875-76 all
the trees surrounding the mining camps
and those in the most accessible slopes
disappeared until the denudation forced
the mills, mines and saw-mills to draw
their supplies from the denser forests of
central ranges, while the sparsely-tim-
bered foot-hills occupied by farms, and
the necessities of the prairie farmers for
fuel and fencing completed the denuda-
tion of all the accessible trees of the foot-
hills.
Following this condition in the seven-
ties, Clear Creek and its affluents, Ral-
ston, Beaver, North Fork Clear Creek
and Soda Creek, began to show the force
of denudation of forest growth. » The
winter snows melted more rapidly on the
bare mountain slopes, and their drainage
increased in rapidity, followed, as the re-
sult, with total cessation of flow or re-
markable and early diminution of their
former abundant supply. the smaller
gulches which, in the Spring, when shel-
tered by Willows and timber gr wth, gave
¥ 30
out a very appreciable amount of water
-were totally dry or, when recipients of
‘rains and cloud-bursts, emptied the gath-
ered water-fall into Clear Creek in two or
three hours, hurling down and carrying
into the parent stream all the rich vege-
table mould of their narrow valleys which
had been stored there, during past ages,
from the decomposition of vegetable mat-
ter. So that to-day, where twenty-five
years ago there stood a vigorous growth
of trees and under-shrubs, we see the al-
luvial soil washed to bed-rock, in some
cases twenty feet or more deep, while
everywhere the original wagon roads,
opened in the low grounds of the gulches
and creeks, have been moved at great
expense to the more rocky mountain
slopes, away from the violence of sudden
floods.
Nor is this all. The denudation of
tree growth in all our mountains, on the
summits of the foot-hills, as well as in
the valleys, has furrowed with ravines
and covered with sand and loose rock
acres of good soil, and on Bear Creek
utterly spoiled meadow and cultivated
land, every rainin June, July and August
adding yearly to this calamity.
Another element of injury seems to act
with increasing yearly fury. Bare moun-
tain slopes and fields, heated by the tor-
tid rays of the June and July sun, seem
to create, by the force of ascending cur-
rents of heatedair, disastrous hail-storms,
accompanied by violent thunder-storms,
which wreak their fury on the crops and
fruit-trees and gardens of the prairie
THE FORESTER.
June,
ago this condition was almost unknown,
or else was trifling in effect.
In 1898 hail fell in Jefferson County,
east of Gulden, with terrific violence in
a swath nearly three miles wide and of
indefinite length. Tothe eastward apple,
plum and pear trees, stripped of all their
leaves, fruit and flowers, raspberry, black-
berry and strawberry beds were annihi-
lated almost completely, while growing
wheat, oat and corn fields were beaten
down and their yield much lessened from
the weakness of their aftergrowth. The
hail, rain and thunder storm of July 24,
1894, will long be remembered in Jeffer-
son County for its violence, destruction
and loss of life. The accompanying
heavy rain on the foot-hills hurled down
vast accumulations of boulders, gravel
and soil into the valleys of Beaver, Bear
and Clear Creeks, and swelled the streams
in some places to twenty feet or more in
depth. Boulders weighing two tons or
more were floated down one and one-
half miles into Clear Creek, the flood
waters leaving beds of shingle and soil
and gravel mixed where cultivated fields
stood, while on Bear Creek twenty-two
lives were lost in the flood. Hail stood
in piles from one to one and one-half feet
in depth. The storm came from the
northwest. It was a veritable object
lesson.
I have gauged the water-flow of Clear
Creek repeatedly since September 20,
1860, and give the following figures,
showing difference of flow up to Septem-
ber 15, 1880, at the same location of
farms near the foot-hills. Forty years gauging:
Sept. 20, 1860, width of stream, 53 ft. ; veloc. per sec., 3.60; area, 101.
Sept. 19, 1879, width of stream, 32 ft. ; veloc. per sec., 2.38; area, 46.15.
Sept. 15, 1880, width of stream, 34 ft. ; veloc. per sec., 2.23; area, 38.22.
Greatest flow gauged at same point—
June 10, 1872, width of stream, 62.65 ;
velocity per second, 4.27; area, 280.23.
Least flow gauged at same point—
March 22, 1880, width of stream, 31 feet ;
velocity, 2.04; area, 25.72.
E. L. BerTHoup.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
13a
LEE NEED OF FOREST LEGISLATION IN COLORADO:
The experience of the past year has
emphasized the need of strict legislation
for the protection of what forest lands
are still in existence in Colorado. Dur-
ing the latter part of last October and
during the whole of November forest fires
raged inour mountains. I traveled over
a great part of the State and can hardly
express my indignation at the wanton
waste of timber. Good work is being
done in other States to preserve forest
lands, but the problem confronting us
here cannot be solved in such a way.
For us it is necessary both to save and
to replant.
I am sure a practical solution of the
difficulty would be made if forest con-
servators were aware of the opportunities
still open here. There are some ways in
which much could be achieved. For ex-
ample, our State Land Board is in the
habit of selling stumpage—ten cents a
tree or so—and then the saw-mill man
and tie-cutter practically take what they
want and then pay the State as much or
as little as they please, burning Govern-
ment and State forests to cover their
tracks.
We might do something if some such
plan could be put into operation here as
has been done in Asheville, N. C. It
seems impossible to convict despoilers or
those committing arson on Government
lands. Private ownership appears to be
the only solution.
I rode through the forest of white
pines between Durango and Pogosa
Springs. It is forty miles wide and prac-
tically untouched. I rode through an-
other piece of woodland, some eight or
ten miles square, north of Creede. In
Routt County there is much fine timber
that could be saved. But the eastern
slope of the mountains has been cut and
burnt into a desolation, and during the
last autumn more timber has been burnt
in Colorado than has been legitimately
used during the last forty years.
HENRY MICHELSEN,
Denver, Col.
fi fie AD VISABIEILY, OFSFOREST CULTURE:
‘There is no subject of so much public
importance, locally considered, as forest
treeculture. We say locally considered,
meaning to apply the remark to Southern
California. Here, it is safe to say, the
planting of forest trees is more needed
than in almost any other portion of the
United States. Fertile as this country
is, strip it entirely of trees and it would
become a desert. If the rain-makers
would give their attention to planting
trees they would accomplish something
worth while.
There is no better way to conserve
that dampness which insures fertility
than by planting and protecting forest
trees, and there is no such sure way of
converting a country into a desert as by
destroying the forests. When Western
New York was clad with primeval forests
it was penetrated everywhere by ‘‘ mill
stream.” Since the original woods have
been mostly cleared away these mill
streams have been nearly all dried up and
the mills that once ran by water-power,
and with plenty of it, are now either shut
down or are running with steam.
Other countries recognize the necessity
of preserving their forests. In Germany
the laws are very strict on that subject.
Every manis obliged to recognize the ad-
vantage to the public at large in preserv-
ing the forest trees on his own land.
But our own legislators have not had time
to consider subjects of such great and
lasting importance as forest tree culture,
—Editorial, Santa Monica, Cal., Outlook.
132
IV.
It is encouraging to note that an increas-
ing interest is being taken by the people
of this section on the subject of forest
preservation. This is an important sub-
ject, in any part of the country. Already,
in the East, apprehension is expressed
at the rapidity with which the great for-
ests of the Northwest and North are be-
ing denuded, not only for lumber, but in
the ever-increasing demand for wood
pulp in the manufacture of paper. It is
now suggested that the Government
should permit wood and wood pulp to
come in free from Canada, so that there
may be less inducement to cut down the
American forests in such wholesale man-
ner.
If the question of forest preservation
is such an important one in other parts
of the country, which enjoy a regular
rainfall throughout the year, how much
more so is it here, in Southern Califor-
nia, where our farmers have to depend
so largely uponirrigation forcrops. The
supply of water for irrigation depends
mainly on the condition of the wood
growing on the mountains. Where it
has been swept bare by fire, the rain,
when it comes, runs off in torrents, cut-
ting up the mountain sides, and often
causing floods in the valley below,
whereas, when the slopes of the moun-
The Propagation
THE FORESTER,
june,
THE INCREASING INTEREST IN FOREST PRESERVATION.
tains are well covered with trees and un-
derbrush, the rain soaks in slowly, and
most of it reaches the valley in shape to
be of service to the horticulturists. Dam-
age equal to that done by fire is often
worked by bands of sheep, which eat off
every vestige of a green thing and tear
the thin soil from the rocks with their
hoofs.
While'we are making provision for the
protection of our forest reservations, we
should not lose sight of the necessity of
doing something to replant the stretches
of forests that have been destroyed by
fire during the past few years. It is a
noteworthy fact that there is no river in
Southern California which has been so
much denuded in its upper stretches as
the San Gabriel, where the damage done
to agricultural lands in that valley in-
creases steadily as the forests on the
mountains are destroyed.
When it is considered that, in addition
to the material advantage derived from
the mountain forests, they have also an
esthetic side, and that this section ob-
tains many millions of dollars every year
from tourists, we certainly ought not to
hesitate over the moderate expense of
replanting these bare and_ uninviting
mountain slopes. —Laditorial, Los Angeles,
Cal Sunes.
of Forest Trees.
Energetic Work of the State Sylvaton Society in North Dakota.
Public interest in the propagation of
forest trees in North Dakota is being
greatly stimulated by the energetic efforts
of the State Sylvaton Society, and its
originator, W. W. Barrett, State Super-
intendent of Irrigation and Forestry in
that State. During the past month Mr,
Barrett has sent out personally over one
and one-half million of Box Elder and
White Ash seeds to the county superin-
tendents of schools for distribution in all
the schools in the State, to be planted by
the scholars, not only in the school
grounds, but at their homes, on the
farms, and in the city and village lots.
‘“‘As the twig is bent, the tree is in-
clined”; as trained in youth so fixed in
manhood years. According to the Bis-
marck TZribune, Mr. Barrett and his
brothers became interested in the raising
of trees in Maine, where they operated a
nursery on the old homestead farm.
They are now practical foresters in their
respective States—Maine, California,
North Dakota and Minnesota.
Ten years ago when running his farm
1899.
with three plodding oxen, near Church’s
Ferry, N. D., Mr. Barrett became con-
vinced that the great need of the West
was a large increase of trees and forests
for producing the most favorable climatic
and crop conditions, and the furnishing
of fuel, building and fence material. Ad-
vocating tree culture as a prime factorin
diversified farming, the present Forest
Commissioner mapped out his present
system of tree culture and the artificial
use of water, when needed in cultural pur-
suits, devoting two years, at his own ex-
pense, to bring to consummation the
creation of the Department of Irrigation,
Forestry and Fish.
In order to interest the young in the
subject of forestry, he originated in 1892
the Sylvaton System, which received the
‘highest award at the World’s Columbian
Fair of 1893. The system has been fully
organized; the aims and _ objects of
the members of the State and local
Sylvaton societies are set forth in
twenty-five tenets. One of the leading
ideas is to enlarge the school grounds,
fence the same and convert the premises
into attractive Sylvaton parks.
During the past two years the State
Sylvaton Society, at the private expense
of the State Superintendent, has fur-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
133
nished forest seeds and seedlings to nu-
merous schools. The pupils have planted
the stock in the school yards and also
near their homes in the country and in
the villages and cities. Many trees have
thus been started and made good and
substantial growths under the tender and
watchful care of the young boys and girls
of those schools. This year the original
plan has been enlarged and forest seeds
have been sent out in behalf of the society
to every pupil in North Dakota. The
seeds selected were the best to be found
in the State; all were stripped from the
stems and put up in packages convenient
for handling, and were then duly shipped
for distribution, with circulars and direc-
tions for planting.
The repeal of the State law providing
a bounty for tree culture has made the
plans of the society all the more benefi-
cent. In addition to the school distri-
bution there has been furnished an ad-
ditional lot of 500,000 seeds to be used
in starting the Sylvaton Home, School
and Church Nurseries, making a total of
two millions of seeds. If this practical
work is continued from year to year,
under a proper tillage of the trees, North
Dakota bids fair to become the tree home
land of the great Northwest.
The Lumberman’s View of The Forest.
A Symposium in Two Papers.
PeeoESTRUCELION.
With lumbermen accustomed to life in
the green pine-woods, the desolation of
the cut and burned-over lands is felt most
keenly. Passing through charred stumps
and bleaching stubs, he feels as one mov-
ing through a cemetery where, at every
step, he is reminded of lost friends.
These sad reminiscences are useful.
They start conceptions of what might
have been; of a better way.
Several lumbermen, in talking about
the matter, have in substance said: ‘‘If
we could get timber-lands in a compact
body, then we could perhaps do some-
thing in forestry; but, as we are now,
limited to alternate sections, our lands
are isolated ; our border lines are greatly
extended. Irresponsible and careless
parties have free-access to our property.
We cannot protect ourselves.
There are as many tramps in the woods
as elsewhere. They come to our camps,
perhaps ask for work, get board: over
night, perhaps several days, then leave
as unexpectedly as they came. In sum-
mer they stop in our vacant camps and
often set fire to them. They are utterly
careless of property and sometimes de-
134
light in destroying it. After lighting their
pipes, they drop the burning matches into
the grass. They camp along the trails
and roads and leave their fires unextin-
guished. They have been known to start
fires just for the wanton satisfaction of
-seeiug them burn.
Sometimes the settler in the remote
woods is quite as much of a nuisance.
‘Often they are people who like no re-
-straint and who have come to the woods
to avoid living under the immediate re-
straint of the law. They range about,
hunting, fishing, stealing timber, build-
ing fires for their lunches and camps
against trees or in black muck or rotten
trunks that hold the fire. Usually the
first summer they burn over a lot of the
adjoining land to allow grass to spring
up and make pasture for their cattle, re-
gardless of the timber they kill or the
extent of country over which the fire
spreads. When very dry, so a thorough
‘*burn” can be made, they put fire in the
slashings they have been making during
the year and simply let it go.
If a lumberman could acquire timber
THE FORESTER.
June,
in a compact body—a township or more—
he could do something to protect himself.
He could clear strips of land around the
borders, cultivate vegetables, hay or
grain, and thus have a good fire-break.
He could demand an explanation for the
presence of any one found upon the land.
With timber and stump land thus pro-
tected against fire, he could establish a
permanent business, put in a substantial
mill, build up a town, and, by cutting
the land in rotation, he could keep the
woods green and productive instead of
desolating them as he does now.
The lumberman is ashamed of the re-
sult of the present custom, but it is not
in his power to improve the present state
of affairs. The manner in which a large
part of the public domain has been dis-
posed of makes forest preservation seem
impossible. A more thorough system
could hardly be devised, in my opinion,
for the introduction of fire-brands into
the forest than the application of the
Homestead law and the land grants of
alternate sections to pine-timber lands.
Horace B. AYREs.
Il {CONSERVATION
The subject of Forestry was made the
leading topic of discussion at the annual
meeting of the Paper and Pulp Asso-
ciation in New York in March, 1898.
Asa result, the mill owners were brought
to realize that they were pursuing a very
short-sighted policy in stripping their
woodlands. Their attention was called
to the fact that the Spruce of the East-
ern States was rapidly disappearing,
and that while only a small part of the
capital of a paper mill was invested in
woodlands, the enormously valuable
water powers and plants would be use-
less without the raw material.
From this meeting dated the first ac-
tion on the part of the paper mills of
this country looking toward the adop-
tion of scientific management for their
timber lands.
When the various mills were com-
bined in the International Paper Com-
pany, Mr. A. N. Burbank was placed at
the head of the woodlands department.
He instructed the writer of this article
(as forester for the company) to exam-
ine, first of all, the woodlands of New
Hampshire, to report on the stand of
Spruce, rate of growth, and the best
method of lumbering to insure a supply
of wood for the future. Some 100,000
acres owned by the company, in the
vicinity of the White Mountains, were
first explored.
The stand of Spruce was determined
by valuation and surveys, the strip
method being used, and all trees down
to 5 inchescallipered. Then the rate of
growth was determined and a prelimi-
nary working plan made for the whole
tract.
This limited the cutting of Spruce to
12 inches, ‘‘ breast high,” or 14 inches
on the stump, which was found to be
the same thing and much easier for the
choppers to understand. The writer
1899.
realizes perfectly that cutting in all cases
to 14 inches is by no means the best
policy, but it is far better than stripping
the land, and was adopted only as a
temporary measure until men could be
trained to mark the timber which should
becut. This working plan was submit-
ted to Mr. Burbank, who thought favor-
ably of it, and ordered that in all new
contracts the cutting of Spruce should
be limited to 14 inches.
At the same time Mr. Burbank, after
consulting with Mr. Gifford Pinchot,
‘Chief of the Division of Forestry, made
application to the division for detailed
working plans for over 300,000 acres of
timber land. Thus two very important
points were gained.
The first detailed working plan is be-
ang completed for a very fine tract of
about 24,000 acres. A forest ranger will
be employed to mark all the trees which
are to be cut, superintend the work of
the contractor, see that the cutting is
carefuily done, that all the conditions of
the contract are fulfilled, and in the dry
season to guard against fire.
The mature and dying Spruce will be
cut first wherever possible, and the Fir
an all cases to 5 inches, which is the
smallest size the mills can well handle.
‘The cbject in cutting the Fir to 5 inches
as to remove the seed trees as soon as
possible, and thus guard against its won-
derful power of regeneration, as in many
‘cases it would crowd out the Spruce.
Fir alone will not make good pulp,
and gives satisfactory results only when
united with Spruce, 15 per per cent of
Fir being the usual allowance.
In New Hampshire, the Spruce grow-
ing well up on the sides of the moun-
tains must be clean cut, for any timber
which is left blows down and is a dead
loss. But in Maine, New York and Ver-
mont this will not always be a necessity,
as the mountains are not so steep, and
the Spruce secures a firmer hold on the
soil. A few mills use a small per cent of
Hemlock in mixture with Spruce, but
generally itis nevercut. No other wood
is used for pulp to any extent, so the
supply of Spruce must be depended
apon.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
135
The hardwoods, with the exception of
in a few localities, have no value at
present. The Spruce, in a mixed growth
of hardwood, is always of a superior
quality, has a fairly favorable seed bed
and is protected from heavy winds. If
the stand of hardwood is not too dense
it is allowed to remain, but if it is sup-
. pressing the Spruce and preventing re-
generation the stumpage is sold.
In land where a heavy stand of Spruce
has been clean cut, White Birch is now
coming up. This has a ready sale in
many sections for bobbin and peg wood,
and may be utilized in future years by
the paper mills.
The waste of good pulp wood through
present methods of lumbering is enor-
mous. Lumbermen have been accus-
tomed for many years to get out saw
logs alone, and are very slow to change
their system of cutting and learn that a
paper mill can use a great deal of wood
which a sawmill would not accept. So
they continue to top the logs at 7 or 8
inches, thereby losing an average of 18
feet, B. M., per tree, which they could
have saved by running the top up to 5
inches. They also chop the stumps
about 2 feet above where they could be
sawed, thus wasting 20 feet, B. M., per
thee:
To guard against this waste our con-
tracts will specify that the timber shall
be run up to 5 inches in the tops, and
the stumps sawed as close to the ground
as possible.
The aim of the company is to have
woodlands tributary to each mill with a
sufficient stand of Spruce to furnish its
annual supply of logs or pulp wood for
all time, cutting to 10, 12 or 14 inches,
as the case may be, and on a fixed rota-
tion. The International Paper Company
owns or controls at present about
1,000,000 acres of Spruce land, which
will be operated eventually under this
system, thus setting a good example to
other owners of Spruce land, by adopt-
ing forestry methods in the management
of their own woodlands.
E. M. GRIFFITH,
Forester for the International Paper Com-
pany.
THE FORESTER. -
June,
Recent Legislation.
New York.
A bill was introduced in the Assembly
at Albany, authorizing Governor Roose-
velt to appoint a state commission to
confer with a like commission from the
State of New Jersey as to means of pre-
serving the Palisades of the Hudson. In-
calculable damage has been done in the
destruction of historic landmarks, and
besides the voluminous protests on this
score by historical societies and individ-
uals, there have been additional remon-
strances from adjacent land-owners. The
face of the Palisades has been blasted
away in a number of places by gigantic
charges of dynamite, for the purpose of
securing stone blocks for street paving
purposes. After years of remonstrances,
the matter has reached the attention of
the State law-makers.
Governor Roosevelt has named the fol-
lowing as members of the commission to
represent the State of New York: Enoch
C. Bell, of Nyack; Waldo G. Morse, of
Yonkers ; and James R. Croes, of Yon-
kers.
New Jersey.
Governor Voorhees has appointed the
following commission to make an exami-
nation into the facts and report a plan of
procedure for the perpetuation of the
Palisades: Franklin W. Hopkins, of Al-
pine; William A. Linn, of Hackensack;
S. Wood McClave, of Edgewater; Eliza-
beth B. Vermily, of Englewood, and Ce-
cilia Gaines, of Jersey City. This com-
mission will work in conjunction with the
New York commission appointed by Gov-
ernor Roosevelt.
California.
The bills creating a Commission of
Forestry and a Commissioner of Irriga-
tion in California, having failed of Gov-
ernor Gage’s approval after passing the
Legislature, have been carried into effect,
notwithstanding, by the prompt action
of the California Water and Forest So-
ciety, which initiated and secured the
favorable legislative action on the sub-
ject.
Though official sanction has been with- .
held, it is proposed to carry out the full
intent of the measures under the volun-
tary supervision of this society. The first
subject to be considered has been the
raising of funds to insure successful ef-
forts. With financial support assured,
the working of the plan is expected to
demonstrate the necessity for these offi-
cials in the State.
The Commission of Forestry appointed
by the society consists of Prof. E. W.
Hilgard, of the University of California;
Prof. Dudley, of Stanford University;
Abbot Kinney, of Los Angeles; Warren
Olney, Sr., of San Francisco; and Geo.
Fowle, of Placer County. The Commis-
sioner of Irrigation is Prof. Geo. David-
son.
The legislation which failed officially,
but will thus become operative in fact, ~
provided for the appointment of the offi-
cials named to serve without pay; that
the Commissioner of Irrigation should
co-operate with the United States Geo-
logical Survey in preparing surveys, es-
timates, etc., for sites for storage reser-
voirs for impounding waters for mining,
agricultural and industrial uses; that re-
ports be made on the feasibility, etc., of
such reservoirs and irrigating systems
and that the Commission of Forestry
should devise a means of protecting the
forests of the State from destruction by
fire or wanton depredations, and recom-
mend means for preserving the forests
and of storing and distributing the flood
waters of the State. —
It is realized that the commissioners
can do little more in two years than ac-
quire information, ina field that requires
a vastamount of investigation, and form-
ulate recommendations for further prog-
ress. This the California Water and
Forest Society proposes to do.
In behalf of Governor Gage it is said
that he gave his hearty support to both
of the two measures introduced, but that.
1899.
neither of them reached him officially
until after final adjournment had been
made, without having an appropriation
attached.
Massachusetts.
The bill providing for the codification
and amendment of the laws relating to
the preservation of trees was taken up
by the Massachusetts Legislature on an
amendment proposed to strike out the
provision requiring towns to elect tree
wardens. The amendment was rejected,
the mover being the only one to vote in
its favor. The final vote in favor of the
bill was unanimous, 104 votes being
cast.
The Metropolitan Park Commission
bill was signed by Governor Wolcott on
Mays 27. he bill provides-an ap-
propriation of $500,000 for additional
roadways and boulevards.
The forest survey measure has failed
in Massachusetts.
Minnesota.
A review of the work accomplished in
Minnesota shows that a distinct and grat-
ifying advance was made by the legisla-
ture, in the section just closed, in legis-
lation looking to forest preservation. An
appropriation of $20,000 was made to ex-
tend the area of Itasca State Park over
the contiguous timber lands. To round
out this forest park, at the summit sources
of the Mississippi, it is necessary to ac-
quire about 8,000 acres, and if the ap-
propriation, half of which is to be ex-
pended this year and half next, does not
go far enough, the attorney-general is
authorized to secure an option for a term
of two years on other desirable lands.
The Cross forestry act was passed. It
creates a forestry board, consisting of the
chief fire warden, the professor of horti-
culture at the State agricultural college,
three persons to be named by the regents
of the State university, and four to be
recommended by the forestry association,
the State agricultural society, the horti-
cultural society and the State game and
fish commission. Forestry reserves are
created to consist of such State lands as
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Sii/
may be set apart for the purpose or which
may be deeded by private owners or
granted by the United States Govern-
ment. The care and management of
these reserves is vested in the forestry
board.
It is hardly necessary to restate other
provisions of the bill relating to the dis-
position of the income from these lands,
or to the comprehensive duties imposed
upon the board of reforesting denuded
lands, foresting waste lands, preventing
the destruction of forests by fire, admin-
istering forests on forestry principles, the
conservation of forests about the head-
waters of rivers, etc., because all these
provisions are practically rendered nuga-
tory for the present by the failure of the
legislature to make any appropriation to
carry them out. An appropriation of
$1,000 annually is made for the actual
expenses of the forestry board. As the
St. Paul Pioneer Press says, not much
can be done with so small a sum, but it
is doubtless considered the thin edge of
a wedge which is to be hammered home
in future sessions of the legislature.
Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin legislature, after con-
sidering the advisability of taking effect-
ive measures to protect the forest inter-
ests of the State, finally defeated, on
May 2, the bill providing for a commis-
sioner of forestry at a salary of $2,500
a year, and a number of deputy com-
missioners. The sum of $15,000 was
estimated for their total salaries and
expenses.
Michigan.
A bill was brought before the State
Senate providing for the creation of a per-
manent forestry commission, which is to
consist of three members, one to be
by chosen the Michigan State Agricul-
tural Society, to serve six years; the
second to be chosen by the Michigan
State Horticultural Society, to serve four
years, and the third to be chosen by the
Michigan Academy of Science, to serve
two years; the appointments to date from
July 1, 1899, and at the expiration of their
138
several terms the successors of the mem-
bers so chosen are to be selected in like
manner, the term of office to be six years.
The commission is to elect one of its mem-
bers president, another member secre-
tary, maintain an office and records in
the Capitol at Lansing, and serve with-
out compensation, but entitled to travel-
ing and other expenses while on business
relating to the work of the commission.
The secretary may be paid such amount as
the commission may determine, not to
exceed $300 a year. The bill included
five sections in amplification of the ob-
jects intended, making its scope very
comprehensive. By amendment the Gov-
ernor was given the power of appointing
the commission. The bill was put under
THE FORESTER.
June,
the head of unfinished business, with
good likelihood of final passage. Its
main object is to get the movement well
started now, to provide recommendations.
for future legislatures to act upon. 41
The bill has been passed by the
House and Senate, and has gone to the
Governor.
Golpeao:
The Colorado legislature has passed
the Beaman game bill, which had been
under consideration for some time. Gov-
ernor Thomas promptly attached his sig-
nature, and reappointed Game Commis-
sioner T. H. Johnson, whom the new law
deposed.
comprehensive.
Oa et RR de ws SSE
A LUMBER SCENE IN
This spot is one of the most picturesque
in California. The mill is kept scrupu-
lously clean in order to avoid any fire
possibilities. Fifty men are employed
during the active season of seven months
in the year. The lumber from the mill
is hauled on cars for a distance of two
miles and then carried to the summit of
the mountain by a cable road 3,600 feet
long, climbing an elevation of 1,200
feet. At the summit of the ridge the man-
ufactured lumber is stored, says Wood
and Tron, and teamed from there to any
designated point.
SAN MATEO CO., CAL.
The frequency of forest fires in Penn-
sylvania has led to the employment of
detectives to ferret out the malefactors.
Three arrests were made in Franklin:
County, and similar efforts are in pro-
gress in Lebanon County.
Forest fires raged in various parts of
Mexico during May, destroying growing
crops and valuable timber. Many of the
fires were of incendiary origin.
The bill is very lengthy and
oe ee et
oe
1899.
Pie FORESTER.
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Devoted to Arboriculture and Forestry, the
Care and Use of Forests and Forest
Trees, and Related Subjects.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
Tue ForesTER is the Official Organ of
The American Forestry Association,
Hon. James Witson, Sec’y of Agriculture,
President.
THE OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS
No. 17 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed,
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents.
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
The special summer meeting of the Ameri-
can Forestry Association will be held at Los
Angeles, Cal., July 19 and 20, A large number
of prominent members of the Association have
signified their intention of being present, and
it is believed that the meeting will be one of
the most interesting and enthusiastic of recent
years. A number of papers on live topics will
be read, further announcement of which will
be made early next month. The leading papers
read will be published in the August number
of THE ForRESTER.
—
The attention of all readers of THE FoRESTER
who are desirous of possessing a complete li-
brary on the subject of forestry is called to the
several notices inserted in the advertising pages
of the present issue.
Tue increasing public interest in the sub-
ject of Forestry is evidenced frequently in
letters to THe Forester, approving of the
work of this Association and its magazine. In
a recent letter, one of the best-posted forest
experts in the West says: ‘‘I am proud of
the good work done by the American Forestry
Association, We are now beginning to see
the practical results of an intelligent agitation
f the forestry problem. The National Gov-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
139
ernment and a number of States have taken
advanced steps in behalf of forestry. But
there is need of still greater work in the-
economic reform, both West and East.”
SaaS aS
Life Tlember.
Roswell Pettibone Flower, former Governor-
of New York State, and a life member of the
American Forestry Association, died sud-
denly at the Eastport Country Club, Long
Island, N. Y., on the evening of May 12, The
cause of his death was acute indigestion,.
which induced heart failure.
Mr. Flower was born in Theresa, Jefferson
County, N. Y., on August 7, 1835, the fourth
of seven sons of Nathan Flower, a manufac-
turer.
Spending hisearly days on a farm, and in his
father’s wool-carding establishment, he was suc-
cessively a store clerk, school teacher, deputy
postmaster, and jeweler, until 18€9. Ten years
later on the death of his brother-in-law, Henry
Keep, President of the New York Central
Railroad, ‘the latter’s personal estate came un-
der Mr. Flower’s management and brought
him into the financial circles of the metropolis.
Mr Flower was prominent in the Democratic
party, representing the Watertown District
in the Forty-seventh, Forty-eighth and Forty
ninth Congress, In 18g9t he was elected Gov-
ernor of New York. He refused to consider a
renomination, and became a special partner in
the firm of Flower & Co. in Wall Street. He
became interested in great financial uncertak-
ings, in which he made himself a powerful
factor.
In 1859 Mr. Flower married Sarah M. Wood-
ruff, who survives him, with one daughter,
Emma Gertrude, the wife of John B, Taylor.
The funeral was held May 15 from his New
York City home at 597 Fifth Avenue. Services
were held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, of
which Mr. Flower had been a warden for maby
years, and interment was made the next day at
Watertown, N. Y.
SME
THE FORESTER.
A Steady Advance.
140 June,
During the past month seventy annual members and two life members have —
been elected to membership in the American Forestry Association. These latest ad-
vocates of forest conservation represent twenty-five different States, giving very
conclusive and gratifying evidence of the spread of interest in the subject of for-
estry in America.
Life lembers.
Emily L. Osgood, 57 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass,
Charles Lathrop Pack, Cleveland, Ohio.
Annual [lembers.
J. H. Barber, Paso Robles, Cal.
F. R. Barrett, Box 616, Portland, Maine.
Dr. Cheves Beville, Winfield, Ark,
Charles E. Bigelow, 1800 Santa Barbara St.,
Santa Barbara, Cal.
H. P. Bowditch, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
W. J. Brennan, Calispell, Mont.
L. C. Bridget, Little Shasta, Cal.
Frank W. Brovks, 28 Inman St., Cambridge,
Mass.
W. H. Buntain, Santa Fe, N. M.
Turner Buswell, Solon, Maine.
J. 1. Campbell, Houston, Tex.
J. M. Coburn, Adobe Walls, Tex.
Miss Helen Collamore, 317 Commonwealth
Avenue, Boston, Mass.
C. A. Colmore, Santa Monica, Cal,
Uriel N. Crocker, 247 Commonwealth Ave-
nue, Bostcn, Mass.
Rufus H. Darby, Hickory Hill, Fairfax
County, Va.
J. W. Davis, Porterville, Cal.
Henry M. Dunlap, Savoy, Ill.
Morton J. Elrod, University of Montana,
Missoula, Mont.
William Engel, Bangor, Me.
Charles Fitzenreiter, Lake Charles, La.
David B. Flint, 360 Commonwealth Avenue,
Boston, Mass.
Alfred Gaskill, 4309 Springfield Avenue,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Benj. S. C. Gifford, Fall River, Mass.
L. A. Goodman, Westport, Mo.
C. A. Goodyear, Tomah, Wis.
A, A. Grant, Albuquerque, N. M.
Gilbert H. Grosvenor, Amherst, Mass.
Andrew S. Hallidie, 1032 Washington St.,
San Francisco, Cal.
William Herring, Tucson, Ariz,
Robert P. Hill, U. S. Geological Survey,
Washington, D. C.
Lee G. Howell, ‘‘Grasmere,’’ Kouts, Ind.
Miss Marian C. Jackson, 88 Marlborough St.,
Boston, Mass.
Thomas W. Jones, Great Falls, Mont.
John L. Kaul, Hollins, Clay Co., Ala.
John H. Kirby, Houston, Tex.
Prof, Charles R. Lanman (Harvard Univer-
sity), 9 Farrar St., Cambridge, Mass.
William E. Leftiingwell, Glen Springs, Wat-
kins, N. Y.
A. Liliencrantz, 359 Telegraph Ave., Oak-
land, Cal.
Seth Marshall, San Bernardino, Cal.
Albert Matthews, 145 Beacon Street, Boston,
Mass.
George H. Maxwell, 801 Claus Spreckles
Building, San Francisco, Cal.
Elizabeth Meagher (Mrs. T. F. Meagher),
Southfield, Orange Co., New York.
Heloise Meyer, Hamilton, Mass.
Morrison—Reeves Library, Richmond, Ind.
William H, Niles, Cambridge. Mass.
Warren Olney, 101 Sansome St., San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
J. E. Payne, Cheyenne Wells, Colo.
Pasadena and Mt. Lowe Railway Com-
pany, J. S. Torrane, General Manager, Echo
Mountain, Cal.
James W.Pinchot, 2 Gramercy Park, New
York City.
Mrs. James W. Pinchot, 2 Gramercy Park,
New York City.
Amos R, Eno Pinchot, 2 Gramercy Park,
New York City.
Charles A. Platt, 107 East 27th Street, New
York City.
Prof, R. H. Price, College Station, Tex.
Louis E. K. Robson, 242 Madison St., Mal-
den, Mass,
B. Schlesinger, Brookline, Mass.
P. M. Shelley, Cliff, N. M.
Danie] Smieley, Mohonk Lake, N. Y.
Hugh N. Starnes, University of Georgia,
Athens, Ga,
John Keim Stauffer, Reading, Pa.
Walter Sutton, 2514 Sacramento Street, San
Francisco, Cal.
William W. Thomas, 1841 2 Middle St., Port-
land, Me.
Edward R. Warren, Walnut Place, Brook-
line, Mass,
J. B. Weber, Bitter Root Forest Reserve,
Hamilton, Mont.
a eg Et
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
141
Annual Members—Continued.
Wendell M. Weston, Room 811, 53 State St.,
Boston, Mass.
J. M. Wilson, Secretary State Board of Ir-
tigation, Lincoln, Neb.
C. M. Winslow, Brandon, Vt.
_Jos. Worcester, 1030 Valley St., San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
A. Wormser, Wormser City, Sweetgrass Co.,
Mont,
P.K. Yonge, Pensacola, Florida.
Choirs AND CLIPS:
‘‘Pitch Pine continues in capital de-
mand” in London.
The agitation in the West for reforest-
ing denuded slopes and waste lands isa
hopeful sign for forest conservation.
Large quantities of Mahogany are
being brought from the tropics to Balti-
more, Md., for finishing.
Mahogany is said to have been brought
to England by Sir Walter Raleigh in
1595, but not to have come into general
use till 1720.
President McKinley has issued the
necessary instructions to secure the ad-
mission of common Pine lumber into
Cuba free of duty.
Ten carloads of Black Walnut logs
were sold recently in Kentucky for ex-
port abroad, principally to London, Glas-
gow and Hamburg.
A new railroad being constructed from
Hattiesburg to Jackson, Miss., will open
for development a very resourceful sec-
tion. The line runs for miles through
the virgin Pine forests.
The United States has about 450,000, -
ooo acres of forest, but this is being
rapidly depleted by the axe and by de-
structive fires. The Government is now
investigating means to prevent or control
the latter.
Two thousand acres of timber lands,
covered with Fir and Cedar, in Skagit
County, Washington, have been sold to
Michigan capitalists for $36,000. It is
said that the timber will not be cut for
marketing, but simply held as an invest-
ment.
The area and cost of the park landsin
Des Moines, Iowa, is computed as fol-
lows: West Des Moines, 340 acres at
an average cost of $330 an acre; East
Des Moines, 112.55 acres at an average
of $364 an acre.
Eighty-three thousand acres of Pine
timber lands, near Pine Bluff, Ark., have
been sold for lumbering purposes at an
aggregate price of over half a million
dollars, This is said to be the largest
business deal of the kind in the history
of this section.
It is encouraging to note that the New
York State College of Forestry has suc-
ceeded in planting with valuable tree
growths the first fifty acres of burned
lands. The college expects to plant every
year at least 500 acres. This is the first
encouraging step toward reclaiming the
losses caused by forest fires.
The ‘‘Christmas Tree’””—Evergreen—
has been adopted by the school children
of Montana, by a popular vote, as the
State tree. Much enthusiasm was dis-
played in the consideration of the sub-
ject, and the selection was made with
practical unanimity.
An evidence of the fact that all the big
timber of the country does not come from
the Pacific Coast is found in a recent
letter to the editor of Tue Forester.
The writer tells of his firm cutting four
pieces of timber twenty-two by twenty-
four inches and sixty feet long, out of
White Pine. This timber was rafted
from Michigan the full length of the tree
142
and cut as wanted, at Cleveland, Ohio,
for track scales.
The forest area of all the British pos-
sessions in America is estimated at about
800,000,000 acres. The settler has cut
his way into the fringe of the vast wood-
land, but his depredations are nothing as
compared with the terrific scourge of fire
which has rampaged through it at dif-
ferent times.
The historic White Pine forests of Penn-
sylvania are so near extinction that, ac-
cording to a careful estimate, the total
standing timber of this kind in the entire
State is barely 400 million feet. The
larger part of this timber is in five tracts,
the residue being in small and scattered
lots.
Black Walnut has become so valuable
in Indiana that those who are cutting
timber of that kind there are exercising
great care and economy in the work.
Each tree is cut off at the root, in order
to save every bit of timber in the stump.
Lumber which was considered almost
worthless a féw years ago is now being
worked into costly veneers.
Los Angeles, Cal., gets its great elec-
tric power and electric lights: from elec-
tricity generated by mountain streams,
eighty-five miles west of that city. About
40 or 50 per cent of the power generated
by the water wheel is carried the eighty-
five miles in the form of electrical energy.
This is a very high per cent to be ob-
tained from so long a line.
In quoting the sale of the Black Wal-
nut grove at Cassopolis, Mich., from the
May Forester, the Conservative says:
‘‘ For forty years we have been actively
exhorting people to plant Walnuts in
Nebraska, and besides practicing what
we preach, we have several hundred fine
Black Walnut trees to show in demon-
stration of our theories. On a farm near
Dunbar we have nearly two hundred
trees, which will average five feet in cir-
cumference and are worth nearly as much
THE FORESTER.
June.
as.a whole quarter section of ordinary
unimproved Otoe County land. Plant
Walnuts.”
All the White Oak timber on a tract of
50,000 acres, in Washington County,
Mississippi, about 140 miles south of
Memphis, Tenn , has been sold to a firm
in Vienna, Austria. There is much val-
uable timber of other kinds on the tract,
and the sale includes the White Oak
only. The money consideration is esti-
mated at $25,000 at the least, and pos-
sibly more than double this amount.
An unfortunate circumstance which re-
tards the advancement of irrigation plans
in the West is the inconstant interest of
a large part of the general public. There
has been found to be tumultuous interest
in the plan, asin 1873, after lack of water
has caused inconvenience and suffering.
Last year there was a sudden interest in
the water resources of the State. The re-
sult this year is said to depend largely
upon whether there will be ‘‘a good year”
or not.
A White Oak tree which was recently
cut down in Knox County, Ind., is said
to have been one of the largest of the
kind ever cut in that section. It meas-
ured eight feet four inches at the butt,
fifty-three inches at the small end, scaled.
7,867 feet and made four twelve foot logs.
After being cut the tree was rolled to:
White River, where it was loaded on a
barge. It»was then taken to Mount Car-
mel, Ill., rolled to side track and loaded
two logs toacar. The heart of each of
the logs was the size of a silver dollar.
Six hundred million feet of standing
timber on the coast between Norfolk, Va.,
and Charleston, S. C., has been acquired
by a new corporation, chartered under
the laws of Virginia, with the title of the
«Atlantic Coast LumberCompany.”’ Itis
legally authorized to do almost anything
in the timber and mineral line, and is
permitted by its charter to acquire one
million acres of land. It is said that it
will practically control the lumber trade
|
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1899.
of the coast from Charleston to Boston.
Most of the incorporators are Eastern
capitalists. The minimum capital, one
million dollars, may be increased to
twenty millions.
The increasing need of forest conser-
vation is emphasized by a recent dispatch
from Memphis, Tenn., toa leading trade
journal, saying: ‘‘ The only trouble is
the shortage of timber, which continues,
and is likely to become an ag geravated
evil, instead of diminishing.”” The wood-
man’s axe is a powerful educator, but the
trouble lies in the fact that the knowledge
is usually acquired when it is too late to
take advantage of it.
In Nebraska the evergreen trees, es-
pecially exotic conifers, like the Siberian,
Japanese and Chinese Arborvite, have
been very generally injured, and in many
cases killed, by the severity of the past
Winter. White Pines, Scotch Pines,
and other varieties, which went into the
Winter with their roots very dry, have
suffered in some counties where old and
mature trees, as well as young trees, have
been killed. The question is now being
asked there why the past Winter caused
this great loss, when the trees had es-
Caped .it in all the previous severe
seasons.
Forest Fires.
Destructive forest fires were reported
as raging about Canaan and Averill, Vt.,
during the middle of May. A wide ter-
ritory was burned over and thousands of
cords of wood were destroyed. - The loss
amounts to some thousands of dollars.
A large crowd of men were engaged for
several days in fighting the fires both day
and night.
A disastrous timber fire occurred on
April 18 between Pestletown and Water-
ford, N. Y. A thousand acres of trees
were burned through a brush-pile fire
started on a farm.
One of the largest forest fires ever ex-
perienced in that section started near
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
143
Bohemia Village, N. Y., during the mid-
dle of April. After burning all day, the
flames swept toward the village at night,
endangering many houses on the out-
skirts of the place. By great vigilance
and energetic work the flame ss were kept
back, women and children joining the
men in fighting the fire.
During the latter part of May a big
forest fire was reported near Port Re-
public, N. J. It had its origin in a small
fire kindled to consume a mass of rub-
bish, but finally spread beyond control
and burned over a large area. Fortu-
nately the fire burned away from the
village and did no damage to houses
there.
e¢——— _ —-
Educational.
The Franklin Forestry Society was or-
ganized on Arbor Day, April 22, at
Chambersburg, Pa , to create a more gen-
eral interest in the subject of forestry in
that immediate neighborhood. The offi-
cers for the current year are: President,
Alvin B. Kuhn; Secretary, W. G. Bow-
ers; Treasurer, E. H. Keefer. Much in-
terest has been manifested in the work
already undertaken.
The subject of tree-planting will be
prominently considered at the Summer
meeting of the Missouri State Horticul-
tural Society, at Peirce City, Mo., June
6, 7 and 8. The meeting will be held
under the direction of the South West
Fruit Growers’ Co-operative Union, and
special arrangements have been made for
accommodating visitors from a peranee.
Among the papers to be read are: ‘‘ De-
ciduous Trees for Street and a,” if
M. Irvine, St. Joseph, Mo.; ‘‘Ornamen-
tal Planting” (with stereopticon views),
Prof. J. C. Whitten, Columbia, Mo.;
‘¢ The Business of Planting Orchards,”
J. E. Thompson, Windsor, Mo.
Association
Mich., to
and
The Michigan Hemlock
has been formed at Saginaw,
better the conditions of that trade,
secure uniformity of grading, et
144
THE FORESTER.
June,
Recent Publications.
A primer of forestry, soon to be published
by the Division of Forestry of the Department
of Agriculture, will consist of two small cloth-
bound volumes profusely illustrated. Part I,
entitled ‘‘The Forest,’ may be expected to
appear during the month of June. It will
treat of the units which compose the forest,
of its character as an organic whole, and of
its enemies. Part II will be entitled ‘‘ Prac-
tical Forestry,” and will deal with the practice
of forestry, with work in the woods, with the
relations of the forests to the water and the
streams, and will conclude with a brief descrip-
tion of forestry at home and abroad. The in-
tention in preparing these two little volumes
has been to make so simple a statement of the
essential facts in forestry that it could be used
in the schools while at the same time retaining
enough of general interest to warrant its circu-
lation among all classes of readers. A more
detailed review of Part I will appear in the
next number of THE FORESTER.
The Maine Agricultural Experiment Station
has sent out two bulletins—No. 51, ‘‘ Feeding
Stuff Inspection,” and No. 52, ‘‘Spraying of
Plants.” The first-named contains the analyses
of the samples of feeding stuffs collected by the
station inspectors during the past winter. Bul-
letin 52 tells why spraying is necessary; when,
how and what to spray and where the neces-
sary apparatus can be obtained. Bulletins will
be sent to all who apply to the Agricultural
Experiment Station, Orono, Me. In writing,
please mention THE ForesTeER.
The Maine Agricultural Experiment Sta-
tion, at Orono, will shortly make an investi-
gation into the kinds of weeds contained in
agricultural seeds sold in that State. Samples
of seeds sent in before June 15 will be ex-
amined free of charge and a report returned.
The Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Sta-
tion, Lexington, has just issued Bulletin No. 80,
treating of ‘‘Some Pests Likely to be Dis-
seminated from Nurseries,’ and ‘‘The Nur-
sery Inspection Law.” There has also been
issued Bulletin No. 81, describing a method of
avoiding lettuce-rot, and a review of potato
scab experiments.
The New Hampshire College Agricultural
Experiment Station, at Durham, has issued
Bulletin 64 on ‘‘ The Forest Tent Caterpillar.”
This isa very interesting and valuable treatise,
by Clarence M. Weed, showing the life-history,
habits, description of the life stages, food
plants, abundance, and injuries of these de-
structive creatures. Their various names,
natural enemies among birds, insects, and
spiders, and the remedial measures suggested,
complete the bulletin. Many illustrations are
included,
The Experiment Station of the Utah Agri-
cultural College, at Logan, has issued Bulletin
No. 59, on ‘‘ Utah Sugar Beets in 1898.” The
subject is reviewed in detail, with an intro-
duction by Director Luther Foster, including
sugar factory conditions in Utah, sources for
market, relation of the water supply, localities
interested and conditions suitable for the in-
dustry. Bulletin mailed free on request.
The same station has also issued a folder on
‘‘Spraying,” containing the most important
facts regarding the chief injurious insects and
fungous diseases of the fruits of Utah, with
directions for their treatment, compiled from.
the latest results obtained in this and other
stations in combatting them. This bulletin is
published especially for use in the field by
those who spray, and will besent upon request.
c
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AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882,
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 1899.
President.
Hon, JAMes Witson, Secretary of Agriculture.
first Vice President, Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. FERNow. F, H. NEWELL,
Recording Secretary and Treasurer.
GeorGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Directors,
JAMEs WILSON, CHARLES C, BINNEY, Epwarp A. Bowers. FREDERICK V, CovILLE,
B. E. FERNow. HENRY GANNETT, ARNOLD HAGUE, F, H. NEweELt1.
GEORGE W. McLAnAHAN, GIFFORD PINCHOT. GEORGE P, WHITTLESEY,
Vice Presidents,
Sir H.G. Joy pE LoTsinizreE, Pointe Platon, Wo. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
Quebec. Joun GiFForD, Princeton, N. J.
CHARLES C. GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska. Epwarp F., Hosart, Santa Fe, N. M.
CHARLES Monr, Mobile, Ala, WarrEN Hictey, New York, N. Y.
D. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz. J. A. Hoimess, Raleigh, N. C.
Tuomas C. McRag, Prescott, Ark. W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
AssotT KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal. REUBEN H. Warper, North Bend, Ohio
E. T. Ensicn, Colorado Springs, Colo, WiLiiaM T, LiTTLe, Perry, Okla.
RosBert Brown, New Haven, Conn. E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del. J. T. RorHrock, West Chester, Pa.
A. V. CLusss, Pensacola, Fla. H. G. Russet, E. Greenwich, R. I.
R. B. RepparD, Savannah, Ga. H. A. Green, Chester, S. C.
J. M. Cou.rer, Chicago, Ill. Tuomas T, WricutT, Nashville, Tenn.
James Troor, Lafayette, Ind. W. GoopricH Jones, Temple, Texas.
Tuos. H. MacBripE, Iowa City, Iowa, C. A. WHITING, Salt Lake, Utah.
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans. REDFIELD Procror, Proctor, Vt.
Joun R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky. D. O. Noursg, Blacksburg, Va.
Lewis Jounson, New Orleans, La. Epmunp S, MEAny, Seattle, Wash.
oHN W. GARRETT, Baltimore, Md. A. D. Hopkins, Morgantown, W. Va.
ouN E. Hopsss, North Berwick, Me. H, C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass. E.Lwoop Meap, Cheyenne, Wyo.
. J. Beat, Agricultural College, Mich. GrorcE W. McLANAHAN, Washington, D.C
C. C. ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn. Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo. Wo. Litre, Montreal, Quebec.
CHARLES E, Bessey, Lincoln, Neb. Lieut. H. W. Frencu, Manila, P. I.
The object of this Association is to promote :
1, A more rational and conservative treatment of the forest resources of this continent.
2. The advancement of educational, legislative and other measures tending to promote
this object.
3. The diffusion of knowledge regarding the conservation, management and renewal of
forests, the methods of reforestation of waste lands, the proper utilization of forest
products, the planting of trees for ornament, and cognate subjects of arboriculture.
Owners of timber and woodlands are particularly invited to join the Association, as well as
are all persons who are in sympathy with the objects herein set forth.
THE FORESTER.
THE INCREASING INTEREST
in the history of American forests and the efforts that have been made
for their conservation, development, and use, has led THE ForRESTER to
secure, for the benefit of its readers, a number of complete sets of the
“Proceedings of the American Forestry Congress” and
‘Proceedings of the American Forestry Association”
covering a period from December, 1888, to December, 1897. These
issues include many valuable papers on forestry as read at the various
annual meetings throughout the country during the years named,
including the sessions in
WASHINGTON, QUEBEC, ATLANTA, GA., BROOKLYN, N. Y.,
SPRINGFIELD, MASS,, ASHEVILLE, N. C., NASHVILLE, TENN., and the
WORLD'S FAIR CONGRESS IN 1893.
Those who desire a complete library to keep pace with the rapidly
advancing interest in forestry can hardly afford to be without these
valuable pamphlets. The complete series, covering the years named,
will be sent postpaid to any address in the United States at the
following prices:
In one large volume
Handsomely bound in red cloth, with gilt lettering
and re-enforced corners j : : $2.00
Just as durably but less ornately, ingreen . 1.75 |
THE Forester will endeavor to supply separate pamphlets upon application,
at auniform price of 25 cents, whenever complets sets will not be broken thereby)
For any further information address
FWHE POR Sah ice
WASHINGTON Ve eo
Kindly mention THE ForEsTeEr in writing.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
H. J. KOKEN C. P. HANCOCK
ye mee NY :
iP AU cnavin -
Os. Half Tone and Line
Engraving
~ i
S
i ya
:
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|
Brass and Metal Signs
Rubber Stamps
..- LIMES BUILDING...
TENTH STREET AND PENNA. AVENUE, WASHINGTON, D. C.
WO dele Y¥. SCEROOTL,
At BILIMORE ‘N.C.
For circular and information apply to
GA. SCHENCK, Ph.D;
Forester to the BILTMORE |
Kindly mention THE ForEsTER in writing.
THE FORESEES
IN RESPONSE TO NUMEROUS
INQUIRIES...
pAChe ae oreéetes
Begs to announce that it has secured a small number of the early issues of this
publication, as follows:
Vol. l—The New Jersey Forester, 1895.
Volvtl—The Forester 1ce0r
Vole Hl see Pomester, 1ea7.
These, with Vol. IV, 1898, and Vol. V, thm
present year, constitute a library of great value
to every one interested in forest conservation.
For any information concerning the
above, address
ihe FRorester
W ASHINGEON; eae
Kindly mention Tue Forester in writing,
ose
ee
P AEPUNCOIANIUN THe QUUTTWCG
Vo. V. _ JULY, 1899.
_ The Forester
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
devoted to the care and use of
forests and forest trees and
to related subjects. ANY
The American Forestry Association.
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rae
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ee
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Price 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
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COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D, C., as second class matter.
BR Far rissaanrrm BE €Ftkte ® Ca es =m, eamena mn wm
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
REFORESTATION IN (CALIFORNIA ...-scccewonscceesorserssmatecersusesroentectoraesnoninceananetoonmanneneet KORE SD ICCEE Be
NaturAs REFORESTATION IN THE SOUTHWEST ooo..0)o-cs-t-tevteestscesentecietenyecmtont osama oman Mf
By the Special Agent of the ee of Forestry, Department of
Agriculture.
THE REDWOOD FOREST OF CALIFORNIA. Illustrated... eesnsccnesesceteccsnseneseeenseess nite
By the Geographer of the United States Geological Survey.
PDE VEREND OF) SLOUGH T acco ccicsfl ls cemnns pei aeececieaet be btesea pecan nn ORE ance oe Beas tata? ;
A Hopeful Sign.
Moderation in All Things.
RESTORATION OF MOUNTAIN COVERING. Illustrated... sesessecsmessccescnnssesneenensesoees
By the Vice-President of the Forest and Water Association of
Los Angeles County, California.
THE PROFESSION OF FORESTRY........0-0 rote leu tent ee se ond 2a ntl a RL MEL TAs a eR a
By the Forester of the Department of Agriculture.
With four illustrations of the famous Yale Elms.
APPOINTMENTS OF STUDENT “ASSISTANTS: cent OS Oe eta ane
Names of young men selected ee field ae a
CONSERVATION AND /RESTORATION/ 00 (00 a Br RRC ANA LI ORAL BA
The Proposed Leech Lake Forest Reserve, Minnesota.
Lumbermen and Charcoal Makers.
The Enthusiasm of Conviction.
A Significant Showing.
RECENT LEGISLATION! Soyo ae eS IB YU Ae eat SY Oe gs EO a ak CO
New York. Michigan. Washington.
Massachusetts. Minnesota. Canada.
Pennsylvania.. Colorado. Nova Scotia.
TUX CHANGE) NOTES 3 icc lie ceos sites oeadccane nese te net eset nUBOt aie ee oM a CGM SEE Sco ae NO OP
The Trust That Failed.
Wooden Pavements in Paris.
REIGN OF THE SPIRE VAING.) 5 ilo CAO ie UB ee oto Re pS om ee boa EUG CI
Forest Fires in Wachinetant |
Forest Fires in Oregon.
Swift Punishment of an Incendiary.
LLCO END Ae Ae ee mT GteE Ans hb MLN doi drt GEN Ps LeU
Special Announcement.
Editorial Notes—Vols. I, II, and III.
A Further Increase—New Members.
Chips and Clips—News Items.
Forest Fires in Many’ States,
RECENT) PUBLICAWIONS Ua Mie cen 00S AA eae AES AES a Be 2 gi teat oe OCI AL
THE FORESTER.
ARE YOU INTERESTED...
The American Forestry Association.
Announcement of Summer Meetings.
Los Angeles, Cal., July 19-20.
The arrangements for this meeting are in the hands of Mr.
_ Abbot Kinney, of Los Angeles, to whom inquiries ey be ad-
dressed.
It is expected that the President of the Association, Hon.
_ James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, will preside at one
_ or more sessions, and that papers will be read by Mr. F. H.
_ Newell, Hydrographer of the Geological Survey, Mr. Gifford
- Pinchot, Forester of the Agricultural Department, and others.
Detailed announcements of the place and the hours of sessions
_ will be published in the local papers.
_ This meeting of the Association promises to be of peculiar
_ importance. The deep and increasing interest in forest mat-
_ ters which now pervades Southern California, the nearness of
the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and other forest reserves, to
_ which excursions are being planned, the opportunity to in-
r: 4g spect the results of the forest policy of the Government ina |
region of very special interest in this direction, and the repre-
sentative attendance which this meeting will undoubtedly at-
_ tract—all these facts combine to assure one of the best con- |
q ventions ever held. In view of the pressing importance of
a the question of sheep grazing on forest lands, nowhere better
_ illustrated than in the neighborhood of Los Angeles, and of
_ the intimate relation of forestry and irrigation, a full eee
_ of Western members is especially desired.
# Persons wishing to attend can take advantage of the low
q railroad rates secured by the National Educational Associa-
tion, which meets in Los Angeles July 11-14. Round-trip tickets
_ can be had at the price of the regular fare one way, plus a $2
_ membership fee in the N. E. A. The going limit is July 11;
a the return limit September 4. Many attractive side trips have
been planned at low rates. Full information can be obtained
_ from the passenger agent of any leading railroad.
Selected papers will be printed in THE Fores TER, the official
organ of the American Forestry Association.
REFORESTA‘
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Recent Pui
THE FORESTER.
ARE YOU INTERESTED...
PN POmn ST roy
After looking through this issue, write us,
if you are not already a member of...
The American Forestry Association
We would like to tell you why you should be.
VMOUR] NAME, ON A> POSTAL WILL: BRING
Eee ROME RESPONSE: os):
The Forester. The American Forestry
$1.00 a year Association, >
. Annual Dues $2.00
(Including The Forester.)
10 cts. a copy
Address
My Corcoran Siuilding,
Washington, D.C.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
as An Up-to-Date Paper
NOTE.
The edition of THE FoRESTER for November,
1898, having been exhausted, it has been found | The
necessary to have a new one printed. Mem-
bers of the Association and subscribers who ( y
may need copies of that issue (No, 11, NolsIVS) J reeley
to complete files for binding, will be supplied
if they notify the publishers to that effect.
A limited number of complete copies of Vol. : ri bu ne
IV of Tue Forester are offered for sale. Price,
postpaid, $1.00, unbound ; durably bound in
green cloth, $1.50. Greeley, Colo. —_
For Up-to-Date People
National Geographic Magazine.
A JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY—PHYSICAL,
COMMERCIAL, POLITICAL See
Editor: JOHN HYDE,
Statistician of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
AssociIATE EDITORS:
A. W. GREELY, : WILLIS L. MOORE,
Chief Signal Officer,U. S. Army. Chief of the U. S. Weather Bureau,
Weslp nlc GiB Hee reine d : Hog Pe RITCHE EE:
Ethnologist tn Charge, Bureau of Superintendent of the U.S. Coast and
American Ethnology. Geodetic Survey.
HENRY GANNETT, MARCUS BAKER
Chief Geographer, U. S. Geological U.S. Geological Survey.
Survey. =
C. HART MERRIAM, OSPeAUS TING
Chief of the Biological Survey, U.S. Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Treasury Department.
DAVID J. HILL, ict ELIZA RUHAMAH SCIDMORE,
Assistant Secretary of State. Author of “Java, the Garden of the
Bast ates ;
CHARLES H, ALLEN, _ CARL LOUISE GARRISON,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Principal of Phelps School, Wash-
ington, D. C.
Assistant Editor: GILBERT H. GROSVENOR, Washington, D. C.
Annual Subscription; Domestic, $2.50; Foreign (Postal Union), $3.00;
Single Numbers, “5 Cents.
Office of Publication: WASHINGTON, D. C.
Kindly mention THE ForesTEr in writing.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
RPORWeS 2 hh Y SCHOOL
tS Me VMIORE » N.S.
For circular and information apply to
CG. AV SereeNCK, Ph. b:,
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE
The Foremost School for Young Women
0 LN AMERICA .., :
ATIONAL PARK SEMINARY is named from its proximity to the great National Rock
Il : Park, recently purchased by the Government and designed to become the most beauti-
ful reservation of the National Capital. This whole region is marvelously beautiful and
picturesque with its combination of forest, stream, hill and dale. It rises gradually
from the City of Washington till at Forest Glen the Seminary stands on an eminence four hun-
dred feet above the level of the city. Forty acres of sunny slopes and wild ravines, towering
trees and winding paths, babbling brocks and tangled dells, combine to form a site seldom
rivaled in varied and inspiring scenery, where the beautiful zs utclized to develop character.
The altitude of its location precludes possibility of malaria. The equable climate, free from
the rigors of a northern winter promotes health by inviting out-door sports. The building
itself crowns the highest hill and was erected and equipped at an expense of $80,000; it hasa
frontage of two hundred and seventy-five feet, with three large center halls thirty by forty feet
on each floor, which afford a charming rendezvous for student life; heated by steam and lighted
by gas, with bath rooms plentiful and sanitary arrangements complete. The house is situated
so that every room gets the sun at some time during the day.
The close proximity to the National Capital, with all the educational and social advan-
tages appertaining to such a residence, offers wonderful facilities to its pupils. The Seminary
is within twenty minutes of the heart of the city and, with twenty trains daily, besides electric
cars, easy access is afforded to all the Libraries, Muserms, Departments of Government, Con-
gress and Foreign Legations, These with the official and social life of the National Capital offer
opportunities for profitable study.
The course of study is planned to produce womanly women, There are twenty-two
teachers and.the limited number of pupils permits of much personal attention and individual
instruction foreach. Health zs a matter of first consideration always. There are no nerve-
straining examinations, Thirty different States represented among the pupils, bringing
together the daughters of representatives families throughout the entire Union.
The Seminary’s watchword: ‘* We consider text-book training only a part of our work as
educators. We shall be satisfied with nothing less than the development of the whole being.”
The yearly expenses at National Park + Address
are $350 to $500. Early application is neces. i
sary. Catalogue giving views of the school® J. A. CASSEDY, Principal,
and opinion of enthusiastic patrons will be *
Kindly mention THE ForesTer in writing.
THE FORESTER:
HENRY ROMEIKE,
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JULY, 1899
The Forester.
Natural Reforestation in the Southwest.
The Gradual Restoration of Tree-Growths on Denuded Lands.
BY THE SPECIAL AGENT OF THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, *
The importance of tree and shrub
growth in the mountain and foot-hill re-
gions of western America, adjacent to
irrigated regions, is evident. The for-
est reservations of the arid regions were
set apart by the National Government
for the purpose, primarily, of affording
protection to the farmer. Mountain for-
ests and chaparral, in acting as conser-
vators of moisture, need no better argu-
ment in confirmation of their value than
the present activity in Southern Califor-
nia regarding forest management and
reforestation.
Recognizing the importance of forest
cover to irrigable lands, every public-
spirited citizen in that section has be-
come interested in forestry. A flourish-
ing association has been built up in the
five southern counties, and a subordinate
forest and water society has also been
established in each county. Knowing
well that the life of the country depends
upon the perennial flow of mountain
streams, every board of trade, educa-
tional association and city council, and
many private corporations as well, have
formulated petitions aimed at procuring
the most effective service possible.
Some measures of this sort are neces-
[*The wiiter of this article, who is the De-
partment’s expert in tree-planting, has just re-
turned froma trip, of nearly three months dura-
tion, through this section of country. ED. |
sary, in order that the welfare of that
section of country may not be seriously
affected by inadequate protection, either
to the forests or the lesser growth cov-
ering the mountains. For the valleys
depend upon the mountains for a con-
stant supply of water.
The financial loss entailed by a pro-
longed scarcity of water has had a great
influence in arousing public opinion.
The people of Southern California
justly consider the fine forest reserves of
that region as communal property; for
these reserves with their growth of Pine,
deciduous trees, chaparral, and grass
give an additional value to the agricul-
tural lands.
The farmer depends as greatly upon
forest conservation as he does upon the
team which turns the furrow. Naked
mountains induce destructive floods, del-
uging the valleys with sand, mud,
gravel and boulders. Then there are
alternating periods, more or less pro-
longed, when the streams are dry or
greatly reduced in volume of flow. The
modifying influence is the forest, chap-
arral and grass covering of the mouh-
tains.
It is amatter of general public knowl-
edge that the mountains are natural res-
ervoirs, but only so long as they are
with vegetable growth, with
he basis of this growth. It
covered
forests as the
146 THE FORESTER
is also known that the value of the nat-
ural reservoir is in almost direct ratio to
the density of growth. In no other por-
tion of the United States has the de-
pendence of the tillable lands on. the
water supply of the mountains been
brought to public notice with such em-
phasis.
A destructive forest fire in any of the
mountain ranges may greatly lessen the
crop over the entire area depending for
its water supply upon the streams origi-
nating in the burned district. Not only
will the immediate effect be noticeable,
but the destructive results will follow for
years, until the burned districts become
covered with vegetable growth sufficient
to lessen the surface flow and surface
washing. The new growth will cause a
large percentage of the rainfall to pass
into the soil, to be available later in a
more constant stream flow.
The topography of Southern California
and Arizona is such that at best much of
the rainfall flows off in immediate floods.
Even during the most favorable seasons
the streams vary greatly in their volume
of flow. The mountain covering must
be cared for and extended ; burned areas,
and regions otherwise denuded, must be
protected from sheep, and in some places
even from horses and cattle. This is
necessary in order that growth may spring
up as quickly as possible, to take the
place of that destroyed. Wherever the
new growth is slow in starting from lack
of seed, the seeds of the common chap-
arral of the neighborhood should be
sown, andoccasionally artificial reforesta-
tion should be undertaken.
All expenditure of time and money in
improving the forest cover by reforesta-
tion is of little value unless provision is
made for a reasonable degree of security
against forest fires. Equal provision
must be made at least in the mountains
of Southern California and Arizona for
the restriction of sheep grazing, which
should be absolutely prohibited in the
forest reserves of this district.
As a specific instance in illustration of
July,
the destructive effects of grazing the
forest reserves in Central Arizona may
be cited. Many of the streams which
flow into the Salt River have their sources
in these reservations. Whenever sheep
have been driven there in large numbers,
the farmers of the Salt River Valley have
suffered material injury from the canals
and laterals filling with sand and silt.
Not only do sheep crop to the ground
and kill much of the smaller plant life,
but their sharp hoofs so cut up the soil
that much of it washes from the rocks,
causing injury to agricultural interests.
All of the southern mountains are
scantily supplied with soil. There is no
sod to bind to the rocks what httle soil
there is. A scattered growth of mixed
vegetation constitutes the cover of a great
part of the mountain region. After a
destructive fire or excessive sheep graz-
ing, all of these localities become prac-
tically barren, and incapable of support-
ing, for a long period, more than a very
limited amount of vegetation. When
the scanty covering of vegetable mold
and soil is swept into the valleys by the
first rains, a half century must elapse,
under normal conditions, before rocks
have disintegrated to form a new soil, to
be held in place by the slow growth of fu-
ture vegetation.
Some of the burned mountain districts
of Southern California have been so
ruined that little of the original soil re-
mains in place. Inthese mountains the
raintall flows as it does from the roofs of
houses. Recent investigations have
shown that, in some localities, fully
ninety per cent of the precipitation flows
off as surface water.
Having in mind the great value of for-
est cover to those who dwell in arid re-
gions, the question of the best method of
reforesting denuded areas is of first im-
portance. Artificial reforestation is ex-
pensive, and in but few places is it prac-
ticable. This is particularly true of
mountain sides previously swept by fire,
as well as in instances where original
vegetation has been badly injured by
— ——.
1899.
grazing. Onthe other hand areas which
were once wooded will again become
wooded if protected from fire and stock
and left to Nature.
A destructive fire will undo all that a
quarter of acentury has accomplished in
the way of natural reforestation; while
close cropping by cattle and sheep, for
a long series of years, may prove almost
equally destructive.
After carefully studying the open
groves of California the opinion is forced
upon one that they are the direct result
of man’s activity. In a recent journey
over the California Sierras, north of
Lake Tahoe,* I was impressed, in pass-
ing over the hydraulic gold regions, by
the natural reforestation taking place
where, less than fifty years ago, the nat-
ural surface was so torn and changed by
hydraulic mining that the land was prac-
tically denuded of itstimber. Bush and
tree alike were torn from the hills ; chap-
arral and manzanita were uprooted.
Finally valleys and mountain sides, for
miles in extent, were as barren as the
open desert.
Soil sufficient tosupport vegetation has
been brought by wind and flood to the
hydraulic pits, and to the open gashes in
the mountain sides, which were originally
cut down to bedrock. Half-grown pines
and other trees, intermixed with chap-
arral and bush, already hide the desola-
tion wrought a half century ago.
One of the finest examples of reforest-
ation that this country affords is on
General Bidwell’s ranch at Chico, Cali-
fornia. Forty or more years ago, when
General Bidwell acquired this ranch,
*See June FORESTER.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
147
much of it was covered with isolated
specimens of large wide-spreading Live
Oaks, the individual specimens averag-
ing more than four feet in diameter.
These trees, growing from five to ten
rods apart, formed an open grove, no-
where making what might properly be
termed a forest,
Forty acres of this area was fenced and
protected from ‘fire and stock. As .a
result there grew up a dense growth of
young Oaks of the same species. Dur-
ing the past forty years this growth has
produced one of the most uniform and
thickly wooded Oak forests in America.
The trees, tall and straight, grew close
together, and are from one to two and
one-half feet in diameter. Theystandin
marked contrast to the heavily branched
old trees nearby.
The frontispiece in this issue of THE
Forester, reproduced from a photograph
by G. B. Dornin, of San Francisco, has
attracted attention because of its splen-
did illustration of the process of natural
reforestation in the high Sierras. As
this region was a forest originally it will
revert to its former condition if protected
from fire and excessive grazing, and left
to natural conditions.
Under such circumstances, in a few
more generations, this entire section of
country will show but little effect of the
early gold miner, at least so far as forest
cover is concerned. But the process is
a very slow one. Successful reforesta-
tion in the West and Southwest, when
the chief desideratum is forest cover, will
depend almost entirely upon affording
adequate protection upon the lines indi-
cated.
ifr W. TouMEY.
148
THE FORESTER.
July,
The Redwood Forest of California.
BY THE GEOGRAPHER OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
As one who makes a pilgrimage to the
old English abbeys, the traveler through
the great Redwood forests of the Pacific
Coast seems to stand transfixed by the
silent grandeur of the place. He finds
himself in one of Nature’s cathedrals,
with a high, o’erarching roof of foliage,
supported by great tree columns, while
the dim{twilight of the scene suggests
COURTESY OF
home of these tree-giants.
with its shadowy recesses and a stillness
which suggests the possibility of dryads
confronting one at any moment, will ap-
preciate in greater measure the almost
supernatural conditions existing in the
Tis
The densest forest on earth is, in all
probability, the Redwood forest, of the
Pacific Slope, as measured by the amount
re
ey
%
sf
Ba
i
NATL. GEOGRAPHIC MAG.
REDWOOD FOREST, SHOWING DENSITY OF GROWTH.
the stained glass windows of the preten-
tious edifices built by man—remarkable
in their conception and execution, yet
less wonderful than the marvelous forest
temple of the lordly Redwood.
In a Redwood forest the sun never
shines—it is always twilight. Those
who are acquainted with the beautiful
deep-green of the Pine forest, as found
in various parts of the East and South,
per acre of merchantable timber—that is,
of timber suitable for the saw-mill. As I
said in an article in the Wational Geo-
graphic Magazine, it is not merely the
size of the trees which accounts for this,
—although even in this State of large
things they are exceptionally large—but
it is the number of trees on each acre.
The closeness of stand of Redwood
trees is as remarkable as its habitat is
1899.
peculiar. It is found only in a narrow
strip, closely hugging the Pacific Coast,
and extending southward from the south-
ern part of Oregon through Northern
California nearly to the Bay of San Fran-
cisco. It is practically extinct in regions
further south, where it doubtless existed
not many centuries ago, and there are
not more than about 1,000 acres of these
trees in Oregon. So it will be seen the
present habitat is limited.
The densest forests are found in Hum-
boldt County, where the Redwood strip,
which includes the westernmost of the
coast ranges, averages ten to twelve miles
in width. The greatest breadth is in
Mendocino County, where it extends for
twenty miles.
gion of heavy rainfall in the Winter, and
of fogs which sweep in from the Pacific
at all seasons of the year. It is a very
moist, temperateregion. Both of these
conditions seem to be essential to the
growth of the species.
Redwood is so called because of its
COURTESY OF
= REDWOOD LOGS LOADED FOR SHIPMENT,
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Its entire habitat is a re-
149
color, which, when freshly cut, is a
bright, though not deep, red, changing
to a brown-red when thoroughly sea-
soned. The wood is soft, with a rather
coarse, straight grain. Itiseasy to work,
quite as much so as our Eastern White
Pine. It contains practically no resin,
but a large amount of water, which makes
the green wood so exceedingly heavy
that often the lower log of a tree will sink
in water.
Botanically, the Redwood (Seguota
sempervirens) 18 a brother of the big trees
(Sequoia gigantea) of the Sierra Nevada,
the two species being the sole living rep-
resentatives of the genus Seguwoza. It is
a cousin of the Cedars, which it resem-
bles in many respects, in habit and ap-
pearance, in bark and foliage. It is an
immense tree, larger than the Fir of
Washington, but not as large as the Big
Tree of the Sierra. It often attains a
height exceeding three hundred feet and
a butt diameter of fifteen feet. It rarely
branches low, but almost invariably
NATL. GEOGRAPHIC MAG.
150
shows a Straight, fluted trunk, perfectly
symmetrical, rising with a slight taper
for two hundred feet to the lower
branches. The bark is covered with thin
flakes of epidermis, lying parallel to the
stem. The foliage is dull green in color,
fineand drooping. Itis amost beautiful
tree, both in form and color.
There is one cause of destruction from
which this tree is entirely exempt—that
is, fire. Containing no pitch, but on the
other hand, a large amount of water, it
will not burn when green. No fire can
run in a redwood forest. We shall,
beyond reasonable question, have the
use of our supply of redwood; shall not
have the pain of seeing tt go up in smoke.
It is the only one of our coniferous lum-
ber trees which is thus exempt.
THE FORESTER,
July,
The best lumber and the heaviest
growth is everywhere in the valleys and
on the flats. On the hillsides the trees
are smaller and not so close. Nowhere
is there any young growth.
When the timber has been cut there
is no sign of reproduction from seed.
In many localities sprouts are growing
from stumps in the cut areas, but even
this form of reproduction is limited.
Indeed, everything appears to indicate
that for some reason, probably a pro-
gressive drying of theclimate, the present
environment is not favorable to the
growth of redwood, and that with the
clearing away of the present forests the
end of the species as a source of lumber
will be at hand. Henry GANNETT.
The Trend
A Hopeful Sign.
The agitation for the protection of our
forests is bearing fruit in almost every
direction. The State of Massachusetts
continues to set an excellent example for
the rest of the country by reserving large
tracts of land, which possess great natu-
ral beauty, for the enjoyment of future
generations. Greylock, the noble moun-
tain in the northwestern corner of the
commonwealth, was threatened with the
loss of its charms a few years ago by the
reckless assaults of lumbermen, who saw
in the extensive forests along its slopes
only so much wood. Happily, there were
public-spirited citizens who recognized
the shame which it would be to their gen-
eration if these mountain-sides should be
swept bare, and a movement was organ-
ized which, with the co-operation of the
Legislature, ended in the permanent ac-
quisition for the community of a great
tract of land.
Greylock being secure, Wachusett, a
fine mountain near the center of the State,
next invited attenticn, and the State will
soon come into possession of 10,000 acres
of Thought.
of land there, covering not enly the sum-
mit, but alsoits approaches on every side.
The readiness of a democracy thus to
spend large sums of public money in the
interest of beauty and taste is one of the
most hopeful things in the development
of our institutions.—Editorial, Vew/ort,
Tinea) SIV CIOS:
Moderation in All Things.
‘¢Timber is like wheat or any other
crop. If we wish to harvest it again and
again on the same land we must grow it
there. The timber limits are practically
fixed by the immutable laws of climate,
and particularly of rainfall, and our forest
resources therefore are not inexhaustible.
With our enormous population and vast
demand for lumber it is easy enough to
denude thousands of square miles and to
destroy the supply of the most desirable
woods faster than unaided nature can re-
place them. But if we treat our forests
half as well as we treat the other forms
of vegetable and animal life that enrich
us, they are just as inexhaustible as the
cattle on our plains or the fishes in our
lakes and rivers.”’—V. Y. Sun.
:
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
151
The Restoration of Mountain Covering.
A comment on the trees available, their characteristics, growth and habitat.
BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE FOREST AND WATER ASSOCIATION
OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CAI,
The mountains, undisturbed by the
work of the woodman, or the scourge of
forest fires, or the depredations of do-
mestic animals, benefit mankind not only
by furnishing a natural water supply at
all times of the year, but by increasing
that supply under certain conditions,
which, when taken away, result in
droughts and a general wasting away of
the most productive soil.
Few people now fail to appreciate this
great value of the mountains to our pros-
perity. But there are not so many who
are convinced that the forest covering
must be preserved. Where fire has burned
off the natural covering, the denuded area
should be replanted at once without wait-
ing for the slow processes of Nature.
In many cases the fire has been so
severe that the roots of every tree and
bush have been killed and the seeds con-
sumed. The soil which has been so many
years in accumulating has also been con-
sumed, or, if it does remain, is in danger
of being washed away by storm water.
An occasional desert wind will scatter a
few seeds where they will take root, and
the birds will also give some help. But
while we are waiting for the mountains
to be reclothed by Nature’s process alone,
the rains will go wasting to the sea, and
all interests in Southern California suffer
to an alarming extent because of the
destruction of the trees and brush by fire.
This is more particularly true of the
San Gabriel range, owing to its greater
area being so precipitous. Thus it is of
the utmost importance to the people de-
pendent upon water from this source to
protect the growth, and, where it has been
destroyed, to replant as soon as possible:
It would hardly seem possible to get any
plant or tree to grow on the steep, soil-
less slopes of our mountains, especially
facing the South, where the heat is in-
tense during all the Summer months.
But Nature has provided the possible
means; it is for us to learn how to use
such means to advantage.
The Tuberculata Pine is but little
known because it is soseldom found. It
is the most dignified evergreen we have,
and it is extremely selfish, for it holds
its cones of seeds as long as it lives, never
voluntarily giving them up; and when the
seeds are liberated, they, unless helped,
are not planted far from home, owing to
their not having a wing as most conifers.
They thrive from 1,500 to 4,500 feet ele-
vation at this latitude. A fine lot of them
can be seen growing on the south slope
of the San Bernardino Mountains, along
the City Creek stage road, and here, too,
can be seen the power of these trees,
which is greater than any other ever-
green known, to resist fire.
The foliage is light green. At the age
of seven or eight years the tree begins to
bear cones, noton the branches, but on
the main axis, and as they never fall off
or open while the trees live, a grove of
any considerable size will produce a great
many seeds. As many as 100 cones are
often seen on a tree apparently 35 years
old and each mature cone has 125 seeds.
As the tree grows older the cones grow
out from the older limbs as well as from
the main axis.
This Pine isa long-lived tree and, bar-
ring fire and man, has littletofear. Even
long droughts do not prevent their reach-
ing the age of 300 years, and many reach-
ing the height of 75 feet. John Muirsays
the tree is admirably adapted to the fire-
swept regions, where alone it is found.
After a grove has been destroyed, the
ground is at once sown lavishly with all
the seeds ripened during its whole life,
and a young grove immediately springs
up. The seeds seem to be held in store
for just such a calamity as this.
Oftentimes these trees are referred ta
152
as the fireproof evergreen. Of course
there is no conifer that is strictly fire-
proof, but this tree resists fire to a greater
extent thanany other known. In my care-
ful observation I find that where groves
have been sown thickly, so as to occupy
all the ground, they have resisted fires
that have apparently come with great
force. Where trees have been destroyed
by fire, it has been where they grew
sparsely and where there has been an
abundance of chaparral and other similar
inflammable growth.
By planting the seed carefully, sys-
tematically, and a uniform distance apart,
nearly all this danger from fire is re-
moved, for in ten or fifteen years the en-
tire surface of the mountain is shaded so
that nothing else will try to grow, and
the rains will no longer go madly rush-
ing to the sea, but will be returned to us
bountifully during the summer months,
through the various subterranean and
surface channels.
The higher altitudes, where the growth
has been burned, must also be restored,
and Nature again offers abundant seed
of the tree which is best adapted and
which will bring the best results. This
is the big tree of California, the ‘‘Se-
quoia Gigantea.”’ The Yellow and Sugar
Pines will also do well, in the higher al-
titudes, as we see them in the San Ber-
nardino mountains, but none will so
quickly and effectively cover our higher
mountains as the Sequoia.
In reply to the question, ‘‘ What are
its relations to climate, soil and the as-
sociated trees?”, John Muir, in his cele-
brated work on the ‘‘ Mountains of Cali-
fornia,’”’ says of the Sequoia:
«« All the phenomena bearing on these
questions also throw light upon the pecu-
liar distribution of the species, and sus-
tain the conclusion already arrived at on
the question of extension. In the North-
ern groups there are few young trees or
saplings growing up around the failing
old ones to perpetuate the race, and in-
asmuch as these aged Sequoias, so nearly
childless, are the only ones commonly
known, the species, to most observers,
seems doomed to speedy extinction, as
THE FORESTER,
July,
being nothing more than an expiring
remnant, vanquished in the so called
struggle for life by Pines and Firs that
have driven it into its past strongholds
in moist glens, where climate is excep-
tionably favorable.
‘‘But the language of the majestic con-
tinuous forests of the South creates a
very different impression. No tree of all
the forest is more enduringly established
in accordance with climate and soil. It
grows heartily everywhere in moraines,
rocky ledges, along water-courses, and
in the deep, moist, alluvial meadows,
with a multitude of seedlings and sap-
lings crowding up around the aged, seem-
ingly abundantly able to maintain the
forest in prime vigor. For many old
storm-stricken trees, there is one or more
in all the glory of prime; and, for each
of these, many young trees and crowds
of exuberant saplings. So that if the
trees of any section of the main Sequoia
forest were ranged together according to
age, a very promising curve would be
presented, all the way up from last year’s
seedlings to giants, and with the young
and middle-aged portion of the curve
many times longer than the old portion.
Even as far north as the Fresno, I
counted 536 saplings and seedlings grow-
ing promisingly upona piece of rough
avalanche soil not exceeding two acres
inarea. This soil bed is about seven
years old and has been seeded almost
simultaneously to Pines, Firs, Ibocedrus
and Sequoia, presenting a simple and
instructive illustration of the struggle for
life among the rival species ; and it was
interesting to note that the conditions
thus far affecting them have enabled the
young Sequoias to gain marked ad-
vantage.
‘In every instance like the above I
have observed that the seedling Sequoiais
capable of growing on both dryer and wet-
ter soil that its rivals, but requires more
sunshine than they; the latter fact being
clearly shown, wherever a Sugar Pine or
a Fir is growing in close contact with a
Sequoia of about equal age and size, and
equally exposed to the sun; the branches
of the latter in such cases are always
1899.
less leafy. Toward the south, however,
where the Sequoia becomes more exu-
berant and numerous, the rival trees be-
come less so; and where they mix with
Sequoia they mostly grow up beneath
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
153
Sugar Pines which lay crumbling be-
neath them, an instance of conditions
which have enabled Sequoia toccrowd
out the Pines.
‘TI also noted eighty-six vigorous sap-
COURTESY OF
NATL. GEOGRAPHIC MAG.
A TYPICAL FOREST SCENE.
them, like slender grasses among stalks
of Indian corn. Upon a bed of sandy
flood-soil, I counted ninety-four Sequoia,
from one to twelve feet high, on a patch
of ground once occupied by four large
lings upon a piece of fresh ground pre-
pared for their reception by fire. Thus
fire also furnishes bare virgin ground,
one of the conditions essential for its
growth from the seed. Fresh ground is,
154
however, furnished in sufficient quantities
for the constant renewal of the forests
without fire, viz., by the fall of old trees.
The soil is thus returned and mellowed,
and many trees are planted for every one
that falls. Landslidesand floods also give
rise to bare virgin ground, and a tree now
and then owes its existence to a burrow-
ing wolfor sguirrel. But the most reg-
ular supply of fresh soil is furnished by
the fall of aged trees.
‘‘The climatic changes in progress in
the Sierra, bearing on the tenure of the
tree life, are entirely misapprehended,
especially as to the time and the means
employed by nature in effecting them,
It is constantly asserted in a vague way
that the Sierra was vastly wetter than
now, and that the increasing drought
will of itself extinguish Sequoia, leaving
its ground to other trees supposed to be
capable of flourishing in a dryer climate.
But that Sequoia can and does grow on
as dry ground as any of its present rivals,
is manifest in a thousand places. ‘Why
then,’ it will be asked, ‘are Sequoias al-
ways found in greatest abundance in well
watered places where streams are ex-
ceptionally abundant ?’? Simply because
a growth of Sequoias creates these
streams.
‘«The thirsty mountaineer knows well
that in every Sequoia grove he will find
running water, but it is a mistake to sup-
pose that the water is the cause of the
grove being there: on the contrary the
grove is the cause of the water being
there. Drain off the water and the trees
will remain, but cut off the trees and the
water will vanish. Never was cause
more completely mistaken for effect than
in the case of these related phenomena
of Sequoia woods and perennial streams,
and I confess that at first I shared the
blunder.
‘‘When attention is called to the
method of Sequoia’s stream-making, it
will be apprehended at once. The roots
of this immense tree fill the ground,
forming a thick sponge that absorbs and
holds back the rains and melting snows,
allowing them only to ooze and flow gen-
tly. Every fallen leaf and rootlet, as
THE FORESTER.
July,
well as long clasping roots and prostrate
trunk, may be regarded as a dam, hoard-
ing the bounty of storm clouds, and dis-
pensing it as blessings all through the
Summer, instead of allowing it to go
headlong in short-lived floods. Evapo-
ration is also checked by the dense foli-
age to a greater extent than by any other
Sierra tree, and the air is entangled in
masses and broad sheets that are thickly
saturated ; while thirsty winds are not
allowed to go sponging and licking along
the ground.”’
There are many reasons to justify the
assertion that the tree would flourish in
our mountains of Southern California,
from 4,000 to 9,000 feet elevation. . What
a thing of beauty our mountains would
be if thus planted, and that in a com-
paratively few years, and the problem of
a water supply for our homes and farms
would be solved forall time. The work,
of course, should be done by the Federal
Government, through all the semi-arid
regions, but communities that are suffer-
ing for water should move in the work,
and the Government will soon take it up.
A system of scientific forest culture, such
as is now being developed by the Gov-
ernment, will doubtless secure as excel-
lent results for America as other coun-
tries have attained in Europe.
The Silver Firs, Abies, Concolor and
A. Magnifica, the most beautiful native
conifer, will grow and thrive in the
higher elevations, but not in poor soil,
or on steep, hot slopes. An occasional
group of these beautiful, fern-like trees
would add much to the attractiveness of
the forests, and no other tree grows so
compact, or so long shelters the snow
from melting.
The Ponderosa or Silver Pine is found
more generally both as to altitude and
latitude, below the great Redwood belt
of Northern California. The Ponderosa
forms at least two-thirds of all the conif-
erous forests, and reaching as they do,
away over the high plateaus of Arizona.
It is useful for lumber, but is not so use-
ful as some others, as a covering for our
mountains, mainly because of its lack of
density of foliage.
‘ qe
1899.
The Sugar Pine, the king of all the
Pines, does not take kindly to our South-
ern mountains, while through the middle
and northern Sierras, it is a close rival
of the Sequoia in size and perfection of
shaft, far outstretching its relative, the
Ponderosa. With us it takes second
place to the Ponderosa. <A few favored
spots should be planted with them to
perpetuate the species. No conifer pre-
sents a more striking picture in fruitage
than the Sugar Pine. Its cones are two
years 1n maturing, and are borne in large
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
155
clusters on the ends of the branches, and
when mature are from Io to 20 inches in
length. As Winter approaches, the
cones open and set free vast numbers of
edible winged seeds, which furnish good
food for the bears, squirrels and _ birds.
Not one seed in many thousand finds
shelter in the soil, where it can grow,
but, with a little help from man, many
would find covering and become forest
monarchs.
deo: eUKENS,
Pasadena,
Cale
The Profession of Forestry.
Being an address delivered before the students of Yale University.
(Copyright, 1899, by the Yale Alumni Weekly.)
BY THE FORESTER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
THE OSBORN
HALL ELMS,
Even the massive architecture fails to dwarf the trees,
The subject matter of the profession
of Forestry is equally distinct from
street tree-planting on the one side and
landscape architecture on the other. It
has to do with wooded regions, with the
productiveness of forests, chiefly through
conservative lumbering, and, in the
treeless parts of the United States, with
planting for economic reasons. Except
for a comparatively small area of desert
land in the West, the whole land sur-
face of the United States is included in
the possible field of work for the forester.
How extensive this field is will appear
from the fact that the woodland in
farms alone, in 1890, comprised more
than 200,000,000 acres, or more than
four times the area of the National for-
est reserves.
The first question asked by a man
156
who has in mind forestry as his pro-
fession, usually concerns the chance of
finding work when his preparatory study
is ended. The sources of demand for
trained foresters at the moment are com-
paratively few, but they are increasing
with remarkable rapidity. The great lum-
bering concerns, such as the International
Paper Company, which controls more
than 100,000,000 acres of Spruce land,
are rapidly getting to see that it is worth
their while to employ trained foresters.
One Yale man is employed by the com-
pany just mentioned; another college
graduate, not a Yale man, has charge for
a company of certain phases of its lum-
bering in Maine; and a recently organ-
ized company in the Adirondacks will
do its lumbering conservatively under
the direction of the Division of Forestry.
The demand from this source may be
expected to increase very greatly within
the next ten years, as the great holders
of timber land come to realize more
generally that conservative lumbering
pays better than the destructive methods
now employed.
In a similar way mining companies
will eventually find it to their interest
THE FORESTER.
July,
to employ foresters. The owners of
game parks have already taken steps in
this direction. Private owners of large
areas such as Biltmore Forest in North |
Carolina, the property of George W.
Vanderbilt, Ne-Ha-Sa-Ne Park, in the
Adirondacks, owned by W. Seward
Webb, a Yale man, and the contiguous
land held by the Hon. Wm. C. Whitney,
another Yale man, are already under the
management of trained men. The need
of foresters to care for the forest in-
terests of the several States is already
making itself felt. States such as New
York, with its million and a quarter acres
of forest land; North Carolina, with its
Geological Survey thoroughly interested
in forest study ; New Jersey and Mary-
land, of which the same is true; Maine,
New Hampshire and several others, with
their Forest Commissions; Minnesota,
with its Fire Warden law, and other
States are rapidly creating a demand
for foresters, and would be doing so still
more rapidly if men were available to do
the work. Finally, the National Gov-
ernment already employs a considerable
number of men, and in the comparatively
near future will very largely extend the
‘“NEATH THE ELMS”
Trees within the Campus, overshadowing ‘‘ The Old Brick Row.”
1899.
work which requires them. The Gen-
eral Land Office, to which is intrusted
the administration of the National for-
est reserves, has this year an appropria-
tion of $175,000 for the care and pro-
tection of forty-five million acres of forest
reserves. At present it employs no
trained men at all, but in view of the
vital importance of forest preservation,
especially in the West, and of the great
and growing public interest in its ex-
tension, this system of political appoint-
ment cannot be expected to last.
The Division of Forestry, which is
charged with the general progress of
forestry and the interests of private for-
est lands, in the subdivision of the Gov-
ernment’s forest work, is at this moment
unable to find suitable trained men,
enough to supply its needs. It would
be easily possible, it is true, to secure
Germans or other foreigners, but a con-
siderable experience has convinced me
that, except in rare cases, such as that
of the present forester to the Biltmore
Estate, the attempt to use foreign-born
men trained abroad is not likely to suc-
ceed.
COMPENSATION.
The second question asked by the
prospective forester very often relates to
the rate of pay. I cannot answer this
question any more accurately than by
saying that trained foresters now receive
about the same rate of pay as instruc-
tors and professors at Yale. Those in
the employ of the Division of Forestry
receive from $1,000 to $2,500 a year.
Scientific work under the Government
is always underpaid, and it is most prob-
able that those foresters who enter the
service of lumber companies or other
commercial organizations will fare better.
It is even possible that a few men may
develop such skill that they will be called
in consultation over difficult problems.
Such work will naturally pay well.
As with teaching, so with forestry ; by
no means all the compensation comes in
the form of dollars. While the life of
the forester in the field is often rough,
many times exceedingly hard, and always
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
MAGNIFICENT ELMS ON THE PUBLIC GREEN,
NEW HAVEN.
without most of the comforts of life, it
is to those of us who have been follow-
ing it the most delightful of occupations.
Briefly stated, it deals, on the scientific
side, with the life-history of forests and
forest trees, with their behavior in health
and disease, their reaction under treat-
ment, and their adaptation to and effect
upon their surroundings. On the eco-
nomic side, it has chiefly to do with rec-
onciling the perpetuation of the for-
est with the production of timber.
Measurements of the stand of timber per
acre, and of the rate of growth of single
trees and whole forests by counting rings,
and subsequent calculations, often form
a considerable part of a forester’s work.
There is often a great deal of office work.
It is by no means the easy existence it
has often been supposed to be by the
many men who have taken up forestry,
and then have dropped it. But it has
158
a charm which lies perhaps first of all
in the fact that in the United States it is
almost an untried field.
ORIGINAL WORK DEMANDED.
Unless forestry as a profession has
qualities to recommend it other than
those I have already mentioned, 1t would
scarcely be worthy of consideration be-
fore many other lines of work. It has,
however, two peculiarities in which it
stands somewhat by itself. In the first
place, because the field is practically
untouched, a forester finds himself com-
pelled to do original work at every turn.
The pleasure of investigation of this
is very real, and to those of us who are
praticing forestry it is one of its two great
attractions. Thesecond lies in the fact
that, because forestry is almost unknown
in the United States, in no profession
is it easier for a man to make his life count.
I need not dwell further on the vastness
of the interests it touches nor the great
utility of forestry to the nation, but I
should like to emphasize this statement—
in few other professions can a man lead
so useful a life.
WHAT THE PROFESSION DEMANDS,
These are the things which forestry
offers. Now as to what it demands. In
the first place success in forestry, as in
any other profession, must come largely
from the possession of what we know so
well as ‘‘ Yale spirit,” the habit of accom-
plishment and the willingness to do the
work first and count the cost afterward.
It is interesting to note here that a ma-
jority of the young Americans who have
fitted themselves for technical forest
work are Yale men. Whatever the con-
nection or the special fitness may be
which brings Yale men into this line of
effort and achievement, I should lke to
see the recruits from Yale come in fast
enough to maintain something like the
old proportion.
After the ‘‘ Yale spirit’? comes sound-
ness of body and hardiness, for foresters
must often expect the roughest kind of
life in the woods. The helpmeet of
hardiness is a contented spirit. There
THE FORESTER.
July,
is no more pernicious character than a
grumbler in camp, and nothing will
help so much to get field work done
as the willingness to bear privation
cheerfully.
A man who takes up forestry will often
find the field work exceedingly or even
unexpectedly hard, for it combines
severe mental work with severe bodily
labor, under conditions which make each
one peculiarly trying. Work in the woods
differs profoundly from camp life as it is
uusually understood. Foresters get a
certain amount of hunting and fishing,
and every forester will do his work
better for a wholesome love of the rod
and gun, but the line between work and
play is still sharply drawn.
I have been speaking of the funda-
mental qualities which are more or less
necessary to success in any vigorous
outdoor life. There are several addi-
‘tional capacities with which the forester
should be well endowed. The first of
these is the power of observation. It is
often difficult to say a@ prior¢ whether
a man has it or not. In many cases it
makes itself known as a love of hunt-
ing or fishing, or a general pleasure in
all outdoors. To the forester it is one
of the most essential qualities in his
mental equipment. Finally, persever-
ance, initiative and self-reliance are
peculiarly necessary, because the for-
ester is so often withdrawn from the in-
spection of his superiors and altogether
dependent on his own steadfastness and
devotion to keep him up to the high
standard he should set himself for his
work. In a new field of effort this is
especially likely to be true. It is one
of the distinguishing characteristics of
the profession of forestry.
PREPARATION.
The preparation for forestry as a pro-
fession should, as a rule, begin with a
college or university course, and should
be continued after graduation in most
cases for three years.
The first step in the preparation for
forestry as a profession is for the possi-
ble forester to discover whether his con-
1899.
ception of forestry is a right one. To
do so he must get into the field. The
Division of Forestry has made provision
to meet this requirement by establish-
ing the grade of Student Assistant, with
pay at the rate of $300 a year. Men
who take this position are required to
WH AF
‘i ij
ly ge
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
159
specific advantage this grade offers in
enabling a man to take part in actual
forest work under a trained forester, and
so discover what the profession really
means, it has a special usefulness in en-
abling men who cannot afford fuller
preparation to support themselves while
A VISTA OF ELMS.
With Welch Hall and Lawrence Hall on the Yale Campus.
assist in the work of the Division with
the same steadiness and devotion to
duty as in all its other members, and
they are employed so far as possible in
work of peculiar value to them and at
the same time of use in the general pro-
gress: All their expenses are defrayed
while in the field. In addition to the
getting their education. It does not
replace a forest school with advantage,
nor isit the intention that it should. No
future forester who can possibly afford
to take a course, either at Cornell, under
Dr, Fernow, or at Biltmore, under Dr.
Schenck, should fail to do so.
The number of positions as Student
160 THE FORESTER.
Assistant is decidedly limited. Parties
will be in the field during the coming
summer in the Adirondacks, in the State
of Washington, and possibly also in
Maine. No one will be received as
Student Assistant who has not defi-
nitely made up his mind to take up for-
estry as a profession, although of course
no pledge to that effect is required.
In my judgment the best course for
the future forester to pursue, so far as
his systematic training is concerned, is
first, one year at a university, filling up
the blanks in the auxiliary subjects neces-
sary, as mentioned in the symposium pub-
lished in the May issue of THE ForeEs-
TER; second, a year at a forest school,
preferably where practical work in the
woods goes hand in hand with theo-
retical instruction; and third, a year
abroad. The latter is of the greatest
value, because in this country forestry is
too young to show the effect of silvi-
July,
cultural treatment on the various kinds
of forests; although much that is learned
abroad must be unlearned later. This
experience in a region where forestry is
of old date is, in my judgment, a most
essential portion of a forester’s educa-
tion. It goes without saying that vaca-
tions, as far as possible, should be spent
in the woods.
Forestry on its executive side is closer
to lumbering than any other calling, and
a good knowledge of the lumberman’s
methods is an essential part of a for-
ester’s education. But it must not be
forgotten that it offers a field for pure
research of the widest and most attract-
ive character for those who are inclined
and can afford to occupy it. It is so
broad a subject that as yet we do not
quite know what its development and its
subdivisions are going to be.
GIFFORD PINCHOT.
Appointments of Student Assistants.
Names of those selected for field work during the present summer under the direction of the
Department of Agriculture.
The opportunity offered by the Divi-
sion of Forestry of the Department of
Agriculture, for field instruction during
the present summer, met with an imme-
diate response from a large number of
young men, many of them college un-
dergraduates, who were desirous of be-
coming student-assistants. The great
excess of applications made a careful
examination and selection necessary,
with the result that the following young
men have been chosen to work under
the direction of these officials:
With Gifford Pinchot, Forester of the
Department of Agriculture, working in
the State of Washington: Stuart Hotch-
kiss, Richard Thornton Fisher, E. eS:
Moore, E. Koch, J. Frazier-Curtis,
William M. Maule, Thomas C. Carson,
Kinsley Twining, Jr., William B. Hodge,
Jr., Henry James, 2d., William James,
|r., Frank A. Sprage, BE. T Allen, anc
William F. Wight.
With Henry S. Graves, Assistant For-
ester of the Department, working in the
Adirondacks: Smith Riley, Henry Grin-
nell, Fred Nash, Oscar S. Pulmany [a
Edward T. Grandlienard, M. De Turk
High, . John’ Victor) > Doniphany ajier
Charles Jones, Edwin Colby Lewis, and
William P. Haines.
With W. W. Ashe, Forest Expert of
the Division of Forestry, in North Caro-
lina: A. EB. Ames, A.-E, Gohoon; ja
Caldwell, Jr., and H. McC. Curran.
In the office of the Division of Fores-
try at Washington: Treadwell Cleve-
land, Jr.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
161
Conservation and Restoration.
The Proposed Leech Lake Forest Re-
serve, [linnesota.
With the idea of providing the State
of Minnesota with a public park reserve,
larger, more easily accessible, and almost
as beautiful as the Yellowstone National
Park, a plan is being formulated, for in-
tended legislative action, regarding the
Leech Lake country in Minnesota.
The balsamic forests of that region are
said to have healing powers not found
elsewhere, on account of which the lo-
cality has been suggested as the site for
a large sanitarium for wounded and dis-
abled soldiers, for whose support the
Government spends a largé sum annu-
ally, in various States.
The suggestion is made that these in-
valids, besides being greatly benefited
in health, could act as guards in the pro-
posed forest reservation, making the plan
not only feasible, but extremely practi-
cable from a financial view-point.
The plan was originally suggested by
Colonel John S. Cooper, of Chicago, who
has been enthusiastically advocating the
movement until its success now seems
more than a mere possibility.
Lumbermen and Charcoal [lakers—
Next ?
The growth of popular interest in for-
est conservation has been very marked
during the past year, but even the most
enthusiastic advocates were hardly pre-
pared to hear that lumbermen and char-
coal makers—the destroyers of the for-
ests—are now taking steps to administer
their forests as permanent investments.
A Minnesota lumberman, E. L. Reed,
of Anako, has determined to apply forest
principles to a tract of one thousandacres
of Pine lands in Mille Lacs County, ac-
cording to a recent article in the A/znne-
apolis Journal. Other owners of forest
tracts in the same State have also deter-
mined to adopt conservative methods,
and are taking advantage of the offer
made some time ago by the Division of
Forestry of the Department of Agricul-
ture. This plan provides, as heretofore
announced, for examining forest and
woodlands, and outlining a scheme of
scientific administration with a view to
the preservation of the forest as a whole,
while yielding an annual revenue.
The preliminary examination of these
tracts has already been made under the
direction of Horace B. Ayres, special
agent of the Division of Forestry.
Even more significant are the applica-
tions which have come from charcoal
makers in the upper peninsula of Michi-
gan, who desire to begin a system of
economical management of woodlands
from which they procure wood for the
charcoal kilns. After years of burning
without thought of preserving the source
of supply, they have become alarmed,
and want to make the remaining lands
furnish annual crops.
The Enthusiasm of Conviction.
Former Mayor T. P. Lukens, of Pasa-
dena, Cal., an evergreen seed-grower of
twenty-five years experience, intends to
spend the greater part of the Summer in
the mountains at Pine Lake, where he
has built a log cabin, and will devote his
time to forest investigation. He will col-
lect seeds of the Pinus tuberculata, take
them out by fire, and plant them in the
Fall in the burned districts above Pasa-
dena. In the absence of Government
aid, Mr, Lukens intends to give a per-
sonal object lesson in support of his
views.
A Significant Showing.
The applications from private land-
owners to the Division of Forestry of
the Department of Agriculture for a
scientific administration of their wood-
lands, under the recent offer of the De-
partment, represent a total of one and
one-half million acres.
102
THE FORESTER.
Recent Legislation.
New York.
A victory for those in favor of forest
conservation was gained in New York
State in the early part of June, when
the Court of Appeals, in session at
Albany, affirmed the decision of the
lower courts declaring unconstitutional
a forest law in dispute. This law was
passed by the Legislature of 1894,
making Moose River and its tributaries
public highways for the floating of logs
and timber. W.S. de Camp, a large
landowner, brought the suit against
Lemon and Edward Thompson, lumber-
men, who had cut 19,000,000 feet of
lumber. As the decision prevents taking
this out, except at considerably increased
expense, it is believed the landowners’
victory will be a permanent one.
In the new rules adopted by the New
York State Civil Service Commission, and
approved by Governor Roosevelt, the
offices of fire inspectors of the Forest
Preserve Board are transferred to the
‘competitive class,” by which appli-
cants are made subject to examination
under the classification of ‘skilled
laborers.”’
Governor Roosevelt has signed a bill
authorizing the expenditure of $30,000
for Beaver Park, Albany.
Massachusetts,
A plan has been proposed to enlarge
and improve the grounds around the
Massachusetts State House soas to form
apark. The Governor, President of the
Senate, and Speaker of the House are
the committe on a proposal to defray the
expense by issuing $2,000,000 of four per
cent forty year bonds.
The Massachusetts Legislature has
appropriated $200,000 this year to be
used in fighting the gypsy moth, which
is very injurious to Elm and other trees.
The Massachusetts House has voted
to appropriate $600,000 for the purchase
by the State of Nantasket Beach and its
conversion into a public reservation.
Pennsylvania.
A bill authorizing the purchase: of
timbered lands for State forest reserva-
tions whenever there are available funds.
in the treasury for that purpose, has
passed the Legislature and has been
approved by Governor Stone. Under
the safeguards provided there is no
necessity for delay awaiting special legis-
lation for each instance of a new pur-
chase. The advantage of this provision
cannot well be overestimated, as it will
enable the State Forest Commission
to establish reserves without the hin-
derance of the customary official red tape.
Michigan.
The. Governor of Michigan has ap-
proved Senate Bill No. 101, providing
for a permanent commission on forestry,
a review of which was published in the
June Forrester. The commission ap-
pointed by him consists of Hon. Arthur
Hill, of Saginaw; Hon. Charles W.-Gar-
field, of Grand Rapids, and Hon. Wil-
liam French, of Alpena, Commissioner
of the State Land Office, ex-officio.
The bill which was introduced into the
Michigan Legislature to create the office
or Fire Warden, failed of enactment. It
was planned to model the law on the
lines of that enacted in Massachusetts
in 1894. Though encountering a set-
back in this defeat, the friends of the pro-
posed measure hope to arouse sufficient
public sentiment to pass the bill at. the
next session of the legislature.
The main provisions are that the Gov-
ernor shall appoint a State Fire Marshal,
who shall hold office for a period of two
years, and shall maintain an office at Lan-
sing, and whomay beremoved for cause at
any time. This marshal or warden shall
appoint two deputies, one of whom shall
reside in the upper peninsula. The fire
chief of Detroit is also constituted a
deputy, as is the fire marshal or chief in
every city or village in the State. Super-
visors of townships shall also be depu-
ties.
1899.
Minnesota.
Under the new forest reserve law, pro-
viding for a State Board of Forestry, the
Minnesota State Forestry Association
has chosen Judson N. Cross as its repre-
sentative on the board.
Colorado,
At arecent meeting of the State Board
of Agriculture, resolutions were adopted
directing the preparation and circulation
of bulletin leaflets containing plans and
suggestions for the ornamentation of
grounds by tree-planting, etc. Though
intended primarily for the improvement
of school-house grounds and country
homes, it is certain that the effect of
such bulletins will be far-reaching in
other directions as well.
Washington.
The reorganization of the forest re-
serve service in Washington provides for
one State Superintendent instead of
two as before ; four Supervisors instead
of three, and a large force of rangers
to guard against forest fires during the
dry season.
The State Superintendent’s salary has
been reduced from $2,000 to $1,000 per
annum. ‘The Supervisors are placed in
charge of the different squads of rangers
and are paid $5 a day salary, $1.50a day
subsistence, Sundays included, and all
traveling expenses. The Supervisor’s
salary thus amounts to about $2,000 per
annum. From 60 to 75 rangers will
be employed, half of them having gone
on duty June 1, and the remaining
ones on July 1. Their salary will be
$60 a month, out of which they must
supply their own outfit and subsistence.
Representative D. B. Sheller has been
appointed Superintendent. E. B. Hyde,
of Spokane, one of the former Superin-
tendents, is one of the new Supervisors.
He has charge of that part of the Wash-
ington reserve lying east of the Cascade
Mountains, together with the strip of
the Priest River reserve which extends
into Washington, and has headquarters
at Spokane. Supervisor Matheson has
charge of Mt. Rainier Reserve, with
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
163
headquarters at North Yakima. Super-
visor Ham is in charge of the Olympics,
with headquarters at Tacoma. Super-
visor Hulbert has charge of the western
part of the Washington Reserve, and is
stationed at Everett.
Canada.
After official inquiry into the subject,
the Canadian Government has decided
not to issue permits to cut timber on
Dominion lands along the eastern slope
of the Rocky Mountains and the foot-
hill country adjacent thereto south of
Bow River, and to preserve the timber
as far as possible from being destroyed,
with a view of securing a permanent
supply of water for irrigation purposes.
Nova Scotia.
At the recent session of the Nova
Scotia Legislature E. McDonald, M. P.
for Pictou, introduced in the House of
Assembly a bill designed to protect work-
men employed by lumbermen, The bill
was passed there but was defeated in the
Legislative Council. Itis known as the
‘¢Woodmen’s Lien Act,” making wages
a first lien upon the forest product to
the exclusion of all other claims except
those of the Dominion Government, and
will be reintroduced at the next session
of the Legislature.
A movement was recently made to con-
solidate all the Cypress lumber mills of
Louisiana and Mississippi into a ‘‘ trust,”
but it fell through, says Bradstree?’s, sim-
ply because all the mills have orders
ahead for almost the entire output, con-
siderable trade coming from Cuba and
Porto Rico.
Wooden pavements are common in
Paris, made of blocks 4.7 by 5.9 inches,
of Landes Pine, with some of the
principal thoroughfares laid with Ameri-
can Pitch Pine. The latter is said to
have been employed with marked suc-
cess. It is estimated that up to 1897
over three million dollars had been ex-
pended by that city for wooden pave-
ments.—American Lumberman.
THE FORESTER.
July,
Reign of the Fire King.
Forest Fires in Washington.
While cruising in the vicinity of the
headwaters of the Lewis and Sispus
between Mt. Adams and Mt.
St. Helen, last August, I saw the destruc-
tion by fire of a great quantity of very
valuable timber. At that time fifty sec-
tions of heavily-timbered country were
totally devastated by fire within forty-
eight hours. I would estimate the tim-
ber thus destroyed to be from 40,000 to
50,000 feet per acre. The loss approxi-
mated 1,280,000, 000 feet of first-class Fir
timber, which, when worked up into lum-
ber, would amount to not less than ten
millions of dollars in value. A fire en-
tailing such losses would be considered
a great disaster in any part of the country.
This is but one instance among many—
in fact, there are miles and miles of that
country that have been thus destroyed.
There are evidently several causes for
these fires. First, the Indians purposely
set fires where the brush is so thick as to
interfere with hunting; secondly, the
sheep men cause these conflagrations to
make better pasturage on the sheep
ranges ; and, thirdly, prospectors and
travelers through the country are often
careless of their camp-fires.
Something, indeed, must be done at
once if the forests of the higher lands of
the Cascade range are to be saved from
the destroying brand. It is necessary
not only to have a stringent law, but it
must be strictly enforced. If nothing is
done to save this great wealth of forest at
once, it will soon be too late. Under the
existing inactivity on the part of the Gov-
ernment and State to preserve these for-
ests, the end of the next ten years will
see the bulk of the timber on the high-
lands destroyed. This, of course, en-
dangers the lower lands also, and will
soon be the cause of inroads on the tim-
ber of the valleys.
Rivers,
hs Coxe
Chenowith, Wash.
Forest Fires in Oregon.
Much of the loss occasioned by the
disastrous forest fires of recent years in
Washington and Oregon is undoubtedly
due to the indifference and carelessness
of settlers.
In my personal experience one man,
J. B. McDonald, admitted on the witness
stand that, after having cleared off an old
burn of about two acres, he had set fire
to the debris, and that at dark he had
put it in shape so as not to spread to the
adjoining forest, but that about 100’clock
that night, noticing a bright light, he
went up to the clearing and discovered
that the fire had crept into the timber;
that before it was extinguished ten mil-
lions of first-class Fir was destroyed.
The man said that his two acres, when
cleared for the plow, were not worth ten
dollars. The difference between the two
amounts represents the premium on his
carelessness and the cost of the experi-
ence to the State.
It is perfectly awful to go through the
forests of Oregon and Washington and
see the waste caused by needless fires.
The statements of ‘‘boomers”’ regarding
the immense forests in these States are
gross exaggerations. The lands origi-
nally covered by forests have been so
burned over that I do not believe 40 per
cent of the timber remains—perhaps not
30 per cent.
J. B. Montcom_ry,
Portland, Oregon.
Swift Punishment of an Incendiary.
Lowville, N. Y.—Henry Kennedy,
of Watson, was arrested by Sheriff Geo.
Denslow and brought before Justice J. C.
Bardo for examination. The charge is
setting forest fires in the town of Watson.
He entered a plea of guilty. He was
fined $25 or twenty-five days in jail, and
not having the necessary funds was com-
mitted to jail.
1899.
PE -FORES TER.
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Devoted to Arboriculture and Forestry, the
Care and Use of Forests and Forest
Trees, and Related Subjects.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE ForesTER is the Official Organ of
The American Forestry Association,
Hon. JAMEs WILson, Sec’y of Agriculture,
President.
THE OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS
No. 17 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents.
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
Attention is called to the arrangements for
meetings of the American Forestry Association,
as given in the pink slips enclosed in each copy
of this issue.
An unexpected demand having exhausted
the supply of complete files of THE ForEsTER,
Vols. I, II, and III, the management will deem
it a great favor to them, and more especially to
those who have applied for the early volumes,
if subscribers who have extra single copies or
files, which they are willing to donate or sell to
the Association, for the spread of forest in-
formation and interest, will kindly write to this
office, stating volume, number, and how many
copies they will forward, in order to fill out in-
complete files now in stock,
The laudable efforts of many public-spirited
men in the West, who have been energetic in
arousing public sentiment for the care and pres-
ervation of the forests, have lately been de-
cried by a newspaper writer who holds other
views. While not denying the perfect right of
every individual to hold whatever views appeal
to him, THE ForeEsTER feels an interest in pre-
senting to its readers this month several able
comments on the cerservation and restoration
of forests.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
165
The August ForeEsTER will contain a full ac-
count of the Los Angeles meeting of the
American Forestry Association, with a num-
ber of the leading papers read at its sessions.
This will be an important issue.
It is gratifying to the editor of THE ForRESTER
to be in receipt of commendatory articles from
various parts of the country, in reference to
Tue Forester and its contributors of the last
few months. Theaim of the management will
be to present facts with such official authoriza-
tion as will make all its articles recognized as
worthy of unquestioned acceptation.
It is encouraging, therefore, in an age of sharp
criticism, to find that the opinions expressed in
THE ForESTER meet with the hearty approval of
those who are in 4 position to know the facts.
In prefacing a review of Mr. Bailey Willis’ ar-
ticle on ‘‘Mount Rainier” from the May For-
ESTER, the Seattle (Wash.) Post-Jntelligencer
says:
‘Mr, Bailey Willis has written for the May
number of THE ForesTER an article describing
Mount Rainier National Park, and suggesting
various modifications in the boundaries, which
might profitably be given wider circulation.
The descriptive portion of the article is the sort
of material which the Information Bureau re-
cently formed in this city might find advan-
tageous to distribute. Theadventures of moun-
tain-climbing frequently form the most seduc-
tive inducements possible to be put before
tourists; and Rainier, with its peculiar combi-
nation of iceand forestry, would commend itself
to an unusually large range of explorers and ex-
ploiters. A pamphlet, well compiled and hand-
somely illustrated, containing the interesting
data of Mr. Willis’ article, could but find alarge
range of interested readers.”
Mr. Willis, through his connection with the
United States Geological Survey, has become
known as an authority on matters pertaining
to the physiography and glacial phenomena
of the Northwest. He first visited Mt. Rainier
in 1881 when he explored a large part of Wash-
ington and Oregon, especially the Cascade
Range, during a feriod of three years, becom-
ing thoroughly familiar with the entire region
and repeatedly ascending the famous mountain
at its most difficult points. He has visited there
three times since, and in 1896, with Prof. Rus-
sell and several associates, reached the summit
of Mt, Rainier up the northern slope—this being
the only authenticated trip ever made by this
route
THE FORESTER. July,
166
A Further Increase.
Since the announcement, in the June Forester, of the large increase in the
membership of the American Forestry Association during a single month—May—
further applications have come in with hardly any diminution in the ratio of increase,
notwithstanding the advent of torrid weather and the vacation season. [But for the
fact that the July ForesTreR appears in advance of the usual date of publication—
on account of the conventions of the National Educational Association and of the
American Forestry Association at Los Angeles—it is more than likely that the
marked increase announced last month would have been duplicated in the present
issue.
Life Member.
D. H. Holmes, ‘‘ Holmesdale,” Covington, Ky.
Annual Members.
W. P. Allen, 711 Lincoln Ave., St. Paul,
Minn.
Dr. A. A. Angell, Tryon, N. C.
Frank Hilliard Brooks, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Henry Deering, Box 938, Portland, Me.
Lewis G. Farlow, 61 Franklin St., Newton,
Mass.
William French, Silver City, N. M.
E. S. Gosney, Flagstaff, Ariz,
Charles H. Green, Rochester, Vt.
Samuel Hartsel, Hartsel, Park Co., Colo.
Miss Clara Hersey, 315 Walnut Ave., Rox-
bury, Mass.
D. Blakely Hoar, Brookline, Mass.
Rosewell B. Lawrence, 73 Tremont St.,
Boston, Mass.
John B. Mason, Princeton, Mass.
W.S. Melick, Pasadena, Cal.
James Sturgis Pray, 27 Everett St., Cam-
bridge, Mass,
Walter Retzer, 436 La Salle Ave., Chicago,
Ill.
Paul Schneider, Bedford, Ohio.
C. R. Smith, Menasha, Wis.
William E, Strong, Tryon, N. C.
Henry F. Tapley, 194 Congress St., Boston,
Mass.
E. S. Thacher, Nordhoff, Cal.
H. A. Unruh, Arcadia, Los Angeles Co.,
Calk
Charles S. Westcott, Malden, Mass.
Charles S. Wheeler, 532 Market St., San
Francisco, Cal.
Lucien Wulsin, Cincinnati, Ohio.
CHIPS AND CLIPS.
‘‘ Dead green” is the description given
of much lumber being shipped lately.
The price of Hemlock in New York
is said to have reached the best figure
in its history.
‘«‘There are no soft spots in the Pine
trade,” is the way a lumber contempo-
rary describes the situation.
The season’s lumber drive in Maine,
by the Kennebec Log Company, is re-
ported as one hundred million feet.
A lumber firm has bought an entire
township in Maine, and will manufac-
ture a hardwood tape for improved pegg-
ing machinery.
The raft-towing from the Georgian
Bay District to Michigan will aggregate
less than seventy-five million feet this
year, according to a recent estimate.
A considerable trade is said to have
been developed in cedar posts for man-
ufacture into paving blocks, creating a
scarcity in that grade of article.
1899.
A Russian firm has been making ex-
tended inquiries regarding firms in a
position to supply railway sleepers and
wood blocks suitable for paving pur-
poses.
The heaviest sale of hardwood timber
in the history of Emmet County, Mich.,
was recently made, consisting of 36,000
acres, the total consideration being
placed at $52,000.
Export orders of Cypress ties are being
figured on at New Orleans in lots of
250,000 for Cuban purchasers. Under
the recent ruling, these ties will be ad-
mitted free of duty.
A lumberman’s marine insurance com-
pany has been incorporated with a capi-
tal of $50,000 at Norfolk, Va., in conse-
quence of disagreements with the general
insurance companies.
The timber on 30,000 acres of hard-
woods at Algoma, W. Va, is about to be
cut at the rate of 35,000 feet per day.
It is estimated that five years will be
‘spent in finishing the tract.
One and one-half million feet of lum-
ber has already been delivered in Phila-
delphia for the buildings of the Com-
mercial Museums’ Exposition of Amer-
ican products and manufactures.
The timber on a tract of virgin forest
in Mississippi, 23,000 acres in extent,
heretofore reserved for United States
naval purposes, was offered for sale at
the highest bid filed by the middle of
June.
A special commissioner, recently sent
to San Francisco by the Philadelphia
Exposition of American Manufactures
and Products, has secured the promise
of a California exhibit, including nuts
and raisins.
A large tract of Pine, situated on the
north shore of Lake Superior, has been
purchased, it is announced, to be rafted to
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
167
Ashland, Wis. The timber will amount
to about two hundred and fifty million
feet and is the first large amount of Min-
nesota timber to be brought to the Ash-
land mills to be sawed.
The Ontario Department of Forestry
has received inquiries from Great Britain
regarding the quality of Birch timber to
be found in Canada. There is said to be
a good demand in Great Britain for Cana-
dian Birch for furniture manufacture.
A consolidation of all the interests of
a number of West Virginia timber pro-
ducers, including U. S. Senator Stephen
B. Elkins and all the mills on the W.
Va. Central & Pittsburg Railroad, has
been rumored for some time, but lacks
confirmation.
An American company, composed
largely of Pennsylvania ‘capitalists, has
invested in extensive timberlands, under-
laid with minerals, in Honduras, Central
America. About 40,000 acres of land
have already been purchased for devel:
opment.
Three Scotch lumbermen, from Crieff
and Montrose in the Land of the Thistle,
have been touring Michigan to acquire
general information touching their busi-
ness. Besides having interests in Eng-
land and Scotland, they are factors in
the lumber trade of Sweden.
A short time ago there was recorded
at Davis, W. Va, the largest trainload
of logs ever brought into that place.
The cargo was West Virginia Spruce and
consisted of thirty-seven trucks, loaded
and unloaded and hauled a distance of
twenty miles—all within twelve hours.
A valuable tract of land in Mississippi,
well timbered, has been sold to New
York lumbermen for immediate devel-
opment. The purchase includes Yazoo
Delta lands, of rich alluvial bottoms,
which are regarded very highly, and will
be good farming tracts, it is said, when
the timber is cut.
168
A. W. Belding, for four years forest
ranger of the Biscotasing district of On-
tario, under the Canadian Government,
died suddenly several weeks ago. He
was an expert lumberman previous to his
official service.
The passing of the axe-man from the
Michigan and Wisconsin fields to the
South, is becoming something hke an
exodus. Among other recently an-
nounced purchases by Northern lumber-
men is a tract of 160,000 acres of Pine
timber lands in Calcasieu Parish, Lou-
isiana.
One of the leading forest experts in
Scotland. M. Malcolm Dunn, died re-
cently. He wrote frequently upon for-
est, horticultural, and literary topics af-
fecting Scotland. For many years he
had been in charge of the grounds of
Dalkeith Palace, one of the Scotch es-
tates of the Duke of Buccleuch,
Four hundred million feet of standing
Pine in Lake County, Minn , have been
sold to former U. S. Senator Vilas and
Col. J. H. Knight, of Wisconsin, for one
million dollars. Thesale is one of great
importance to the prosperity of the towns
bordering on Lake Superior, and North-
ern Wisconsm in general.
The aggressive and successful prose-
cution of a pulp and paper company for
pollution of the Potomac River, has led
to the formation of a board of trade by
residents of Piedmont and Iuka, W. Va.,
and Western Port, Md., near by, to pre-
vent opposition to lumbering enterprises
which may be induced to locate there.
The consolidation of the interests of
five Michigan lumbermen, and the capi-
talization of a company at $550,000, is
announced, for the purpose of buying
and selling lands and timber, principally
in the Parishes of Calcasieu, Vernon,
and Rapides, Louisiana. The present
holdings amount to 143,000 acres, for
which an aggregate amount of $900,000
was paid,
THE FORESTER.
Se
July,
The successful propagation and growth
of forest trees is admirably exemplified
in the Farlington Tree Plantation, in
Crawford County, Kansas. After nearly
two decades of experimentation on two
tracts of land, specially set apart for the
purpose, there is ample evidence of what
can be accomplished when scientific
methods are employed. :
The planting was completed hardly
more than a dozen years ago and since
then the only attention given to either
of the tracts has been to keep out the:fire
and to cut out the small inferior trees.
———
Forest Fires.
Marquette, Mich.—Forest fires are
burning north of Bessemer, the entire
range being under a dense cloud fof
smoke. =-4
pee aa
Bangor, Me.—A fierce fire has raged
in the woods along the line of the Mount
Desert Branch R. R. near the Green
Point road.
North Eastham, Mass.—The forest
fire in this section swept a territory of
1,600 acres, causing a loss of between
$12,000 and $15,000.
Brewer, Me.—A forest fire started on
the Bar Harbor Railroad, at the top of
Brewer grade, and burned fiercely ; but
spreading into a dead woodland district
little damage was done.
Santa Fe, N. M.—Forest fires have
recently done great damage in the Jemez
and Via Mountains, destroying thousands
of dollars’ worth of timber. The fires —
can be seen for many miles.
Kanab, Utah.—Three immense forest
fires swept Buckskin mountains, in.
northern Arizona and southern Utah. |
Over 100 square miles of timber on the -
Grand Canon forest reserve were de-
stroyed.
Lewiston, Me.—A crew of twenty-one |
men were sent by Street Commissioner |
Murphy to the farms on the Noname
1899.
road, to extinguish the forest fires there.
They worked from noon to midnight be-
fore beating back the flames.
Clinton, Mass.—A forest fire burned
in the woodlands along the Boylston
Road, the territory affected covering
Many acres, with ‘‘miles of flame.”
There were no houses in the vicinity and
no efforts were made to check the fire.
Port Republic, N. J.—The fire men-
tioned in the June ForesTeR, was the
worst forest fire in this section in eight
years. The flames at one time extended
fifteen miles in width, and, with an unfa-
vorable wind, would have threatened At-
lantic City.
Rockland, Me.—A terrible forest fire
raged at Razorville, sweeping everything
before it and damaging land and timber
greatly. A stiff northwest breeze sprang
up, driving away the fire fighters. No
buildings had been destroyed, at last
accounts.
Buzzard’s Bay, Mass.—A fire which
started in the Plymouth woods, near
Bournedale, swept toward Plymouth,
being aided by a heavy wind. A large
force of men went out to fight the flames,
and saved the immense cranberry bogs
by flooding.
Pueblo, Colo.—A large forest fire
burned through a part of the Hardscrab-
ble region, the best watered and best
timbered portion of the Greenhorn range.
The locality of the fire was several-miles
north of Hardscrabble canon, and west
of Wetmore.
Hill City, S. D.—It is stated on the
authority of H. G. Hamaker, Forest
Supervisor for the Black Hills forest
reserve, that fire in four different sections
of the Southern Hills had destroyed
large areas of valuable timber. In
every instance the fire was started bya
ranchman who was burning off old grass
and brush on cleared lands.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
169
Sparrow Bush, N. Y.—The recent for-
est fire on Hawk’s Nest Mountain killed
some thousands of fine young trees on
the bluff west of Butler’s Lock. A trip
through the burned strip showed exten-
sive loss. Several mountain farmhouses
and barns narrowly escaped destruction.
As the Port Jervis, N. Y., Gazette says:
‘‘The starting of such fires is a crime
that ought to be punished.”
Iron Mountain, Mich.—Northwest of
this place a woodchopper left his camp-
fire burning, and the wind, blowing a
gale, fanned it into a conflagration.
The flames spread both to the west and
south. Another fire started near the
compressor works on the Menominee
River, south of this town, and burned
standing Pine and. cut hard wood.
Many farmers had narrow escapes from
being burned out.
St. John’s, N. F.—The village of Bay
of Islands, a settlement on the West
coast of Newfoundland, forming part of
what is called the French Shore, was de-
stroyed by forest fires the middle of June.
Sixty-nine houses were burned and fifty-
seven families are homeless.
The French and British warships on
the coast afforded assistance to the des-
titute people until relief could be secured
from the nearest towns.
_ Rangeley, Me.—At ‘‘The Chain of
Ponds” where there are large tracts of
merchantable timber, a forest fire burned
the supply-station of a large mill com-
pany and swept through 1,000 acres of
merchantable timber, some weeks ago.
The lives of two hundred lumbermen were
endangered. There was a northwest gale
blowing, causing the fire to spread with
great rapidity, with no possible means of
checking it. The station-keeper, Wil-
liam Mahoney, and his wife, escaped in
safety.
At Mooselookmeguntic another fire
occurred. Two log booms burst and
entailed a loss of $1,500. Five million
feet of logs were included in the booms.
DHE FORESTER:
July,
Recent Publications.
A Primer of Forestry, Part I.—Gifford Pinchot.
A simple book on forestry in the United
States has long been needed—a book that could
be readily used in schools and yet one thorough
enough to serve as a basis for advanced work
later on. Mr. Pinchot’s forthcoming volume
is the first part of a book written for this very
purpose, and for this reason merits a welcome
from all who have sought in vain for such a
help to elementary study.
This account of the life of trees and forests
is written in a light and very interesting way,
yet contrives to tell all the facts and explain all
the laws of forest growth which are not too
abstract and difficult for the aim in view. It.
consists of four chapters. The first chapter
tells of the habits of a tree; how it lives, and
gains food, and breathes. The second chapter
shows how numbers of trees live when they are
grouped together in a forest. When this hap-
pens the trees are no longer able to follow their
separate inclinations, but commence at once
to fight with one another for the required
amount of sunlight and growing space. ‘There
begins that competition between one tree and
another, and between one kind of tree and
another kind, which lends so much interest to
the history of the forest.
Yet in spite of the struggle that is going on
for survival, the trees are, oddly enough, bound
together in mutual helpfulness, in this way re-
sembling not a little the members of a human
community ; so that the sharpness of the ri-
valry is softened, andthe tree that wins, claims
our true admiration.
Crapter three is of special interest. It is de-
voted to the story of a forest crop through all
its long and gradual growth from the seedling
to the mature tree. At first the young trees
start on nearly an equal footing ; but before
long they crowd up against one another, and
their branches interfere, so that the sunlight is
shut out from the leaves, and the least advan-
tage of faster growth quickly gives some trees
the means of overtopping tne rest, leaving the
latter to starve and die while they stretch up
to gather strength and bulk for the next stage
in the struggle.
This fight is rep2ated until the trees have
reached their full height, when, being unable
to develop a larger crown of leaves above them,
they resort to growing sideways, so that their
branches again interfere with those of their
neighbo:s. All this while the trees are grow
ing in three ways—in height, thickness and vol-
ume—and it is shown how there comes a time
when the trees can be cut or harvested with
more profit than at any other time.
The final chapter deals with the enemies of
the forest. Fire comes first in importance,
The author describes how fires arise and how
they are best prevented orextinguished. Next
in order comes sheep grazing, which, besides.
being a frequent cause of destructive fires, is a
menace to the forest in many other ways, such
as the tearing of the soil on hillsides, the tramp-
ling or devouring of seedlings, and the like.
Then there are insects without number, cattle,
horses, swine, snow and wind—a whole army
against which the forest battles more or less.
strenuously all its life.
But if Nature were left to herself, as was the
case before the intrusion of man into the depths
of the virgin forests, a very great part of all
this damage now being done to the forest
would never happen. Man has been the worst
enemy of the woods. Independently of the
fires which his interest: occasion, there is ]um-
_ bering which, as now conducted, despoils the
forest, and benumbs or destroys its growing
power for long periods.
‘The Forest” is rendered doubly attractive
to the general reader, and doubly useful for
the end which it is written to serve, by its
plentiful illustrations. There are forty-three
full-page illustrations and eighty-seven more
in the text. They consist almost entirely of
photographs taken in the forest. The greater
number were secured expressly for the book,
while all elucidate various points of the expo-
sition, The photographsof the different phases
of forest life are remarkable for the clearness
with which they show the contrasting stages.
of growth, distinct forest types, the effects of
fire, grazing and wind, and the characteristics.
of many species of trees. In addition there
are a number of photographs showing the parts.
of a tree, such as cones, roots, bark, and, par-
ticularly, the wood itself.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882.
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 1899.
President.
Hon, JAMEs Witson, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President.
Dr. B. E. FERNow.
Corresponding Secretary,
F. H. NEWELL.
Recording Secretary and Treasurer.
GEORGE P,. WHITTLESEY.
James WILson, CHARLES C, BINNEY.
B. E. FERNow. HENRY GANNETT.
GEORGE W. McLAnaHAN,
EDWARD A. Bowers.
ARNOLD HAGUE.
GIFFORD PINCHOT,
Directors.
F, H. NEwELt.
GrorGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Vice Presidents,
Sir H.G. Joy DE LoTsinizreE, Pointe Platon,
Quebec.
CHARLES C. GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska.
CHARLES Monr, Mobile, Ala.
D. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Tuomas C. McR4eg, Prescott, Ark.
AxssotT KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal.
E. T. Ensicn, Colorado Springs, Colo.
RoBert Brown, New Haven, Conn.
Wo. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
JOHN GIFFORD, Princeton, N, J.
EpwarpD F, Hosart, Santa Fe, N. M,
WarrEN Hictey, New York, N. Y.
J. A. Hotes, Raleigh. N. C.
W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
REUBEN H. Warpber, North Bend, Ohio.
WiILuiaM T. LitTLez, Perry, Okla.
E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
FREDERICK V, CovILLE..
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del.
A. V. CLusss, Pensacola, Fla.
R. B. RepparD, Savannah, Ga.
J. M. Coutrer, Chicago, II].
James Troop, Lafayette, Ind.
Tuos. H. MacBripeE, lowa City, Iowa.
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans.
Joun R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky.
Lewis JoHnson, New Orleans, La.
Joun W. Gaxkrett, Baltimore, Md.
Joun E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me.
J. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass.
W. J. Beat, Agricultural College, Mich.
C. C, ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo.
Cuar.es E. Bessey, Lincoln, Neb.
J. T. RotHrock, West Chester, Pa.
H. G. RussE.1, E. Greenwich, R. I.
H, A. Green, Chester, S. C.
Tuomas T, WRIGHT, Nashville, Tenn.
W. GoopricH Jones, Temple, Texas.
C. A. WuitTine, Salt Lake, Utah.
REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt.
D. O. Nourse. Blacksburg, Va.
EpMmunND S. Meany, Seattle, Wash.
A. D. Hopkins, Morgantown, W. Va.
H. C. Purnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
Etwoop Meap, Cheyenne, Wyo.
GrorGcE W. McLanaHuan, Washington, D.C
Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
Wm. LitTLe, Montreal, Quebec.
Lieut. H. W. Frencu, Manila, P. I.
The object of this Association is to promote :
1, A more rational and conservative treatment of the forest resources of this continent.
2. The advancement of educational, legislative and other measures tending to promote
this object.
3. The diffusion of knowledge regarding the conservation, management and renewal of
forests, the methods of reforestation of waste lands, the proper utilization of forest
products, the planting of trees for ornament, and cognate subjects of arboriculture,
Owners of timber and woodlands are particularly invited to join the Association, as well as
are all persons who are in sympathy with the objects herein set forth.
THE FORESTER.
THE INCREASING INTEREST
in the history of American forests and the efforts that have been made
for their conservation, development, and use, has led THE ForESTER to
secure, for the benefit of its readers, a number of complete sets of the
“Proceedings of the American Forestry Congress” and
“Proceedings of the American Forestry Association”
covering a period from December, 1888, to December, 1897. These
issues include many valuable papers on forestry as read at the various
annual meetings throughout the country during the years named,
including the sessions in
WASHINGTON, QUEBEC, ATLANTA, GA., BROOKLYN, N. Y.,
SPRINGFIELD, MASS., ASHEVILLE, N. C., NASHVILLE, TENN., and the
WORLD'S FAIR CONGRESS IN 1893.
Those who desire a complete library to keep pace with the rapidly
advancing interest in forestry can hardly afford to be without these
valuable pamphlets. The complete series, covering the years named,
will be sent postpaid to any address in the United States at the
following prices:
In one large volume
Handsomely bound in red cloth, with gilt lettering
and re-enforced corners : : 3 $2.00
Just as durablv but less ornately, in green . 1.75
THE FORESTER will endeavor to supply separate pamphlets upon application,
at a uniform price of 25 cents, whenever complets sets will not be broken thereby.
For any further information address
THE FOREBSstee
WASHING LON eee.
Kindly mention THE ForESTER in writing.
THE FORESTER.
‘Valuable . . . cannot fail to be of the ‘““The sections are marvels of mechanical
greatest practical assistance.’—-Revzew of dexterity . . . most interesting.’—MVew
Reviews. York Times.
|| HOUGH’S “AMERICAN WOODS.”
PUBLICATION on the trees of the
United States illustrated by actual
specimens of the woods, showing three
distinct views of the grain of each spe-
cies, with full explanatéry text. (Sa@-
ples of the spectmens used, 10 cents.)
“Exceedingly valuable for study. A
work where plant life does the writing
and no one can read without thinking.” —
G. A. Parker, Hartford, Conn.
‘*Most valuable and the price reason-
able.”’—Prof. C. E. Bessey, Lincoln, Neb.
Preparations of Woods for Stereop-
ticon and Microscope.
Wooden Cross-Section Cards for fancy
and business purposes. (Samples free.)
Views of Typical Treesshowing habits of
growth, Write for circulars, addressing
R. B. HOUGH.
10 Collins St., Lowville, N. Y.
PREPARATIONS OF WOODS FOR STEREOPTICON AND MICROSCOPIC
VIEWS OF TYPICAL TREES, WOODEN CROSS-SECTION CARDS.
H. J. KOKEN CC. P; HANCOCK
WZ
—
High-Class Designs and
Illustrations
Half Tone and Line
Engraving
Brass and Metal Signs
Rubber Stamps
7
TENTH STREET AND PENNA. AVENUE, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Kindly mention Tue Forester in writing.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
BEREA COLLEGE,
BEREA, KENTUCKY.
A YEAR'S WORK IN FORESTRY IS OFFERED. —
Local Forest Growth Affords Fine Facilities for Study. Z
661 ‘Er raquia}das suadg wiosy [ey
Excellent Advantages at Moderate Expense.
LINCOLN HALL, BEREA COLLEGE.
ONES" MORTICULT URE "Se anen?®
For full information address
S. C. MASON, M. Se.,
Professor of Horticulture and Forestry.
PY TRAE ee
Consulting Forester,
Mahwah, N. J.
Kindly mention THE ForEsTER 1n writing.
A
” THE STATE AND FORESTAY
_ Vou. V. AUGUST, 1899.
edeR rete cee a z
Columbus, Ohio, August 22-23.
This meeting is proposed in response to the invitation of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, which
meets at Columbus August 22-26. The local arrangements are
in charge of Prof. William Lazenby, of the Ohio State Uni-
versity, Columbus.
The sessions will be held on August 22 and 23 at Room 1,
Horticultural Hall.
Persons wishing to attend have the advantage of all favors
as to railroad rates, excursions, etc., arranged for by the
American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Full information will be furnished by the Secretary, Dr.
L. O. Howard, of Washington, D. C.
Missoula, Montana, September 25-27.
The close relations between forestry and irrigation make it
especially suitable that this Association should accept the in-
vitation to hold a meeting in connection with the National Ir-
rigation Congress, which convenes at Missoula, Montana, on
September 25.
The immense forest reserves in and surrounding the Yel-
lowstone National Park lend an additional attraction to
this meeting.
A committee of arrangements will shortly be appointed, an-
nouncement of which will be made in THe Forester. Until
further notice, information can be obtained from Mr. I. D. V.
Donnell, Chairman Executive Committee, National Irrigation
Congress, Billings, Montana.
Papers.
Members are earnestly and cordially invited to submit pa-
pers on forest topics, to be read at one or another of these
meetings. Those which cannot be presented by the writer in
person may be sent to the gentleman in charge of the arrange-
ments, as named above. Selected papers will be published in
THE ForEsTER.
—]
1.00 a Year.
inn
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION:
BEREA COLLEGE,
A Yi
Excellent Advantages at Moderate Expense.
For fv
THE STATE AND OnEoTAT
Vou. V. AUGUST, 1899.
rT The Forester
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
devoted to the care and use of
forests and ferest trees \\
to related \, \
Ab
we
‘7 The American Forestry Association.
PUBLISHED BY
PSS OSS
Price 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
Mt COPYRIGHT, 18Q9, BY THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D. C., as second class matte
ees pcanior arerounine
ri
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
FOREST FIRE DEVASTATION IN COLORADO.-..:-:seccssssssssmesssessscssseetsssenuneces asseareuent . Frontispiece
SUMMER MEETING OF THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION\..u0.cccssssescssssscessstecesssee 171 i
Proceedings of the Convention. ae
(From the official notes of the Secretary. )
Report of the Committee on Resolutions. aan
THE STATE (AND! FORESTRY oi. 100) SU it os ceca bek aati aetna ee a Ue tee 179 a
An Address delivered at the Summer Meeting. :
(Number One of the Series.)
WATER (CONSERVATION, INS SOULS 200108 eg iO Oe Tk A es a a ee Oe 181
A Paper Read at the Summer Meeting.
(Number Two of the Series.)
NaturE’s (STORAGE RESERVOIRS 3000 Wee ge lk AUR aU ee eee ee 183
A Paper Read at the Summer Meeting.
(Number Three of the Series.)
A FOREST EXPERIMENTAL, STATION 202.020 2008 2) M0 SGI eae ees ek ede an Jot 185
A Paper Read at the Summer Meeting.
(Number Four of the Series.)
SUMMER MEETING NOTES ........ccccees Pa UN 0 UO PASSAIC Deane SUL UTMR LAL RS i) AN bea 188
Insect Enemies of Trees.
Sight-Seeing on Tally-Hos.
MRECENT (LCR GISLATION 3002 Na OU a AOE ee aD ae A A NE a 189
Minnesota. Michigan Canada.
AN INTERESTING” (DISCOVERY .1050 0 AR WI Nese de Se EC a Aa es aa 190
SPRUCE PULP) FOR | NEWSPAPERS .2..4 het 0p a ST ar aC eed ae Sea 190
PRESERVATION OF PHILIPPINE ForESTS......-- PRIDE MMO ia TMI PUN Aka ik nL UNUM Igo
EDITORIAL
The Summer Meeting.
Minnesota’s New Forest Reserve.
The Need of Forest Legislation.
Coming Issues of THE FORESTER.
Chips and Clips—News Items.
Surveying Forest Lands.
Counterfeiting Nature.
A Montana Conflagration,
Canadian Incentive for Forest Study.
The Signs of the Times.
REcENT PUBLICATIONS
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. ?
POmresS TRY SCHOOL
Atos ied MOE eNi ne
For circular and information apply to
© A. SCHENCK] BE. D.,
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE
The Foremost School for Young Women
a oe IN’ AMERICAGe =
ATIONAL PARK SEMINARY is named from its proximity to the great National Rock
WD Park, recently purchased by the Government and designed to become the most beauti-
ful reservation of the National Capital. This whole region is marvelously beautiful and
picturesque with its combination of forest, stream, hill and dale. It rises gradually
from the City of Washington till at Forest Glen the Seminary stands on an eminence four hun-
dred feet above the level of the city. Forty acres of sunny slopes and wild ravines, towering
trees and winding paths, babbling brooks and tangled dells, combine to form a site seldom
rivaled in varied and inspiring scenery, where the beautiful ts utilized to develop character.
The altitude of its location precludes possibility of malaria. The equable climate, free from
the rigors of a northern winter promotes health by inviting out-door sports. The building
itself crowns the highest hill and was erected and equipped at an expense of $80,000; it has a
frontage of two hundred and seventy-five feet, with three large center halls thirty by forty feet
on each floor, which afford a charming rendezvous for student life; heated by steam and lighted
by gas, with bath rooms plentiful and sanitary arrangements complete. The house is situated
so that every room gets the sun at some time during the day.
The close proximity to the National Capital, with all the educational and social advan-
tages appertaining to such a residence, offers wonderful facilities to its pupils. The Seminary
is within twenty minutes of the heart of the city and, with twenty trains daily, besides electric
cars, easy access is afforded to all the Libraries, Museums, Departments of Government, Con-
gress and Foreign Legations. These with the official and social life of the National Capital offer
opportunities for profitable study.
The course of study is planned to produce womanly women. There are twenty-two
teachers and the limited number of pupils permits of much personal attention and individual
instruction foreach. Health zs a matter of first consideration always. There are no nerve-
straining examinations, ‘Thirty different States represented among the pupils, bringing
together the daughters of representatives families throughout the entire Union.
The Seminary’s watchword: ‘‘ We consider text-book training only a part of our work as
educators. We shall be satisfied with nothing less than the development of the whole being.”
The yearly expenses at National Park 4 Address
are $350 to $500. Early application is neces-
sary. Catalogue giving views of the school § J. A. CASSEDY, Principal,
and opinion of enthusiastic patrons will be
sent on application. P. O. Box 100. Forest Glen, Md.
Kindly mention THE Forester in writing,
THE FORESTER.
HENRY ROME:
The First Established and [ost Complete
Newspaper Cutting Bureau in the World.
Mo Fiftleas Avemue. New York.
Established London 1881, New York 1884.
Branches: London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney.
‘The Press Cutting Bureau...
which I established and have carried on since 1881 in London and
1884 in New York, reads, through its hundreds of employes, every
newspaper and periodical of importance published in the United
States, Canada and Europe. It is patronized by thousands of sub-
scribers, professional or business men, to whom are sent, day by day,
newspaper clippings, collected from all these thousands of papers,
referring either to them or any given subject... .
Henry Romeiice
@&,. 110 Fifth Avenue, New York.
Kindly mention THE ForeESTER in writing.
“OD INF LLYN
The Forester.
vou. V. AUGUST, 1899. No. 8.
The American Forestry Association.
A Notable Summer Meeting at Los Angeles.
FROM THE OFFICIAL NOTES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION,
The American Forestry Association held a special Summer Meeting at Los
_ Angeles, Cal., on July 1g and 20. The arrangements were made by Mr. Abbot
Kinney, Vice President for California, and were admirable in every respect. Prior
to the date of the meeting the newspapers of Los Angeles and other towns in the
State made frequent mention of the coming convention, both in their news and
editorial columns, emphasizing strongly the importance of the subject and the
value of an expert discussion of it.
The sessions were held in Assembly Hall, 330 South Broadway. At 8 o’clock
on Wednesday evening, July 19, the convention was called to order by Mr. Kinney,
in the absence of the President of the Association. The hall was comfortably filled
and the audience manifested deep interest in the proceedings.
Among those present at this and other sessions were:
Abbot Kinney, Vice President for California and President of the Forest and
Water Society of Southern California; Gifford Pinchot, Forester of the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture; F. H. Newell, Hydrographer U. S. Geological Survey;
William G. Kerckhoff, Vice-Pres. Forest and Water Society of Southern California;
_W. H. Knight, Secretary Forest and Water Society of Southern California; Hon.
W. S. Melick, former. member of the State Legislature; J. B. Lippincott, U. S.
Geological Survey; H. Hawgood, Consulting Engineer; S. M. Woodbridge, Ph. D.;
Prof. W. R. Dudley, of Stanford University; James D. Schuyler, Consulting En-
gineer; F. H. Olmsted, City Engineer; Fred Eaton, mayor of Los Angeles; T. 5S. Van
Dyke; Elwood Mead, Irrigation Expert, U. S. Department of Agriculture; George
H. Maxwell, Chairman National Irrigation Association; A. J. McLatchie, University
of Arizona; T. P. Lukens, Pasadena; C. M. Heintz, Editor Rural Californian;
Lucius A. Booth, Oakland; C. L. Cory, Berkeley; N. W. Blanchard, Santa Paula;
‘James Boyd, Riverside; J. A. Lippincott, Philadelphia; C. G. Baldwin, Clare-
mont; Prof. L. J. Stabler, University of Southern California; Capt. G. G. Mullins,
rye2 THE FORESTER. August,
U, S. A. (retired); Mary B. Moody, New Haven; Edgar W. Camp, Esq., Los
Angeles; J. W. Mills, Pomona; E. F. C. Klokke, Los Angeles; Charles E. Rich-
ards, Los Angeles; A. Campbell Johnson, Los Angeles; Ad. Petsch, Los Angeles;
William F. Burbank, Los Angeles; C. E. Rhone, Los Angeles; Wallace W. Ever-
ett. Editor Wood and Iron, San Francisco; Prof. M. H. Buckham, President Uni-
versity of Vermont; Lew E. Aubury, Mining Engineer, Delegate from the Cali-
fornia Miners Association; O. S. Breese, Manager Wining and Metallurgical Journal,
Los Angeles (also Delegate from the California Miners Association); Charles H.
Shinn, Berkeley, Collaborator, Division of Forestry, U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture, and Inspector of Experiment Stations of the University of California; C. A.
Colmore, Foreman Santa Monica Experiment Station, California; George P. Whit-
tlesey, Washington, D. C., Recording Secretary and Treasurer of the American
Forestry Association; W. Goodrich Jones, Temple, Tex.; Charles A. Keffer,
Mesilla Park, Ariz.; Samuel B. Green, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis,
Minn.; Col. Adolph Wood, San Bernandino, Cal.; Charles S. Swisher, Washing-
ton. D.C:
Mr. Kinney welcomed the Association to Southern California, this being its
first meeting on the Pacific Coast. He pointed out that the presence of persons
from many parts of the Union showed a live interest in the subject of forestry, a
subject which he regarded asa matter of vital importance to California, a question
of expansion under our own flag. <A great arid country lies at our door, he said,
and we have the opportunity to conquer a great empire, to be taken up by people
of our own blood and language, who will do a great deal to build up our trade and
commerce.
Mr. Kinney made the announcement that the Park Commission of Los Angeles
had tendered the Association a drive through the parks of the city; that a trip up
Mt. Lowe was being arranged; also a trip to Squirrel Inn, and a reception by the
Chamber of Commerce. He called attention to a beautiful vase of Eucalyptus
ficifolia which decorated the stand on the platform, the gift of Mr. A. Campbell
Johnson.
Hon. W. S. Melick, of Los Angeles, a former member of the State Legisla-
ture, read a carefully prepared paper describing the relation of ‘‘The State and
Forestry,” as published in this issue.
He was followed by Mr. Gifford Pinchot, Forester of the Department of Agri-
culture, who explained the forest work carried on by the division of which he is
chief, also the work of the U. S. Geological Survey and the General Land Office
of the Department of the Interior. He stated that his division was in full harmony
with the Geological Survey, and that the results obtained were consequently more
than doubled. Mr. Pinchot then turned to the question of forest protection, and
by means of stereopticon views emphasized the necessity of guarding against fire
and sheep, the two great enemies of old and young growth. He also dwelt on the
good that can be accomplished by an organized body of persons, such as the
American Forestry Association, and expressed the hope that its membership might
be greatly increased, as its objects became known more generally throughout the
country.
_ Mr. J. B. Lippincott, of the U. S. Geological Survey, read an interesting de-
scription of ‘*The Bitter Root Forest Reserve,” following it with a series of stere-
opticon views of the mountains, forests and lakes of that region.
Che Chair, having been empowered to appoint a Committee on Resolutions,
named the following: W. G. Kerckhoff, Gifford Pinchot, Adolph Wood, G. H.
Maxwell, Elwood Mead, T. P. Lukens and N. W. Blanchard.
Adjourned to 10 o’clock Thursday morning,
1899. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 173
Second Day’s Sessions.
Mr. Kinney called the convention to order at 10 o’clock Thursday morning.
Mr. Knight read letters of regret from United States Senator Perkins, Congressman
R. J. Waters, Congressman-elect J. C. Needham, Dr C. A. Schenck, of Biltmore,
N. C.; W. N. Beyers, President Colorado State Forestry Association; Sir Joly
de Lotbiniere, Vice President of the Association for Canada; Mr. Elwood Cooper,
President State Board of Horticulture; Mayor Phelan, of San Francisco, and others.
A paper by Mr. A. Campbell Johnson on ‘‘A Forest Experimental Station’’
was read by Secretary Whittlesey. Mr. W. H. Hawgood read a valuable paper on
‘‘Some Kelations between Forests, Percolation and Water Supply.” Mr. S. M.
Woodbridge, Vice President Chemical Agricultural Works, presented an interesting
paper on ‘‘ Water Conservation in Soils.””. Mr. Elwood Mead made a strong plea
for ‘‘ Leasing the Public Grazing Lands.”’ Mr. W. W. Everett presented the lum-
berman’s side of the question in a paper on ‘‘ The Practical in Forestry.” Mr. O.S.
Breese discussed ‘‘ The Relations of Mining to Forestry.”
A recess was then taken until 2.30 p. m.
At the afternoon session papers were read as follows:
‘«The Reclamation of Drifting Sand Dunes in Golden Gate Park,” by Mr. John
McLaren, Superintendent of the Park, (read by Secretary Whittlesey). ‘‘ Sequoia
of the Sierras and their Distribution,” by Prof. W. R. Dudley, of Stanford Univer-
sity. ‘‘ The Influence of Forests upon Storage Reservoirs,” by Mr. James D. Schuyler.
*‘A California School of Forestry,” by Rev. George W. White, President University
of Southern California (read by Professor Stabler). ‘Forestry in North Dakota,”’
by Mr. W. W. Barrett, State Superintendent of Forestry in North Dakota (read by
Secretary Whittlesey).
Mr. F. H. Olmsted, City Engineer of Los Angeles, then addressed the meeting
on the subject of ‘‘ Forest Preservation and the Watershed of the Los Angeles
River,” illustrating his remarks by a large map of the watershed. He expressed
gratification that the Forestry Convention was being held in Los Angeles, and said
that its work was appreciated. ‘I feel,’ he said, ‘‘that we need such an object
lesson. It is not always easy to see why the Government is not more careful of our
interests. But the growth of the city has been such that our hands are full, and so
it is not strange, perhaps, that we are lax in looking after our watershed. Yet no
interest could be more vital. One of the teachers attending the National Educa-
tional Association Convention laughed at the Los Angeles ‘River.’ But we can
forgive her. With my experience of several years I have yet to see, in many
respects, a more remarkable stream. Its limited watershed, the limited rainfall,
and dry seasons cannot prevent it from furnishing a steady supply of water. I
regard it as a wonderful stream. Most of the slopes of the watershed are covered
with brush—we can hardly say timber. But I observe that these slopes are as well
protected as though covered by coniferous growth. The formation of the basin
favors the growth of brush.”’
Mr. Olmsted then described the geological formation of the mountains sur-
rounding the San Fernando Valley, which he called an awful picture of desolation
and drought ‘‘ But it is really a great filter,” he said, ‘‘through which the water
is percolating to the river.” Mr, Olmsted thought the difficulty with the Govern-
ment rangers is that they do not live in the mountains, but merely make trips into
them. In the whole basin there are three men who have ranches, and they have a
personal interest in putting out fires. ‘‘In time we shall have municipal guards to
watch this basin,” he concluded; ‘‘we cannot afford to take any chances of having
our water supply diminished,”
174 THE FORESTER, August,
At the suggestion of Mr. Olmsted, Mr. Kinney then called upon Mayor Eaton,
of Los Angeles. His Honor said, in part: ‘I did not come here to-day to deliver
an address. Mr. Olmsted said there would be a possible niche to fill in, and so I
accompanied him. I cannot add much to whathe has said. For the short time he
has been City Engineer he has made himself very familiar with this subject.
‘‘Mr. Olmsted spoke of the large gravel beds in the valley portion of the Los
Angeles River watershed, which he described as a natural underground reservoir.
In this connection I might say something as to the possibility of increasing the flow
of the stream by enlarging the saturated area in this mass of sand and gravel, which
extends along the base of the mountain shed on the north side of the valley. It is
of great depth and has an area of about twelve thousand acres, extending from the
mouth of two main cafions to the river, with a surface inclination averaging about
seventy-five feet per mile. The plane of the saturated portion of this deposit hasa
gradent of about fifty feet per mile, which leaves an average depth of at least one
hundred feet of dry material above the ground water, having a void capacity suffi-
cient to supply the present average normal run-off for six years without replenish-
ment. A very considerable portion of this area is wholly unsuited to agriculture,
as it consists of dry sand and boulder washes, which parallel the base of the moun-
tains, after emerging therefrom, and extending at intervals over a width of about
two miles. The floods of later years have been confined to one of these channels,
and I believe it quite practicable to divert the flow into a large number of channels
and thus secure a greater absorption during the periods of excessive rainfall. About
one year in five there is a large run-off which passes beyond the point where it is
available in maintaining the supply of this stream.
‘The western slope of the Sierra Madre and Coast range is very steep and few
suitably located surface storage sites are to be found, and in the absence of these,
the only method remaining for increasing the supply is to store the surplus rainfall
below the surface. We should commence where the rain first hits the ground, by
preserving our timber and plant growth, so that it will protect the soil from erosion
and retain it on the precipitous surface of our rainshed, which in reality is about
the only area in Southern California that yields anything to the run-off, with an
average precipitation. The western half of the Los Angeles River watershed con-
tributes little, if anything, to the waters during the normal flow of that stream. It
being principally valley, the usual rainfall is consumed by evaporation and plant
growth.
‘«The importance of protecting the sources of our water supply is not generally
appreciated by the people. These scientific papers and discussions, while exceedingly
interesting to us, must be followed by an active campaign on lines that will engage
the attention of those with whom the solution of this matter rests. The average
citizen thinks that timber has value only for commercial use, and that brush is only
an incumbrance. Most of our mountain watershed in Southern California is below
the snow line, where the erosive effects from precipitation are greatest, and the brush
is the principal protection.
‘‘When the people have learned that existence in this country depends upon
the maintenance of the water supply, and that it is the chief factor in the develop-
ment of all our resources, there will be no difficulty in getting protection for the
forests and plant growth of our watersheds.”’
Mr. T. S. Van Dyke then made some remarks on ‘‘ Irrigation Problems.” He
said in part: ‘¢The productive power of the United States has almost reached its
limits. A little more may be done by improved methods of agriculture. But if we
are to keep pace with the rest of the world in production we must take up irriga-
tion, not only in the West but in the East, because it is found that in the East the
product is increased as much in proportion by irrigation as in the West. It is hard
1899. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 175
for some of us to understand that we cannot expect to see any more large irriga-
tion works built by private enterprise. We here are simply the pioneers. We
must create a public sentiment and keep it going. There are of course many
projects. One trouble is that private works do not pay. The reason is this: If
you have a city of any given number you can calculate that 97 or 98 per cent will
take water from the pipes of a water supply system, but if you have a given area
of land and a big body of water back of it and bring it down to the land, about 85
or go per cent of the population will not take the water.
‘«This is a strange statement, but it is true. The most rapid rate of settle-
ment has been at Redlands, but the rate has not been large enough even there to
insure the success of an irrigation company which depended solely on the annual
payments for the use of its water. All attempts in India, Europe and the United
States to build irrigation works have resulted in disaster. The most rapid rate of
settlement will not do it unless the rate of payment for water is so high as to be a
bar to settlement. In the next place the majority of settlers on every ditch do not
wish to raise oranges and alfalfa. The crop they wish to raise is tender-feet.
They want to take out strangers and sell them land. In nearly all cases the profit
has been to the land owner and not to the builder of the works.
‘“‘The Government must take up this matter, just as it takes up river and
harbor improvements. If not the Government, then the States must doit. Mr.
Mead’s idea is a good one. It meets the objection that it would cost too much to
carry out such a scheme.
‘It has been suggested that the difficulty of building water works could be met
by co operation. The first step is that four or five men working together build the
ditch, the land furnishing meantime feed and supplies for them and their teams.
The land has built the ditch. The next step is that some one man comes along
with money and buys a large tract and hires some one to build the ditch; then he
sells off the land in lots and gets back the money from the buyers, and when it is
all sold he steps out and the land owners own it, and it becomes a land owners’
company. If he works it right he will make money; but the difference comes out
of the increased value of the land. That is the way almost all the works in South-
ern California have been built. There are but four exceptions. Riverside started
as a City Water Company. In 1883 they had to turn it into a land-owners’ com-
pany. Every one of these companies has been a success, while the others are a
failure. No one will now plant any large area unless he belongs to a land-owners’
company.
‘‘Another way to accomplish the same thing is by building a ditch and selling
the water right, a perpetual right to water, for so much money. It has been par-
tially successful, but it cannot be relied upon any longer. Consequently we must
look to the State or the Government and we must create a public sentiment. It
will take a long time to doit. The great trouble is that the East does not under-
stand the question. We must go at it in some way that does not excite their fears
of jobbery. There is some reason for this fear. Mr. Olmsted has said that every
man on a certain river had a dam site; but if the Government began buying dam
sites it would be found that every one of those men had two for sale.”” Some dis-
cussion followed as to the Los Angeles River and its water supply, participated in
by Messrs. Sprague, Hyde and Steele.
Professor Dudley mentioned some interesting facts in regard to palms, to the
effect that he had found palms growing on the desert at the mouths of cafions
where there was a salty deposit.
‘James Boyd strongly advocated keeping sheep out of the forest reserves. Mr.
Maxwell thought that in some parts of the country grazing might be permissible
in the forests, but that it should be absolutely prohibited in Southern California.
6 THE FORESTER. | August,
Mr. Pinchot stated that he had tried to bring out the same idea last night.
Mr. Kinney thought that any overstocking of pasture lands was disastrous. He
thought that the leasing of public lands necessitated a strong and able body of
men in control, and that it was inadvisable to undertake such a policy until we can
surely control it.
Professor Shinn expressed his pleasure at the good prospects of forestry in
California, and related his first experiences in Southern California years ago. He
knew of no place in the United States so well adapted for comprehensive work,
and no place where we can learn so many lessons. This convention is just the
beginning of a comprehensive organization, he said. He wished every one could
see the Sequoia and be uplifted thereby. He thought there was no greater work
than to save the forests. If we keep the forests alive, we are aiding to preserve
civilization. Let us go home feeling that we are brothers in a great work for the
forests, he said, as against the destructive forces arrayed against them.
Mr. Baldwin, President of Pomona College, thought an important question
was, where the water comes out. In his land, he said, at a height of 7,000 feet
one miner’s inch of water was worth fifty cents a day. His question was how to
get it before it was lost. If it can be done by planting Sequoias above the 7,000-
foot level, it would pay to do it. He was willing to spend some money if it would
pay. He wanted to know what to do with the ten or twenty thousand acres on the
high levels; the rainfall is from twenty to fifty inches; there is plenty of soil and a
good deal of natural forest.
Professor Dudley thought we ought to call upon the Government experts in
such matters; he had no doubt that they would take up such points and that the
number of experts would be increased if the people requested it. Mr. Richards
called attention to the fact that trees and roots make conduits for the water into the
soil. His experience had been that the efficiency of these conduits depends upon
their size; that is, the size of the tree, and consequently it never would pay to plant
trees that grow to any great size; smaller ones are much better. Mr. Kinney said
that in Australia there are portions where there are no springs,-but the natives take
the roots of trees and plants, cut them in sections and hang them up and get enough
moisture to live on.
Mr. Pinchot, in reply to Professor Dudley, stated that the Government would be
only too glad to send experts to take up all such questions in the way he had sug-
gested; all they wanted was the work to do and the money with which to do it.
At the evening session:-Mr. F. H. Newell, the Corresponding Secretary of the
Association, and Hydrographer of the United States Geological Survey, gave an
illustrated lecture on the work of his division and the different methods of obtain-
ing, preserving and utilizing water supplies in different parts of the country.
Following this Mr. George H. Maxwell, Executive Chairman of the National
Irrigation Congress, addressed the meeting on ‘‘Nature’s Storage Reservoirs,’’ be-
ing a concise commentary on the subject, as published in this issue.
Col. Adolph Wood then took the chair and Mr. Kinney read a paper on ‘* For-
est Problems in the West.”’
At its conclusion, Mr. Maxwell, for the Committee on Resolutions, submitted
its report, which was unanimously adopted, as published in full, hereto attached.
Mr. Whittlesey moved a vote of thanks to the Forest and Water Society of
Southern California for its cordial assistance in making this meeting of The Ameri-
can Forestry Association a success. He also moved the thanks of the Association
to the newspapers of the city and the State for the generous manner in which they
had published advance notices of the meeting, and for their full and able reports of
the proceedings. These motions were carried.
The convention then adjourned.
'
+
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
177
The Resolutions Adopted.
Complete Text of the Report of the Committee on Resolutions.
WHEREAS, ‘‘ The tree is the mother
of the fountain,’ and the forests and
foliage of our mountains must be pre-
served in order to maintain both the sur-
face and underground supplies of water
for irrigation, navigation, water power
and other purposes, and to prevent the
ruin and desolation which has followed
the destruction of the forests in so many
of the older countries of the world ; and
WHEREAS, the very life of the com-
munities which have already grown up
in the arid region of the United States,
and the further development of that vast
area of our national territory, with all its
attendant benefits to the entire country,
depends absolutely upon the preserva-
tion of the remaining forests and the re-
forestation of denuded forest areas ; and
WuereEas, the problem is a national
one, and involves the preservation of
national resources, the destruction of
which would be disastrous to the people
of the entire country :
Now therefore be tt resolved by the Amer-
tcan Forestry Assoctation—
1. That we earnestly urge upon the
Congress of the United States the im-
portance of carrying into full effect the
legislation enacted with a view to secur-
ing the broadest and most effective ac-
tion by the National Government for the
preservation and reforestation of the
forest lands of our country and the re-
sulting conservation of our timber and
water supplies, and wise and systematic
utilization of our lumbering resources.
2. That we favor the adoption of a
system for the leasing of the public graz-
ing lands under which the revenues
would be devoted to forest preservation
and irrigation development in the States
and Territories where situated, but with-
cut any grant in trust or otherwise of the
title of the land to the States. Where,
however, the value of the forest areas as
sources of water supply so far overbal-
ances any possible value they may have
for grazing purposes, as is the case in
Southern California and other places, no
grazing whatever should be allowed in
the forests.
3. That we commend the action of
our National Government, and especially
the interest and efforts of the Secretary
of the Interior and the Secretary of Ag-
riculture and of the Division of Forestry
of the Department of Agriculture,
through Mr. Gifford Pinchot, and of the
Division of Hydrography of the Geolog-
ical Survey, through Mr. F. H. Newell,
and of the Irrigation Investigation of
the Department of Agriculture, under
Mr. Elwood Mead, to increase our
knowledge of forest problems and of their
relation to the conservation and mainte-
nance of our water supplies, and inas-
much as the State of California offers
unusual facilities for the investigation of
the close connection between forest pres-
ervation and irrigation, we urge that a
thorough investigation thereof should at
once be made by Mr. Elwood Mead in
that State, in connection with the irriga-
tion investigation of the Department of
Agriculture now being made under his
charge, and that the investigations as to
water supplies now being made by the
Division of Hydrography of the United
States Geological Survey should, wher-
ever practicable, embrace an investiga-
tion into the actual effect of forest denu-
dation upon the flow of streams from the
denuded watershed.
4. That we commend the efforts of the
National Irrigation Congress and the
National Irrigation Association and of
all local organizations, such as the South-
ern California Forest and Water Society,
to awaken and unify public sentiment as
to this great question of forest preserva-
tion, and we strongly urge the vital im-
portance of absolute harmony of policy
and concentration and unity of pur-
pose among all who are laboring in the
cause.
178 THE FORESTER.
WueErREAs, the efforts of the U. S.
Government for the preservation and
right use of forests throughout the country
are now scattered among three agencies,
viz: The General Land office, the U. 5.
Geological Survey, and the Division of
Forestry, and
WHEREAS, very serious loss of effi-
ciency and waste of power is the neces-
sary result of this diffusion of energy:
therefore be it
Resolved, that the American Forestry
Association calls the attention of Con-
gress to this wasteful and deplorable
condition, and strenuously urges the con-
solidation and unification of the na-
tional forest work
Resolved, that the American Forestry
Association Jearns with much pleasure
of the establishment of the Forest School
of the University of Southern California,
and that it urges upon the Federal forest
authority the desirability of co-operating
with it in its good work.
WHEREAS, the Forest and Water So-
cieties of California and of Southern
California have requested the Honorable
Secretary of Agriculture to cause to be
made a full investigation of the forests
of California and their condition and
needs; and
WHEREAS, such an investigation is
the necessary precursor of the best treat-
ment of forest problems: therefore be it
Resolved, That the American Forestry
Association urges upon the Honorable
Secretary of Agriculture the speedy com-
pletion of this investigation, which has
already been begun.
WHEREAS, The Commissioner of the
General Land Office and other public
officers have repeatedly and officially
advocated the withdrawal from sale or
entry other than mineral of all public
lands of the United States more valuable
for forest purposes than for agriculture:
therefore be it
Resolved, that the American Forestry
Association once more urges upon the
President the reservation of all public
timber lands, pending full examination
August,
of their character, and especially of the
mountain forest at the headwaters of the
Sacramento River and its tributaries, as
also in all the arid districts of the country.
WueErEAS, for many years the forest
and brush covering of our mountains
have been destroyed by fire, thereby
very materially diminishing the supply
of water for irrigation, and if Nature’s
slow process in reforesting is depended
upon without aid from man, most serious
loss will result in retarding the progress
of developments, especially in Southern
California: therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
American Forestry Association that the
Federal Government take steps at the
earliest possible time to reforest portions
of the Forest Reserves of Southern Cali-
fornia that have been denuded by fire,
and are reasonably safe from fire in the
future.
Resolved, Vhat this Association en-
dorses the request to Honorable R. J.
Waters to secure the passage of a law
making every one responsible for dam-
age done by fire made or used by him,
onall public lands. (Appendix ‘‘A.”’)
Resolved, That this Association re-
quests the Secretary of the Interior to
put into immediate operation in the
Forest Reserves the principles involved
in the request to the Honorable R. J.
Waters to secure the passage of a law
making every one absolutely responsible
for damage done by fire made or used by
him.
Appendix <‘A.’’
Los ANGELES, California, July 19.
Hon. AR oy). Wanees, Moe:
Dear Sir: You are hereby requested
to secure the passage by the next Con-
gress of a law substantially as follows:
‘‘Whoever kindles, uses, or leaves
after using, any fire, whether made by
himself or others, that does any damage
to grass, brush, timber or other vege-
tation on land of the United States,
beyond a circle of six feet radius from
the center of such fire, shall pay a fine of
1899.
one hundred dollars, without regard to
the amount of care used to prevent such
damage.”
‘‘As this is an innovation on all pre-
cedent it may at first arouse some oppo-
sition. But the records of our courts
will show the present law almost worth-
less, because the words ‘negligently ”’
or ‘‘carelessly’”’ throw on the prosecu-
tion the burden of proof, which is almost
impossible to secure. Even the sheep
herder who fires the woods on purpose
always shelters himself behind the asser-
tion that the fire escaped in spite of his
care.
Every one should be made absolutely
responsible. If any one does not know
how to make a fire that is safe, or how
to put it out when done with it, let him
pay for the lesson or stay out of the
woods. There is absolutely no excuse
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
179
for a fire escaping. There is so much
rebuilding of fires left by others that
one should be responsible for that also.
There is no hardship in this, for there
is everywhere plenty of ground on which
it is safe to make a fire, and where it is
fit for camping there is plenty of water
to extinguishit. It is nearly always pure
recklessness, or else is caused by the
stupid building of fires so large that they
cannot be extinguished. No one of ex-
perience ever does this for cooking or for
comtore- , ltiis, only to. look atit.™ 1ise:
itis worth one hundred dollars
The fine should be made light so that
there will be no objection to its enforce-
ment. Fifty dollars might be better. It
is always easy to find who made or left
a fire. Proving the manner in which it
was handled is quite another matter.
aS. Van iD vires
The State and: erestry:
Being an Address Delivered at the Summer Meeting, Los Angeles, Cal., 1899.
(NUMBER ONE OF THE SERIES.)
Although hailing from a city and a
valley whose life-blcod is in so large a
measure dependent on the protection of
her contiguous forest reserves; realizing
that our shortened water supply to-day
is the direct result of the disastrous con-
flagrations which last year and three
years ago swept through those cafions
and over those mountains, ruthlessly
destroying thousands of acres of those
water conserving forests; and standing
now in the peril of having the balance
of those watersheds stripped of their
snow-catching and rain-holding foliage,
it would be idle to read to this interested
body an essay on the necessity of forest
protection.
Your presence and the splendid pro-
gramme provided are evidence enough
that you realize that the axe of industry
and the torch of ignorance and of care-
lessness must be stayed, if our orchards
and our homes are to be maintained
with the life-giving waters.
The American Forestry Association,
perhaps more than any other body,
realizes that America, especially arid
America, must awaken and throw off her
cloak of carelessness and chance, put
on her robes of system and watchfulness,
and go forth to protect and propagate
before it is everlastingly too late.
This convention, then, needs not so
much the alarm of fire and destruction
sounded as that we should formulate a
system of protection and propagation in
forestry and then awaken the slumbering
people by the trumpet of education and
legislative action.
Perhaps every one here will agree—
First. That forests are of vast impor-
tance in the economy of nature.
Second. That forests influence the
humidity of the air and the earth (a) by
screening the soil from the sun’s heat;
(4) by the large surface of the leaves
exposed in radiation, and (c) by the
c ypious evaporation from the leaves.
180
Third. That the uncontrolled destruc-
tion of the forests is in progress and
should be stopped.
Fourth. That the experience and his-
tory of those sections and countries
where the forests have been conserved
show that improvement has resulted.
Fifth. That such conservation and
improvement should be made by gov-
ernmental regulation and protection.
Sixth. That it is the imperative duty
of man and of government to prevent
the excessive waste of wood.
Seventh. That the dense ignorance
that prevails in regard to forestry should
be dispelled, (a) by organizations like
the American Forestry Association and
the Southern California Forestry and
Water Society; (4) bya free diffusion
of forest information through the press ;
(c) by the establishment of schools of
forestry in our universities.
America, of all great countries on the
globe, was originally the most thickly
wooded. Her primitive forests were of
immense extent. But opulence made us
profligate. The last census showed a
forest area reduced to 481,000,000 acres,
and that still being reduced by an annual
output of twenty billion feet of lumber,
being ripped out by thirty-odd thousand
sawmills and careless annual fires denud-
ing hundreds of thousands of acres.
Restrictive legislation has been slow
in the United States. In 1817 the first
Congressional action was taken and that
restricted the cutting of Oak and Red
Cedar. When the Timber Culture Act
of 1873 was passed, it was a great step
forward, and although over 5,000,000
acres were entered under it in one year,
it was a failure so far as the propagation
of forests is concerned in this arid South-
west. My acquaintance with hundreds
of timber cuiture claims in this district
leads me to assert that in nota half dozen
instances were the trees planted and
grown as the law provided. I don’t be-
lieve there are 100 acres of forests in
Southern California as the result of that
law.
As others will cover the general forest
conditions and national needs, this paper
THE FORESTER.
August,
is curtailed to a brief review of the con-
ditions in California, to the end that this
State may more effectively co-operate in
this forest movement. The dependence
of the valleys on the forest-covered
mountain watersheds has not stayed the
hand of the axeman nor the fires of care-
lessness or maliciousness. Neither has
there been rational legislative action.
In this matter of forestry, California has
had spasms and spurts, but little system-
atic growth.
On’ March, 3, 1885; State Forest
Commission was provided for, but after
an existence of 54% months of political
turbulence (at a very large expense to
the State, $33,495 of which was spent on
forest stations), the commission was
abolished ; and on March 23, 1893, they
turned over the forest station experiment
work to the State University, and ap-
propriated $4,000 to be used for that
purpose
To day we have in California two
State Forest Stations; one in Santa
Monica cafion, of 20 acres, and one
near Chico, of 29 acres. The general
character of the trees in the former is
the Eucalypti. In the latter the conifers
predominate. I am familiar with the
work and conditions at these stations,
especially at Santa Monica. I have only
good words for their management.
With the money at their disposal for this
purpose the Agricultural Department of
the University has done faithful, eco-
nomical service.
But the provisions under which our
State maintains these stations are far in-
adequate to the importance of the sub-
ject. Itis a wrong policy at all times
merely to keep in existence any depart-
ment of state. There should either be
support enough to make that depart-
ment increasingly useful with good re-
sults, or else abolish it. On the floor of
the Assembly, in the session of ’g7, I
amended the appropriation bill to pro-
vide for $8,000 to carry on this work of
propagating and experimenting in fores-
try, but Governor Budd vetoed the ap-
propriation. Since that time these sta-
tions have been simply kept alive on such
r}
:
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ae
7
i.
<
*
ay
1899.
meagre support as the Regents of the
State University could spare.
In our laws in regard to carelessness
with fires in the mountains, we are woe-
fully behind the times. We have two
laws on the subject, one passed in Feb-
ruary, 1872, and the other in March,
1891. Both are ineffective, as we know
by the number of fires, and by the few
arrests and convictions. Section 3345
of the Political Code, which provides
that constables may call out persons
subject to poll taxes to fight fires, with-
out providing any penalty if they don’t
respond, or any payment if they do, il-
lustrates the impotence of our laws on
this subject.
As the object of this convention is to
formulate some policy to be pursued in
the matter of forestry in furthering the
good national work so well begun, espe-
cially in. this district, under Supervisor
of Forest Reserves, Col. B. F. Allen,
the views of each one may help; there-
fore, | recommend, so far as California
is concerned :
First. That the National Government
be given every aid and encouragement
possible in its efforts to protect the
forests in the reserves.
Second. That protection be supple-
mented with a proper system of propa-
gation that the denuded portions be re-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
181
covered as proposed by Mr. T, P. Lu-
kens.
Third. That the State revise its laws
in regard to carelessness and malicious-
ness in firing forests, etc., to the end
that offenders may be detected and
guilty persons punished.
Fourth. Vhat our forest experiment
station work be broadened from mere
existence to a field of usefulness that
will discover, propagate and distribute
the trees best adapted to the various
mountains, foot-hills, mesas, valleys and
other conditions of the State; perhaps
founding additional forest stations on
Mount Hamilton and Mount Lowe.
Fifth. By perennial appeals to the
people, through this and all other or-
ganizations, as wellas through the press,
for them to plant trees, plant trees,
plant trees and then take care of them ;
impress upon them that individual action
should come first in all things, and the
State and nation are to aid where indi-
vidual effort cannot go.
Siti se lantetrees,
Seventh. Take care of your trees.
Highti. Elamt trees.
Ninth. Take care of your trees.
Tenth. Plant trees. And my forty
other recommendations are the same as
these. Wee Seo Miner
Los Angeles, Cal.
Water Conservation in Soils.
Being a Paper Read at the Summer Meeting. 1899.
(NUMBER TWO OF THE SERIES.)
Most individuals have general ideas
upon special subjects, the whys and
wherefores of which they pretend to
know nothing about—e. g., any one can
analyze a face to the extent of saying:
‘< That is an honest man,” or ‘‘I would
not trust sucha one.” And yet if the
criticiser should be called upon to give
the minute details of the face, he would
probably, in nine cases out of ten, be
incapable of specifying objectionable
points, or, at least, of defining why they
are objectionable. So in regard to our
mountains ; we often hear that they are
the great reservoirs which store up our
water and enable us to irrigate our fer-
tile valleys during the dry season. It is
to show why this is so that I propose to
give the results of a few simple experi-
ments, in regard to the porosity of soils
and their absorptive and retaining pow-
ers for water.
In the first place let me remark that
there are comparatively few cisterns or
182 THE FORESTER.
in Our mountains that hold
large bodies of water. In the technical
sense a reservoir is ‘‘a basin, either
natural or artificial, for collecting and
retaining water or other liquids.”’
There are two essentials to make a
reservoir a success: First, there must
be means for.collecting the water; and
second, means for retaining it until it is
needed. When we speak of the moun-
tains as reservoirs, the word is not used
in its ordinary sense, for I believe that
the great volumes of water that contin-
uously flow from our mountains are
held in the interstices of the soil and
rocks. My own investigations show that
our different soils hold from about 17 to
26 per cent of water, although some
authorities make a much larger percent-
age.
Different kinds of soils vary in regard
to their porosity, and the same soils
vary to a very great degree in-regard to
their absorptive power of water, de-
pending upon the amount of moisture
already contained in them. For ex-
ample, here is a sample of red maca
soil—it is hard and dry, containing but
a trifle over one per cent of moisture.
Water was turned on it and it absorbed
only one-twentieth of the amount of
water absorbed but a short distance from
it by soil of the same kind, which con-
tained, at the beginning of the experi-
ment, about 8 per cent of moisture.
This experiment was carried on on com-
paratively level land; but if on a hill-
side you see that 95 per cent of the
water would have run off.
This may be an extreme case, but it
is remarkable how much water will run
off from the soil when it is dry. We
see the same effect if we dip a dry
feather in water: when we pull it out it
comes out dry. But if we moisten it
and then dip it in water, it comes out
saturated.
It seems necessary then in order to
have our land absorb the maximum
amount of water that it should retain a
goodly percentage of moisture. Or in
other words, if we wish to fill our moun-
tains with water and preserve the great-
reservoirs
August,
est amount of rainfall, they should be
kept moist.
Having shown that it is necessary to
have some moisture in the soil in order
to have it absorb the rainfall readily, and
thus make our mountains a reservoir,
let us look at the other side of the case—
that of retaining the moisture; and I
regret to say that the experiments are
not so complete and numerous as they
should be, as they have only been fairly
begun.
In the first place, let me call your
attention to the fact that capillary action
in soil is in every direction from a given
point. Water spreads out sidewise, as
well as upwards and downwards by this
action. Soil that had been thoroughly
irrigated was taken and the amount of -
water determined at 26.12 per cent.
Some of this soil was put in beakers,
filling them about half full, and placed
in the laboratory. Onthe following day
66 per cent of the moisture had dried
out. Tin cans, without either bottoms
or tops, were pressed down into the soil,
and the soil taken from the side of the
can, and a slide passed under the can,
thus cutting off connection from the
earth beneath. It was found that about
the same amount of water had disap-
peared from these cans as had disap-
peared from the beakers. Where these
cans had been pressed some inches be-
low the surface of the ground, and the
soil above raked, or cultivated, there
was practically little loss of moisture
where they had been covered with a
mulch. :
Conclusions from these facts are very
obvious—that in order to make reser-
voirs of our mountains, it 1s necessary
to keep them in such condition that they
will readily absorb water and retain it.
And that this result can be brought
about only by keeping them covered
with a product of growth, or in other
words, with the forests, as these forests
make a covering, or mulch, for retaining
the moisture.
S.-M. AWoopBrRipGE.. ‘Pu...
Lenapuente Experimental Ranch and
Laboratory, South Pasadena, Cal,
= a be ae
‘ ‘ tnt |
TP aie SARE,
ed ee a gee Gel Oe eed
ee ATS on ae re ee
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
183
Nature's Storage Reservoirs.
Being a Paper Read at Los Angeles by the Executive Chairman of the
National Irrigation Congress.
(NUMBER THREE OF THE SERIES.)
Nearly every one now recognizes the
need and importance, all through the
arid region of America, of great storage
reservoirs to save the waters that now,
in the seasons of high water, run away
to the ocean, not only wasting the wealth
that the use of the water would produce,
but oftentimes carrying destruction in
their pathway, as the floods sweep down
the mountain sides and through the
valleys.
There are not so many who realize
the equally important fact that Nature
has already made for us great storage
reservoirs which must be preserved if
we are to maintain the water supplies
that we are now using. These natural
storage reservoirs are absolutely essen-
tial to the very life of many communities
in the arid region, and yet, in many
places, we are allowing them to be reck-
lessly and ruthlessly destroyed.
Much that I would have said to you
on this subject has already been better
said by others. In his address to-day
Mr. Schuyler strongly brought out the
close relation between forests and reser-
voirs, and showed how essential it is, if
we are to utilize the opportunities which
Nature has created for building storage
reservoirs in the mountain cafions, that
we should preserve the forests and the
foliage that covers the mountain sides,
so that the winter storms will not bring
down masses of detritus which will
rapidly fill up and destroy the storage
capacity of the reservoirs.
He has showed, too, how imperative
it is, if we would preserve our sources
of water supply, that we should preserve
the reservoirs which Nature has pro-
vided for holding back the water in the
natural sponges, made by the network
of undergrowth and roots and decaying
leaves, and shrubs and brush and trees
which in so many places line our hill-
sides and the precipitous slopes of our
mountain cafions. And he has showed
you how, when this natural sponge is
once destroyed by fire or grazing, the
waters will rush down in torrential floods,
carrying away the scant remaining soil,
and making it difficult and often im-
possible to restore the growth on the
slopes that are left barren.
Mr. Olmstead, the City Engineer of
Los Angeles, also portrayed to you most
vividly what a wonderful natural reser-
voir existed to enlarge the water supply
of the city of Los Angeles from the Los
Angeles River, by filling with water in
times of flood the great gravel bed lying
between that river and the mountains,
leaving it to gradually percolate out into
the river in the later months of the year.
In this suggestion there are great possi-
bilities for water storage in probably every
arid State, where the water can be ied
out in time of floods onto the high mesa
lands and the porous sandy and gravelly
soils on the higher levels can be satu-
rated with water in seasons when it is
abundant, leaving it to gradually find its
way out into the canals and natural chan-
nels on lower levels in seasons when it
is needed.
Mr. Olmstead has given us another
illustration to prove the fact, now so
generally recognized, that water stored
on the headwaters of navigable rivers,
and first taken out on the bench lands
for irrigation, will find its way back into
the river in the low-water season when
it is most needed for navigation. The
use of the water for irrigation is merely
another illustration of water storage in
one of ‘‘ Nature’s storage reservoirs ”’ un-
til itis needed for navigation, and shows
how superficial is the objection some-
times made to the use of water for irri-
154
gation which has been stored for the
benefit of navigation.
I was deeply impressed by what was
said by Mayor Eaton and by Mr. T. S.
Van Dyke as to the lack of information
by the public generally on these sub-
jects, and the need of a campaign to
arouse the interest of the general public
and awaken a public sentiment which
would demand and accomplish the solu-
tion of the various problems that con-
front us in the preservation of our forests
and water supplies. And I could not
help thinking that if the enormous im-
portance of these matters was generally
appreciated there would not be a man
who is now tilling an irrigated farm or
vineyard or orchard in Southern Califor-
nia who would not be here to-day.
Every irrigator from an underground
supply would be here if each would
only stop and ask himself: ‘* Where is
the source of supply of the well or the
tunnel from which my water comes ?
How long will it last? Howdo I know
that Nature is replenishing for me the
supply from which I am drawing ?”
As you watch an artesian well, every
one realizes that the beautiful drops that
are thrown up from below by the unseen
power to glisten and sparkle in the sun-
shine have not come up underground di-
rect from the sea. They were at some
time evaporated from the ocean and car-
ried in clouds to the mountains and pre-
cipitated there. Now what checked
them from rushing down the hillside and
back through stream and river to join
again the ocean from whence they came ?
Somewhere in their onward course they
were stopped by some leafy covering
which held them until their course was
turned downward into the earth. And
from thence they have percolated through
some underground channel or stratum
until they have found a vent through the
artesian well that has brougnt them once
again to the surface. They may have
fallen with last winter’s rainfall; they
may be coming from some one of “ Na-
ture’s storage reservoirs”? underground,
which has been gradually filling for a
thousand years; it may be that each
THE FORESTER.
August,
winter’s rainfall is replenishing the un-
derground supply as fast as it is being
drawn off, and it may be that it is not.
But of one thing we may be sure: If
we allow our mountain slopes to be de-
forested and permit the destruction of
the undergrowth and foliage which did
check, in their downward flow, the waters
that are coming to us now, our under-
ground reservoirs will cease to be replen-
ished and refilled. The waters which
should find their way down into the
earth to come up again in our wells and
out through our tunnels will rush down
the steep and bare mountain slopes in
torrents to the sea. And not only our
underground supplies but our surface
supplies as well will be gone, and aridity
will overcome our fertile fields just as it
has where the forests have been de-
stroyed.
This need not happen and will not
happen if the people will wake up to
the possibility and the danger. All we
need to do to prevent it is to preserve
these storage reservoirs of Nature and
see to the maintenance of conditions that
will perpetually replenish our under-
ground reservoirs. How are we to do
this? By acampaign of education. It
is absolutely essential that the whole ~
community al! through Southern Cali- —
fornia should be aroused to the vital and
far-reaching importance of this great
subject. The people must be awakened ~
from their apathy. The dead wall of —
indifference on the part of the people ~
generally must be broken through.
We must unite all who realize the —
magnitude and immediate importance of :
the subject to preach a crusade to awaken =.
a right public sentiment about it, not
only in Southern California, not only in
the West, but all through the East as
well.
lem, and as a national problem we must
treat it.
The preservation of our forests means —
not only the preservation of water sup- —
plies for irrigation in the West; it means ~
the preservation of water
throughout the whole country for power,
for navigation, and for all the manifold |
It isa national, not a local, prob- _
supplies
1899.
needs for which the waters of the Eastern
streams and rivers are used.
The American Forestry Association is
a national organization. It is already
strong and influential. It has worked
wonders already in its labors for forest
/ preservation. Let us make it still
stronger and more influential by extend-
ing its membership and resources. By
doing so you are putting in the field an
army of peaceful and ceaseless workers
to protect your homes from destruction
by Drought—an enemy as much to be
feared as any foreign invader.
The National Irrigation Association is
another organization fighting in the same
field, one of its purposes being forest
preservation. It is strongly advocating
the inauguration of a leasing system,
which will enable the now wasted re-
sources of our great public domain to be
utilized so as to yield a revenue for
forest preservation and irrigation de-
velopment in the arid region. Several
million dollars annually could be realized
from such a leasing system. Of course
the mountains of Southern California
have too great a value as sources of
water supply to permit of their ever be-
ing leased for grazing. But after ex-
cluding all forest areas which should be
exclusively reserved for water conserva-
tion, there are still left in California over
25,000,000 acres of public grazing land.
Through this National Irrigation As-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
185
sociation we mu! first unite the West in
favor of one distinct policy, and then
turn to the work of converting the East.
It needs only concentration of purpose
and tireless work to accomplish this.
The wage-earners of the East want
wider fields for labor. The manufactu-
rers of the East want new markets for
their wares. Where can either get what
they want so fully as by the development
of the great arid West which is capable,
with irrigation for its irrigable lands, of
sustaining a greater population than the
whole United States holds to-day.
And here in Southern California there
is a local organization which every one
who has any interest in the welfare of
the people of this section should join.
It should number its members not by
tens but by thousands. And its influ-
ence will grow as its membership roll
lengthens.
Again, the National Irrigation Con-
gress will convene for its eighth annual
session at Missoula, Montana, on the
25th of next September. Southern Cali-
fornia should send a delegation to take
part in its deliberations, and to give aid
and strong encouragement to the efforts
of the Irrigation Congress to bring be-
fore the minds of the people of the
whole nation the importance of these
great problems, and secure the national
legislation necessary to solve them.
Georce H, MaxweELt.
A Forest Experimental Station.
Being a Paper of the Summer Meeting.
(NUMBER FOUR OF THE SERIES.)
Among the many questions of vital
interest for the discussion of which The
American Forestry Association has met
in Los Angeles, I think the need of a
Forest Experimental Station, and what
it may hope to accomplish, must appeal
to us all.
Before reaching our mountains in Cali-
fornia we must generally pass through
a belt of foot-hills, often too barren and
too steep for cultivation. In the San
Joaquin Valley this belt of foot-hills ex-
tends often ten to fifteen miles; occa-
sionally groups of these hills reach out
some way into the cultivated valleys, and
these conditions prevail to some degree
in Southern California.
Here, in the city of Los Angeles, if
you will take the street-car to the Fre-
mont gate of the Elysian Park, looking
north from the Southern Pacific yards,
you will be confronted by these dry bar-
186 THE FORESTER.
ren foot-hills—their arid, unsightly ap-
pearance brought out in sharp contrast
by the plantations of trees and shrubs
around the Fremont gate—a scene fairly
representative of hundreds of thousands
of acres scattered through California and
the dryer portions of this southwestern
region. These hills are also representa-
tive of the greater portion of over three
thousand acres comprising Griffith’s
Park, a grand heritage of our people,
but entailing also its responsibility.
Los Angeles can never permit these
barren spots to remain almost alongside
our beautiful homes. We must cover
them with trees and shrubs, guided in
our selection by the experience of other
countries. Should this be accomplished
the lesson will be of incalculable benefit
to al! the Western country, and we may
confidently hope that the United States
Government will guide and assist us in
this work. We must appreciate the good
work done by Mr. Ellwood Cooper, Mr.
Abbot Kinney and other pioneers in
forest work.
In approaching the selection of trees
suitable for foot-hill planting, I think we
must somewhat resolutely refuse to con-
sider our Eastern forest trees or the trees
of other, and of cooler, portions of Cali-
fornia. Selection has often been made
on this basis. After having planted un-
suitable trees, we try artificial watering
and other plans of cultivation to keep
them alive, in direct opposition to
Nature’s plan, so ably discussed by
Darwin—the survival of the fittest. Let
us seek trees from semi-arid regions, in-
ured by centuries of loug, dry summers,
and a limited rainfall. ‘AS best answer-
ing these conditions, I think Australia
offers the most inviting region for such re-
search, more especially since that coun-
try has been quite active in forest work.
The name of the late Baron Ferd Von
Mueller has for over forty years been as-
sociated with forest planting in all parts
of the world, describing and introducing
the varied and the beautiful Australian
flora. His work on ‘Select Extra-
Tropical Plants for Industrial Culture
or Naturalization” has been translated
August,
into all languages. The first fragmentary
publications of this work were at one
time printed here in California by Mr.
Ellwood Cooper, formerly President of
the State Board of Horticulture. Prof.
Charles Naudin, a great leader in scien-
tific cultivation, has adopted this work
in a somewhat altered and enlarged
French form, more especially for the use
of countries on the Mediterranean Sea,
where, in parts, there exists a climate
very similar to our own in California.
The following quotation from this
work applies directly, in my opinion, to
the question of forestry in California :
‘‘Furthermore, as methodic forestry
is as yet limited everywhere to indige-
nous kinds of trees, except in India, and
at the Mediterranean Sea, where Euca-
lyptus, much through the initiating early
efforts of the writer, became reared on a
forestal scale, it may be presumed that
the present pages will also aid in vastly
amplifying forest operations by transfers
of peculiarly superior kinds of sylvan
trees from hemisphere to hemisphere in
a truly cosmopolitan spirit, so far as this
can be carried out within climatic scope;
renewal and even originating of forests
having become so needful in many re-
gions of the world.”
The continent of Australia contains
some three million square miles, a large
portion having a dry and wet season,
and a comparatively light rainfall. It
would be an attractive task to describe
the forest trees of Australia, the great
family of Myrtaca, including the Euca-
lyptus, Angophoras, Metrosideros, Me-
lalenucas, etc, and the Leguminose,
numerically the largest of these great
Australian families, containing over three
hundred species of Acacias alone—but
the limits of this address will not per-
mit. Some description of these trees
and shrubs, successfully introduced into
France, can be found in a work in the
Public Library of Los Angeles, by P.
Mouillefert, Professor of Forestry at the
National School of Agriculture at Grig-
non, entitled ‘‘Trees and Shrubs for
Forestry,
poses,” giving the description and uses
Useful or Ornamental Pur-
1899.
of more then 2,400 species and 2,000
. varieties cultivated or introduced into
Europe and more particularly into
France.
On March 3, 1885, California created
a State Board of Forestry, and it is to
that Board that we owe, directly or in-
directly, nearly all we know of expert-
mental forestry in Southern California.
The thousands of trees reared and dis-
tributed by them are now old enough to
judge of their good and bad qualities.
By far the larger number were Eucalyp-
tus. Should our visitors be asked what
trees are most prominent in our land-
scape, what trees have done most to
beautify our streets and parks, I think
they would reply, the Eucalyptus. Ten
to twelve species out of one hundred and
fifty have been pretty thoroughly tested
in our parks and elsewhere; we have
learned that Eucalyptus Globulus (Blue
Gum) and Eucalyptus Robusta (Swamp
Gum) will not succeed on our foot hills.
We have found several varieties well
suited for this purpose, and there are
probably many more which have not as
yet been tested.
At the Forest Station at Santa Monica
are the original 50 to 60 species of Eu-
calyptus, planted out by our former State
Board of Forestry. These should prove
valuable for collecting and distributing
seed and for identification of species,
though I am sorry to say they are now
of a shape that render it rather difficult
to obtain specimens of seed or fruit. We
have now, however, planted out dupli-
cates of nearly all of the varieties, in the
Elysian Park, and in a few years we
shall have specimen trees for comparison.
For economical or other reasons the
State Board of Forestry was abolished.
The Forestry Station at Santa Monica
was handed over to the University of
California, and, perhaps from lack of
funds, from that time very little has been
accomplished. The locality for the sta-
tion was, I think, not well chosen. Itis
too inaccessible ; we need a Forestry
Experimental Station in our parks—
where the public can see it and become
interested init. Since the formation of
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
187
our Forestry School at Los Angeles,
such a station has become more than
ever a necessity—to give the students
practical lessons in arboriculture and
knowledge of forest trees.
A beginning in this direction has al-
ready been made. A rare and beautiful
collection of trees and shrubs, number-
ing some three hundred specimens, ex-
ists in the Elysian Park. These speci-
mens were collected and planted by a
former resident of Los Angeles, Mr.
Harvey, assisted by W. S. Lyons, for-
merly State Forester, and others inter-
ested in these matters. Many rare and
valuable trees and shrubs are growing
well, and would forma very good begin-
ning for a suitable botanical collection.
It is of the greatest importance, how-
ever, to commence systematically; let
each great botanical family come in its
proper sequence, and let a plan be
mapped out giving proper space to each
genus,
I have not here dwelt on what is per-
haps outside of a Forest Association—
the selecting and testing of avenue trees;
the introduction of flowering shrubs for
beautifying our lawns and gardens.
Such a station near our homes would
be extremely useful. From the many
brilliant-colored flowering shrubs of Aus-
tralia we could select some rare and
beautiful plant to light up the conifers
and palms which, too often, form the
only ornament of our lawns and gardens.
Los Angeles, so progressive in other
matters, has been slow in this work,
Hundreds of botanical gardens exist
elsewhere in the world. It was over
three centuries ago that Italy and Ger-
many, having recognized the necessity
forso doing, commenced to establish
botanical gardens.
Is it not time that we should profit by
the countless beautiful gifts offered to us
by Nature, more especially in this fa-
vored climate, where we may mingle the
trees and shrubs from our Eastern gar-
dens with the gorgeous extra-tropical
vegetation of the New World ?
A, CAMPBELL JOHNSON,
Los Angeles, Cal.
THE FORESTER.
August,
Summer Meeting Notes.
Insect Enemies of Trees.
The following letter from A. D. Hop-
kins, Vice Director and Entomologist of
the West Virginia Agricultural Experi-
ment Station, Morgantown, W. Va., was
read at the Summer Meeting at Los
Angeles at the session of July 20:
“It was my intention to prepare a
paper for the Summer Meeting of the
Association, but the accumulated duties
during my absence of some ten weeks,
conducting investigations for the Divi-
sion of Entomology, United States De-
partment of Agriculture, in the forests
of the Northwest, have left no time for
me to do so.
‘T desire to say, however, that while
there is not much agitation of the forest
question in West Virginia, the subject is
being studied here, and some of the
problems are receiving especial atten-
tion, the results of which will form the
subject of a paper for a subsequent
meeting.
‘‘T also wish to suggest that insect
enemies of trees should receive more
attention from students and investigators
of forest problems. Insects are vastly
more destructive to forests and for-
est products, in their direct attacks and
influences, than any one, but a special-
ist in this particular branch of study,
can conceive ; and when we take into
consideration the inter-relations of in-
sects with the diseases of trees and
forest fires in wide spread devastations
of timber, the subject presents itself as
one of the important problems in forest
inquiry ; yet, so little is generally known
of this subject, or its importance is so
little appreciated, that one seldom sees
reference to it in the writings of our
principal specialists on forest questions.
«« The possibilities of preventing losses
from insect invasions and their destruc-
tive influences, through a better and
more general knowledge of the subject,
are far greater than is supposed. In
fact, as we become more familiar with
the peculiar habits of some of the
destructive insects and the relation of
agricultural and lumbering methods to
their destructive ravages, quite simple
and practical preventives and remedies
are suggested, which, if put into prac-
tice, will prevent the loss of some of
our most valuable forest resources.
‘‘It is therefore earnestly hoped that
the members of the Association will take
some interest in this phase of the forest
question and stimulate inquiry along this
line by noting and reporting unhealthy
conditions of forests resulting from
causes other than fire. The writer will
gladly assist in this inquiry by direct
correspondence, or through the columns
of THE FORESTER.
‘Sincerely regretting that I cannot
attend the Los Angeles meeting and
take part in its proceedings, I am,
‘¢ Very truly yours,
6 A. DaAHMoPKINnss
Sight-Seeing on Tally-Hos.
A large number of delegates to the
convention of the American Forestry
Association, under the guidance of Park
Superintendent Garey, visited several of
-the parks yesterday. The party drove
through Elysian Park in tally-hos, and
examined closely the botanical garden
there, where trees are growing that can be
found in few other places in this country.
The delegates were particularly inter-
ested in the experiments the park de-
partment is making to grow trees and
plants sent here from the tropics, some —
of which have been more successful than
was expected. There has not been time
enough to accomplish anything with the
seeds and slips received here from
Manila, although some are growing. ;
The different varieties of trees were
shown the visitors, and their uses fully
explained. After visiting Elysian Park
the party went to East Los Angeles Park
and inspected the plants in the hothouse
there, some of which are of a variety
to be found in no similar place in this
country.—Los Angeles Times.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Recent Legislation.
Minnesota.
The Minnesota State Forestry Board
completed its organization several weeks
ago by the election of officers and the
appointment of committees. The per-
sonnel of the new board, under the pro-
visions of the law as published in the
June Forester, is as follows:
G2 G6. Andrews, of St. Paul, Chief
Fire Warden; Prof. Samuel B. Green,
of Hamline, for the State Agricultural
College; John Cooper, of St. Cloud,
Frederick Weyerhaeuser, of St. Paul,
and Orville M. Lord, of Minnesota City,
for the regents of the State University;
Judson N. Cross, of Minneapolis, for
the State Forestry Association; Green-
leaf Clark, of St. Paul, for the State
Agricultural Society; A L. Cole, of
Walker, for the State Horticultural
Society, and Judge William Mitchell,
of the Supreme Court, for the State
Game and Fish Commission.
The board organized by the election
of Captain Cross, President; Mr. Clark,
Vice President; General Andrews, Sec-
retary. A committee was named to per-
fect the organization, and consists of
Captain Cross, Mr. Green and Mr.
Clark.
An executive committee, made up of
the president, secretary and Professor
Green, was named for the purpose of
arranging at once for a visit of inspec-
tion of the Minnesota forests by Protfes-
sor Schenck, forester of the famous Bilt-
more estate.
The interest of the general public has
been shown in the assurances given that
in the near future gifts of forest lands
aggregating thousands of acres will be
made to the board.
An Achievement of Perseverance.
The Forest Commission bill which has
been signed by the Governor and is now
in full operation with Arthur T. Hill, of
Saginaw, Charles W. Garfield, of this
city, and Land Commissioner French as
members, is the result of the persistent
efforts of one man to have a start made,
in an official way, toward forest preser-
vation in this State. That man is Mr.
Garfield, of this city. Many others
have been interested in this work, but
Mr. Garfield’s experience in the Legis-
lature, on the Board of Agriculture, and
as an officer in local, State and national
horticultural and similar societies, has
aided him in finding a way to secure the
passage of a bill which provides for
taking up the forest matter systemati-
cally, where other efforts have failed.
Aside from the utilization of waste areas
and the effect of deforestation on our
climate—being possibly responsible for
the long summer droughts Michigan did
not formerly have—the reforestation of
the denuded Pine areas of Michigan
promises large ultimate profits to the
State. But the time between seed time
and harvest is so long that capitalists
cannot be interested, and the State itself
seems to be the only agency adequate to
undertake this necessary work. It has
been begun none too soon.—Editorial,
Grand Rapids, Mich., Democrat.
Remunerative Timber Lands in Can-
ada.
The annual report of the Department
of Interior of the Dominion of Canada
states that the timber dues collected dur-
ing the year 1898 amounted to $119,-
769.03, being an increase of $50,274.85
as compared with the previous year. Of
this amount $21,081.26 was for bonuses,
ground rents, royalties and dues on tim-
ber cut from lands in the railway belt in
the province of British Columbia. The
total revenue received from timber in
Manitoba, the Northwest Territories,
and the Yukon territory, up to July 1,
1898, was $1,569,893.17, and the total
revenue from timber within the railway
belt of British Columbia up to same date,
$326,086. 19.
TQO
An Interesting Discovery.
Gen. E. Bouton, of this city, in boring
a well on his ranch at Bixby Station, on
the Terminal Road, this week, at a depth
of 500 feet encountered the trunk of a
tree of which the drill brought to the
surface several pieces. The wood is
charred, and shows the grain of the
Cypress tree, and is in perfect preserva-
tion. What force this find gives to the
preacher’s cry, ‘‘ There is no new thing
under the sun!” There were forest fires
on this part of the coast so long ago that
the limit of recorded time is infinitely
small in comparison to it. Itis possible
that this find will be interesting to stu-
dents of coast flora. The drill also
brought up Oak and tule leaves in a very
good state of preservation and exactly
like those growing to-day —Los Angeles
(Cal.) Times.
Spruce Pulp for Newspapers.
The utilization of Spruce pulp for
making the ordinary paper on which
newspapersare printed is the subject of a
carefully-compiled table, says the Boston
Transcript, which shows the enormous
consumption of this product. A cord of
Spruce wood is equal to 615 feet board
measure, and this quantity of raw ma-
terial will make half a ton of sulphite
pulp, or one ton of ground wood pulp.
Newspaper stock
twenty per cent of sulphite pulp and
eighty per cent of ground wood pulp.
The best known Spruce land, virgin
growth, possesses a stand of about 7,000
feet to the acre, taking the best as a
basis. Twenty-two acres of this best
Spruce land will therefore contain 154,-
ooo feet of timber. An average gang of
loggers will cut this in about eight days.
This entire quantity of wood turned in
at any one of the large mills will be con-
verted in a single day into about 250
tons of such pulp as goes to make up
newspaper stock. This pulp will make
about an equal weight of paper, which
will supply a single large metropolitan
newspaper just two days.
THE FORESTER.
is made up with’
August,
Preservation of Philippine Forests.
There are many rare woods in the
Philippines, which may be made a source
of great wealth to this country if prop-
erly protected. If speculators are al-
lowed to have their own sweet will in
the jungles, however, the same thing
will happen which has happened in some
of the richest timber districts of this
country—the land will be reduced to an
arid and cheerless desert, for there is
nothing more dismal than a tract of land
which has been denuded of trees by the
greed of men who care only for imme-
diate returns.
The British Government established
in India a forest department, whose
officers are scattered all over the country.
Their duty is to see that the young trees
are not destroyed by predatory animals,
to prevent and extinguish fires in the dry
season, to study the district to which
they may be assigned and set out new
trees which may suit the climate and
conditions, and generally to look after
the section of jungle under their
charge.
Something like this may be necessary
in the Philippines, to say nothing of
there being some need for it in certain
parts of the United States. The reck-
lessness with which Americans have de-
stroyed their own wealth is equaled only
by the speed with which they replace it.
We cut down our forests and ruin our
climate, and then invent systems of irri-
gation to do what nature did without our
help. We destroy all the shade trees
within miles of a new town, and then
contrive unnumbered devices to keep the
houses cool by artificial means, We ruin
our health by an unnatural and feverish
way of living, and then pay immense
sums to marvelously skillful physicians
who have made a study of nervous dis-
eases. When we learn to preserve our
inherited wealth as well as to acquire
new riches, we shall be the greatest peo-
ple on the face of the earth.—Lartorzal,
Washington Times.
ainaiebdi
1899.
fiote- PORES TER.
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Devoted to Arboriculture and Forestry, the
Care and Use of Forests and Forest
Trees, and Related Subjects.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE FoRESTER is the Official Organ of
The American Forestry Association,
Hon. James WILson, Sec’y of Agriculture,
President.
THE OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS
No. 17 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents.
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
In order to present to the readers of THE
ForEsTER a complete report of the proceedings
of the Summer Meeting at Los Angeles, to-
gether with the resolutions adopted and some
of the valuable papers read, it has been found
necessary to curtail some of the usual depart-
ments and omit others.
In compliment to those zealous advocates of
forestry in California by whom the American
Forestry Association was entertained during
the week of the convention, several of the pa-
pers published in this issue have special refer-
ence to the Pacific Coast. Those of a more
general nature, and more applicable to the in-
terests of the country at large, have been re-
served for future issues, in order that their value
may not be in the least impaired—as would be
the case were any attempt made to compress
into a single issue the entire number of papers
recorded in the report of the convention.
The energy displayed by the advocates of
the proposed new forest reserve in Northern
Minnesota, in the vicinity of Leech Lake,
mention of which was made in the July For-
ESTER, has given the project a great impetus,
with every indication of a successful outcome’
As the plans at present are in a rather tenta-
Eive 351-2, 211 92211550: ti2;912dem11 ded
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
IgI
by the account of the Summer Meeting, the
map and account of the project prepared for
this issue have been held over for the September
number.
At the meeting in Chicago, the latter part of
July, a joint committee on organization was
provided for to promote the best interests of
the project. The St. Paul members of the
committee are: J. J. Hill, C. P. Noyes, George
Thompson, F. A. Young, A.H. Lindeke, A. K.
Pruden, E. C. Stringer, Jesse A. Gregg, E.
Ganish, Dr. Henry Hutchinson, Dr. Parks
Ritchie, Ross Clark, Dr. H. M. Bracken, Dr.
C. L. Greene, George F. Gifford.
A similar delegation of fifteen has been se-
lected to represent Minneapolis on the com-
mittee, but the names of this contingent have
not yet been announced. The organization will
be perfected at an adjourned meeting to be
held in Chicago on August 11.
The need of forest legislation in Colorado, of
which THE ForEsTER made mention in the June
issue, is well exemplified by the frontispiece of
the present number. Itis more than likely that
citizens of many other States will regard the
illustration as applicable quite as well to their
own localities. ‘‘An ounce of prevention’ is
a very efficacious prescription, but that the
health of the forests is not always conserved 1n
that way, this picture gives evidence.
The coming issues of THE FoRESTER will con-
tain, in addition to these convention papers, a
number of articles by leading officials of the
U. S. Government who are authorities on for-
estry in its various phases ; by college profes-
sors whose investigations are attracting atten-
tion, and by men whose work has been more
particularly on the lumbering side of the ques-
tion.
Among the interesting features of the Sep-
tember issue will be a very thorough consider-
ation of ‘‘The Forest Ranger System in the
United States,” by one whose official position
makes his contribution authoritative—the Com-
missioner of the General Land Office of the De-
partment of the Interior.
The forest resources of the new colonial
possessions of the United States will be ac-
curately described in a series of papers by
writers who have studied them within the past
year. The first paper of the series will be
published next month under the title: ‘‘The
Forest Resources of Porto Rico,”
Ig2
THE FORESTER.
August,
CHIPS AND CLIPS.
Experiments being made for utilizing
sawdust indicate a commercial success.
It is estimated that forty per cent of
all the White Pine lumber manufactured
in this country is used for boxes.
In some parts of Russia the only food
for the people consists at present of
acorns, leaves and the soft bark of trees.
The Argentine Republic, which has
no timber of any account, imported last
year 48 million feet of White Pine, 68
million feet of Spruce, and 88 muilhon
feet ol=Pitch. hime:
W. H. Mills, of San Francisco, has
been appointed honorary expert in the
Forestry and Fisheries Department of
the Paris Exposition of 1900 by U. S.
Commissioner-General Peck.
A Canadian expert in forestry, John
Durkin, died last month at the General
Hospital in Toronto. He was 57 years
of age, and was an official in the woods
and forests branch of the Ontario Crown
Lands Department.
Thirty-two thousand acres of timber-
lands in Raleigh County, West Va.,
were bought two weeks ago by the Bow-
man Lumber Company of Williamsport,
Pa., their total holdings now being
65,000 acres, all contiguous.
Forest fires in the vicinity of Lyon
Mountain, near Plattsburg, N. Y., sev-
eral weeks ago drove game of all kinds
to the clearings, and, in some instances,
into the village. Deer, bear and wild-
cats were seen almost daily.
Paris contains more trees than any
city in the world. These trees are prin-
cipally of three kinds—the Chestnut and
Acacia, such as line the Champs Elysees,
and the Lime tree, which grows in such
abundance in the Bois de Boulogne and
on certain of the outer boulevards.
A marked illustration of changed con-
ditions in the Saginaw Valley, Michigan,
is shown by the reduced shipments by
water from that locality. A few years
ago ninety per cent of the mill product
went out by water, a single season’s ship-
ment once aggregating 858 million feet.
Last year the total amount was barely
go million feet.
A heavy purchase of timberland was
made last month when Michigan capital-
ists bought Jarge timber holdings near
San Bernardino, Cal. The property
comprises 6,000 acres of Pine land, a
sawmill of 50,000 feet daily capacity and
a box factory with similar capacity. The
standing timber on the purchased land
aggregates 82,000 feet.
On account of the high prices of cot-
tonwood a Memphis firm, one of the
largest box manufacturing concerns in
this country, has decided to try gum
in a number of its boxes. It is found
that the gum can be well dried, so that
there is no odor whatever about it, anda
fairly clear surface for lettering is
afforded.
The sale of the hardwood timber on
the Menominee Indian reservation has
been abandoned. The law providing
for the sale of timber on reservations
specifically names Pine, but does not
mention hardwood, and it is therefore
believed that the Indian Commissioner
has no authority to sell it without in-
structions from Congress.
Cuba increased its purchases of lum-
ber from the United States nearly three-
fold during the first four months of the
year, the shipments during that time of
year being valued at $607,563 as against
$258,076 during the corresponding
period of last year. The difference is
expected to be still greater later in the
year, for it will be less difficult, after the
hurricane season is passed, to secure
vessels for West Indian voyages.
pane dienge.
cana
ea ee ot ee
i ta ae
oe
1899.
Surveying Forest Lands.
A party of engineers left Albany, N. Y.,
the latter part of July to survey the tract
of forest land in the Adirondacks, re-
cently given by the State to Cornell
University for forest experimentation.
The land consists of 30,000 acres in
townships Nos. 23 and 26 of Franklin
County, in the vicinity of Saranac Lake.
The purchase of this tract, a year ago,
consumed the greater part of the appro-
priation ($500,000) made by the Legis-
lature of 1898 for the extension of forest
preserves.
Counterfeiting Nature.
Entertaining in ‘‘shanty style” is the
up-to-date method of affording recrea-
tion for one’s friends in the lumbering
districts of Canada. Recently a wealthy
lumberman took two hundred prominent
guests to his estate in the woods, where
modern conveniences were disdained for
the novel experience of a real ‘shanty
dinner,” with demonstrations of life in
a lumber camp. All the scenes were
represented ona beautiful lawn, which
for the time being was entirely trans-
formed into a wilderness which rivaled
the primeval forest.
A Montana Conflagration.
A press dispatch from Anaconda,
Mont., stated that a forest fire broke
out in the mountains west of that place,
in the vicinity of Mount Haggin, a fort-
night ago. The fire originated near the
base of the mountains from the camp-fire
of some picnickers. It spread rapidly
through the forest on the sides of the
mountain, both east and west, doing
great injury to the property of a number
of woodsmen. The fire was said to be
visible 100 miles away.
At midnight the sight was brilliant,
with the snow-capped peak of Mount
Haggin towering heavenward above the
mass of flames, which then covered sev-
eral thousand acres.- The mountain sides
are heavily wooded and there are no
prospects of rain. The fire must burn
ils way out, either to perpetual snow or
to the timber line.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
193
Canadian Incentive for Forest Study.
The Commissioner of Crown Lands
for Ontario offers a prize of $10 for a
paper on ‘‘The Forestry Problem as
Applied to Ontario,” to be written by
a graduate of the School of Practical
Science. No restriction is made as to
choice of subject. It may relate to the
engineering phase of forestry, to forest
fires and prevention, timber cutting,
forest reproduction, or any other allied
subject.
Papers are not to exceed 2,000 words,
and the successful manuscript is to be-
come the property of the Bureau of
Forestry for publication in the annual
report. Manuscripts are to be sent in
to the Bureau of Forestry on or before
December 1, 1899. The decision as to
the merit of the manuscripts will rest
with William Houston, M. A., McMaster
College; Alexander Kirkwood, Crown
Lands Department, and Thomas South-
worth, Clerk of Forestry.
The Signs of the Times.
This will probably be the last season
of the Sawyer & Austin mill at La Crosse,
Wis. For some time there have been
rumors that this would be the case, the
company sawing all the logs it can and
selling the remainder and take the mill
down to Pine Bluff, Ark. The stump-
age in the new purchase is said to be
about 800,000,000.
One more year and the great lumber
firm of Knapp, Stout & Co., of Menom-
onie, Wis., that has operated in that
section for forty years, will have cut the
last timber and the concern will take up
its residence in the South, where they
already have a large plant in operation.
Thus one by one the old lumber con-
cerns are winding up their affairs and
moving into the South or further West.
It was a source of great wealth, and
more fortunes have been made in lum-
bering than have been made out of any
one other product in the State.—7Zzhe
Lumberman’s Review.
194 THE FORESTER:
August,
Recent Publications.
Mr. Gifford Pinchot’s ‘‘ Primer of Forestry,”
Part I., which was reviewed in the July For-
ESTER, Will shortly be issued by the U.S. De-
partment of Agriculture as an official docu-
ment. It will be published as Bulletin No. 24
of the Division of Forestry. A great amount
of interest has been displayed in the book, and
it is sure to be widely read.
It is to be expected with confidence that the
book will quickly make its entrance into the
school-room and the school library, and there
prepare the way for its successor, ‘‘ Practical
Forestry,” and that the Primer in its complete-
ness will bring many fresh and enthusiastic
minds and hands to bear upon the forest studies
of their own country, which from day to day
are moving steadily to the front. By the time
the younger readers of Mr. Pinchot’s book have
become of age, or perhaps long before, the
profession of forestry will, past question, offer
inducements which will call for many of our
best and most efficient men.
The New York Agricultural Experiment
Station will shortly issue a circular desc: ibing
on2 of the enemies of forest trees—the Forest
Tent-Caterpillar. This insect has been abun-
dant this year throughout the central and east-
ern portions of New York. Thz2 caterpillars
resemble the common Apple-Tree tent-
caterp'llar, except that they have a row of
feed upon the foliage of a large variety of for-
est trees, especially Maple, Elm and Basswood,
also various kinds of fruit trees.
The caterpillars spin oblong, white co-
coons in any convenient place, along the fences,
in the grass, under rubbish, on the trunks of
the trees or partially concealed in a leaf wkich
bas been drawn about the cocoon. In about
ten days a brown moth will escape from each
healthy cocoon. Ina few days the females lay
their eggs. They are placed on the smaller
twigs in masses, reaching nearly or quite
around the twig, abruptly rounded at each end
and covered with a glistening, frothy varnish.
Each mass contains about 200eggs. The cater-
pillars do not come from the eggs until the
following Spring.
Every healthy cocoon that is destroyed
means one less moth, and, as a fair percentage
will be females, each one of which will probably
lay 200 or more eggs, it is apparent that col-
lecting and destroying of the cocoons means a_
decided decrease in the number of caterpillars
next year.
Early in Ju’y the egg masses appear on the
twigs. They will show plainer when the leaves
are gone this Fall. While it may be impracti-
cable, in most cases, to collect them from the
forest trees, on shade trees, which are not too
large, they can be easily found. On fruit trees
it is little trouble to find them. These egg
masses should be searched for especially when
cream white spots down the back instead of a
white stripe, as has the Apple-Tree tent-
caterpillar, They do not build a nest. They
pruning the trees. Whenever found they
should be destroyed at once. Bulletin sent
free upon request.
NOTE.
The edition of THE Forester for November,
1898, having been exhausted, it has been found
necessary to have a new one printed. Mem-
bers of the Association and subscribers who
may need copies of that issue (No, 11, Vol. IV,)
to complete files for binding, will be supplied
if they notify the publishers to that effect.
A limited number of complete copies of Vol.
IV of THE Forester are offered for sale. Price,
postpaid, $1.00, unbound; durably bound in
green cloth, $1.50.
4
a
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882.
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 1899.
President.
Hon. JAmMes Witson, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President, Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. FERNow. F, H. NEWELL.
Recording Secretary and Treasurer,
GEORGE P. WHITTLESEY.
Directors.
James WILSON, CHARLES C, BINNEY. EDWARD A. Bowers. FREDERICK V, COVILLE
B. E. FERNow. HENRY GANNETT, ARNOLD HAGUE. F, H. NEwELL.
GeEorGE W. McLanmauHan, GIFFORD PINCHOT. GrorRGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Vice Presidents,
Sir H. G. Joty pE Lorsinikre, Pointe Platon, Ws. E. CHanpDLeEr, Concord, N,. H.
Quebec. Joun GiFForD, Princeton, N. J.
CHARLES C, GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska. EpwarpD F, Hopart, Santa Fe, N. M.
CHARLES Monr, Mobile, Ala. WarREN Hictey, New York, N, Y.
TD. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz. J. A. Hoimes, Raleigh, N. C.
Tuomas C. McRAg, Prescott, Ark. W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
AxsBoTT KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal. REUBEN H. Warpber, North Bend, Ohio
E. T. Ensicn, Colorado Springs, Colo. WiuiaMm T, LittTie, Perry, Okla.
RosBerRT Brown, New Haven, Conn. E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del. J. T. RorHrock, West Chester, Pa.
A. V. CLusss, Pensacola, Fla. H. G. RussE1, E. Greenwich, R. I.
R. B. REpparD, Savannah, Ga. H. A. GREEN, Chester, S. C.
J. M. Courter, Chicago, Ill. Tuomas T, Wricut, Nashville, Tenn, -
James Troop, Lafayette, Ind. W. GoopricH Jones, Temple, Texas.
Tuos. H. MacBripg, Iowa City, Iowa, C. A. WHITING, Salt Lake, Utah.
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans. REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt.
Joun R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky. D. O. Nourse, Blacksburg, Va.
Lewis Jounson, New Orleans, La. EpMuND S. Meany, Seattle, Wash.
Joon W. GarreTT, Baltimore, Md. A. D. Horxins, Morgantown, W. Va.
Joun E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me. H. C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
J. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass. Extwoop Meap, Cheyenne, Wyo.
W. J. BEAL, Agricultural College, Mich. Grorce W. McLananan, Washington, D.C
C. C. ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn. Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo. Wm. Litrie, Montreal, Quebec.
CHARLES E, Bessey, Lincoln, Neb. Lieut. H. W. Frencu, Manila, P. I.
The object of this Association is to promote :
1. A more rational and conservative treatment of the forest resources of this continent.
2. The advancement of educational, legislative and other measures tending to promote
this object.
3. The diffusion of knowledge regarding the conservation, management and renewal of
forests, the methods of reforestation of waste lands, the proper utilization of forest
products, the planting of trees for ornament, and cognate subjects of arboriculture,
Owners of timber and woodlands are particularly invited to join the Association, as well as
are all persons who are in sympathy with the objects herein set forth,
THE FORESTER:
THE, INCREASING INTEREST
in the history of American forests and the efforts that have been made
for their conservation, development, and use, has led THE ForESTER to
secure, for the benefit of its readers, a number of complete sets of the
“Proceedings of the American Forestry Congress” and
“Proceedings of the American Forestry Association ”
covering a period from December, 1888, to December, 1897. These
issues include many valuable papers on forestry as read at the various
annual meetings throughout the country during the years named,
including the sessions in
WASHINGTON, QUEBEC, ATLANTA, GA., BROOKLYN, N. Y,
SPRINGFIELD, MASS., ASHEVILLE, N. C., NASHVILLE, TENN., and the
WORLD'S FAIR CONGRESS IN 18093.
Those who desire a complete library to keep pace with the rapidly
advancing interest in forestry can hardly afford to be without these
valuable pamphlets. The complete series, covering the years named,
will be sent postpaid to any address in the United States at the
following prices:
In one large volume
Handsomely bound in red cloth, with gilt lettering
and re-enforced corners ‘ : : $2.00
Just as durably but less ornately, in green . 1.75
THE ForeESTER will endeavor to supply separate pamphlets upon application,
at a uniform price of 25 cents, whenever complets sets will not be broken thereby.
For any further information address
THE FORESTER.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Kindly mention THE ForEsTER in writing
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION:
“Valuable . . . cannot fail to be of the ‘The sections are marvels of mechanical
greatest practical assistance.”—evzew of dexterity . . . most interesting.” —/Vew
Reviews. York Times.
PUBLICATION on the trees of the
United States illustrated by actual
specimens of the woods, showing three
distinct views of the grain of each spe-
cies, with full explanatory text. (Sam-
ples of the specimens used, 10 cents.)
““Exceedingly valuable for study. A
work where plant life does the writing *~
and no one can read without thinking.” —
G. A. Parker, Hartford, Conn.
“Most valuable and the price reason-
able.’’—Prof. C. E. Bessey, Lincoln, Neb.
Preparations of Woods for Stereop-
ticon and Microscope.
Wooden Cross-Section Cards for fancy
and business purposes. (Samples free.)
Views of Typical Trees showing habits of
growth, Write for circulars, addressing
R. B. HOUGH.,
10 Collins St., Lowville, N-. Y.
|| HOUGH'S “AMERICAN WOODS.”
PREPARATIONS OF WOODS FOR STEREOPTICON AND MICROSCOPIC
VIEWS OF TYPICAL TREES, WOODEN CROSS-SECTION CARDS.
H. J. KOKEN C. P. HANCOCK
Ne
high-Class Designs and
Illustrations
Half Tone and Line
Engraving
Brass and Metal Signs
Rubber Stamps
TENTH S1REET AND PENNA. AVENUE, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Kindly mention THE Forester in writing.
THE] FORESTER.
BEREA COLLEGE,
BEREA, KENTUCKY.
A YEAR’S WORK IN FORESTRY IS OFFERED.
Local Forest Growth Affords Fine Facilities for Study.
66g1 ‘€1 raquiaydas suadg wisay [ey
: me = rg
—=—& a >“ pine, ea we
Excellent Advantages at Moderate Expense.
LINCOLN HALL, BEREA COLLEGE.
aYFae'™ HOKTICULTQRE “Stn?
For full information address
S. C. MASON, M. Se.,
Professor of Horticulture and Forestry.
FF, R.o Mit Vee.
Consulting Forester,
Mahwah N43
Kindly mention THe Forester 1n writing,
FORE PROBLEM IN THE Weal
Vor. V. SEPTEMBER, 1899.
iT he Forester
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
devoted to the care and use of
forests and forest trees and .)
to related subjects. OS
< WO
a ll
The American Forestry Association.
SS OE:
Price 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
14
i)
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
Enterediat the Post Office in Washingtor, D. C., as second class matter.
PORTO RIAN = MINNESOTA'S
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
GROVE OF WILD CHERRY TREES IN NORTH CAROLINA cccssscccscccssssessesctscsssseen Frontispiece. —
Tue Uniren States (FOREST RANGER SYSTEM ccosscctiercerctdesmpredrieealetdnien ninco 195
An Official Review.
By the Commissioner of the General Land Office of the Depart-
ment of the Interior. f
THE FOREST PROBLEM IN THE: WEST 3. ee a a
A Paper Read at the Summer Meeting. :
(Number Five of the Series.)
By the President of the Forest and Water Society of Southern
California.
Minnesota’s ProposED New NaTIONAL PaRK
RII ens he UAELOE ibe ( E 204
Formation of a Forest Association. 4
PORES’ CONDITIONS “OF [PORTO WRICO sh Oa a a ea 206
First Paper—Conditions affecting Forest Growth.
(By courtesy of the Secretary of Agriculture.) i
ONTARIO (FOREST RESERVE 6 occcccc ccc e canada dn 9 8 UN) RR Se ne 210° i.
THE AMERICAN \FoRESTRY ASSOCIATION! ...c00.000 ou ae fae APES) UBS Maa 211 )a
A Special Meeting at Columbus, Ohio. |
CURRENT (COMMENT 200001000 oe oe a OU ONC Ea pe Ucar 212
Results will Compensate. .,
Investigation of Red Fir.
A Popular Parasite.
POREST PROTECTION fi 2.0002 GS A ae eA Sn Nae a 213, q
Minnesota’s Example.
Forest Fire Laws in Pennsylvania.
An Enlightened Policy.
The Dawn of Success. iH)
BUDYTORVPAT rei ca ae EI eee freee ay HEME SENS ALND MARU, Adel) 21 5 i ;
Interest in New Colds Possessions. j
An Announcement of Interest.
Live Features of Coming Issues.
Chips and Clips—News Items.
Forest Fires In Three States.
The Power of Public Sentiment,
Aboriginal Simplicity.
An Alaskan Enterprise.
A Relic of Old Manila.
A Friendly Suggestion.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS .cccsecessccsosssssesses 34
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
POR ST TRY =SeHOoLt
At BILTMORE N. C.
For circular and information apply to
G2A; SCHENCK Enh.. D.,
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE
The Foremost School for Young Women
=... IN AMERICAU~
ATIONAL PARK SEMINARY is named from its proximity to the great National Rock
WD Park, recently purchased by the Government and designed to become the most beauti-
ful reservation of the National Capital. This whole region is marvelously beautiful and
picturesque with its combination of forest, stream, hill and dale. It rises gradually
from the City of Washington till at Forest Glen the Seminary stands on an eminence four hun-
dred feet above the level of the city. Forty acres of sunny slopes and wild ravines, towering
trees and winding paths, babbling brocks and tangled dells, combine to form a site seldom
rivaled in varied and inspiring scenery, where the beautiful zs utilized to develop character,
The altitude of its location precludes possibility of malaria, The equable climate, free from
the rigors of a northern winter promotes health by inviting out-door sports. The building
itself crowns the highest hill and was erected and equipped at an expense of $80,000; it has a
frontage of two hundred and seventy-five feet, with three large center halls thirty by forty feet
on each floor, which afford a charming rendezvous for student life; heated by steam and lighted
by gas, with bath rooms plentiful and sanitary arrangements complete. The house is situated
so that every room gets the sun at some time during the day.
The close proximity to the National Capital, with all the educational and social advan-
tages appertaining to such a residence, offers wonderful facilities to its pupils. The Seminary
is within twenty minutes of the heart of the city and, with twenty trains daily, besides electric
cars, easy access is afforded to all the Libraries, Museums, Departments of Government, Con-
gress and Foreign Legations. These with the official and social life of the National Capital offer
opportunities for profitable study.
The course of study is planned to produce womanly women. There are twenty-two
teachers and the limited number of pupils permits of much personal attention and individual
instruction foreach. Health zs a matter of first consideration always. There are no nerve-
straining examinations, Thirty different States represented among the pupils, bringing
together the daughters of representatives families throughout the entire Union.
The Seminary’s watchword: *‘ We consider text-book training only a part of our work as
educators, We shall be satisfied with nothing less than the development of the whole beng.”
The yearly expenses at National Park + Address
are $350 to $500. Early application is neces- in
sary. Catalogue giving views of the school } A | eg Vie CASSEDY, Principal,
and opinion of enthusiastic patrons will be
sent on application. P. O. Box 122. Forest Glen, Md.
Kindly mention THE ForRESTER in writing.
THE FORESTER.
HENRY ROMEIKE,
The First Established and [ost Complete
Newspaper Cutting Bureau in the World.
10 Pitta vy ciiue New York.
Established London 1881, New York 1884.
Branches: London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney.
‘The Press Cutting bureau.
which I established and have carried on since 1881 in London and
1884 in New York, reads, through its hundreds of employes, every
newspaper and periodical of importance published in the United
States, Canada and Europe. It is patronized by thousands of sub-
scribers, professional or business men, to whom are sent, day by day,
newspaper clippings, collected from all these thousands of papers,
referring either to them or any given subject... .
Ficnry Romici=e
@, 110 Fifth Awenue, New York.
Kindly mention THE ForesTER in writing.
easy |
centane.
i
WILD CHERRY (PRUNUS SEROTINA), IN NORTH CAROLINA.
GROVE OF
A
d for making fine furniture.
ing an
ish
A very valuable timber for inside furn
The Forester.
Vor Vv.
SEPTEMBER, 1899.
No. 9.
The United States Forest Ranger System.
An Official Review of the National Forest Reserves and their
Administration.
BY THE COMMISSIONER OF
OVX bebs,
Much has been written as to the
theory of forest preservation and the
resulting benefits, but little is known, to
the general public, of the administra-
tive details in connection with the ob-
jects in view. It may be of interest,
therefore, to the readers of THE For-
ESTER to be informed of some of the
machinery which experience has thus far
shown to be necessary and practicable.
In the eleven States and Territories of
Mxazona, Calitornia, Colorado; Idaho,
Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, South
Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyo-
ming there are 36 forest reserves, con-
taining an aggregate area of about 46,-
000,000 acres. These reserves are
divided into nine districts, each having
a general officer, known as a Forest
Superintendent, in charge. Each dis-
trict is divided into supervisors’ dis-
tricts, the number depending on the
number of reserves, total area and diffi-
culties of supervision, as affected by
topography and liability to fires and
depredations of all kinds. For each of
these supervisors’ districts there is ap-
pointed an officer called a forest super-
visor, who has direct charge of the re-
serve ora portion of a reserve forming
his district. There are 39 such super-
visors’ districts. Each reserve is di-
vided into patrol districts, the size of
THE GENERAL
DEPARTMENT
LAND OFFICE
OF THE INTERIOR.
each patrol depending upon topography
and the liability to fires and depreda-
tions; and a forest ranger, whose head-
quarters shall be at some central point
in his subdivision, 1s appointed for each
such district. There are 350 patrol
districts, or rangers’ subdivisions, in the
36 reserves. Two hundred and fifty rang-
ers for immediate duty were authorized
May 2, 1899, to serve until October 15,
1899. One hundred additional rangers
were authorized to enter upon duty July
I5, toserve until October 15,1899. The
rangers report to the supervisors and are
under their immediate supervision. The
supervisors report to the superintendents
and the superintendents report to the
Commissioner of the General Land
Office in Washington.
The forest superintendents are di-
rectly responsible to the Commissioner
of the General Land Office for the
proper administration of the reserves.
They receive from the Commissioner all
orders and instructions, and are required
to see that they are carried out. The
forest supervisor is responsible for the
work pertaining to his district, and for
the proper discharge of duties by the
rangers, and reports to the superin-
tendent. The respective duties of these
officials are described in detail in the
following pages.
196 THE FORESTER.
The Superintendent.
The forest superintendents are re-
quired to post themselves thoroughly as
to all the rules and regulations govern-—
ing the reserve, as laid down in a gen-
eral circular of instructions issued June
30, 1897, and reissued, with amend-
ments, August 5, 1898; and to see that
these regulations are enforced, to ob-
serve the results of their operation and
to report thereon. They are to obtain
information against persons violating
the provisions of the forest fire law, and
report it to the proper United States at-
torney, and to render all necessary
assistance in their prosecution. They
are to give special attention to the in-
structions regarding forest fires and to
co-operate with the supervisors in all
large and important fires which are lia-
ble to get beyond the control of the
supervisors and their rangers, and, when
necessary, to employ additional help to
extinguish the fires.
They are required to study the effect
of sheep grazing upon the reserves ; to
examine as to the question of the free
use of timber and stone as provided by
the regulations; timber trespasses ; lands
in the reserves more valuable for mineral
than for timber; areas in the reserves
more valuable for agricultural than for
forest uses. They also have charge of
the appraisement of timber to be sold,
and many other similar duties. They
promulgate all orders from the Commis-
sioner, and examine and pass upon all
reports made to him by the supervisors
and rangers.
The Supervisor.
The Supervisor must have his head-
quarters in or near the reserve of which
he Ms anchatee.. He must. familiares
himself with all the conditions existing
in his district, especially in regard to
forest fires: He must see that notices of
the forest-fire act of February 24, 1897,
which are printed on cloth, are posted in
conspicuous places in the reserve ; that
all campers, hunters and others found in
the reserve are duly warned as to their
camp fires and their attention called to
September,
the fire act. They have immediate su-
pervision of the rangers and are required
to be in and through the reserve to see
that the time of the rangers is fully occu-
pied in. patrolling their districts, clearing
up old trails, cutting new trails and per-
forming their duties generally. They
make weekly reports of daily service
rendered, and monthly reports on the
general conditions existing in the reserve.
They also make detailed reports to the
superintendent on forest fires, showing :
First Class: The number of camp or
small fires found left burning, which
were afterward extinguished by the for-
est officers or rangers.
Second Class: The number of fires
(not included in the first class) which
had gained considerable headway before
being located and extinguished. Total
area, in acres, burned over; number of
volunteers, if any, who aided; number
of extra men hired, if any, to aid; total
amount paid for the extra help; amount
of other extra expense incurred (not in-
cluding amount paid for extra help and
for tools).
Third Class: Number of large and im-
portant fires requiring extraordinary ef-
fort, time and expense to extinguish (not
included in the first or second class),
which were extinguished ; total area, in
acres, burned over; number of volun-
teers, if any, who aided ; number of ex-
tra men hired to aid; total amount paid
for the extra help ; total amount of other
extra expense (not including amount
paid for extra help and for tools).
All Classes: Total amount expended
during the month for tools, the dates of
fires, the names and addresses of the par-
ties responsible for their starting, the
origin, the damage done, the probable
market value of the timber burned and
the effect upon the forest cover and
water supply.
The Ranger.
The Rangers are required to be con-
stantly on guard, to patrol their districts,
to extinguish camp and other fires, to re-
port to the supervisor all fires as indi-
cated above, and to carry out their in-
ee
1899.
structions as prescribed by a general
circular dated May 12,1899. They make
monthly reports of daily service ren-
dered, which reports are examined by
the supervisors and superintendents and
are then forwarded by the superintend-
ents to the United States General Land
Office.
A ranger must provide himself with
horse and equipment, while the Govern-
ment furnishes him with the various im-
plements necessary to open trails in the
dense forest, to construct fire barriers
and to extinguish and surround fires.
Each ranger is provided with a nickel
badge, which is worn as an evidence of
his official authority.
The official titles of the reserves and
the men in charge of them are as follows :
Arizona and New Mexico.
The superintendent of the six reserves
in Arizona and New Mexico is W. H.
Buntain, of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
These reserves have an aggregate area
of 7,234,080 acres, consisting of, in Ari-
zona, Grand Cafion, 1,851,520 acres;
San Francisco Mountains, 975, 360 acres ;
Black Mesa, 1,658,880 acres, and Pres-
cott, 10,240 acres; in New Mexico,
Pecos River, 411,040 acres; Gila River
2,327,040 acres.
This district is divided into six super-
visors’ districts, with Fred. S. Breen, of
Flagstaff, Arizona, as Supervisor of the
Francisco Mountains Reserves ; *W. P.
Hermann, Flagstaff, Arizona, Supervisor
of the Grand Cafion; Mathew H. Rowe,
Showlow, Arizona, Supervisor of the
Black Mesa; W. H. Thayer, Prescott,
Arizona, Supervisor of the Prescott;
J. B. Wilhoit, Pecos River, New Mexico,
Supervisor of the Pecos River Reserve,
and Albert S. Osterman, Silver City,
New Mexico, Supervisor of the Gila
River Reserve.
Twenty-eight rangers were assigned
to this district in May for immediate
{Since the preparation of this article the
death of Supervisor Hermann has been re-
ported to the General Land Office. His former
district has been placed temporarily under the
direction of Supervisor Breen,—ED. ]
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
197
duty, and, on July 15, nine additional
for the Arizona Reserves and five addi-
tional for the New Mexico Reserves,
making the total force of rangers for the
Superintendent’s district forty-two.
The twenty-eight first assigned were
distributed as follows: Grand Cafion
Reserve, 5; Prescott Reserve, none (the
Supervisor acting as Ranger); San Fran-
cisco Mountains, 8; Pecos River, 5, and
Gila River, 5. The fourteen additional
rangers were appointed as rangers-at-
large, being assigned from time to time
to such reserves as the Superintendent
sees fit.
Northern California.
The Superintendent of the three re-
serves in Northern California is Charles
S. Newhall, of Fresno, Cal. These re-
serves contain an aggregate area of
4,923,535 acres, and consist of the Stanis-
laus Forest Reserve, 691,200 acres;
Sierra Forest Reserve, 4,096,000 acres;
and the Lake Tahoe Reserve, 136,335
acres.
There are four supervisors’ districts,
Withee ©. Bartlett. sballaceCaloamwas
Supervisor of the Lake Tahoe Reserve,
having also the general supervision of
the Stanislaus, of which last-named Re-
serve George Langenberg is the Super-
visor in immediate charge, reporting to
Mr. Bartlett, J. W. Dobson, Raymond,
Cal., Supervisor of the Northern Divi-
sion of the Sierra Reserve, and Harrison
White, Visalia, Cal., Supervisor of the
Southern Division of the Sierra Reserve.
Twenty-six rangers were first author-
ized, and 8 additional, on duty at large,
for assignment to duty on July 15.
Of those for immediate duty there were
assigned to the Stanislaus 4, and to the
Sierra Reserve 22.
Southern California.
The Superintendent of the five South-
ern California reserves is B. F. Allen, of
Los Angeles, Cal. These reserves con-
tain an aggregate area of 3,784,594
acres, consisting of the Pine Mountain
and Zaca Lake Reserve, with an area of
1,644,594 acres; San Bernardino, 737,-
198 THE FORESTER.
280 acres; San Gabriel, 555,520 acres;
San Jacinto, 737,280 acres, and the
Trabuco Cafion, 109,920 acres. They
are divided into five supervisors’ dis-
tricts, with B. F. Crawshaw, Santa
Barbara, Cal., Supervisor of the West-
ern Division of the Pine Mountain and
Zaca Lake; Willis M. Slosson, Nord-
hoff, Cal., Supervisor of the Eastern Di-
vision of the Pine Mountain and Zaca
Lake; W. A. Buick, San Bernardino,
Cal., Supervisor of the San Bernardino,
and W. A. Border, Los Angeles, Cal ,
Supervisor of the San Gabriel. The
Trabuco Cafion and San Jacinto form
the other supervisors’ districts over
which Mr. Buick will soon assume juris-
diction, a contingency caused by some
special work, and Grant I. Taggart will
take his place as Supervisor of the San
Bernardino.
Forty-five rangers in May and June,
and 10 entering on duty July 15 were
authorized. There have been assigned
to the Western Division of the Pine
Mountain and Zaca Lake 8; Eastern D1-
vision of Pine Mountain and Zaca
Lake, 8; San Bernardino, 8, and to the
San Gabriel, 12.
Colorado and Utah.
The Superintendent of the five re-
serves in Colorado and the two in Utah
is W. T. S. May, of Denver, Colorado.
These reserves have an aggregate area of
4,046,720 acres, comprising, in Colorado,
the Battlement Mesa, 858,240 acres;
Pike’s Peak, 184,320 acres; Plum Creek,
£79; 200 (acres: South “Platte; 683,520
acres, and the White River Plateau,
1,290,000 Lacres,) In jUitah, the: “Bish
Lake, 67,840 acres, and Uintah, 875,520
acres.
This district is divided into seven su-
pervisors’ districts, each reserve consti-
tuting a district. E. C. Carter, Colorado
Springs, Colo., is the Supervisor of the
Pike’s Peak Reserve; Oliver T. Curtis,
Debeque, Colo., of the Battlement Mesa;
Stephen H. Standart, Pine, Colo., of the
South Platte; Frank J. Steinmetz, Col-
orado Springs, Colo., of the Plum Creek
and White River Plateau, and George
September,
F. ,Bucher, .Coalvalle;s Witah; sof - the
Uintah and Fish Lake reserves.
Sixteen rangers were assigned in June
for immediate duty, and 18 additional
entered on duty July 15. Of the first-
named on duty 2 were assigned to the
Pike’s Peak Reserve, 2 to the Plum
Creek, 3 to the South’ Platte: 2ate the
the Battlement Mesa, 3 to the White
River Plateau, 1 to the Fish Lake and
3 to the Uintah.
Idaho.
The Superintendent of those portions
of the Bitter Root and Priest River
Reserves lying in Idaho is James Glen-
denning, of Grangeville, Idaho. This
area consists of about 3,997,160 acres—
about 3,456,000 acres of the Bitter Root
and 541,160 acres of the Priest River
Reserve being in this State.
There are three supervisors’ districts,
the Bitter Root having two. Benton
Mires, Elk City, Idaho, is the Supervisor
for the southern part of the Bitter Root,
and W. D. Robbins, Grangeville, Idaho,
for the north end. Robert S. Bragaw,
Priest River, Idaho, is the Supervisor of
the Priest River.
Fifteen rangers were assigned for im-
mediate duty—r1o0 to the Bitter Root
and 5 to the Priest River Reserve.
Eleven at large for duty from July 15
were authorized. ‘
Montana.
The Superintendent of all the reserves
in Montana is J. B. Collins, Missoula,
Montana. These contain an area of
5,040,000 acres, comprising that portion
of the Bitter Root Reserve lying in Mon-
tana, with an area of 691,200 acres; the
Flathead 1,382,400 acres; the Lewis and
Clarke, 2,926,080 acres, and the Gallatin,
40, 320 acres.
Each of these constitutes a super-
visor’s District, John B. Weber, Hamil-
ton, Montana, being the Supervisor of
the Bitter Root Reserve in Montana;
Gust Moser, Missoula, Montana, Super-
visor of the Lewis and Clarke Reserve,
and W. J. Brennan, Kalispell, Montana,
supervisor of the Flathead Reserve. No
eS eS
1899
supervisor for the Gallatin Reserve has
yet been named permanently.
Twenty-nine rangers were assigned to
these reserves in June for immediate
duty, 8 being for the Bitter Root, in
Montana, g for the Flathead, 6 for
the Lewis and Clarke and 6 for the
Gallatin. There were also authorized
for these reserves, 10n July 15, g ad-
ditional rangers, for assignment to duty
at the discretion of the Superintendent,
making a total force of 38 rangers.
Oregon.
The three forest reserves in Oregon—
the Cascade Range Reserve, area 4,492,-
800 acres; the Bull Run, area 142,080
acres, and the Ashland, area 18,560
acres, or an aggregate area of 4,653,440
acres—constitutea Superintendent’s Dis-
trict, of which S. B. Ormsby, Salem,
Oregon, is the Superintendent.
There are three supervisors’ districts,
the Northern Division of the Cascade
Range Reserve and the Bull Run being
under the supervision of W. H. Dufur,
Dufur, Oregon; the Central Division of
the Cascade Range forming another su-
pervisor’s district, under Ralph b
Dixon, of Roseburg; and the Southern
Division and the Ashland another, in
charge of Nat Langell, Jacksonville.
Forty rangers were assigned for the
entire season— 37 for the Cascade Range,
2 forthe Bull Runand 1 for the Ashland.
South Dakota and Wyoming.
The Black Hills Reserve, in South
Dakota and Wyoming, the Teton, the
Yellowstone National Park Timber Land
Reserve, and the Big Horn Reserve,
make a district of which C. W. Garbutt,
Sheridan, Wyoming, is the Superin-
tendent. The total area of these reserves
Is 4,407,840 acres, the Black Hills, in
South Dakota, having 1,166,080 acres,
and in Wyoming 45,600 acres; the Teton
829,440 acres; the Yellowstone 1,239,040,
and the Big Horn 1,127,680 acres.
There are four supervisors’ districts.
Charles Deloney, of Jackson, Wyoming,
is the Supervisor of the Teton and that
portion of the Yellowstone lying imme-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
199
diately south thereof; A. D. Chamber-
lain, Cody, Wyoming, is the Supervisor
of the remainder of the Yellowstone Na-
tional Park Reserve; W. N. Jackson,
Big Horn, Wyoming, is the Supervisor
of the Big Horn Reserve, and H. G.
Hamaker, Custer, S. D., is the Super-
visor of the Black Hills Reserve.
Twenty-seven rangers—g for the
Black Hills, 5 for the Yellowstone,
8 tor -thessbig’ Elorn and 5° for the
Teton were authorized for immediate
duty in June, and for duty July 15 9
additional for the Black Hills and g
additional for the Wyoming reserves.
W ashington.
The Superintendent of the reserves in
Washington is D. B. Sheller, Tacoma,
Washington. These contain an aggre-
gate area of 8,121,880 acres, comprising
that part of the Priest River Reserve
which lies in this State, area 103,960
acres; the Washington, 3,594,240 acres;
the Olympic, 2,188,800 acres, and the
Mount Rainier, 2,234,880 acres.
The Washington and Priest River form
a supervisor’s district, of which Edward
Burin, Custer, Washington, is the Su-
pervisor; F. C. Mathewson, of Shelton,
is the Supervisor for the Olympic, and
George McCoy, of Napavine, for the
Mount Rainier.
Twenty-three rangers—8 for the Wash-
ington, 6 for the Olympic and g for the
Mount Rainier—were authorized for im-
mediate duty, and for duty on July 15
eleven more as rangers at-large.
In concluding this review it may be
proper to state that only persons physic-
ally, as well as otherwise, qualified are
selected for the position of ranger. Old
age, indolence, weakness and intemper-
ance are disqualifications which, when
made known to the Department, will
lead at once to the dismissal of the ob-
jectionable ranger. These officers are
the sentinels in the forest, and absence
fromtheir post of dutyis not permissible.
This regulation guarantees constant vigil-
ance in the hour of fire peril or timber
depredation.
BINGER HERMANN.
200
THE FORESTER.
September,
The Forest Problem In The West.
Being a Paper Read at the Summer Meeting, Los Angeles, Cal., 1899.
(NUMBER FIVE OF THE SERIES. )
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE FOREST
The economic interest of the Ameri-
can people in their forests everywhere,
and especially in the West, is to preserve
the integrity and water-holding power of
the mountain water-sheds of the country.
This is clearly the public interest, whether
these mountain water-sheds could or
could not support by their products and
wise use asystem of management guaran-
teeing the integrity of their water-hold-
ing power. The public interest is both
economic and humanitarian in preserv-
ing the mountain forest covering. With-
out forest preservation most of our re-
maining wild public land districts cannot
be settled, and districts already settled
are likely to lose in man-sustaining
power. This has occurred already over
wide areas of the world from undue
forest denudation, on the one side by the
irregular or exhausted water supply and
on the other by the destructive action of
flood and torrent through sudden rain-
fall delivery from bared areas. The
proper preservation of forest balance
does not require that ripe timber should
not be cut, or that other uses, such as
mining, should not be enjoyed.
The interest and requirements of dis-
tricts vary in what treatment of forested
areas is most advantageous. In most of
the West and in all of the Southwest,
the conditions of topography, rainfall
and climate exact the highest care and
treatment of the comparatively small
forested area, all of which in the South-
west is on mountains or high plateaus
only.
In this district it were better, for the
country and for its people, that no use
should be made of forest lands or for-
est products than to have the forests
wasted and burned as at present is gen-
erally being done.
However, no such drastic remedy as
the isolation of the forests from human
AND WATER SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
use is necessary. .Under a proper and
intelligent forest system -the integrity of
the water-sheds can be safely maintained,
and yet plenty of use can be found for
both land and products; uses that can
go on without fatal results to the forested
area.
It is only in the extreme southwestern
mountains that the conditions are such
as to counter-indicate the cutting of any
timber or even firewood in the mount-
ains. But even here mining, resorts,
power companies and irrigation works
can be established with no disadvantage
to the trees or chaparral, but rather to
their increased safety. The nation can
gain by preserving its forests in safe
proportion, and can in no way consent
to see this proportion of safety to its
people diminished. The nation will
gain by forest preservation even though
the system be without any resources or
power of self-sustenance.
While forestry has become a living
issue in the Atlantic States, through the
depletion of perennial flow of springs
and streams and increased flood action,
and probably by greater and increasingly
injurious extremes of frost and heat aris-
ing from forest destruction, in the West
and Southwest effective forestry is a
question of life or death.
With irrigated districts, present or
prospective, the conservation of the
Forest Natural Reservoirs is at least as
important as the conservation of any
part of the rainfall by artificial storage
diversion or distributing systems.
’ The lands on the mountains and water-
sheds in this part of the United States
are in large part Federal public lands.
By the extensive reservation of forested
mountain lands from sale or settlement,
the Federal Government has committed
itself to a rational forest system. What
the situation demands and what the
1899.
people desire is a forest management of
these important mountain water-sheds
that will serve the highest interests of
Interests built.
up under the neglect and waste and.
the entire community.
abuses of the Government’s forestal
mistakes and laches should be treated
with all the consideration that the safety
of the communities affected and the
welfare of the great majority of the
people will permit.
All foresters, and especially all fores-
ters in the Southwest, endorse, and must
endorse a Federal forest policy, whether
the forest management pays its way or
not.
The Government forestry systems of
European nations, of Canada, Algiers,
India and Australia, are self-sustaining,
and for the most part bring in consider-
able revenues. Curiously enough, it is
in the countries like Spain, Arabia,
Persia and Turkey, in which forestry is
neglected, where national productive
power has most diminished, and in
which both nation and people individu-
ally are poorest.
The success of other countries in
maintaining national forest systems in-
vites our attention to this subject.
The principal revenue from all forest
systems is from the sale of forest pro-
ducts. These are mainly merchantable
timber and fuel. The Western districts
in which the principal areas of public
lands exist, are situated so that one part
or ancther of California would resemble
their conditions closely enough for pre-
liminary plans and outlines of forest
management appropriate for the entire
Western public land area.
California contains mountains and
plains, valleys, farm lands and deserts.
In the northwest its climate is one of, if
not the moistest in the United States;
-in the southeast it is one of the most
arid. In the Redwood belt there is a
very large rainfall, and almost continu-
ous fog and mist between the rainy sea-
sons. In the Cocopah desert years pass
without a drop of rain, or even a cloudy
day. California conditions, carefully
considered, can do much to outline a
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
201.
forest and public land policy.
the public land situation here? as
California contains 99, 361,083 acres of
land, of which
The area appropriated is — 40,392,418-acres.-”
The area unappropriated is 43,841,044 ~‘.,
The area reserved is 15, U2 7RO2 Taeeniee
99,361,083 acres.
What is
This gives a substantially accurate
picture of our land situation. In the
other Western States the public lands
are in much larger proportion, as an an-
nexed table will show.
The above figures, however, do not
give the exact facts. Of the appropri-
ated area some has gone to the State for
taxes. In some of the mountain coun-
ties this tax areais quite considerable.
The State Comptroller and the county
officers thus far have found no general
record of this tax land, therefore no one
can now tell to what it amounts.
Of the area reserved, a considerable
part is patented and in private hands.
In some reserved districts, the propor-
tion of private holdings is large, in oth-
ers very small.
The National Yosemite Park, of about
one million acres area, is a little more
than half in private hands The San
Gabriel Reserve, from the Cajon West
has a very small proportionate area in
private hands, while the San Bernardino
part of the forest reserves of the South
has a considerable area in private hands.
The Reserve System suggests the pol-
icy of Switzerland. Inthat republic ex-
perience has demonstrated the immedi-
ate and often awful results of forest de-
nudation on steep, high mountains to
lower agricultural lands
From this experience has been evolved
a forest system which lays out as a part
of its functions forest reserve districts.
The lands within these, whether public
or private, are under public control, and
not a tree can be cut without public au-
thority. We may come to this system
some day.
There are in this State about 83,000
square miles of public lands in the
hands of the Federal Government. An
202
examination made by expert civil
engineers on section lines, and mapped
by the old State Board of Forestry, shows
in its reports that the mountain land
with merchantable timber is substan-
tially allin private hands. There is,
speaking generally, no timber of mer-
chantable quality and accessibility in
California not in private hands.
Fuel and small wood costs more to
bring out of the high Sierras at present
than it will bring. There are restricted
districts where the waste and fallen wood,
or small standing timber could pay its
way for useas ties, posts, fuel or mining,
but no large revenue is in sight from this
source at present. Consequently, the
sources of revenue and support of for-
eign systems is absent in California.
We may assume that the known con-
ditions of California in this respect in one
or another of its districts apply to those
of the entire West.
There is, however, a source of reve-
nue to the Government from a rational
management of its mountain forest lands,
when handled in conjunction with the
development by public irrigation works
of the vast area of arid public land.
The reason why there is such a large
amount of public land in California and
in the West generally, is that the land
is allin an arid climate, and that it is
therefore incapable of supporting a
farmer or settler, without a secure sup-
ply of water for irrigation, and often for
domestic use.
The mountain forested areas are all
incapable of agriculture in the South-
west. There is consequently no gain of
productive area, as in the settlement of
Ohio, for instance, by denuding them.
On the other hand, these forests are the
natural reservoirs of the Southwest.
The forests in this section are of the
highest importance both to the irrigation
districts already developed, and also to
the enormous areas that may by future
irrigation works be made fertile.
Storage reservoirs, diversion works,
ditches, etc., are all safer and more per-
manent when under a forested water-
shed than when under a bare one. In
THE FORESTER.
September,
the first case, with forest covering, there
.is a minimum of flood action, and prac-
tically no torrential detritus to fill up the
works. From a denuded water-shed,
the water delivery is irregular, torren-
tial and detritus-laden.
The public land now at its limits, or
near its limitsof support of population,
can, by judicious irrigation works, be
made capable of supporting a popula-
tion of between fifty and one hundred
millions. Irrigated land has always
been as capable as that for supporting
the densest population from agricultural
returns. We see this in the history of
the Euphrates and the Nile. In both of
these cases, and in the more modern de-
velopments in India, we see that the im-
portant works were carried out by the
community or Government, were man-
aged by the community, are thus man-
aged, and that new work for further de-
velopment in the application of water
to land in genial and dry climates, such
as those of India and Egypt, is planned
or being executed solely as Government
undertakings.
There are three good reasons with us
for this policy. The first is that the
lands susceptible of improvement are
largely public lands, The second is that
the undertakings are too large for most
private initiative, and the third is that a
public administration of irrigated lands
is the only one in which the land occu-
pants can feel safe in not becoming serfs
of the water company, as 1s now practi-
cally the case in the rich, irrigated val-
ley of the Po, where the returns are
large, but the people in misery.
Governments in the past and Govern-
ments now recognize the advantage and
propriety of making their lands produc-
tive by public irrigation works. The
peoples who have done this in the past
have been among the greatest. One
of the most powerful governments of the
present day, that of Great Britain, is
now, as it long has been, engaged in
such irrigation development. The dam
on the River Nile, near Assouan, will be
the greatest land reclamation work in
the world. The values created by the
1899.
application of water to land in Egypt
will far exceed the values created by the
exclusion of water from land in Holland.
Both are Government undertakings.
In this country the Government has
undertaken land reclamation by- exclud-
ing water, as by the Mississippi dykes.
It has also added to land-values and
product-values by the construction of
harbors and canals, thus reducing or re-
moving freight tariffs or lighterage and
landing tariffs The States on, or hav-
ing rivers, have been benefited by this
policy. So also the Coast States, or
those on the Lakes or served by the
great Sault Ste. Marie Canal have been
benefited; so has the country generally
been benefited.
It is eminently proper that the people’s
Government should apply this policy to
the development of the rich and sunny
Western lands that cannot produce and
serve mankind without water. In this
case the benefit is direct to the public.
It is the public land that will be most
benefited. It is homes for the people
that will be created. It is of course
markets and a high productive power
population in our own bounds that we
thus create. It is the conservative agri-
culturist that we thus introduce and
encourage to balance the more radical
bodies of employes in the great manu-
‘facturing districts. Fifty million such
Americans will consume more American
products and support more American
trade than all our present foreign trade
combined.
Taking the public land area as a whole
we find some that is inherently worth-
less, some that can be made good and
productive, some where forests and their
products can be safely used under rea-
sonable regulations, some where the
forests can only be safeguarded, but not
used, as in the chaparral mountains of
the South, and a wide district that is at
present used for pasturage, excessive and
premature. The pastures thus constantly
deteriorate and carry less stock.
The public land pastures have deteri-
orated and are deteriorating in stock and
sheep-carrying power. Fighting and dis-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
203
order is everywhere present among the
pasture users. Sometimes they have
wars. These stock and sheep men, as
far as seen, welcomed a proposed system
of leasing the public lands appropriate
to pasture, under judicious restfiction as
to the number of stock permitted on
each section and the time of year when
thestock should goon. The public lands
in California have a present value for
pasturage that varies with seasons. It is
estimated to have an annual rental value
of not less than $250,000 and may ex-
ceed half a million dollars. Its rental
value varies with the seasonal rainfall.
The stockmen would be glad to pay rent
and thus know upon what feed they could
rely, without the present accompani-
ments of murder and arson.
Those districts where pasturage in-
jures the water-sheds could have the stock
reduced to a safe number by reasonable
regulation or entirely removed.
When we consider the vital impor-
tance of the entire forest question, and
past and present precedent in the matter
of forestry and irrigation; when we con-
sider the effect of forest denudation in
filling up navigable rivers and harbors,
the importance of water to miners, to
cities and to irrigators; when we further
reflect on the empire at our hand and in
our borders to be created by irrigation
works, we can agree that forests, reser-
voirs and public land management all
go hand in hand.
The land system asa unit can be self-
supporting and revenue producing. All
interests can be fairly dealt with and the
country brought to its highest productive
power.
Those who engage in promoting this
great work have strenuous efforts before
them; they deserve the garlands of re-
ward as civic patriots as much or more
than those who foment distant foreign
wars. The conquest of this empire
within our bounds for our own children
is more useful, more profitable, more
secure and more glorious than any for-
eign conquests can ever be.
ApBpot KINNEY,
Los Angeles, Cal.
204
THE FORESTER.
September,
Minnesota's Proposed New National Park.
An Organization Formed in Chicago to Secure the Perpetuation of Natural
Grandeur at the Headwaters of the Mississippi River.
The most important forest reserve pro-
ject ever inaugurated by public senti-
ment in the United States was success-
fully launched at Chicago on August II.
The meeting was held at the Chicago
Athletic Club, where there were assem-
bled deputations of prominent citizens
from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and
Chicago to consider the feasibility of
creating a grand national park and forest
reserve about the headwaters of the Mis-
sissippi River in Northern Minnesota.
This section is one of marvelous
natural beauty, where there are eleven
~ hundred lakes replete with fish, untram-
meled forest wilds abounding in game
and an ozone unsurpassed. © By ‘those
who have lived and hunted in that ‘region
its value as a health-resort is‘highly re-
garded. Its ‘location is one easily ac-
-cessible to great numbers of people.
Prominent among those who have
recognized the advisability of pre-empt-
ing these lands for the public, before
timber pillagers and forest fires have
marred the beauty of nature, has been
Col. John S. Cooper, of Chicago.
Two motives impelled him to arouse
public sentiment to action: First, the
duty of the National Government to take
such action as should make the head-
waters of the Mississippi common prop-
erty forever; second, the preservation for
historical,educational,sport and pleasure
purposes of a region which otherwise,
if left alone, is doomed ina short time to
become a barren waste, denuded of tim-
ber, crossed by dry water-w ays, unfit for
agriculture and the scene of disastrous
timber fires.
The enthusiasm evinced at the pre-
liminary meeting, to which reference was
made editorially inthe August ForEsTER,
left no doubt as to the immediate success
of the plan to form a national organiza-
tion. This having been done the future
seems propitious for favorable action by
Congress in consummation of the pro-
ject.
‘‘The Minnesota National Park and
Forestry Association’ was the title
adopted for the organization, and offi-
cers were chosen as follows:
President Cyrus M. Northrop, Presi-
dent of the University of Minnesota.
First Vice President. — Theodore
Roosevelt, Governor of New York.
Second Vice President—Judge Horace
L. Burton, of Tennessee,
Third Vice President.—Judge Hub-
bard, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Treasurer. —John H. Whitbeck, of
Chicago.
Corresponding Secretary. Col. Jolie
S. Cooper, of Chicago.
Recording Secretary.—H.M. Becker
olrot. Paul:
Executive Committee.—Mayor Carter
H. Harrison, of Chicago; C. S. Dennis,
EE: -W. Blatchford; C.l- iutehinsonm
George M. Nelson, Messrs. Beard,
Clark, Gray and Work, G. G. Hartley,
A.xG. Comstock, {S; Hi: Stewarts; Se
Stevenson, F. W. Leavitt, W. B. Mir-
schon.
The object of forming the association
is thus described in the constitution
adopted:
‘The object of this association is to
preserve as a great national park, so far
as practicable, the native forests, waters
and topography of an extensive tract of
land in the northern part of Minnesota,
together with the wild game in the woods,
that an intelligent system of forestry may
be established therein, and that our citi-
zens may have, for generations to come,
a great region abounding in native and
cultivated forests and waters, to which
they can resort in search of health and
enjoyment, and that preservation and re-
newal of the forests may be inaugurated
in the central Western States of the
Union.
eee: ae
1899.
«‘Any citizen of the United States of
good character and in sympathy with the
object and purposes of this association
shall be eligible to membership, and
shall become such member when elected
by the executive committee of the asso-
ciation, but no dues shall be required
from members. The funds necessary to
carry out the object and purposes of this
organization shall be raised by volun-
tary contributions, and shall be paid to
the treasurer, to be by him disbursed as
directed by the executive board.”
In order to assure a more general ap-
preciation of the project and the desira-
bility of early action by Congress, it was
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AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
| *
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205
together the objects of this association
will be facilitated; therefore be it
‘« Resolved, That this association shall
immediately organize for an expedition
into that region during the coming
Autumn, and that the following gentle-
men be appointed a committee to have
full charge of the same, viz:
Colson S. Cooper, C- EsrReck;
John H. Witbeck, Otis R. Glover, Mar-
vin Hughitt, Jr., Wesley M. Lowrie,
Henry S. Fitch, O. W. Nixon, George E.
Coles Ea Pitcher, Harry G. McCart-
ney, Dr. Frank Billings, W. C. Brown,
T: 2: Shouts, B: Thomas and]. 8.
Clow, of Chicago; Thomas H. Shevlin,
MAP OF 1HE REGION WHICH CONGRESS WILL BE ASKED TO SET ASIDE AS A NEW NATIONAL PARK,
decided to take a delegation of Congress-
men and other prominent public men on
a trip of investigation to the Leech Lake
country early in October—the Indian
Summer there—in order that they may
gain personal knowledge of the proposed.
reserve. The following resolution was
passed providing for the trip:
‘¢Whereas, It is believed that there
are no legal or practical obstacles in the
way of establishing a national park in the
northern part of Minnesota, which may
not be overcome by the joint action of
Congress, the State of Minnesota and
private parties having vested interests in
that territory, and that by bringing the
representatives of all those interests
Thomas Lowry, James Gray and C. A.
Pillsbury, of Minneapolis; George R.
Finch, George C. Squires, Charles Cris-
tadoro, J. I. Hill: and ‘Charles 5. Fee,
of St. Paul.
The only circumstance lacking to
make the spontaneity of thought and
action complete was the reluctance of the
Duluth delegates to enter heartily into
the scheme, for fear of certain commer-
cial disadvantages to that city by the
withdrawal of nearby lands from settle-
ment, if included in the proposed re-
serve.
Congressman Page Morris presented
this view of some of his constituents,
but added that all would approve if the
206
project would not conflict with the in-
terests of Duluth people.
Colonel Cooper replied, calling atten-
tion to the fact that two hundred thou-
sand tourists a year to such a reserve
might be of greater financial interest to
Duluth than the trade of scattered set-
tlers in that region, after forest fires had
devastated everything.
Mr. Christadoro said the efforts now
being made were to save for posterity
‘¢a few hundred acres” of forest land in
Minnesota, and that those who criticized
did not sufficiently understand this in-
tention. He pleaded for recognition of
the necessity of preserving natural forests
for the benefit of future generations.
The Duluth delegates were assured
that no part of the purpose of the forest
reserve organization is to interfere with
the ownership of merchantable Pine, or
the rights of Indians or settlers already
on the ground. When this is generally
THE FORESTER.
September,
understood by those having interests i1n-
volved, it is believed that their cordial
support will be enlisted forthwith.
Various sub-committees will be ap-
pointed on finance, press, etc., by the
executive committee. There is every
prospect of good results for forestry in
general from such energetic efforts.
Those who took part in the final or-
ganization of the project, were:
Chicago—Col. John S. Cooper, Henry
S. Fitch, George H. Cole, SiC. Base
man, Dr Nixon and F: S: Band.
Minneapolis—Mayor Gray, S. F. John-
son, Vice President Board of Trade;
Drs. Beard, Bell, Moore, Crafts, T. H.
Shevlin, A. H. Linton and F. W. Leavitt.
St Paul—Drs. Bracken and Hutchin-
son, Ross Clark, George M. Nelson,
Charles Christadoro and E. V. Smalley.
Duluth—Cok C. “Be. 4+Graves,.. Cone
gressman Morris, F. A. Patrick and J. C.
Hunter.
Forest Conditions of Porto Rico.
Review of the Forest Resources of the Island, by the Special Agent of the
U, S. Geological Survey, for Issue by the Department of Agriculture.
FIRST PAPER—CONDITIONS AFFECTING FOREST GROWTH.
A FEW EXTRACTS FROM THE ADVANCE SHEETS.
(BY COURTESY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. )
Porto Rico was originally mantled by
forests from the level of the sea to the
summit of its mountains. It is doubtful
if there was a single foot of its area
which was not at some time covered by
tree growth, varying in height from the
diminutive mangrove bushes which
border the seashore to the gigantic
deciduous trees mingled with the fronds
and trunks of towering palms, which
add height to the loftiest peaks and
ridges. To understand the distribution
and natural occurrence of these, it is
necessary to explain briefly the topo-
graphic and physical features of the
island.
The island is the most eastern and the
smallest of the four Great Antilles. But
though it nowhere attains the great alti-
tudes of the other Antilles, the island is
practically the eastward continuation of
the Antillean chain of uplifts, the upward
extension of a remarkable submerged
mountain slope, which, at least on the
north side, descends nearly 30,000 feet
to the bottom of the Brownson Deep,
until recently supposed to be the deepest
hole in the world. The island is 95
miles long, 35 miles wide, and has an area
of 3,668 square miles. It is 500 square
miles lessin areathan Jamaica. Its areais
300 miles greater than that of Delaware,
Rhode Island and the District of Colum-
bia combined, and 1,300 square miles
less than that of Connecticut. At the
same time, in proportion to area, it is of
1899.
all the Antilles the most productive, the
most densely settled, and the most estab-
lished in its customs and institutions.
Itis also notable among the West Indian
group, because its preponderant popula-
tion is of the white race, and because it
produces food-stuffs almost sufficient to
supply its inhabitants, in addition to its
exports to some of the neighboring
islands.
Its outline presents the appearance of
an almost geometrically regular parallel-
ogram, nearly three times as long as
broad, with its sides following the four
cardinal directions. The sea line is
nearly straight, and the coast is usually
low, especially on the southern side,
although there are a few headlands. It
is void of fringing keys and deep inden-
tations of its coast, such as border Cuba.
The coast line is 360 miles.
Porto Rico, like all the Antilles, in
comparison with the United States, has
a configuration ancient in aspect, al-
though comparatively new in geologic
age. Of the four chief topographic
features of the Great Antilles (central
mountains, coast-border topography, in-
terior plains and enclosed mountain
basins) only the central mountains and
coast- border topography are represented
upon this island.
The central mountains are largely of
one physiographic type. The coast- bor-
der topography is more complex and
diversified, consisting of three sub-
types, which may be called coast hills,
parting valleys and playa plains. The
mountains constitute the major surface
of the island, approximately nine-tenths
of the whole. The other features col-
lectively make an irregular and lower
lying belt around the coastal margin
comparable to the narrow rim of a high-
crowned alpine hat.
The whole island is practically an
elongated elevated sierra made up mostly
of volcanic rock, surrounded by a narrow
collar or dado of limestone hills, former
marginal marine incrustations which
have been elevated. Viewed from the
sea, these mountains have a rugged and
serrated aspect, consisting of numerous
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
207
peaks and summits with no definite crest
line, rising from a general mass, whose
steeply sloping sides are deeply corru-
gated by drainageways; they present the
aspect of a wrinkled handkerchief—a
figure of description ascribed to Colum-
bus in telling Queen Isabella of the
Antilles. Their superfice has been
etched by erosion into innumerable lat-
eral ridges, separated by deep gorges. ~
The main crest line extends from
Mayaguez on the west through Aibonito
and Adjuntas to Humacoa on the east.
This is called the central Cordillera west
of Aibonito and the Sierra de Cayey east.
of that town.
There are virtually two crest lines in
tne eastern half of the island. The nor-
thern branch is the Sierra Luquiilo,
which practically extends from the west
of the San Juan-Ponce military road to
the northeast cape. This range contains
the highest island summit, El Yunque.
These mountains, as a whole, when
looked down upon from the highest
points, present the aspect of a sea of
conical peaks and beaded ridges, rather
than a dividing ridge. The highest em-
inences of the billowy summits nowhere
exceed 3,500 feet, and this altitude. if at-
tained at all, is reached by only one peak
that of El Yunque, at the extreme north-
east. The height of this peak is given on:
the Spanish maps at 4,087 feet, but it is
reported much lower by other authorities.
Other summits of the island, although
numerous, hardly anywhere exceed 3,000
feet:
Through the mountainous mass nu-
merous and copious streams ramify in
every direction. These have deep valleys
singularly free from cliffs, and they etch
the surface into many lateral ridges and
points. Of these streams, the largest
and longest drain into the north coast,
the next largest flow to the west, while
the streams of the south and east sides,
although copious, are comparatively
short. The upper ramifications of the
three principal rivers of the north coast
reach southward nearly across the island.
Besides the wide alluvial plains near
the mouths of the streams, to be described
208 THE. FORESTER.
later, the lower stretches of these nor-
thern streams present considerable areas
of bottom land, extending for some dis-
tances within the margin of the mountain
area, rarely broadening out into local
circular mountain valleys. Their upper
portions are steep angular gorges, how-
ever, where habitations are confined to
the slopes and not the valleys. There
are other streams of the island which
also present small areas of bottom land
indenting the mountanous area for a
very short distance from their coastal
borders, notably the Portugues, near
Ponce on the south, and the Anasco on
the west.
The most unobservant traveler re-
marks the radical natural differences
which take place upon passing from the
mountains into the lower’ lying coastal
plains and foothills, especially upon the
south side. The coast-border topog-
raphy comprises a narrow belt of low
hills and plains encircling the: main
or mountainous mass of the island, and
broken in continuity upon the northeast,
southeast and west by spurs of the cen-
tral mountains which run across it into
the sea. This border region of itself is an
exceedingly diversified area, presenting
two conspicuous major types of relief,
coast hills and playa plains, and gener-
ally a third type, which may be called
parting valleys.
On the north the coast hills stand as
steeply sloping solitary mounds or
domes, rising singly or in chains above
wider extents of plain lying between
them and the mountain front. The cit-
adels of San Juan are built upon a hill
of this character; others rise to the east
and west of the city as far as Rio Grande
and toward Arecibo.
Along the shore from the southwest
cape of Porto Rico to within three or
four miles of Ponce, except where occa-
sionally broken by playas, coast hills are
finely developed. These hills, like those
of the north coast, are the remants of
what was once a steeply slanting bench
plain. The slant is from the central
mountains toward the sea, where the
hills are in some places terminated by a
September,
steep scarp or sea bluff too feet in i
height. The interior side scarp of these
hills is bordered by a valley occupied
by the lake of Guanica, separated by
still another row of hills called the
cerros from the central mountains.
On the southwest end of the island
there are two parallel rows of hills sepa-
rated from each other and the interior
mountains by long and fertile valleys.
The interior chain of hills, which ex-
tends from north of Cabo Rojo to within
three miles of Yauco, passing west of
San German, is of a peculiar type not
seen elsewhere on the island. It is a
single chain of highly rounded wooded
hills of the type called ‘‘ knobs” in this
country, and ‘‘cerros”’ by the Spaniards.
They owe their configuration to a: thick
cap stratum of hard mountain limestone,
the lower portion being composed of
the softer decomposing rock. Where
the cap has been removed erosion has
widened the valleys into great elongated
plains or vegas.
For want of a better, the term ‘‘playa
plains” is used for the wide alluvial
plains found at more or less frequent in-
tervals along the entire coast between
the hills which limit them. The word
‘‘playa”’ means literally ‘‘shore’’ or
‘‘strand.” Many cities of Porto Rico
are situated upon the interior border of
such plains where they meet the foot-
hills, several miles from the port of
entry, which is located at the immediate
seashore, and which is usually designated
‘playa,’ in order to distinguish it from
the city proper. These playa plains are
usually fan-shaped in area, with their
broader base next to the sea, where they
are often many miles in width, and stand
only a few feet above the ocean. They
are bordered by escarpments composed
of the sharp rise of the coast hills, and
extend with constantly decreasing width
backward up the stream valleys toward
the central mountains. Ponce is situated
upon a typical playa plain, which extends
a short distance back of the city up the
valley of the Rio Portugues. To the
west of Ponce the playa plains are quite
exceptional.
1899.
The name ‘‘ parting valley” the writer
has given to certain long and narrow
valleys which sometimes occur between
the foothills and the front central mount-
ains.. Some of'the streams, as they
emerge from the mountains and cross the
lower country, tend either to bend along
the mountain front as they pass from it
or to send out laterals parallel to the
‘same. The erosion attendant upon such
phenomena produces long parallel val-
leys at the junction of the mountains
and foothills. Parting valleys of this
character are especially well developed
on the south side of Porto Rico, such as
the. plain of Saba Grande and the de-
pression of Guanica lagoon. Other
parting valleys of a similar character are
developed in many places around: the
rest of the island, although perhaps not
quite so extensive in area.
Several features which are more de-
veloped upon the other Great Antilles
are exceptional or lacking in the config-
uration of Porto Rico—notably, interior
mountain vallevs, bordering benches of
elevated coral reef, the coast lagoons or
lakes, and the mangrove swamps. The
interior mountain valleys of Porto Rico
-are not conspicuous features, nor are
they completely closed (without drainage
outlets), like those of Jamaica.
Elevated reef benches or sedorucco,
which in Cuba form the narrow coast rim
of hard rock and protect a softer interior,
thereby-producing the excellent pouch-
shaped harbors, are but faintly developed
in Porto Rico. This material was seen
only at the entrance of San Juan Harbor.
The coast lagoons or lakes are collec-
tions of water in swales of the coastal
plain on the north and in parting valleys
of the type of Guanica, previously de-
scribed. Mangrove swamps are ex-
tensively developed around the interior
margin of San Juan Harbor.
Inthe Southern United States and the
Antilles, where altitude is not a control-
ling factor, the chemical and physical
composition of the soils are two of the
chief factors producing vegetal differ-
ences. Inasmuch as the soils of Porto
Rico, with the exception of that of the
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
209
playa plains, are all residual (the surface
decay of the underlying rock), it is
impossible to make a clear presentation
of the forest conditions without a few
remarks upon the nature of the rocks.
Inasmuch as all ‘cultural and natural
aspects are intimately associated with
geologic structure, a few words upon
this subject are absolutely essential to a
complete understanding of the subject.
But in abrief-review, suchas this, having
called attention to the omission, we may
speak briefly, not of the history, but only
of the present condition of the soils.
The chief and ‘radical differences of
flora‘'in Porto Rico oecur between the red
clay mountain soils and the calcareous
foothill soils, the latter being of the
open-textured white limestone’ type
which abounds from Florida southward,
but is not common in the United States.
_ The mountain areas present but little
if any barren indurated rock surface,
but are covered with a deep red soil, to
which vegetation clings tenaciously.
This mountain soil is one of the most
marked features of the island, and to it
are largely due many of its agricultural
and forest conditions. Were it. less te-
nacious and sticky than it is (and lan-
guage can hardly convey an idea of the
unctuousness of this stickiness, which is
especially disagreeable in a road mate-
rial) the mountain slopes of Porto Rico
would now be washed and dreary wastes
of barren rock. This mountain soil is
mostly red ferruginous clay, accom-
panied by much pebble and other rock
debris. It is naturally ameliorated by
the vast amount of humus derived from
the native vegetation. Decay is so rapid
under perpetual warmth and moisture
that the volcanic rocks quickly rot and
weather into soils of this character.
The regolith or decayed superfice of the
rocks is unusually deep on these moun-
tains, extending down 50 or 100 feet,
correspondingly affording a_ splendid
medium for root hold and penetration.
Owing to this soil the mountains were
originally wooded and are now cultivated
to their very summits, verticality of slope
presenting no obstacle to cultivation in
210
the minds of the natives. The writer
has seen the steepest possible slopes
cultivated to the highest degree in coffee
and tobacco; in fact, the most produc-
tive crops of this character are grown
upon declivities upon which the Ameri-
can farmer would not risk limb and life.
Much of the soil of Porto Rico is now
abandoned and in the condition known
throughout the English-speaking West
Indies as ‘‘ruinate.” This has resulted
from long cultivation, from the failure to
apply fertilizers, and, in some cases, from
erosion. Land of this character was
observed in many parts of the island.
The reclamation of these lands by for-
estry, or the methods of scientific agri-
culture, is one of the problems which
Porto Rico presents to the civilization of
its new owners.
Regarding the climate of Porto Rico,
no attempt will be made to describe it
other than to state a few facts relating
to its bearing upon the distribution of
life and culture. The whole island may
be divided into a wet and a dry belt, on
the north and south sides of the central
Cordillera, respectively. The greatest
rainfall, which sometimes attains 120
inches a year on the slopes of El Yun-
que, is at the northeast end. On the
south side, from Guayama to Cabo Rojo,
THE FORESTER:
September,
the climate is dryer, but most of the
island is wet in comparison with the
standard of the United States.
The higher mountains are slightly
cooler than the coast belt, but the
temperature is so uniformly warm that
altitude has but little bearing upon dis-
tribution of.vegetation. The mountains
are constantly bathed in moisture, either
by daily rainfalls or dense mists which
collect upon them at night, except upon
the lower portion of their southern slopes;
hence, it may be said that the superfice
is never dry and the subsoil is constantly
saturated in the mountain region.
On the southern coast, however, owing
both to the porosity of the limestone,
which quickly drains off the moisture,
and to the intermittent dryer periods,
the surface above has a parched and
arid look, especially in the long dry
season. Some portions of this south
belt are very arid, and great complaint
was heard in places that the rainfall for
the past two years had been insufficient
for domestic supply. In fact, to culti-
vate the staple crops of the lowlands of
the south coast, irrigation is necessary.
This is practiced with great skill and at
considerable cost along the whole south-
ern border from Guayama to Cabo Rojo.
[Continued in next issue. ]
Ontario Forest Reserve.
The Ontario government is making
rapid progress toward the adoption of a
complete system of reforestation, having
recently set apart an important reserve
in Frontenac and Addington Counties.
After inquiries from time to time as to
the most eligible territory for a reserva-
tion in the eastern part of the province,
the Commissioner of Crown Lands came
to the conclusion that the McLaren
limits, now operated by Isaac Allan, of
Mississippi Station, were the most suit-
able for the purpose. These limits cover
parts of the townships of Abinger, Mil-
ler, Barrie, Clarendon, Palmerston,
Ashby, Denbigh, Effingham, South
Caninto, Olden, North Sherbrooke and
Oso, and contain an area of 27334 miles.
The territory is watered by numerous
lakes and streams and lies on the head-
waters of the Mississippi River, a stream
of considerable importance flowing into
the Ottawa River, and on the head-
waters of a branch of the Madawaska
River. All the good land available has
been either sold or located, and the
merchantable pine timber has been
almost entirely cut away. The Pine
growth remaining consists of young
trees springing up, which are spread
over considerable areas of the territory,
and, if protected from fires and allowed
to attain a fair growth, will, it is deemed,
become a valuable asset of the province
in the near future.—Canada Lumber-
Wan.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
211
The American Forestry Association.
A Special Meeting at Columbus.
The American Forestry Association
held a special meeting at Columbus,
Ohio, on August 22 and 23. The meet-
ing was held under the auspices of the
Columbus Horticultural Society, and
the arrangements made by the officers of
that organization were all that could be
desired. As an affiliated society of the
American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, all privileges of accom-
modations and entertainment, as well as
railroad rates, were shared by members
of the Forestry Association.
The sessions were held in Horticul-
tural Hall, Ohio State University. At
2 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, August
22, the meeting was called to order by
William R. Lazenby, President of the
Horticultural Society, who was made
chairman of the convention. The attend-
ance was not large, but all present mani-
fested a deep interest in the proceedings
and evinced an enthusiasm that was in-
spiring.
Among those present at this and the
subsequent sessions were: Dr. W. J.
Beal, Vice President for Michigan of the
’ American Forestry Association, and Pro-
fessor of Botany and Forestry in the
Michigan Agricultural College; Dr. C.
E. Bessey, of Nebraska State University,
Vice President for Nebraska; Rev. James
Poindexter, President of the Ohio State
Forestry Bureau; S. C. Mason, Profes-
sor of Horticulture and Forestry, Berea
College, Kentucky; William Saunders,
Director of the Canadian Experimental
Farms; Dr. B. B. Halsted, of the New
Jersey Experiment Station; Prof. A. D.
Hopkins, of the West Virginia Experi-
ment Station, Vice President for West
Virginia; John F. Cunningham, Secre-
tary of the Columbus Horticultural So-
Siety; Prof. J. A. Holmes, Vice Presi-
Ment for North Carolina; Prof. L. C.
Corbett, of West Virginia University;
ie. ). Janney, Columbus; Prof. F. W.
Rowe, of the New Hampshire Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College; Prof. N.
L. Britton, Superintendent of the Bo-
tanical Garden, Bronx Park, New York
City; W. R. Beattie, Columbus: T. A.
Scott, Westerville; F. R. Luke, Ohio
State University; Prof. J. H. Lageman,
Columbus; J. F. Cowell, Superintendent
of Parks; Buffalo, N. -Y.; Walliam R:
Lazenby, Professor Horticulture and
Forestry, Ohio State University, and
President of the Columbus Horticultural
Society; L. M. Freeman, Rex, Lecturer
on Forestry.
Telegrams and letters of regret were
read from Gifford Pinchot, Forester of
the U. S. Department of Agriculture;
Dr. -€. “A;= Schenck, Forester *to the
Biltmore Estate, North Carolina; W.
W. Ashe, Consulting Forester, Raleigh,
N. C.; Prof. John Craig, lowa Agricul-
tural College, Ames, Iowa; George W.
Minier, Austin, IIl., and others.
In a brief opening address Professor
Lazenby welcomed the Association to
Columbus. Speaking of the rapid and
reckless destruction of the forests of
Ohio, one of the best agricultural States
inthe Union, he called attention tothe av-
erage annual rainfall of Ohio,and whether
it had been materially increased or its dis-
tribution greatly modified by the removal
of the forests. ‘*We do know,” he said,
‘*that our soil rapidly loses its summer
moisture; that our springs and wells are
failing and our streams and rivers are
more Capricious in their flow; droughts
are more severe and floods are more
common.” He urged the planting of
trees upon all land that was not culti-
vated or that was cultivated at a loss.
After the appointment of a committee
on resolutions and hearing verbal reports
from the members representing different
States, a formal address was delivered
by Rev. James Poindexter, president of
the Ohio Forestry Bureau, on the past
212
and future work of that department.
John F. Cunningham also read a paper
on ‘Observations upon the Woodlands
of Ohio.”
The session then adjourned, the re-
mainder of the afternoon being spent in
an inspection of the native trees and
shrubs on the grounds of the State Uni-
versity.
At the morning session of the second
day the following papers were presented
and read: ‘‘Natural. Regeneration of
Forests on Old Fields in Eastern Ken-
tucky,”’ by Prof. S. C. Mason, of Ken-
tucky; ‘‘ Lumbering in Northern Michi-
gan,” by Dr. W. J. Beal, of Michigan;
‘“‘The Rate of Growth and Temperature
of Various Varieties of Forest Trees,” by
William R. Lazenby, of Ohio; ‘‘ Capi-
talistic Review of Conservative Lum-
bering,” by C. A. Schenck, of Biltmore,
NVC:
Results Will Compensate.
The Minnesota forest reserve scheme
will need the co-operation of the General
Government, and it will doubtless re-
ceive it. Both the last and the present
national Administrations have shown
their sympathy with forest preservation
movements. During the past five years
a number of large national parks have
been created from Government lands.
One of the latest of these is the Lake
Tahoe Forest Reserve in California, con-
sisting of 136,335 acres which was set
aside by the proclamation of President
Mckinley last April. The Government
will continue this policy and other bodies
of public land will be withdrawn from
sale and created into parks. One of the
chief objects of the proposed Minnesota
reserve 1S to protect the headwaters of
the Mississippi River. The need of this
is plain, and it should encourage the pro-
moters to persevere in their plans not-
withstanding the difficulties to be over-
come. The results will compensate for
all the labor and patience involved.—
Editorial, Philadelphia Press.
THE FORESTER
September,
These papers will be fully considered
in coming issues of THE’ Forester.
- A discussion was then held on twenty
questions, which had _ been printed
upon the programs, relating to the exten-
sion of general interest in Forestry, and
the characteristics of various trees, con-
ditions of growth, insect enemies, etc.
This proved to be a very profitable fea-
ture of the session.
During the afternoon a number of
short excursions were taken to view large
and unique specimens of native trees bor-
dering the Olentangy River. Before the
close of the meeting the Committee on
Resolutions presented a report which
was unanimously adopted.
A paper on ‘‘Are the Trees Advanc-
ing or Retreating upon the Nebraska
Plains?” was read by C. E. Bessey, of
Lincoln, Neb., at the meeting of the sec-
tion on botany, of the Science Convention.
Investigation of Red Fir.
The Division of Forestry of the De-
partment of Agriculture at the present
time has sixteen men in the State of
Washington gathering data regarding the
growth of Red Fir and how best to keep
the land in a productive condition. Fir
is a rapidly growing timber and Gifford
Pinchot, chief of the division, believes.
that with proper care there should bea
perpetual supply which should maintain
Washington as a great lumber producing
State in perpetuity.—A mer. Lumberman.
A Popular Parasite.
The mistletoe has become so popular
as a Christmas decoration in England
that it seems likely to be exterminated in
certain places, It was formerly permit-
ted to grow iv many apple orchards,
sometimes seriously injuring the trees,
but with the increased demand this has.
all been removed. In some places steps.
are being taken to propagate it, and
young apple trees can now be purchased.
on which the parasite has become estab~
lished.—Plant World.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
213
Forest Protection.
Minnesota’s Example.
The annual report of the Chief Fire
Warden of Minnesota, Gen. C. C.
Andrews, has been recently sent out,
and shows a very satisfactory and aggres-
sive enforcement of the laws relating to
forest fires.
The object of the fire warden law is
to prevent great forest fires from starting,
or if, unfortunately, they have ‘started,
to extinguish them before they become
unmanageable. Prevention is the main
feature of the law, as is seen in the im-
portance attached to posting and publish-
ing warning notices. Thus far the State
has expended, under this law, less than
$5,000 a year, including the one third
of-county expenses which it pays; and
the expense of the thirty-odd counties
affected by the law has averaged less than
$100 a year, yet the State has escaped
the heavy losses suffered by nearby
States.
Reports from the fire wardens, made
to the Chief Fire Warden, of forest fires
in 1898, show that there were fifty-one
such fires, which burned over 21,580
acres, much of which was light timber
or cut-over lands. The total damage
_ reported, $9,063, is accounted for in part
by some of the damaged timber being
cut the succeeding winter. Seventy-
eight per cent of the whole number of
fires reported were extinguished or con-
trolled by fire wardens or their helpers.
A man in Todd County was made to pay
a fine of $100 and costs for carelessly
causing a fire which spread a half mile into
a neighbor’s field, where it fatally burned
a woman and severely injured a boy who
tried to protect her. There were sev-
eral other vigorous and effective prosecu-
tions. The number of acres reported as
burned over by prairie fires was 54,360;
damage, $13,436. The number of such
fires caused by burning grass, straw or
stubble was 23; by railroad locomotives,
14, other causes 5, unknown 25.
The report contains numerous illustra-
tions of the Minnesota forests, describes
some of the timber country in Beltrami
and Cass Counties, also a splendid Pine
forest on the south shore of Cass Lake,
recently made accessible by railway; and
some very fine forest on the north shore
of Vermillion Lake, belonging to the
State University, which the Chief Fire
Warden advocates being set apart as a
demonstration forest for the use of the
school of forestry connected with the
Agricultural College and Experiment
Station. If this were done, he thinks
the State University of Minnesota would
outrank all other Universities except
Cornell in this country in the important
science of forestry, which is so rapidly
coming tothe front. The need of roads
and paths in the Itasca State Park is
commented upon.
There is a splendid review of Euro-
pean forestry, historically considered.
In proportion as the people are informed
in regard to forestry will they be dis-
posed to use precaution against the rava-
ages of forest fires. The importance of
setting apart primeval Pine forest lands
as a health resort is urged upon the
State.
Forest Fire Laws in Pennsylvania.
Dr. J. T. Rothrock, State Forestry
Commissioner of Pennsylvania, and Vice
President of the American Forestry
Association for the Keystone State, said,
in a recent statement to the Philadel-
phia ‘‘ North American ”’ :
‘‘The recent destructive forest fires
in Centre County bring prominently for-
ward the laws which were passed by the
Legislature of 1897 for the suppression
of forest fires, and the question may be
raised, and doubtless will be, are these
laws effective?
‘*The best answer to this is found in
the fact that ten years ago the loss to
this State by forest fires was estimated,
by those most competent to judge, at
$1,000,000 annually. In 1896 the loss
was $557,056. In 1897 it was $394, 327.
With every effort on the part of this
24
office to secure information, the loss to
the State by forest fires in 1896 only
sums up $53,345. In other words, some-
thing has caused a gradual decrease in
forest fires during the ten years past from
$1,000,000 worth of property destroyed
to $53,345—that 1s a saving in one year
of $946,655.
‘<The Spring of 1899 was remarkably
dry as the trees were coming into leaf.
An unusual number of forest fires were
started in Luzerne, Lackawanna, Pike
and Monroe counties, as well as in some
other counties. There always will be
such seasons, and we may expect that
they will show an increase in the usual
number of forest fires until we are
authorized by law to throw over the af-
fected districts such thorough protection
as is afforded by other civilized countries.
‘¢ The fire laws passed in 1897 are two.
First, thésact of March 30, ‘making €on-
stables of townships ex officio fire war-
dens for the extinction of forest fires, and
for reporting to the Court of Quarter
Sessions violations of the laws for the
protection of forests from fire, prescribing
the duties of such fire wardens and their
punishment for failure to perform the
same, and empowering them to require,
under penalty, the assistance of other
persons in the extinction of fires.’ This
act has been upheld by the Supreme
Court. .
‘«¢The second act was approved the
15th day of July. This act makes it the
duty of the County Commissioners ‘to
appoint persons under oath, whose duty
it shall be to ferret out and bring to pun-
ishment all persons or corporations who
either willfully or otherwise cause the
burning of timber lands within their re-
spective counties, and to take measures
to have such fires extinguished where it
can be done,’ and it provides a penalty
for failure on part of the County Com-
missioners to attend to this duty.
‘¢ The obvious duty of the State is to
protect its citizens against those who ig-
norantly, carelessly, or with criminal in-
tent would waste or destroy property.
It is, therefore, the duty of Commission-
ers of counties where forest fires prevail
THE FORESTER.
September,
to make an honest effort to apprehenl
those who start them.
‘Unless a general rain occurs within
a reasonable time, we have cause to fear
that destructive forest conflagrations will
happen elsewhere than in Centre County,
and the officers named in the laws above
mentioned would do well to weigh very
carefully their responsibility under the
circumstances.”’
An Enlightened Policy.
During the present year the State has
come into possession by purchase of ad-
ditional large tracts of the Adirondack
forest. This acquisition has been made
under the special law and appropriation
passed at the instance of Governor
Black.
The reclamation of these woods from
private ownership is an enlightened
policy. The entire ‘‘ wilderness” should
have remained a heritage for all the peo-
ple of the State. Its benefits as a mag-
nificent park, a conservator of the water
supply and an unequaled sanitarium
could not be estimated. But while va-
rious clubs and individuals have secured
possession of some of the choicest por-
tions of the great tract, there is enough
left under State control to constitute the
finest State park in the world if itis
properly guarded and cared for.—Wew
York World.
The Dawn of Success.
While most of the States have not
taken any notable steps in the direction
of scientific forestry, or of any adequate
care of the forests that remain to them,
yet in nearly all of them the subject is
now engaging the attention of earnest
and thoughtful men. The campaign of >
education in favor of forest preservation
has begun to achieve successes in all
parts of the Union. The people are be-
ginning to understand more and more
clearly the importance of the issue and
the urgent necessity of applying a rem-
edy to the evil of the careless wasting of
cur noble woods.—San Francisco Call.
1899.
Mme FORESTER.
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Devoted to Arboriculture and Forestry, the
Care and Use of Forests and Forest
Trees, and Related Subjects.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
TuHE ForeEsTER is the Official Organ of
The American Forestry Association,
Hon. JAMEs WILson, Sec’y of Agriculture,
President.
THE OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS
No. 17 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed,
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents.
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
The patriotic interest of the American people
in everything pertaining to the new colonial
- possessions has prompted the publication of a
Teview, which, while not exhaustive, is suffi-
ciently full to answer the great majority of
questions of immediate interest concerning
forestry in Porto Rico. It embraces the results,
in part, of observations made during a rapid
reconnoissance through the military depart-
ment of Porto Rico by R. T. Hill in January,
1899, during which be became familiar with its
orests, and, by inquiry among various _per-
sons engaged in wood-working trades, obtained
valuable information as to the qualities and
uses of the native timbers. The complete re-
port contains not only aclear statement of the
forest resources of Porto Rico and the extent
of its timber lands, but also such succinct de-
Scriptions of the physical features of the island
as are necessary for an understanding of its
forest problems. It will shortly be published
by the Department of Agriculture.
An announcement of interest to all who ap-
preciate the undoubted advisability and ne-
cessity of forest conservation in this country,
s the appointment of Hon, John Gifford, of
Princeton, N. J., to a chair of forestry at Cor-
nell University. Mr. Gifford gave early evi-
dence of his earnest consideration of the subject
as well as of his zeal in promoting a scientific
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
205
investigation and popular realization of forest
try in general, in the founding of the ‘‘New
Jersey Forester,” which made its appearance
at the beginning of 1895. As editor of the
New magazine he worked assiduously for the
advancement of the cause, and as proprietor
showed that convincing enthusiasm which can-
not be dampened by mere lack of financial sup-
port, The magazine having developed under
his capable management into an organ of con-
siderable influence, far beyond the bounds of
its original scope and local character, Mr. Gif-
ford consented to a continuance of its publica-
tion by The American Forestry Associa-
tion. Through this medium THE FORESTER
has reached every part of this country, and
finds interested readers also in Canada, Eng-
land, Germany, France, Italy, and even India,
all of whom will follow with interest the fur-
ther efforts of Mr. Gifford in his chosen field.
The position which Mr. Gifford has just ac-
cepted is the Assistant Professorship of Fores-
try, which was offered him immediately upon
his receiving the doctor’s degree in forestry at
the University of Munich. He will take up his
new work in the early Autumn, when there will
be offered to the student body the following
courses under his care: Forest protection,
forest administration, forest history and poli-
tics ; forestry, with special reference to silvi-
culture ; and German forest literature,
An interesting description of the country
included in the proposed new National Park in
Northern Minnesota will bea feature of the
October issue of THE ForREsSTER, which will
also contain further papers of the Summer
Meeting at Los Angeles, additional notes of the
special meeting at Columbus, and a report of
the meeting at Missoula, Mont.
An able article, of especial value to those
whose interests are linked with forestry through
irrigation, will treat of percolation and water
supply, as affected by forests—a subject which
has attracted very considerable attention.
The work of State organizations, in arousing
general public interest in forestry, will be de-
scribed by taking the example of an active or-
ganization—that of Massachusetts.
Among other features of this and following
numbers will be articles presenting views on
forestry as applied to mining, sheep grazing,
agriculture, and storage reservoirs. The arti-
cles on colonial forests will be continued.
THE FORESTER.
September,
CHIPS AND: CLIPS:
India-rubber heels on shoes, decreas-
ing the fatigue of marching, will be
adopted, it is said, by the French army.
Port Blakely, Wash., recently sent a
steamer laden with three million feet of
lumber to Taku and Woosung, China.
The hardwoods in the vicinity of Cad-
illac, Mich., are estimated at eleven bil-
lion feet, of exceptionally fine quality.
Notwithstanding a law to prevent the
pollution of streams by mill refuse, the
Ottawa River is reported to be filled
with sawdust.
At the Paris Exposition of 1900 the
Canadian exhibit of forestry will be
under the supervision of J. M. Macoun,
of Ottawa. A complete collection of
native woods will be shown.
A large quantity of standing timber,
including Elm, Basswood, White and
Red Oak, Sycamore, Whitewood, Birch
and Soft Maple, in Ontario, has been
sold to a syndicate to manufacture for
export to British markets.
North Africa claimed a cargo of nearly
half a million feet of Canadian lumber
in the beginning of the month, four-fifths
of it going to Tunis and the remainder
to Morocco. Buenos Ayres took a cargo
even larger than the preceding.
The distinction of having produced
the best quality of Cork White Pine ever
grown in North America is accorded
to the Cass River country, Michigan.
Since 1864 nearly a billion feet of logs
have been rafted down that river.
Tamarack gum is being sought in
Canada by a patent medicine company
or use in its preparations. The tree
grows well in the highlands of new On-
_tario, north of the height of land, but is
found only in swampy places i the older
part of that province.
In parts of South America where Ma-
hogany is used for railroad ties and other
ordinary uses, the native business men
are said to prize the cheap Hemlock and
Pine boards which are sent in the form
of boxes and crates from this country.
The Chinese propensity for decapita-
tion has manifested itself in an unusual
way recently. Li Hung Chang is re-
ported to be one of the leading promoters
of a huge lumber-mill project in China,
to give some of the forest monarchs the
coup-de-grace.
A forest reserve is likely to be estab-
lished in the Lake Temagamingue dis-
trict of Ontario, as the result of a visit
by the Commissioner of Crown Lands.
A dense growth of White Pine exists all
around the shores of the lake greatly in
excess of what was previously known,
The timber supply of Georgia has
been estimated by lumbermen of that
State as sufficient to last only nine years
at the present rate of sawing, 2,600,000
feet daily. The timber resources of the
State at present are placed at one and a
half million acres, calculated to saw
three thousand feet to the acre.
The finest Spruce area in Canada, asit |
is claimed to be, will be opened to de- |
velopment by the new Restigouche &
Western Railway, which is now being }
constructed. The line extends from |
Campbellton, N. B., a distance of 110 |
miles to St. Leonards, on the St. John]
River, to a region hitherto inaccessible.
Although Colorado has considerable |
timber, it is of coarse quality, suitable |
only for the roughest uses. It is esti-}
mated that four-fifths of the lumber and |
timber used in the State is imported. |
White Pine comes from Wisconsin and |
Minnesota, alargeamount of Yellow Pine |
is used, while the products of Oregon |
and Washington mills also finds a regu-
lar market.
1899.
Forest Fires in Three States.
Cheyenne, Wyoming, Aug. 27.—For-
est fires are raging about Laramie Peak,
in the northern portion of Laramie
County. They have been burning for
the past ten days, and have destroyed a
large quantity of valuable timber.
Deadwood, S. D., Aug. 27.—A fire
has been raging in the timber east of
this city in the Iwo Bit District for the
past twenty-four hours. The country is
very dry, and fears are entertained that
the fire will get beyond control. Sixty
range riders are fighting the flames.
Denver, Colo., Aug. 27.—Forest fires,
which it is thought were started by camp
fires, are raging in the foothills near the
entrance to Platte Canon, about twenty
miles south of here. The fires started
five miles up the canon, and burned
over the mountains on both sides of the
canon and are now devastating the tim-
ber section along the foothills. Millions
of feet of lumber have been consumed,
and there are reports of loss of life.
The Power of Public Sentiment.
The Connecticut legislature has passed
a law protecting the trailing arbutus.
This is said to be the first law ever
passed in any State of the Union for the
protection of a wild flower. A newspa-
paper article calling attention to the
need of such a law is credited with hav-
ing aroused sufficient public sentiment to
secure the passage of the law.
Aboriginal Simplicity.
A novel tramway is in operation in
British Columbia, It is formed of trees
from which the bark has been peeled off,
being firmly bolted together and used for
fails. Upon these runs a car with
grooved wheels ten inches thick. The
tramway is two miles long.
*
An Alaskan Enterprise.
The Alaskan trade is becoming the
center of important lumber develop-
ments. A newly-organized company at
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
2
Seattle, Wash., has secured large timber
concessions, consisting of hard Cedar of
an exceptionally fine quality, on the west
coast of Alaska. Sunny Point, on Prince
of Wales Island, has been selected as
the industrial center of the business, with
stores on Cholmondelay Sound.
e
A Relic of Old Manila.
Rosewood and Mahogany attract the
attention of visitors to the Hotel Orient
in Manila. The interior is described as
being beautifully finished in hand-sawed
wood, the staircases of the first three
floors being of Rosewood. Solid Mahog-
any forms the floors, the boards being
twenty-two feet long and two and a half
feet wide. Though in use twenty years,
these boards are stillin perfect condition.
A Friendly Suggestion.
Now that some attention is being paid
by the most practical of lumbermen to
forest subjects, the forest primer recently
issued by the Division of Forestry of the
Department of Agriculture at Washing-
ton will be assured of a wider circulation
and more general study than would for-
merly have been the case. Timber own-
ers are coming to realize that there are
many comparatively inexpensive meth-
ods by which their interests can be con-
served and their properties, to some ex-
tent, preserved from the dangers which
threaten them by fire and insect pests.
These are treated of quite elaborately in
this so-called primer, which is such
mainly because of its style and the direct
and simple way in which the questions
with which it deals are presented. The
time is at hand, moreover, when more at-
tention will be paid than in the past to
conservative methods of lumbering, and
it is not too much to hope that some of
the simpler and less expensive methods
of forest culture will be put into prac-
tice. At any rate, there are many lum-
bermen and timber owners who will read
with interest this book, and perhaps find
in it some suggestions of value to them in
the conduct of their business. —/atoria/,
American Lumberman.
218
THE FORESTER.
September,
Recent Publications.
‘Orchard and Forest Tree Culture” is the
title of a pamphlet printed by order of the
English Parliament and now being circulated.
It gives the complete evidence of the official
horticulturist, W. T. Macoun, of the Central
Dominion Farm, Canada, before the Commit-
tee on Agriculture and Colonization of the
House of Commons,
Mr. Macoun appeared in response to the
committee’s request for such information as
would enable them to care for the interests of
tree-owners generally. He described fruit-
tree culture at length, answering many ques-
tions of the committeemen, and then spoke of
his study of forest trees.
“Taking the forest belts, which cover an
area of about twenty-one acres,” he said the
objects of planting were to find out how long
it would take trees to reach a certain height;
the rapidity of growth of each variety; the
proper distance apart to plant to get the best
results; and the value of trees as wind-breaks
for crops grown in the vicinity of them.
‘‘During each year the heights of a large
number of trees in this belt are taken, and the
data published. This will be valuable when
the time comes to reforest parts of Ontario,
and I think that time is not far distant.
‘‘Tt has also been found that much depends
on the way in which trees are plan‘ed, and
the proportion of thick and thin-foliaged kinds
there are in the belts. For instance, if a
farmer plants a few acres of Ash expecting to
reap a large crop in twenty-five or thirty yea’s,
it is likely he will have to expend a great
because the Ash is a thin-foliaged tree. By
mixing some thick-foliaged trees, such as Box
Elder, Maple, or other sorts, planted as acover |
crop for the ground to prevent the growthof |
weeds and to obtain proper forest conditions,
he will be able to get the best conditions in
the shortest time at the least expense. These
area few of the objects and advantages of the -
forest belt.”
Several North American trees either new
or little known, are described by Prof.C.S. |
Sargent inthe Botanical Gazette. One of |}
the trees is a new Elm (U/mus scrotina), with
a trunk forty to fifty feet in height and from
two to three feet in diameter, which has long
been confused with the Cork Elm (UV. race-
mosa), It is aa autumn-flowering spe:ies, and
thus easily distinguished from all others. It is
found on the banks of the French Broad River
near Dandridge. Tenn.; on limestone bluffs of
the Cumberland River near Nashville, Tenn. ;
near Huntsville, Ala., and Rome, Ga.
A magnificent new Palm is also described
under the name of Serenoa arborescens, It
is thirty or forty feet in height, with one or
several stems only three or four inches in
diameter. The leaves form a crown at the |
summit of the stem, and are two feet wide and
long, and are on petioles about two feet in
length. It grows on the margin of swamps
near the Chockoloskee River in Southwestern |
Florida. In order to accumulate sufficient |
material to determine the status of this and |
other little-known forms, Professor Sargent
made several exploring trips to the Keys of |
amount of labor to bring these to perfection, Florida.
NOTE.
The edition of THE ForEsTER for November,
1898, having been exhausted, it has been found
necessary to have a new one printed. Mem-
bers of the Association and subscribers who
may need copies of that issue (No. 11, Vol. IV,)
to complete files for binding, will be supplied
if they notify the publishers to that effect.
A limited number of complete copies of Vol.
IV of THe Forester are offered for sale. Price,
postpaid, $1.00, unbound; durably bound in
green cloth, $1.50.
AMERICAN FORESTRY. ASSOCIATION.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
OXGANIZED APRIL, 1882.
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 18g.
President.
Hon, James WILson, Secretary of Agriculture.
first Vice President, Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. FERNow. F, H. NEWELL,
Recording Secretary and Treasurer,
GrorGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Directors.
Epwarp A. Bowers.
ARNOLD HaGueE.,
GIFFORD PINCHOT,
James WILSON. CHARLES C, BINNEY.
B. E. FERNow. HENRY GANNETT.
GrorGE W. McLamaHANn,
FREDERICK V, COVILLE,
F. H. NEwELL,
GrorGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Vice Presidents,
Sir H.G. Jo_y DE LorsinizreE, Pointe Platon, Wo. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
Quebec. JoHN GIFFORD, Princeton, N, J.
CuHaARLEs C. GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska. Epwarp F. Hopart, Santa Fe, N. M.
CHARLES Mour, Mobile, Ala. WarREN Hiciey, New York. N. Y.
TD. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz. J. A. Houmes, Raleigh. N. C.
Tuomas C. McRag, Prescott, Ark. W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
ApssotT KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal.
E. T, Ensicn, Colorado Springs, Colo,
RoBeRT Brown, New Haven, Conn.
REUBEN H. Warper, North Bend, Ohio
Wiuiiam T. Litt ez, Perry, Okla.
E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del.
A. V. CLusss, Pensacola, Fla.
R. B. REPPARD, Savannah, Ga.
J. M. Coutrer, Chicago, Il.
James Troop, Lafayette, Ind.
Tuos. H. MacBripe, Iowa City, lowa.
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans.
Joun R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky.
Lewis JoHnson, New Orleans, La.
Joun W. GarreTT, Baltimore, Md.
Joun E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me.
J. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass.
W. J. BEAL, Agricultural College, Mich.
C. C. ANDREws, St. Paul, Minn.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo.
CHARLES E, Bessey, Lincoln, Neb.
J. T. RoruHrock, West Chester, Pa.
H. G. RussE.i, E. Greenwich, R. I.
H. A. GREEN, Chester, S. C.
Tuomas T. WriGHT, Nashville, Tenn.
W. GoopricH Jones, Temple, Texas.
C. A. WHITING, Salt Lake, Utah.
REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt.
D. O. NoursE, Blacksburg, Va.
EDMUND S. Meany, Seattle, Wash.
A. D. Hopkins, Morgantown, W. Va.
H. C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
ELwoop MEap, Cheyenne, Wyo.
GrorGE W. McLananan, Washington, D,C
Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont.
Wo. LittLe, Montreal, Quebec.
Lieut. H. W. Frencu, Manila, P. I.
The object of this Association is to promote :
1. A more rational and conservative treatment of the forest resources of this continent,
2. Tlie advancement of educational, legislative and other measures tending to promote
this object.
3. The diffusion of knowledge regarding the conservation, management and renewal of
forests, the methods of reforestation of waste lands, the proper utilization of forest
products, the planting of trees for ornament, and cognate subjects of arboriculture.
Owners of timber and woodlands are particularly invited to join the Association, as well as
are all persons who are in sympathy with the objects herein set forth,
THE FORESTER.
THE INCREASING INTEREST
in the history of American forests and the efforts that have been made |
for their conservation, development, and use, has led THE ForRESTER to
secure, for the benefit of its readers, a number of complete sets of the |;
“Proceedings of the American Forestry Congress” and
“Proceedings of the American Forestry Association”
covering a period from December, 1888, to December, 1897. These
issues include many valuable papers on forestry as read at the various
annual meetings throughout the country during the years named, |
including the sessions in
WASHINGTON, QUEBEC, ATLANTA, GA., BROOKLYN, N. Y.,
SPRINGFIELD, MASS., ASHEVILLE, N. C., NASHVILLE, TENN., and the
WORLD'S FAIR CONGRESS IN 1893.
Those who desire a complete library to keep pace with the rapidly |
advancing interest in forestry can hardly afford to be without these |
valuable pamphlets. The complete series, covering the years named,
will be sent postpaid to any address in the United States at the |
following prices:
In one large volume
Handsomely bound in red cloth, with gilt lettering
and re-enforced corners ; : : $2.00
Just as durably but less ornately, in green . 1.75
THE ForeEsTER will endeavor to supply separate pamphlets upon application,
at a uniform price of 25 cents, whenever complets sets will not be broken thereby,
For any further information address
THE FOR Sik
WASHINGTON, D. ¢.
Kindly mention THE ForEsTER in writing.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
“‘Valuable . . . cannot fail to be of the ‘“«The sections are marvels of mechanical
greatest practical assistance.”—Review of dexterity . . . most interesting.”—MVew
Reviews. York Times.
HOUGH'S ‘‘ AMERICAN WOODS.”
PUBLICATION on the trees of the
United States illustrated by actuad
specimens of the woods, showing three
distinct views of the grain of each spe-
cies, with full explanatory text. (Sam-
ples of the specimens used, 10 cents.)
““Exceedingly valuable for study. A
work where plant life does the writing
and no one can read without thinking.”’—
G. A. Parker, Hartford, Conn.
“Most valuable and the price reason-
able.’”’—Prof. C. E. Bessey, Lincoln, Neb.
Preparations of Woods for Stereop-
ticon and Microscope.
Wooden Cross-Section Cards for fancy
and business purposes. (Samples free.)
Views of Typical Trees showing habits of
growth, Write for circulars, addressing
R. B. HOUGH.
10 Collins St., Lowville, N. Y.
PREPARATIONS OF WOODS FOR STEREOPTICON AND MICROSCOPIC
VIEWS OF TYPICAL TREES, WOODEN CROSS-SECTION CARDS.
H. J. KOKEN Ci Ps HANCOCK
Wag —
TY pvING High-Class Designs and
Illustrations
Sass
———— Half Tone and Line
—— Engraving
Brass and Metal Signs
Rubber Stamps
a
TENTH STREET AND PENNA. AVENUE, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Kindly mention THE Forester in writing.
THE FORESTER.
BEREA COLLEGE,
BEREA, KENTUCKY.
A YEAR’S WORK IN FORESTRY IS OFFERED.
Local Forest Growth Affords Fine Facilities for Study.
te"
aul
*66g1 *€1 raquiaydas susdg wis, [ey
al 3 er . er ene some,
Excellent Advantages at Moderate Expense.
LINCOLN HALL, BEREA COLLEGE.
47848 N HORTICULTURE "Secthi?®
For full information address
S. C. MASON, M. Se.,
Professor of Horticulture and Forestry.
F. R. MET eee
Consulting Forester,
Mahwailaee nt
Kindly mention THE ForeEsTER 10 writing.
TUNEOINY IN MAQOKUHUOEI to
Tou. V. OCTOBER, 1899. No. 10.
ay Ae eee
_ The Forester
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
devoted to the care and use of
forests and forest trees and
\
PUBLISHED BY
_ The American Forestry Association.
oe
rice 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
i,
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D, C., as second class matter.
ARI7ZNNA SW oe IRRIGATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
In THE PINERIES NEAR Du Bois, PENNSYLVANIA 200..-cc:csecs---sesesceeceesseaeesenes Frontispiece. —
oe
AM
THe (MASSACHUSETTS . FORESTRY ASSOCIATHON. 4 0) Uh ee 219%
Some Suggestions for State Organizations,
By the Secretary of the Association.
RECLAMATION \OF DRIFTING, SAND DUNES 22 oi) oes eae Co ae ee
A Paper Read at the Summer Meeting.
(Number Six of the Series.)
MINNESOTA’S PARK! FOR THE PEOPLE. ee Ne sR aly he Ae Oe See le
A Symposium of Views and Descriptions.
ae EXAMPLE (OF) PENNSYLVANIA? Hoc. es ak Id eT a ese
Reappointment of the State Commissioner of Forestry.
SHEEP GRAZING! IN VARIZONA 2.5. 0cc lah nn ENA A at
A Paper Regarding Its Effect on Forest Reserves.
BOREST) CONDITIONS:'OF -PORTO RICO. 18 Oe ee ee eee ee Nase) Be
Second Paper—Forest Aspects of the Island.
(By courtesy of the Secretary of Agriculture.)
PRRIGAEION AND PORESTRY 2.200.000 1205. Anes le eid aaa oe Real ibaa ete
The Joint Meeting in Montana.
Resolutions Adopted at Columbus.
HGOREST SPROTBCLION 38008 bee eee Aa SU Ee AR a Os ee Cea
Fires in Nehasane Park, Adirondacks.
A Bit of Historical Information.
THE KIND OF TREES TO PLANT
MounicipaAL CARE OF TREES
Forest Fires or a Monto
na een e cwcemen een des conn wenn wasn nn - sae wenn e ea ew ene sek eens nen n dete een a anne ene snews Pawaceneennseen
THE. PREVENTION (OF )/ROREST {FAURES.). saab ae OU BN kA SN ea et
Three Chapters on a Question of Importance.
Regarding Communications.
The Minnesota Park.
A History of American Forestry.
Chips and Clips—News Items.
The Almighty Dollar.
In Enlightened Africa.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
EDITORIAL
FOR e mien en ent pean mmm mati anna a mentee anna wenn ee nanan a esna naan mei tase nna an Oe nnges asaunasuanssnasasneasnaseuceaes
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
BOWES lRYeSeEtooL
At BILTMORE N. C.
For circular and information apply to
CA. SCHENGES Fh.
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE
National Geographic Magazine.
A JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY—PHYSICAL,
COMMERCIAL, POLITICAL $e
Editor: JOHN HYDE,
Statistician of the U. S. Department of Agriculture,
AssociATE EDITORS:
ma Ww. GREELY, WILLIS L. MOORE,
Chief Stgnal Officer, U. S. Army. Chief of the U. S. Weather Bureau
W J McGEE, Has ERIRCHELT,
Ethnologist tn Charge, Bureau of Superintendent of the U.S. Coast and
American Ethnology. Geodetic Survey.
HENRY GANNETT, : MARCUS BAKER,
Chief Geographer, U. S. Geological U.S. Geological Survey.
Survey.
C. HART MERRIAM, F 0) Pe aAUsSa LN,
Chief of the Biological Survey, U.S. Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, O.S
Department of Agriculture. Treasury Department.
DAVID J. HILL, ELIZA RUHAMAH SCIDMORE,
Assistant Secretary of State. Author of ‘Java, the Garden of the
East,” etc.
CHARLES H. ALLEN, CARL LOUISE GARRISON,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Principal of Phelps School, Wash-
ington, D. C.
Assistant Editor: GILBERT H. GROSVENOR, Washington, D. C.
$2.50 a Year, 25 cents a Copy, Three’ Months Trial Subscription, 50 Cents.
Requests for Sample Copies should invariably be accompanied by 25 cents.
Corcoran Building, W ashington, IE eged Ss
Kindly mention THE ForesTEr in writing,
THE FORESTER.
HENRY ROMBEIKE]
The First Established and [ost Complete
Newspaper Cutting Bureau in the World.
mo Mimth Avenue New York:
Established London 1881, New York 1884.
Branches: London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney.
‘The Press Cuttige Bureau.
which I established and have carried on since 1881 in London and
1884 in New York, reads, through its hundreds of employes, every
newspaper and periodical of importance published in the United
States, Canada and Europe. It is patronized by thousands of sub-
scribers, professional or business men, to whom are sent, day by day,
newspaper clippings, collected from all these thousands of papers, —
referring either to them or any given subject... .
Fienmry IRonitetae
@, 110 Fifth Awenue, New York. € |
Kindly mention Tne Forester in writing,
JANIA
PENNSYLYV
NEAR DU BOIS,
NERIES
I
THE P
IN
The Forester.
Vou. V.
OCT OBER} 1890:
No. 10.
Massachusetts Forestry Association.
What It Is and What It Does; Some Suggestions for Similar Organizations
in other States.
By THE SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION.
In talking with a Southern gentleman
at the National Capital within the past
year I was told that ‘‘ Massachusetts has
had her day, and in the present hour
she cuts but a small figure in these
United States.”
Perhaps Massachusetts people will be
unwilling to accept this statement in its
widest application, but we must admit
that in point of proportional forest re-
sources we are sadly behind many of our
sister States. This, of course, is in a
measure due to the fact that the State is
very generally fertile, and, as we under-
stand the principles of forestry, it is not
desirable, as a rule, to hold in timber
and cordwood the land which is capable
of growing other crops more profitably.
By the census returns of 1895 (the
latest available statistics on this subject)
it appears that the woodland area of this
State is nearly a million and a half acres,
and that its valuation is almost $24,-
000,000. This is a gain of over 71,000
acres in ten years, but the valuation
shows a depreciation of more than
$1, 300,000 in a like period, notwithstand-
ing the increased acreage. In point of
valuation our woodland is to-day some
$440,000 ahead of what 1. was thirty years
ago, and the acreage shows almost identi-
cally the same figures in increase. On
the whole, judging from the census re-
turns of woodlands of various classes,
their character appears to have improved
in the ten years, from 1885 to 1895, but
the depreciation of considerably more
than a million dollars in value in that
time seems to indicate that further im-
provement is possible.
As to the so-called unimproved and
unimprovable land of the State, which
includes permanent pastures, swamps
and other waste country, it is pleasing
to note that its area has declined since
1885 by nearly 250,000 acres, It is not
so reassuring, however, to note that the
value has shrunk by nearly $4,000,000,
which seems out of proportion to the
loss in area. This loss is not offset by
any gain in arable land, for there has
been a loss in area in that class, and with
a gain in valuation notwithstanding. It
is not offset by the gain of 71,000 acres
in woodland, for that is less than one-
third of the total loss of unimproved and
unimprovable lands. Some of this un-
improved land has, no doubt, gone into
residential property, but the tremendous
loss in valuation still remains.
‘‘But why all these dry-as-dust statis-
tics >’? some one asks. It is to show
more clearly one reason why the Massa-
chusetts Forestry Association exists.
The problem in this State is, not to in-
crease our wooded area as a whole, neces-
sarily, but to make the most of what we
have in the way of growing trees, and in
220
making lands which are worthless for
other purposes, yield a revenue both
to their owners and to the Common-
wealth.
This is the home problem. Beyond
our political borders we have a natural
interest in wide areas of commercially
valuable forest in the States to the
north. Massachusetts is dependent on
those forests in many ways. Many of
the streams which rise in their midst
furnish water power to important manu-
facturing interests in Massachusetts.
Those forests have a more or less direct
bearing also on the generai commercial
prosperity of Massachusetts, inasmuch
as Boston is the business center of New
England. If the forests are mismanaged
and wrecked, many lines of business
enterprise in Massachusetts will be seri-
ously affected. It is impossible, how-
ever, for a Massachusetts association to
exert any direct influence in other States,
but its Forestry Association hopes to be
able to inspire citizens in those States to
act for themselves and to assist in the
work as far as it may be permitted.
At the time that the initial conferences
were being held looking to the forma-
tion of the Massachusetts Forestry Asso-
ciation, the organizers placed themselves
on record to the effect that unless the As-
sociation could have influential support,
both moral and material, its field would
be restricted and its services be practi-
cally valueles. It must be a business
corporation in every sense of the word,
but any profits which may accrue belong,
not to the corporate members as such,
but to the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts and to New England at large.
As an earnest of this spirit one gentle-
man subscribed $1,100 on the spot.
Since then four others have done like-
wise. These donations of $1,000 and
the life membership fees are invested in
the permanent fund, which it is hoped
will shortly be swelled by other dona-
tions, that the Association may be en-
abled to enter upon its career of greater
usefulness.
The Association was barely on its feet
and trying its first steps when the hurri-
THE FOREBS@ER:
October,
cane of war swept down upon the land,
and the child was obliged to retire and
wait for the storm to pass. At the time
of the incorporation, which wasin June,
1898, the membership numbered one
patron (a subscriber of $1,000 or more),
tour lite members, and some_ thirty
annual members. Almost immediately
after the cessation of hostilities with
Spain the Association arose once more,
and applications for membership began
to come in. The growth has ever since
been steady and healthy and the rolls
showed on the first of October 5 patrons,
18 lite members, 239 annual members.
This growth seems to indicate that
there is an intelligent public interest in
the subject of forestry and tree-culture
in Massachusetts, and the Association
has been thus encouraged to apply its
energies systematically to increase that
interest. During’ the past Winter it has
carefully prepared a bill providing for
the codification and amendment ot the
laws relative to the preservation of trees,
and has given its support to several
other legislative measures bearing upon
the forestal welfare of the Common-
wealth. Most of the bills succeeded,
but most important of all in the eyes of
the Association was its own codification
bill. This provided that every town in
the State should annually elect a Tree
Warden, who should have sole charge of
and be held directly responsible for the
roadside trees and shrubbery. The bill
carefully defined his duties and increased
his powers. Heretofore the election of
a Tree Warden has been permissive
merely, and not more than five or six
towns ever availed themselves of the
privilege. It is now mandatory with all
towns. The law having been enacted,
the Massachusetts Forestry Association
will endeavor at once to interest respon-
sible citizens in the several towns of the
State tn the necessity for choosing none
but competent and public spirited men
for the post, and offering whatever
assistance the Association may be able
to render once the Warden is duly in-
stalled in office. Naturally the Associa-
tion cannot exert any influence in the
1899.
electioneering line, as it is not a politi-
cal organization and has no desire to
meddle with the private affairs of the
towns. As the office carries no salary
unless the towns see fit to provide one,
none but public-spirited persons will seek
the position,
The Tree Warden law is, of course,
primarily for shade tree protection, but
it will indirectly awaken an interest in
the better management of woodlands
and timber. The original draft of the
bill also included a most important pro-
vision for a forest fire warden system,
but this the legislative joint committee
on agriculture did not see fit to report,
on the ground that its provisions were
too drastic. This matter must therefore
be left for another year. ‘hat there is
sore need of a more stringent fire law is
shown by the records of the past Spring.
Six towns, situated in various parts of
the State, have thus far this year been
subjected to heavy losses. Much of this
destruction might have been prevented
had there been an adequate law govern-
ing the setting of fires, defining a system
for their prompt extinguishment, fixing
the responsibility for their origin, and
providing for the punishment of the
offenders.
With a view to bringing the subject of
forestry and of roadside. tree culture more
generally and more forcefully before
the people of Massachusetts, in a plain
way, the Association has spent the Sum-
mer months this year in securing an
original set of photographs of existing
conditions, ideal and otherwise, through-
out the State, from which lantern slides
may be made. Lectures will soon be pre-
pared to accompany the pictures (for the
pictures will carry greater conviction
than mere words, and are therefore the
primary factors), and next Winter will
be started a campaign which it is hoped
will be as successful as those which have
been conducted in similar fashion in
Pennsylvania and other States.
Another means of helping farmers in
the improvement of their woodlots and
in the planting to trees some of their
valueless waste land, and for the guid-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
221
ance of Tree Wardens and others in
caring for shade trees and roadside
shrubbery, is found in a concise little
book, which the Association expects to
publish before long. This book is the
work of Warren H. Manning, of the
Executive Committee of the Associa-
tion, and the funds for its publication are
being subscribed by members and other
interested persons.
In many other ways the Association
has been and is still active. For ex-
ample, a committee of business men has
been hard at work for many weeks past
in taking testimony from persons repre-
senting various lumber interests all over
the country on the subject of a lumber
tariff. They have studied the matter
carefully and from all sides, and now
report that the interests of our forests
demand that foreign lumber of all kinds
shall be admitted duty free. Another
committee, composed of members living
in the cities and towns infested by the
notorious gypsy moth, has been engaged
during the past Summer in following the
State’s work of attempting to exterminate
this pest. This committee, after studying
the work, will return a report to the next
General Court, advising a continuation of
the crusade in its present form, or sug-
gesting some new plan of action in
accordance with what it considers the in-
terests of the State demand The As-
sociation also furnishes articles relating
to forestry and tree-culture to the daily
press, and it is most encouraging to note
the readiness of the papers generally to
publish all such articles. In several in-
stances these articles have been accorded
positions in the editorial columns.
On the whole the outlook for a life of
useful activity seems bright to the Massa-
chusetts Forestry Association. It already
possesses the courage to go ahead, and
it needs only the active support of every
interested citizen of the State to hasten
the day when scientific forestry shall be
as common as are destructive lumbering
operations and forest fires at the present
time.
ALLEN CHAMBERLAIN,
Winchester, Mass.
THE FORESTER.
October,
The Reclamation of Drifting Sand Dunes.
(GOLDEN GATE PARK, CALIFORNIA. )
Being a Paper Read at the Summer Meeting, Los Angeles, Cal., 1899.
(NUMBER SIX OF THE SERIES.)
About 700 of the 1,040 acres com-
posing the reservation were originally
acres of drifting sand that moved with
every gale, heavy storms sometimes
moving it to a depth of three feet in
twenty-four hours. This sand is sharp
and clean, with nothing in its composi-
tion of a loamy nature, barren and poor,
so poor that barley sown on its surface,
after being plowed and cultivated in
a favorable season with plenty of moist-
ure, grew only about six inches in height,
and failed to perfect its seed, although
perfectly protected from winds by a high
embankment on its westerly side.
The first operation necessary in the
reclamation of ground of this sterile
nature, was to bind the sand to prevent
its moving. Experiments were made by
sowing barley, also by sowing seeds of
the blue and yellow shrub lupin Lupinus
Arborea, also by planting seeds of Pinus
Maritima, all of which were partially
successful; but the first complete success
was with the planting of the entire area
with the sea bent grass (Calamagrestis
Arenaria), which was done by planting
the roots about three feet apart, and run
in with the plow. A furrow was run
about fifteen inches deep, in which afew
roots were dropped, about three feet
apart; then two furrows were turned, in
which no roots were set; in the third
furrow roots were again planted, and so
on over the entire tract. Where the
dunes were too steep for horses to travel,
pits were dug by hand and the roots
planted the same distance apart as when
the land was plowed, care being taken
to firmly press with the foot the sand
immediately about the roots. Moist or
even wet weather is, of course, the best
time to plant this grass, the best season
for planting being between December
1 and February 15. If planting be de-
layed much later, dry weather is apt to
set in before the plants become firmly
rooted, and the consequence is many are
lost either by drought or by being blown
out by the winds.
Where any large areas of plants were
blown out by the roots, care was taken
to have the ground immediately re-
planted, a gang of men being sent after
every storm to pick up the scattered
roots and to plant them deeper if possi-
ble than before. The entire tract being
planted with this grass, the next opera-
tion was the building of brush fences
across the wind about 100 yards apart
and from four to six feet in height, on
the sheltered side of which young seed-
ling trees were planted, averaging five
feet apart. A variety of trees were ex-
perimented with, among which were the
Norway Maple, which is so highly recom-
mended in European works of reclama-
tion; the Tamarix and the Poplar, the
Monterey Cypress, the Pinus Insignis,
the Pinus Maritima, the Acacia Lophan-
tha, the Acacia Latifolia and the Euca-
lyptus, Viminalis, Globulas, etc. All
these made satisfactory progress, ex-
cepting the Norway Maple and the Pop-
lar, the summer winds blowing off every
leaf, almost as soon as formed. The
Acacia Latifolia and Acacia Lophantha,
the Monterey Pine, the Monterey Cy-
press and the Tamarix are all about
equally well adapted for standing exposed
sea winds, and all seem to thrive equally
well in the sand; but we find that the
barren sand does not contain nutriment
sufficient to grow trees more than ten
feet in height, or until the tree begins to
form heart wood.
About that stage of growth the tree
begins to show signs of distress, the
leaves of the conifers gradually grow
shorter, the bark gets bound and the
1899.
whole tree shows a stunted, starved look.
Acres and acres are now in that state,
and unless given assistance will die out-
right. Several years ago the work of
fertilizing the forest trees was begun,
and wherever a load of loam, manure or
other good rich dressing was spread, the
hungry tree responded very quickly by
making good growth, a more thrifty look
was noticed, and in less than a year they
had a vigorous, healthy look, showing
that want of nourishment alone was the
cause of their stunted appearance.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
223
Now that the young Pines, Cypress,
Eucalyptus, etc , are up twenty or more
feet high, with good soil and plenty of
water, most any tree that thrives in the
neighborhood will do well. The Willow,
the Elm and the Poplar, as well as the
Oak and the Maple, are doing very well,
and all of the shrubs, such as Rhodo-
dendrons, Azaleas and many others
very well, indeed, protected as they are
by the shelter of the hardier kinds.
Joun McLaren.
Minnesota’s Park for the People.
Symposium of Views of the Forest Expert, the Lumberman and the Press.
Friends of forestry and others have
long wished to have a portion of our
northern Minnesota forest reserved as
a park, health resort and game preserve.
The Itasca State Park already created,
of less than 20,000 acres, but for the in-
crease of which the last legislature ap-
propriated $20,000, has realized this
wish only in part.
Coley ohny Ss: Cooper, of Chicago,
having come forward with a project of
a ‘national park’ of 7,000,000 acres,
the happy audacity of his plan has aroused
the interest and discussion which are
desired.
I do not suppose that anything like
7,000,000 acres will be taken for a na-
tional park, but hope that a reasonably
extensive area will be appropriated be-
fore interest in the subject subsides.
The annual report of the Commissioner
of the General Land Office shows that
the United States still holds in northern
Minnesota 6,000,000 acres of public
land, stretching (though not all in a
compact body) from the eastern limit on
the north shore of Lake Superior to the
Red River Valley, a distance of 350
miles. In the eastern and northern
parts the surface is broken, and to some
extent rockv. There are extensive
swamps, mostly covered with stunted
Spruce. But the region as a whole,
though perhaps of a sombre cast,
abounds with clear lakes and streams,
is a natural forest of Pine, Spruce and
mixed woods ; has always been, and still
is, the covert of valuable game, and is
well adapted from its prevailing sandy
soil and coniferous foliage for a national
park health resort. There are spots that
are ideal for sylvan beauty.
Contiguous to these United States
lands are, in round numbers, a million
acres of valuable Pine and mineral lands
belonging to private parties, anda million
or more acres ot cut-over lands belonging
to private parties ; also about three mil-
lion acres of school and swamp lands be-
longing to the State of Minnesota as the
gift of Congress. Of the 6,000,000
acres of United States lands, probably
3,000,000 acres are non-agricultural, yet
suited for forestry.
I speak only for myself, but I favor a
national park, and one just as extensive
as it can reasonably be. I will not
venture now to advise how it should be
created. It might be by act of Con-
gress authorizing the Secretary of the
Interior to select and set apart all such
tracts as are unsuited for agriculture, or
a commission of disinterested and emi-
nent men, such as selected and set apart
the national forest reserves, might be
authorized to createit. Under the latter
224 THE FORESTER.
system is a method of eliminating all
lands better suited for other purposes
than for forestry. The authority that
would be least lable to political and
local influence would have my prefer-
ence,
Much opposition to the proposed na-
tional park is being made by the news-
papers of northern Minnesota from a mis-
taken apprehension that it will withdraw
farming lands from settlement, obstruct
lumbering and retard the general pros-
perity. In answer to this I have re-
peatedly, in various newspapers, cited
the example of the Black Forest (so
called from the dark color of its conif-
erous woods), a tract ninety miles long
by from thirteen to forty miles wide, lying
in Baden and Wurtemburg, and which,
though essentially a forest, managed on
forest principles, and a most popular
health and summer resort, still has within
its limits cities and villages, a popula-
tion of a million, fine roads, manufac-
tures and cultivated farms. The Thurin-
gian and all other forests illustrate a
similar fact that land which is better
fitted for forest than for agriculture can
be maintained as forest so as to yield a
continuous revenueand afford the benefits
of a park, without preventing the culti-
vation of any neighboring agricultural
land. If I am not mistaken the Adiron-
dacks, in which the State of New York
now holds a million acres as a forest re-
serve and park, contains several villages,
many private summer homes, good roads,
and while affording all the benefits of a
park, of a fish and game preserve, and
of a summer resort, is the theater of
active prosperity; and there can be no
doubt whatever that if a reasonably ex-
tensive national park be established in
northern Minnesota it will greatly in-
crease rather than retard the general
prosperity.
Under the free and easy public land
system which the people, through their
Congress and Government, have per-
mitted, the timber lands in Minnesota,
as well as elsewhere, have been disposed
of in a prodigal manner. Within the
past fifty yearsa hundred million dollars’
October,
worth of Pine has been cut in Minnesota,
for which the Government has received
less than $7,000,000. The greater and
best part of the Pine forest has been
cut; and now, if the people of the country
at large wish to reserve a few groves
of the remaining Pine belonging to the
Government as a future health resort, it
does not become any one to make too
violent an opposition.
The lumbermen of Minnesota, as a
class, are broad-minded and liberal, and
will not oppose a suitable national park.
But timber thieves and all suchas ‘‘ dead
and down” timber rascals will oppose it
and make their opposition felt. It is
a question which concerns the public
quite generally and ought to be decided
promptly or it will be too late.
C. C. ANDREWS,
Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota and
Secretary of the Minnesota State Forestry
Board. St. Paul; Minn:
The Minnesota National Park and
Forestry Association has set itself to the
task of securing a national park for the
plain people of the United States. In
area, its acres will count by the millions,
and in scenic and native conditions this
combined forest reserve and park will be
among the most picturesque and primal
solitudes that are grouped around the
headwaters of the Mississippi River. Its
forests are magnificent and stately, the
cascade and rivulet trickle down its
slopes and gorges. It has lakes that
silver spot its open landscapes, the air
is crispy and bracing, it is easily access-
ible to some twenty millions of people,
and for Nimrods, Waltons and tourists
it has the savage beast, the game fish
and a vestige of what is left of old Amer-
ica, and of unvandalized domain. It is
proposed to keep the ruthless axe of the
nomadic chopper out of the woods, and
to spare the coming generation a gloomy
vista of blackened stumps, sand-stran-
gled streams and gorges filled with slash-
ings or sawdust.
This forest is one of the few left east
of the Rocky Mountains; but in all its
1899.
grim grandeur of massiveness and mag-
nitude, it will be but a desolation of
slabs and stumps and moss-covered
charcoal in less than a decade if timber
rapacity is not repressed. The move-
ment now being made has forest preser-
vation as one of its objects, and if an
act of Congress can be secured to make
national property of this splendid do-
main, the timber thief, the fire fiend,
and some other repellant annexes to
camps and saw mills, will give up the
ghost or quit the country. The regulat-
ing of timber cutting will avert the cli-
matic catastrophes that follow the whole-
sale destruction of forests the wide world
over, and will give the people of the
Mississippi Valley a domain as large as
an ancient kingdom, where the debili-
tated can renew their strength, feast
their eyes on landscapes tranquilizing
and superb, or carry out their Nimrodic
instincts to the haunt of the wolf and
the den of the bear. It would seem
that public opinion would be a unit in
this movement, but, while it is not unani-
mous, there is sufficient weight and mo-
mentum to give the project a reasonable
hope of success.
In the establishment of forest reserves
and national parks the Government of
the United States has confined itself to
the Pacific coast and the extreme West,
the whole making an aggregate of 4o0,-
000,000 acres. The Mississippi Valley
has not had a Lazarus crumb from the
tablecloth of Dives. It may be the
country has grown too fast, and has
ribbed out an empire before its juvenile
mouth was filled with second teeth. It
is no longer a stripling. It is now the
commercial spine of a nation. It has
turned the sod of the prairie, and made
a patchwork of orchards and _ fields of
the wilderness. It teems with life. The
church is on the hill and the school house
in the valley. The throats of furnaces
breathe like Vesuvius. The chasms are
bridged, the streams spanned, and steel
rails spread a web of blue-white lines on
mountain slopes and from sea to sea.
From the valley of the American Nile
crowds of men and women make their
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
225
annual trips to the hills of New Hamp-
shire, the rock-ribbed slopes of Old
Maine, the gorges of the Adirondacks,
the crags and woods of the White Moun-
tains, to the Yosemite and the Yellow-
stone, and the white and yellow sand-
lines of two oceans. What about a
Minnesota diversion for Nimrods, Wal-
tons and tourists? It is within twenty-
four hours’ reach of twenty millions of
people, who, if rigid and forceful in their
several avocations, are as eager and in-
tent in their once a- year go-out for health
or rest, or in man-like quest of some sport
or other that shakes the sawdust out of
brains, and nerves the hand for the gun
or the fishing-rod.
In a commercial sense, aside from all
other considerations, a home park for
the tribes of the Valley would b2 a mag-
net for the largest dollar ever made. It
has been a matter of dispute with some
as to whether or not this privilege would
be abused. Would it become a monop-
oly, or a whole mob of monopolies, as
has been the traditional practice of some
sportsmen’s clubs in securing the control
of hunting and camping grounds? In
this instance exclusiveness would be im-
possible. The Minnesota National Park
would be for allthe people. It will have
no necktie or club button privileges, if
the program as on the card is lived up
to. Such an outing place as is pro-
posed, if anywhere near the descriptions
given of its natural characteristics, and!
if free from that yellow paint that too
often gets on scenic maps, the Park of
the Valley would be a godsend to its.
people and an honor to the nation.
The last of the great Pine timber tracts:
of the Northwest lies in the upper por-
tion of Minnesota, a vast region of many
thousand square miles which was once
too remote from transportation to make
the marketing of its lumber easily prac-
tical. Out by the port of Duluth, and
south by the highway of the Mississippi
River, and out also from the stations of
the railroads which have been steadily
invading that region, there have long
226
been coming the old streams of logs.
Minnesota is by no means a new region
for the lumberman, but a part of the
State, more especially that covered by
certain Indian reservations, is still un-
cut, and is looked on eagerly by the eyes
of those men whose capital is invested
in the lumber trade. The eastern and
northwestern portions of Minnesota have
been well logged off. The forest fires at
Hinckley and elsewhere, which wiped
out whole villages and destroyed scores
of lives, show what possibilities of ruin
there are latent in a slashed-off, aban-
doned lumber country. Little by little
the axe and the saw have been working
toward the last of the great North-
western Pine forests.
It is not the purpose of this forestry
organization to injure any existing prop-
erty rights. It is the intention to be not
unjust, but just, to the Indians who live
in that country. It is not the intention
to rob the State of Minnesota, or any
citizen of that State in any particular,
but to benefit that State and its citizens.
The organization is not presumptuous
enough to ask for any given limits for
this national playground. The gentle-
men of the organization have merely
asked the members of Congress to come
out and see that country, and then to
decide the question whether it should
belong to the people of America or be
given over to the axe and saw of a few
lumbermen, who must soon ruin it, as
they have ruined the Pine tracts farther
to the east.
The organization of the National Park
and Forestry Association will give im-
petus to the general movement to save
the forests in the States and Territories.
There is now very little opposition to
the plans inaugurated by the Govern-
ment for the preservation of forests, and
in most of the older States there is a
strong sentiment in favor of a system
under which the trees so ruthlessly de-
stroyed in the timber States of the East
may be replaced. In the prairie States
much progress has been made.
THE FORESTER.
October,
The State of Minnesota, under its own
forest laws, is taking some care of its
forest lands, and each year a report of
the wardens is submitted as to ravages
of fire and destruction from other causes.
Of the 11,890,000 acres of natural forest
in the State 10,889,000 acres are in twen-
ty-three counties. Seven million acres
lie to the west of Duluth, and here the
members of the new park association
propose toestablish a national park that
shall preserve the natural forest, its
plants and animals. The only opposi-
tion to this will come from those who
believe that it would be against the in-
terests of the State to reserve any great
extent of wild land from settlement.
This opposition may be overcome by the
plan pursued in other States where parks
have been located in a way not to inter-
fere with the development of remote
sections of the State.
The necessity for prompt action, in
view of the rapidity with which large
areas of forest are denuded of timber, is
shown in the following press dispatches
from that section of country:
‘¢Two hundred men are now gather-
ing in camps on Turtle River, north of
Cass Lake, to cut 300,000,000 feet of
Pine. The camps on the upper branches
of the Mississippi, where 300,000,000
additional feet of Pine is to be cut, were
established last year, and 35,000,000
feet has been driven down the Missis-
sippi to Bemidji, and is now being
loaded on cars—8o0,000 feet each day—
and railroaded out of that region on the
Brainerd & Northern.
‘‘Tf the Ojibway Pine is sold to these
lumbermen under the Nelson law, every
Pine tree in the whole region, except at
Itasca Lake, in the State Park, will be
cut and turned into lumber before the
expiration of the ensuing fifteen years at
the present rate of destruction. It will
then be absolutely impossible to prevent
devastating and enormous forest fires
similar to those which have heretofore
occurred in the cut-off Pine regions of
Minnesota.”’
1899
The Congressional party invited to
explore the country advocated for a
Government reserve by the Minnesota
National Parkand Forestry Association,
left Chicago Thursday, September 28,
arrived in St. Paul the next morning,
left the same evening over the Great
Northern Railway, and at last accounts
had reached Walker, Minn., where a
houseboat was taken for a trip down
Leech Lake. The original itinerary was
changed so as to visit Otter Tail Point,
where a council was being held by the
Pillager and Chippewa Indians. After
meeting several influential chiefs, the
party returned to Walker for a banquet
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
227
in their honor in the evening. On
Thursday, October 5, the party was
expected to proceed by special train to
Duluth, thence to Minneapolis and Chi-
cago, concluding the journey on Octo-
ber 7.
The present plan of the Association
is to ask that only 800,000 acres be set
aside now, to begin the new park. This
area would include seventy lakes of con-
siderable size, besides several hundred
small ones, with a number of square
miles of finest White Pine trees. The
settlers in this region have become en-
thusiastic supporters of the plan, since
they have learned of its true scope.
ihe @xample offfennsylvania.
Reappointment of a Worthy Official in Spite of Political Clamor—
Unanimous Approval by the Press.
The Governor of Pennsylvania, on
September 18, reappointed for four years,
as State Commissioner of Forestry, Dr.
J. T. Rothrock, vice president of the
American Forestry Association for Penn-
sylvania.
Joseph Trimble Rothrock was born in
McVeytown, Mifflin County, Pa., April
g, 1839. He was graduated from Har-
vard University in 1854, and in 1868 re-
ceived his medical degree from the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania. From March,
1865, to November, 1866, he was engaged
in exploration in British Columbia and
in Alaska. He had previously served in
the civil war. From 1869 to 1873 he
was actively engaged in the practice of
medicine in Wilkesbarre. From 1873 to
1876 he was surgeon and botanist to the
Wheeler Exploring Expedition of the
United States Engineering Corps and
served in Colorado, Arizona, New Mex-
ico and California. The University of
Pennsylvania elected him Professor of
Botany in 1876, which position he still
holds, though granted leave of absence
since 1893 to serve as Commissioner of
Forestry of the State. He has delivered
many lectures in the interest of forestry,
and has written several books on the
subject.
Governor Stone has done the State a
service and added luster to his adminis-
tration by reappointing Joseph T. Roth-
rock as Commissioner of Forestry for
another four years’ term. This State
first waked up to the necessity of doing
something for the preservation and per-
petuation of her forests about eight
years ago. This awakening was due
largely to the public addresses and writ-
ings of Professor Rothrock, and when
the Legislature in 1893 was moved to
authorize the appointment of a Forestry
Commission to look into the subject of
State forestry, Dr. Rothrock, though a
Republican, was selected by the Demo-
cratic Governor Pattison as the head of
that commission
The State has made progress since
then. The Forestry Commission made
a most instructive and valuable report
on the forests of the State. The com-
mission of two gave place toa single
Commissioner of Forestry, to which
place Governor Hastings appointed the
228
one man in the State pre-eminently qual-
ified for the position, Joseph T. Roth-
rock. The commission had collected
information on forests and forestry. The
Commissioner applied himself to the task
of getting legislation under which forests
might be protected and new growths of
timber encouraged. Asaresult we have
our fire-warden law, acts to encourage
tree planting, the act providing for the
creation of forest reservations at the
headwaters of our chief rivers, the act
providing for the purchase by the State
of unsettled lands, sold for taxes, for the
purpose of creating forestry reservations
out of them.
Before Dr. Rothrock came to their res-
cue our forests had scarcely a single law
on the statute book in their interest.
Now Pennsylvania stands in the van of
the States which manifest an intelligent
concern for their forests and provide for
their protection. We will have three
large forest reservations as soon as the
Legislature will appropriate the money
to secure the land, and many smaller
reservations through the purchase by the
State of wild lands fit for forest growth.
Our forests will be protected from burn-
ing by fire wardens, and partial relief
from taxation will encourage farmers to
plant trees.
A new and intelligent interest has
been awakened in this State on the sub-
ject of forestry, and to no one man is
this due so much as to Dr. Rothrock.
He has been the soul and inspiration of
the forestry movement in Pennsylvania—
its intelligence and executive head. We
are glad that Governor Stone recognizes
this, and we embrace with pleasure this
opportunity to commend him for a most
excellent appointment.—P/z/la. Press.
Recently Governor Stone has made
several appointments which merit the
hearty commendation of his fellow citi-
zens. The one, however, which has
probably caused the most general satis-
faction is the reappointment of Dr.
Joseph T. Rothrock to the position of
Commissioner of Forestry, All who
THE FORESTER.
October,
have the interest of forest culture at
heart will feel particular gratification, be-
cause it insures fora term, at least, the
continued advance of this important
work in Pennsylvania. Dr. Rothrock
is eminently fitted for the post of Com-
missioner of Forestry; in fact, there is
probably not another available man in
the State as well equipped for the work
as he is. He has held the office since
its creation, and he has done more than
any one else to bring the State to a
realizing sense of the importance of
taking active steps for the preservation
of the forest area which remains, and to
interest agriculturists and others in the
subject of tree planting and the desira-
bility of planting more woodlands. In
every respect he has filled his office
worthily, and it would have been a se-
vere blow to the forest interests of Penn-
sylvania if he had been removed.
Governor Stone, since his incum-
bency, has frequently made removals
and appointments which have not met
with popular approval. He has often
shown too much partisan zeal in such
matters and too great an inclination to
listen to the voice of ex-Senator Quay
rather than to that of the people. Dr,
Rothrock, it is said, was marked for re-
moval, to make room for some one hav-
ing greater ability as a political worker.
The report carried widespread dissatis-
faction and protest, and it is gratifying
to learn that it was without foundation,
or, if his removal was in contemplation,
that Governor Stone has listened to the
voice of the people, and not to the de-
mands of the factional politicians. It is
much pleasanter to commend than to
disapprove, and for once Governor
Stone merits the hearty approval of the
citizens of the whole State by his reap-
pointment of Dr. Rothrock as Commis-
sioner of Forestry.—Phila. Ledger.
So little has yet been done in this
country toward the protection of our for-
ests that any step in this direction, in
whatever part of the United States, is
cause for national satisfaction. Six years
1899.
ago some public-spirited citizens of
Pennsylvania induced the Legislature to
authorize the appointment of a Forestry
Commission, and Governor Pattison,
himself a Democrat, selected as its head
Dr. Joseph T, Rothrock, a Republican,
who was universally admitted to be the
best man for the place. Two years later,
when a single Commissioner of Forestry
was given charge of the matter, Gov-
ernor Hastings appointed Dr. Rothrock,
with the approval of all good citizens.
Under his leadership, acts have been
passed by the Legislature for the crea-
tion of forest reservations at the head-
waters of the State’s chief rivers, and
for the purchase by the State of unset-
tled lands sold for taxes, with a view to
creating forest reservations out of them,
while a body of fire wardens has been
established to protect the forests from
burning.
On every public ground, Dr. Rothrock
deserved reappointment when his term
expired. But, although a Republican in
his opinions, he is no politician, and hun-
gry office-seekers clamored for his place
as a reward for their services to the party
or the machine. There was fear that
the Quay Governor would yield to these
demands, but he has happily disap-
pointed the public by commissioning Dr.
Rothrock for another four years. The
advocates of forest reform throughout
the country will be encouraged by this
evidence that the movement has already
grown strong enough to command the
respect of the politicians. — Avening
mast, IV. Y. City.
While there are many things in the
administration of the affairs of the State
to criticize, there are also some to com-
mend. One of these is the reappoint-
ment this week of Prof. J. T. Roth-
rock to be Commissioner of Forestry.
It was reported a few months ago that
Professor Rothrock would be retired at
the expiration of his present term, but
Governor Stone has shown that he is not
utterly devoid of sense in retaining in the
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
229
service of the State this most capable
and popular servant.
As Commissioner of Forestry, Pro-
fessor Rothrock has given the Common-
wealth the benefit of his large experience
and the enthusiasm which he brings to
the consideration of the subject. He
believes that there is no one thing more
deserving the attention of the people
than the restoration of the forests and
those still left in the mountain region of
Pennsylvania. He has been at the head
of all these movements to promote tree
culture, and through his efforts much
good has resulted. The laws relating to
forest protection and growth have been
largely enacted through his personal ef-
forts, and it would have been a lasting
shame to remove him from a position of
such great usefulness.
With the assurance of a certain ten-
ure, Professor Rothrock can go ahead
with those plans which have been under
consideration in his department, and the
whole State will applaud the Governor
for once setting aside merely political
considerations in making an appoint-
ment.—Cvty and State, Philadelphia.
In the reappointment of Professor
Rothrock as State Commissioner of For-
estry Governor Stone certainly consulted
the best interests of the Commonwealth,
wisely casting political considerations to
the winds.
In technical and practical knowledge
of the subject of forestry Professor
Rothrock is easily in the front ranks of
his profession. During his eight years
of service in his present position he has
become thoroughly familiar with the
needs of Pennsylvania in the matter of
reforesting its denuded and barren acres,
and is better qualified than any other
man to make practical suggestions as to
the best means of protecting the existing
forest area of the State.
Professor Rothrock’s reappointment 1s
to be commended without qualification,
and the State is to be congratulated upon
the prospect of securing his efficient serv-
ices for another term.—//z/a. Times.
230
THE FORESTER.
October,
Sheep Grazing in Arizona.
A Paper on the Statement that the Forest Reserves are Injured by Grazing.
[THE ForEsTER assumes no responsibility for views expressed in signed communications,
The opposite view on this question will be published in the November issue,—Ep. ].
The object of the American Forestry
Association and of the Department of
Forestry of the United States Govern-
ment is to be attained, if at all, by
candid, conservative and careful investi-
gation of all the conditions of each local-
ity and the establishment, for each local-
ity, of such conservative regulations as
the conditions, after such study, are
found to require. There have been in
the past many statements of a general
nature, some of them coming from ap-
parently high authority, that were based
upon facts and conditions found in ]im-
ited localities and applicable only to
such localities. Such statements are
extremely unfortunate, not only because
they are unjust to local interests, but-
that they break the confidence of the
settler of these localities in the Depart-
ment of Forestry and bring into ridicule
the whole plan of forest reservation
among the settlers, on whom, in Ari-
zona, at least, the preservation of the
young forest most depends.
In the July ForESTER appeared an
article on ‘‘ Natural Reforestation in the
Southwest,” in which the author dis-
cussed sheep grazing in the forest re-
serves of ‘*Central Arizona” from the
standpoint, evidently, of facts and con-
ditions found in California, and falls
into the grievous errors above referred
to. Ido not wish to criticize the author,
who, we feel, was the victim of misplaced
confidence, with, possibly, too much the-
ory on the science of Forestry, but jus-
tice to the high aims of the Department
of Forestry, as well as to local interests,
demand that the facts be known and that
these errors be corrected before injustice
be done. I quote from the article re-
ferred to:
‘‘The topography of Southern Cali-
fornia and Arizona is such that, at best,
much of the rainfall flows off in imme-
diate floods,’’ etc. After the statement
in most positive terms of the necessity
of excluding sheep from the forests of
both California and Arizona, the writer
adds, in justification of his position :
‘As a specific instance in illustration
of the destructive effect of grazing, the
forest reserve in Central Arizona may be
cited. Many of the streams which flow
into the Salt River have their sources in
these reservations. Whenever sheep
have been driven there in large numbers,
the farmers of the Salt River valley have
suffered material injury from the canals
and laterals filling with sand and silt.”
Then follows a paragraph on the same
subject which is probably quite practical
and true for the precipitous mountains of
Southern California, but, if intended to
apply to the forest reserves of Central
Arizona, it is worthy the pen of a Cer-
vantes.
There are three forest reserves in Ari-
zona: the ‘‘ Black Mesa,” the ‘*Grand
Cafion,’’ and the ‘‘San Francisco Moun-
tain’’ Forest Reserve. The former lies
on the east border of the Territory. The
writer 1s personally familiar with very
little of it, but understands the soil and
conditions there are very similar to those
of the other two reserves. As the waters
of the ‘‘Grand Cafion”’ reserve all flow,
when they flow at all, into the Colorado
River, that reserve could not be referred
to or affect this question.- In fact, only
a small per cent of the other two re-
serves lie on the southern slope. After
a residence of eleven years at the foot of
the San Francisco Mountains, and con- ©
stant familiarity with all parts of the lat-
ter reserve, and with the grazing of both
cattle and sheep thereon, we are forced
to the conclusion that the author of the
-article referred to has been imposed |
upon by the parties from whom he de- ~ |
rived his information.
1899.
The district composing this reserve,
and the western end of the ‘Black
Mesa” forest reserve as well, is a_ pla-
teau comparatively level, averaging six
to seven thousand feet above sea level,
covered for the most part by an open
forest of pine timber bounded on the bor-
ders, where the plateau descends into
the deserts or timberless plains, with a
belt, a few miles in width, of scrubby
Cedar. On the south it breaks off ab-
ruptly into the tributaries of Salt River,
the headwaters of which extend into
this plateau in the form of precipitous
cafions one thousand to fifteen hundred
feet deep, which are fed by numberless
springs that burst out at the bottom of
these cafions.
The formation of this entire plateau is
volcanic. Itis covered with extinct vol-
canoes and evidences of volcanic influ-
ence. ‘The stratified formation is every-
where broken and shattered, and the soil
is of a loose, porous nature, so that the
rains and melting snows are drunk up
by the soil lke a sponge and appear
again, if atall, only at the bottom of the
cafions, or small springs at rare inter-
vals on the Mesa which disappear in a
short distance from the point at which
they rise. We have absolutely no run-
ning streams on this Mesa, or forest re-
serve. It is not precipitous and does
not wash. Toillustrate: The draw that
passes through Flagstaff heads at the
foot of Mt. Agassiz and topcgraphically
drains an areaof more than two hundred
square miles, has no outlet but empties
into a little valley five miles east of town.
It seldom runs to this valley and never
more than once or twice during the year,
and is often dry the entire year.
The forest reserve districts of Arizona
have been used for grazing sheep for
twenty to thirty years. We have never
before heard it claimed that ‘‘The ca-
nals and laterals of Salt River valley
filled with sand and silt’’ because of the
sheep grazing on the forest reserves
which lie two hundred miles further up
theriver ; and one familiar with the moun-
tain plateaus and with the dry, sandy,
dusty, and windy districts and plains
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
231
through which the waters of the Salt
River and the canals and laterals of the
Salt River valley flow, after leaving the
mountain forest reserves, would be hard
to convince that the sheep on the moun-
tain materially affected the filling of the
canals and laterals referred to. If there
were any such results, they would be
constant, and it could not be said that
‘Whenever sheep have been driven
there in large numbers,” etc., these re-
sults were seen, because the ranges of
these forest reserves have been used con-
stantly for twenty years, and the results
would be constant and universal in the
Salt River valley.
There is little in common with the
sheep-grazing industry of Arizona and
that of many districts, perhaps any dis-
trict of California. The scarcity of wa-
ter on the mountain plateaus of Arizona
has confined the summer ranges of each
individual sheep breeder to a more or
less definite locality during the summer
and dry season, within which he owns
or controls the permanent water supply.
He is a settler. Thisis his home from
which he comes and goes as the season
may require. There is no undergrowth or
‘cover,’’ and none is needed to ‘‘hold
back the snow or prevent surface floods.”’
The great enemy to the forest and to
the wool-growers is the forest fires which
burn up the feed for the flocks and de-
stroy the young and tender Pines. The
grazing off of the grass and weeds by the
sheep and the vigilance of the sheep
owners are the greatest safeguards against
these forest fires. Where the timber
has been cut and the laps and brush left
scattered upon the ground, these fires
are inevitable, and destructive to much
of the larger growth. Steps should be
taken to require parties cutting timber to
clean up carefully all combustible mate-
rial left behind, whether on private or
reserve lands.
It is the popular idea that sheep graze
in close, compact herds and hence tram-
ple out what they do not feed off. This
is incorrect. They are not closely herded
or bunched except in driving or corral-
ling, which, in well-managed herds, is
232
seldom done, and when scattered on the
range the tramping of the small tree
plants is slight. |
There are in the San Francisco Moun-
tain forest reservation districts on which
sheep have been grazed constantly for
twenty years or more, others on which
cattle only have grazed, and a few dis-
tricts on which neither have grazed at
any time to any considerable extent, and
we have yet to find the man who can go
over these districts and point out which
district has been grazed by sheep, which
by cattle, or the district on which no
stock has ranged. There is practically
no difference in the growth of these dis-
tricts. It is claimed by the oldest set-
tlers that forest fires were more frequent
THE FORESTER.
October,
and destructive in the early settlement
before the grazing by sheep and cattle,
and that in the growth of the young
Pine, the reforestation is greater where
it has been protected by the stock and
the owners of’ the stock. Systematic
efforts on the part of both the Depart-
ment and the herdsmen will bring much
better results. Let us have an intelli-
gent, candid investigation of this ques-
tion in each locality by capable men who
come seeking truth, and without precon-
ceived notions and theories which they,
consciously or unconsciously, seek al-
ways to sustain and prove.
(Szgned ) E. S. GOsney,
Flagstaff, Arizona
Forest Conditions of Porto Rico.
Review of the Forest Resources of the Island, by the Special Agent of the
U. S. Geological Survey, for Issue by the Department of Agriculture.
SECOND
PAPER—FOREST ASPECTS OF
THE ISLAND.
By CourTESY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE,
Those who have read Kingsley’s 1n-
teresting description of the tropical for-
ests of Trinidad, or Lafcadio Hearn’s
vivid pictures of the vast woods of Mar-
tinique, will be disappointed not to find
such forests and woods duplicated in
Porto Rico, except in the single instance
of the summit portion of El Yunque, in
the Sierra Luquillo, where there are
about eight square miles of virgin forest.
The island, although wooded in the
sense that it is still dotted by many
beautiful trees, is largely deforested from
a commercial point of view. Porto Rico,
at the time of its discovery, was undoubt-
edly completely covered by forests of
many species of trees, but these can
hardly be said to exist at present. A
few insignificant patches of culled forest
also occur in the central and northwest-
ern portions of the island which will be
described presently.
To the casual observer, the aspect of
Porto Rico, in places, is still that of an
open wooded landscape. The farms and
plantations, excepting the tobacco and
sugar fields, are not cleanly cleared like
those of the United States, but, on the
contrary, individual trees are abundant
and well distributed everywhere. Along
the roadsides, around every hut, and
throughout the coffee plantations are
many trees, a few of which are remnants
of the aboriginal forests, while most of
them have been planted for shade or
fruit. Grange trees, Mangoes, Aguacates,
Breadfruit, Mameys, and other stately
trees are common, while, as in our own
deforested region, there are a few timber-
making trees which have been spared
the ax. Besides these larger trees, Flam-
boyantes, Nisperos and Guanabonas of
smaller growth add their foliage to the
wooded aspect of the island.
So far as was observed by reconnois-
sance methods the island presents two
strongly marked and contrasting zones
of vegetation. One includes the whole
of the mountains and north coast re-
gion and the other is the foothill country
1899.
of the south coast. The first is a region
of great and constant humidity, high alti-
tudes and stiff clay soils; the other a
region of dry calcareous soils, seasonal
aridity and lowaltitude. The transition
between these vegetal zones is very
abrupt and immediately noticeable as
soon as one passes from one of these
regions to the other. It is true that the
rainfall is less on the south coast and the
country in general more arid, but there
is also an immense difference in the
capacity of the two geologic soils for
retaining moisture and for root penetra-
tion, the clay soils being always satur-
ated, while the limestones are porous
and dry.
The climate of Porto Rico, although
in general warm and humid, has a milder
temperature and a greater constancy of
moisture on the highlands than in the
lowlands, while upon the latter there are
occasional periods of drought. Accord-
ingly, the mountains are constantly clad
with fresh green verdure (consisting of
such remnants of the primitive flora as
have escaped the destruction of man)
and cultivated trees, while the flora of
the border region has at times a dry and
yellow aspect.
The Mountain Woodlands.
The general growth of the mountain
region consists of deciduous trees of
many species, freely intermingled with
shrub and grass, and above 1,000 feet
with tree ferns. In some places the
undergrowth is made up largely of ferns
of numerous species, many of which are
so tall and dense of growth as to consti-
tute a veritable jungle.
Much of the mountain landscape is
now occupied by cultivated crops of
coffee, tobacco, fruit trees, shrubs, etc.,
broken by verdant pastures of tall Para
and Guinea grass, which constitute the
staple forage of the island. There are
many large cultivated shrubs and bushes,
attaining the size of a peach tree, which
give an aspect of primeval wildness to
one who first sees the country ; hence,
it is that some of these mountainous
portions of the island which have the
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
233
aspect of thick primeval forests, when
first viewed from a distance by the trav-
eler from the temperate climes, are really
the most highly cultivated.
Such wooded lands are often occupied
by the coffee plantations. The coffee
bush, which attains no great height, is
always accompanied by an overgrowth of
dense shade (the first essential to the life
of the coffee bush), so that the latter has
the appearance of an underbrush in the
midst of high forest trees. The writer has
often found it difficult toconvince a fellow
traveler that he was in a coffee planta-
tion and not a jungle, until a tree could
be found full of the bright red berries
which distinguish the coffee plant. In
fact, a Porto Rican coffee plantation,
with its accompanying shade trees, is an
artificial forest.
In preparing a coffee plantation, the
native forest is either thinned of all
except the highest trees or completely
cleared of all growth and new trees
planted for the express purpose of
affording shade, These trees grow so
rapidly that, by the time the coffee bush
reaches maturity at the end of seven
years, they are very tall forest trees,
giving a dense shade above the bush.
The mountain trees are, of many genera.
They are largely hard woods, occurring
singly or in varied associations, and not
as collections of a single species, such
as the Pine forests of the United States.
The Forest of El Yunque.
Single specimens or small groups of
trees, however, which have been spared
the woodman’s ax, may be found through-
out the upland portion of the island. In
one place, however, the original forest
has been preserved. This forest is upon
the summit of El Yunque, the highest
peak of the island, situated near the
northeast end, and has been protected
by its inaccessibility. Although the
mountain is hardly over 3,200 feet in
altitude, it is constantly bathed in mois-
ture, and the steep trails to its summit
through red clay and mud are almos
impassable for man and beast. T
forests on El Yunque consist of
234
almost impenetrable jungle of trees,
underbrush and lianas, and are exceed-
ingly wet, the rainfall
inches per year. Some of the trees of
the primeval forest of El Yunque have
been described by Dr. George Eggers,
the only botanist who has studied it, in
a letter written to Sir Joseph Hooker in
1883, as published in ‘‘ Nature ”’ (Lon-
don, 1884):
‘“‘As for the general character of the
Sierra Yunque forests, they of course
resemble in their main outlines those of
the other West India Islands. Here I
found several interesting trees, especially
abeautiful 7a/auwma, withimmense white,
odorous flowers and silvery leaves, which
would be very ornamental. The wood
is used for timber, and called Sabino.
A Hirtella, with crimson flowers, I also
found rather common. An unknown
tree, with beautiful, orange-like foliage
and large, purple flowers, split along
one side; and several other as yet unde-
termined trees and shrubs are among the
most remarkable things found.
One of the most conspicuous trees in
some parts is the Coccoloba macrophylla,
which I found on my first visit to Porto
Rico. This tree is found up to an alti-
tude of 2,000 feet, but chiefly near the
coast, where it forms extensive woods in
some places which, at the time of flow-
ering, with immense purple spikes more
than a yard long, are very striking. The
tree is named Ortegon by the inhabi-
tants. It does not seem to occur on any
of the British islands, but to be confined
to Porto Rico and Hayti.”’
Logs are still cut from the edge of
the Yunque forest, but the cost in time
and labor of securing timber therefrom
is far more than it would be to import
similar woods from Santo Domingo. A
few acres of forest are also preserved
here and there in the Sierra Cayey and
the Cordillera Central, notably between
Aibonito and Adjuntas. Collectively,
these small patches will not aggregate
ten square miles of standing timber, and
have been largely culled of their most
valuable trees. There is also a small
patch of forest preserved in the pepino
THE FORESTER.
averaging 120
October,
hills, near Aguadilla, upona small piece
of land belonging to the Government.
There may be a few more acres else-
where. Otherwise, in a commercial
sense, the mountains are deforested,
although some excellent trees still stand,
just as Walnut trees are found preserved
in the deforested areas of the United
States.
The Coast-Border Woodlands.
The second class of flora inhabits the
foothills belt lying between the south-
ern front of the Central Mountains and
the southern coast, a region which is
comparatively arid. The wide playa
plains and stream valleys of this belt
were also once covered with large trees,
a few scattered examples of which have
been preserved, but in general these
have been destroyed in order to clear
the land for sugar culture.
This flora is markedly different from
that of the mountain region, although
there are a few species of trees common
to both regions. It is largely of the type
of low, shrubby, thorny, leguminous,
and acacia-like trees, with compound
leaves and thorny trunks or stems cov-
ered by Z7//andsta (Spanish moss), and
largely of the type of growth known in
the United States as the Chaparral. In
the dry season this flora produces a
brownish landscape, as_ distinguished
from the evergreen of the mountain
region. This Chaparral-lke flora is
thorny and dense, especially on the coast
hills between Ponce and Yauco, In this
region it is accompanied by a thick un-
dergrowth of grass, and, with the rolling
hills and ‘‘tepetate’”’ soil, repeats nearly
every aspect of the Lower Rio Grande
country of Texas.
The limestone summits of the hills, or
cerros, west of Yauco are covered bya
remarkable growth of Chaparral, includ-
ing Tree Cactus, among which are or-
gan-pipe forms resembling those of the
California deserts and the tree opuntias
of Mexico, accompanied by thorny
brush, the whole draped by moss.
The products of the forests and other
vegetation of Porto Rico are numerous,
1899
although of no great export value. They
are of greatest importance tothe inhabit-
ants of the island, however.
The names of the woods here given
are as they were written by the native
Porto Ricans who assisted in their col-
lection, and as they are spelled in the
Commercial Directory of Porto Rico.
Among the products of the forest the
following trees are used by man:
For TIMBER AND FuEL —Algarroba,
Ausubo, Capa Blanca, Capa Prieta,
Laurel Sabino, Laurel Blanca, Guaya-
can, Ucar (Ucare or Jucare), Espejuelo,
Moca, Maricao, Mauricio, Ortegon,
Tachuelo, Cedro, Cojoba, Aceitillo,
Guaraguao, Maga, Yaiti, Palo Santo,
Tortuguillo, Zerrezuela, Guayarote, Hi-
guereta, Tabanuco, Mora, Hueso,
Hachuelo, ‘‘ Ileucedran.”’
For Corpace.—Mahagua, a tall mal-
vaceous bush.
For DyrEING aND Tanninc.—Moca,
Brasilete, Achiote, Granadillo, Maricao,
Dividivi, Mora, Gengibrillo, Camasey,
Vijao, Mangle.
Resinous Trees.—Tabanuco, Pajuil,
Algarrobo, Mamey, Masa, Cupey, Maria,
Guayaco.
Forest TREES YIELDING FRUITS.—
Pina, Nispero (Medlar Tree), Mango,
Guanabana, Cocotero, Aguacate, Na-
ranjo, Jacana, Mamey, Wild Orange.
The writer, during his stay upon the
island, collected sixteen specimens of
the native woods, which are utilized by
the people in construction and other in-
dustries. Nine of these were found to
be very hard, close grained and heavy.
The samples of equal size and of ap-
proximately the same condition vary but
little in weight and are remarkably simi-
lar in hardness, The following shows
the comparative weight of the nine sam-
ples.
Mora, 61.8 pounds per cubic foot ;
Guayacan, 76.8 pounds per cubic foot ;
Hueso, 60.0 pounds per cubic foot ; Au-
subo, 70.2 pounds per cubic foot; Ucare
Negro, 64.2 pounds per cubic foot ; Pata
de Caba, 60.0 pounds per cubic foot ;
Ucare Blanca, 61.8 pounds per cubic
foot; Hachuelo, 70.2 pounds per cubic
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
235:
foot ; Algarrobo, 64.2 pounds per cubic
foot.
Extreme density 1s shown by small
pores (ducts) and in numerous, minute,
mostly continuous medullary rays, im-
perceptible to the naked eye. The main
structure is made up of thick-walled
cells. The annual layers of growth are
small and comparatively indistinct, ow-
ing to the irregular diffusion of the large
ducts, which in most northern woods
clearly mark the layers of growth. The
wood fibers are strongly interlaced
(cross-grained), giving a ‘‘tough,” un-
cleavable character to the wood. The
samples of Mora, Guayacan, Hueso and
Ucare Blanca show a tendency to check
and warp in seasoning, while Ausubo,
Ucare Negro, Pata de Caba, Hachuelo,
and Algarrobo appear to maintain good.
form in drying out. The injury from
checking of the former is, however, not
great, and appears not to impair the
usefulness of these woods for certain
purposes. All are capable of receiving
a high polish and require but little « fill-
ing.”
Ausubo, Ucare Negro, Pata de Caba,
Hachuelo and Algarrobo are eminently
cabinet woods of great value and attrac-
tiveness; Mora and Ucare Blanca are
less attractive for this purpose, but may
have limited use. Guayacan and Ausubo-
are especially adapted for small turnery,
tool handles, etc., where great hardness
and wearing qualities are needed. Pata
de Caba and Algarrobo closely resemble
the rosewoods of commerce. With a
permanent black stain, Ucare Negro
and Hachuelo are useful substitutes for
Ebony. Ausubo is similar in appear-
ance and a good substitute for the valu-
able ‘* Coccobola” (Coccoloba), so much
imitated by inferior woods. Laurel Sa-
bino, Cedro, Capa Blanca, Capa Prieta,
Guaraguao and Maga are characteristi-
cally lighter, softer and coarser grained
than the nine species above mentioned.
The weight of these samples varies but
little, the average being 38 pounds per
cubic foot. With the exception of Lau-
rel Sabino, all are attractive in grain
and suitable for finishing woods.
236 THE FORESTER.
The following descriptions give, in
part, the specific characters of the vari-
ous samples:
Mora.—Color, bright orange-brown,
probably darkening with age and expo-
sure. Radially cut and polished surface
satiny. Similar in general appearance
to Osage Orange. Much used for fellies.
GuayacAan.—Heartwood dull yellow-
ish-brown, with dark olive-brown streaks;
sapwood pale yellow, with brownish
areas. Smoothed surface, oily to the
touch. Exceedingly hard, brittle and
difficult to cut. It grows in compara-
tive abundance in the entire mountain
chain and on the southern coast of the
island, producing a wood which is very
solid and resistant. On this account it
is much sought after in the shipyards for
blocks, pulleys, spokes, tires, and many
other things requiring great strength.
The resin from the Guayacan Lignum
Vite is highly valued for gout.
LauREL Sapino.—Color, clear olive-
brown, A straight-grained wood, simi-
lar in color bat finer grained than the
heart of Tulip and Cucumber tree of the
United States.
Crpro.—Color, pale reddish-brown.
Wood fibers interlaced, the wood split-
ting irregularly. Very similar to the
Mahogany of commerce. Probably Ce-
drela odorata, the well-known cigar-box
wood of commerce It is no longer
abundant in Porto Rico, and is now
largely imported from Santo Domingo,
‘costing $150 per 1,000 feet. It still
grows in Aguadilla and near Aibonito,
Juana Diaz, Cayey and Luquillo.
_ Hueso.—Color, light yellow, with
irregular, thin yellow-brown streaks ;
wood fibers strongly interlaced. A
tough, uncleavable wood, used for hubs.
Aususo.—Color, clear, dull, reddish-
brown. Wood fibers slightly interlaced
and appearing straight grained. Re-
sembles somewhat a fine-grained Teak,
It is the chief and most-used timber on
the island, being noted for its great dura-
bility. It is used in the making of wagon
spokes, which are turned out by ma-
‘chinery in Ponce, and small stocks of it
were noticed in several towns. It is
October,
close grained and beautiful in color, and
should be utilized for veneering; it
would make most excellent furniture.
UcarE Necro.—Color, dark umber-
brown. Wood fibers interlaced, but
appearing to be straight grained. Re-
motely resembles a very fine-grained
Black Walnut.
PaTa DE CaBAand ALGARROBO.—T hese
samples are so similar in details of struct-
ure as to be from the same or closely
related species. Color, rich, blackish-
brown, irregularly mottled, and streaked
with areas of pale reddish-brown; sap-
wood (present in Pata de Caba) light
brown. Wood fibers strongly interlaced,
giving smoothed surface a ‘‘ curled” ap-
pearance. Very attractive cabinet woods.
Ucara Branca.—Color, light ashy-~
brown. Wood fibers strongly inter-
laced. Remotely resembling fine-grain-
ed heartwood of American Elm.
Guaracuao. — Light reddish. brown,
streaked with lighter and darker shades.
An exceedingly cross-grained, porous
wood, somewhat similar in color to
Cedro. Suitable for a cabinet wood.
Capa Branca.—Color, clear light-
brown. Structurally similar on the radial
section to American Beech. Straight
grained, and suitable for interior finish.
Used for rollers in coffee hulling mills.
Capa Prieta.—Color, rich light-brown,
with darker streaks and mottlings. Wood
fibers interlaced, but wood appearing to
be straight grained. MRadial section
structurally similar to Capa Blanca.
Tangential section somewhat similar to
dark heartwood of American Elm. Hand-
some wood for interior finish. Used for
flooring.
HacuvueELo.—Color, rich, dark yellow-
ish-brown, with streaks and mottlings of
light yellow-brown. Wood fibers inter-
laced, but appearing rather straight
grained on the finished surface. Valu-
able for cabinet work.
Maca.—Color, rich chocolate-brown.
Wood fibers slightly cross grained, the
smoothed surface appearing straight
grained. The rich color and attractive
grain of this wood should make it val-
uable for cabinet work.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
237
Irrigation and Forestry.
The Joint Meeting in Montana—Resolutions Adopted at Columbus.
The eighth Congress of the National
Irrigation Association was held at Mis-
soula, Montana, September 25, 26 and
27. On invitation, The American For-
estry Association joined in the meetings
through the presence of its many mem-
bers.
The close relations between forestry
and irrigation made the meetings of
value to those more especially interested
in the former subject, though the papers
and discussions aimed primarily at a
more general understanding and appre-
ciation of the latter. The scope of this
work, as described at the Congress by
G. E. Mitchell, of Washington, D. C., is:
‘The proper presentation of the prob-
lem of satisfactorily disposing of the
grazing lands by the leasing system and
the securing ofa just and equitable share
of improvement appropriations for the
development and improvement of inte-
rior States along with the seaboard
SAEs...
More than two hundred duly accredited
delegates, from seventeen States and
Territories, were present at the sessions.
Ali the Western States were represented,
and among the more distant States were
Maryland, West Virginia, South Caro-
lina and Indiana. Among the repre-
sentatives from Government Depart-
ments in the District of Columbia were
F. H. Newell, Corresponding Secretary
of the American Forestry Association,
and Bailey Willis, U. S. Geological Sur-
vey; J. W. Toumey and Milton Whitney,
U. S. Department of Agriculture; Judge
Best and Walter H. Graves, U S. De-
partment of the Interior; and E. J.
Glass, U. S. Weather Bureau.
Nearly ascore of papers were read by
men prominently identified with the ir-
rigation interests and general develop-
ment of arid lands in the West. The
congress was the most successful one
held in four years.
(Further report in next issue.)
At the special meeting at Columbus,
Ohio, August 22 and 23, an account of
which appeared in the September issue
of Tur Forester, the resolutions pre-
sented and adopted in the name of The
American Forestry Association declared
in favor of—
1. The creation of an international
commission, through M. Meline, of
Paris, to arrange for a Congress of For-
estry at the Paris Exposition of rgoo.
2. The purchase and reservation, by
the State of Ohio, of tracts of timber
land at the headwaters of the principal
rivers of the State in order to prevent the
increasing loss of life and property by
flood, and for the better preservation of
a water supply in time of drought.
3. The establishment of colleges and
schools of forestry in the various States,
with as much assistance as possible, in
encouragement of the work, from the
Department of Agriculture.
4. Commending the policy adopted by
the State of Pennsylvania in the appoint-
ment of an expert forester to organize
and conduct the forest interests of the
State, and to educate its citizens in
practical forestry.
5. Urging the suitable presentation of
the subject of forestry at the meetings of
teachers’ associations, farmers’ institutes,
and other similar gatherings, ‘‘to the
end that the people may be taught to:
give earnest attention to this much-neg-
lected, but vitally important interest.”
6. Extending the thanks of the Asso-
ciation to the Columbus Horticultural
Society for the arrangements made for
the special meeting, and in recognition
of the work being accomplished by the
Society.
The report was signed by W. J. Beal,
vice president of the association for
Michigan ; C. E. Bessey, vice president
for Nebraska, and William R. Lazenby,
professor of forestry at Ohio State Uni-
versity.
238
THE FORESTER.
October,
Forest Protection.
Fires in Nehasane Park.
The extreme drought in the Adiron-
dacks during the past summer has been
almost unprecedented. For months
practically no rain fell and the surface of
the ground in the dense forest, which
usually contains a considerable amount
of moisture, became thoroughly dry.
Even the moss in many of the swamps,
usually saturated with water, was so dry
as to be readily burned by fire. In con-
sequence numerous fires were started in
all parts of the woods, and the methods
of forest protection employed by the
State and private owners were put toa
severe test. Probably no more complete
organization for forest protection is found
in the Adirondacks than in Nehasane
Park, the property of Dr. W. S. Webb,
in Herkimer and Hamilton counties, New
York. The park is primarily a game
preserve and the system of protection
was devised by Dr. Webb to prevent
poaching as well as to guard against
forest fires.
The park, which covers an area of
about 40,000 acres, is divided into four
sections, each watched over by an ex-
perienced woodsman, who lives at a
point from which all parts of his section
can be easily and quickly reached. The
houses of the rangers are connected by
telephone and there is an admirable
system of roads and trails. In case of
fire in the park, the superintendent, who
lives at Nehasane station, and the rangers
are notified by telephone, and all avail-
able men are called out to extinguish it.
If it occurs along the railroad which
traverses the park, the ‘‘ Nehasane Fire
Service” is put into use. This consists
of a large tank placed on a flat car to
which is attached a box freight car. con-
taining a small engine, used to pump the
water from the tank, and a complete
outfit of fire hose, axes and other articles
used in fighting fire. In case of asevere
fire along the railroad Dr. Webb is noti-
fied by telegraph and a locomotive is
dispatched to draw the ‘“ Fire Service ”
to the scene.
During the past season extra men were
employed to follow each train on
speeders and to extinguish any fires
which were set. Some days as many as
five fires were started by the locomotives
and immediately extinguished. In sev-
eral cases, however, the ‘‘ Fire Service”
had to be called into play, and with its
aid the fires, which might have proved
very disastrous, were put out.
One very severe fire was started in
September and burned over about four
acres before it could becontrolled. The
workmen from the lumber camps on the
park were called to assist and at one
time as many as 100 men were fighting
the fire. Trenches were dug completely
about it, streams of water were thrown
by the ‘‘Fire Service,” and sand was
brought from the railroad track.
A constant watch was kept on the fire
after it was once controlled. This meas-
ure was very necessary, for the fire con-
tinued to smoulder in the deep duff and
every now and then burst forth anew.
Trees were undermined and, as they
toppled over, scattered sparks in all di-
rections. Occasionally the fire would
run up a Birch tree and pieces of burn-
ing bark would be blown over the
trenches upon the dry leaves. If con-
stant vigilance had not been exercised
in the manner described a considerable
area would doubtless nave suffered.
e
A Bit of Historical Information.
The awakening interest of lumbermen
in forest protection is shown by the fol-
lowing excerpt from a letter to the Divi-
sion of Forestry from a prominent lum-
ber firm in Michigan, regarding the
abuse, rather than the use, of the forest
wealth of that section.
That lumbermen themselves speak in
this vein is sufficient evidence that the
facts are exactly as stated, and that no
one can offer in rebuttal any argument
1899.
on the score of ‘‘sentimental reasons,”’
or ‘‘theorizing opinions” of ‘‘misin-
formed enthusiasts’’—terms which are
sometimes applied to those who favor
forest conservation as opposed to forest
destruction. The letter reads:
‘«¢Answering your circular letter of
July 5, 1899, upon subject of protection
of forest, we beg to say that positively
no effort to do this, other than to save
valuable standing timber when aflame or
threatened, has ever been made in this
vicinity. To protect trees too young and
small for sawing is not thought of.
Owners of timber simply go on their
lands and as quickly as possible remove
timber fit for lumber, with positively no
thought or care for the life and protec-
tion of the young trees, or varieties not
at the time valuable for lumber, leaving
debris to dry and finally burn, resulting
in the total destruction of all remaining.
‘Large areas are now simply scenes
of desolation. Waste—pure, simple and
shameful—has characterized the remov-
al of the forests once here, which were
magnificent. Many varieties, notably
Hemlock, Beech, Soft Elm, were left to
burn, or were destroyed in clearing lands.
We think it is within the truth to say
that not over 50 per cent of the possible
quantity available for man’s use has been
utilized—the remainder has_ perished.
Tis true that the demand for the cream
only, largely accounts for the waste;
still, splendid interest on the cost of
protecting, years ago, the timber not
then valuable, would now be realized,
as is instanced by the fact that despised
Soft Elm, the very best of which was
bringing only $3.00 per M in log, is now
sought for at from $9.00 to $11.00, and
the lumber is in demand at $18.00 to
$28 00, shipping point. Beech would
not then be accepted at any price in logs.
The lumber now fetches $10.00 to $15.00.
The destruction of Michigan forests is
relieved from the charge of act of van-
dalism only by the fact that the owners
did it, and, under the law, could do as
they wished with their own; but their
action has deprived posterity of a fine
heritage.”
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
239
The Kind of Trees to Plant.
The example set by Kansas City in
improving its streets by the construction
of parallel parkways in which to plant
shade trees on scientific principles, has
been followed by other towns through
Missouri and adjoining States. In reply
to inquiries, the City Forester of Kan-
sas City, L. F. Timming, gives the fol-
lowing observations on his experiments :
‘¢The tree which ranks first in my es-
timation as a shade and ornamental tree
is the Hard Maple, of which there are
two varieties ; namely, the Sugar Maple
and the Black Maple, but on account of
their slow growth I prefer to alternate
them during the first ten years with some
faster-growing variety, for example, the
Soft Maple. Of the Soft Maple we also
have two varieties, namely the Red Scar-
let Maple and the White or Silver Maple,
of which the former is less liable to be-
come affected by insects than the latter.
As an all-round shade tree for our city I
know of none better than the Soft Maple,
but it requires some training while young
in order to keep the head in proper bal-
ance with the trunk If once well de-
veloped it will stand high winds about as
well as the average tree, but it is lable
to be attacked by the treesoc moth, but
not to any great extent
‘¢The Sycamore tree has also two vari-
eties, the Oriental and the Sycamore
Maple. The Oriental Plane tree is the
better, and is an imported variety. The
Sycamore Maple is our common native
Sycamore, and it belongs to the Maple
family, and is therefore subject to the
same natural requirements as the Soft
Maple. It is a rapid grower and does
not break as easily as the Soft Maple,
and is not so liable to be attacked by in-
sects as the Soft Maple or the Elm. It
bears transplanting and trimming re-
markably well. Its drawback is that it
grows too large for an ordinary street
tree, and as it becomes full grown the
bareness of its branches and the con-
stant shedding of its leaves during the
summer are its principal objections.
Deep soil is preferable, but not an es-
sential.”
240
Municipal Care of Trees.
The Department of Forestry of the
City of Springfield, Mass., has shown
commendable energy in the protection
of trees along streets in that city. The
City Forester, William F. Gale, has
lately issued a circular letter saying :
‘«The cutting of roots of trees being
one of the most common injuries to which
shade trees are subject, the Supervisors
of Highways and Bridges, at the request
of the City Forester, have instructed the
employees of the city having the laying
of walks and the setting of curbings,
THE FORESTER.
October,
not to cut the roots of trees without his
consent.
‘‘The attention of contractors, exca-
vators, builders, and all others having
to do with the laying of walks and grad.
ing, is called to the order of the Super-
visors, and they are requested to instruct
their men that the cutting of roots of
trees within the highway is woz allowed,
except as provided above. Section 7 of
Chapter 54, Public Statutes of this State,
which forbids the mutilation of trees,
applies to their roots as much as to any
other portion of the tree.”
Forest Fires
Extensive forest fires throughout the Adiron-
dacks were not only the cause of some property
loss, but of much uneasiness to summer resi-
dents and campers. However, Col. William
F, Fox, superintendent of State forests, in an
interview concerning the fires, declared that
the reports were exaggerated.
He said the fires were alarming in appear-
ance, and made much smoke, but that with few
exceptions no merchantable timber was de-
stroyed, as the fires in almost every instance
stopped when they reached a piece of thick
woods, The most damage to timber was done
by the fire on top of Black Mountain, Schroon
Lake, Fulton Chain. The Tupper Lake fire
threatened the lands of the Cornell College of
Forestry at Axton, in Franklin County.
The college professors, with a large body of
students, fought this fire and kept it out of the
college forest. They were assisted further by
some engineers of the State engineer’s office,
who were busy surveying the lines of the col-
lege tract. All the lumber and wood pulp
companies put men at work to save their own
woods. ‘There were 281 fire wardens at work,
who receive $2 a day, one-half of which is paid
by the town in which the fire wardens are put
to work. Theexpense of paying for this work,
so far as the State is concerned, will be taken
out of the $350,000 appropriated this year to
buy forest lands.
In New England, the forest fires in South
Harwich and South Chatham continued with
unabated energy. One section of fire, which
threatened to sweep through the entire village
of South Chatham, was checked by backfires
and trenching just in time to save the village
from a general conflagration. The fire wardens
and their gangs of men came from all direc-
tions and fought the flames.
After having been beaten back, the fire soon
started again in two new forks, one toward the
of a Month.
western section of South Harwich and the
other toward the eastern section of Chatham,
the former having crossed the railroad track.
Everything was as dry as tinder, there having
been no rain for about two months.
In Arkansas disastrous fires were reported
in the southern portion of Calhoun County, the
only hope of relief being a heavy rainfall.
Fire fighters worked day and night, several
being prostrated by the heat while at work.
A large area in the Ouachita Valley was
devastated, and large herds of stock were
driven from their pasturage. Considerable
property of stave-makers in the woods was
destroyed,
A great fire was reported in the early part
of September in the Sierra Madre Mountains.
southeast of Old Baldy, in Southern Califor-
nia. The fire started in Stoddard’s Canyon,
the press reports estimating that at least 40,000
acres were burned over, some of the trees be-
ing from four to six feet in diameter and nearly
200 feet high.
Forest Superintendent B. F. Allen issued a
statement denying these claims, and placing
the area at 3,000 acres, entirely of brush,
Big Timber, Mont., September 26.—A
raging forest fire is in progress west of this
town, on the east side of the Crazy Mountains.
It is likely that disastrous results will follow to
some of the ranchers in the Norwegian settle-
ment, toward which the fire is rapidly approach-
ing. The fire is between the east fork of the
Big Timber Creek and Antelope Creek, and
will in all probability destroy an area of sixty
square miles of fine timber before it burns out.
The flames are plainly visible from this town,
twenty-five miles distant. The whole east side
of the Crazy range is brilliantly illuminated
and presents an awe-inspiring spectacle.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
241
The Prevention of Forest Fires.
Three Chapters on a Question of Importance.
A Letter.
To the Editor of THE ForeEstER: I en-
close an article published in the Oakland
Enquirer a short time ago. You will see
that, in the absence of expert knowledge,
this article does not venture upon posi-
tive assertions, but puts the view of the
matter taken by the old mountaineers as
a plausible hypothesis. I would like to
be informed, either through Tur For-
ESTER or in some other way, whether the
government bureau has ever considered
this aspect of the forest problem in Cal.
ifornia and, if so, what arguments it re-
lies on to refute the mountaineers.
Scientific authority is the best in these
matters, we all know, and yet the practi-
cal experience of old-time residents of
the forest regions cannot be despised,
and unless these old-timers are seriously
mistaken in their premises, the Govern-
ment is incurring a serious risk in the
Yosemite National Park and in the for-
est reserves, by excluding all fires, in-
stead of letting fires run through the for-
ests periodically, thereby destroying the
undergrowth and, more particularly, the
accumulation of dead trees, leaves and
branches.
A Clipping.
Aside from the stockmen who would
be glad to browse their flocks and herds
upon the national domain, every one in
the forest regions of California indorses
the policy of maintaining national parks
and forest reserves. But it is hard to
find in the region of the California re-
serves a single settler or landowner who
believes that the present plan of forest
protection will bring forth good results
in the long run.
The great point of difference is the
extinguishment of forest fires. During
the summer the efforts of the Govern-
ment foresters are devoted to preventing
fires and to extinguishing them when
they do occur, the object being, of
course, the praiseworthy one of saving
the forests from destruction. But in the
judgment of the settlers, while this seems
wise for the time being, the ultimate
effects are likely to be bad, for the rea-
son that there will be such a growth of
underbrush and such an accumulation
of forest debris that sooner or later there
will come fires with which no human ex-
ertion can cope. And then the forests
will go up in one mighty blaze.
In the view of the settlers, California,
with its rainless summers, calls for a dif-
ferent method of forest preservation from
that which would be judicious in more
moist climates. They say that the true
method is to burn over the forests every
summer, whereby the fires would be
made so light that the trees would suffer
no injury, and great fires capable of de-
stroying a whole forest will be prevented.
This is exactly what the Indians used to
do, the settlers argue, and wholesale de-
struction of forests in their time was un-
known. So firmly rooted is this convic-
tion among settlers and forest owners in
the Sierra region of California that on
some occasions private owners have re-
fused assistance to put out fires on tim-
ber lands owned by them, because they
wanted them burned over as a measure
of safety.
The idea that the Indians were better
foresters than the scientific experts of
the present day seems a peculiar one,
but it 1s seriously maintained by many
intelligent people.—Zditorial, Oakland
Enquirer.
e
A Comment.
(By the Superintendent of Working Plans,
Division of Forestry.)
California is not the only State in
which the annual burning of the forest is
considered among the residents the best
method of protecting the timber from
heavy fires. In certain sections of the
East, notably in the Atlantic Pine belt,
242
many owners of timberland make it a
practice to burn over their land every
spring soon after the snow melts and
before the surface of the ground has be-
come so dry that light fires cannot be
kept under control. The object of this
annual burning is to destroy the layer of
leaves, twigs, etc., which has accumu-
lated on the ground during the previous
year. If the work is done soon after
the snow melts, the ground is somewhat
moist so that the fire burns slowly and
can be kept under perfect control. The
season of growth has not fairly started
at this time and the fire is less liable to
injure the timber than if the burning
were done after the sap had begun to run.
Most land owners who treat their for-
ests in this manner burn the entire area,
merely with the view of protecting the
standing timber. In ¢his they are suc-
cessful, but at the same time a large
amount of young growth is destroyed.
If the owner of an open Pine forest
wishes merely to save the standing tim-
ber without regard to the future value of
the land, no better plan can be recom-
mended than to burn the area every year
in the manner just described. The ulti-
mate effect on the forest is, however,
disastrous
The effect of repeated fires on the
productive power of forest land was
studied in Southern New Jersey in 1897
by Gifford Pinchot, the results of whose
investigations have been published by
the New Jersey Geological Survey. In
this report it is shown that repeated
fires, combined with steady cutting of
merchantable timber, reduce the forest
so completely that the land is practically
worthless. Many figures are given to
show that burned areas in New Jersey
are producing not more than one-sixth
of the amount of wood they might have
yielded, and that the quality of the pro-
duct is vastly inferior to what would
have grown on unburned land. It is
shown also that even this small amount
of timber would not have grown were it
not for the marvelous power of the
Pitch Pine to resist fire and to sprout
after the trees were killed back.
THE FORESTER.
October,
Careful observers in the Sierras re-
port that there were formerly many
open parks and meadows which, since
the occupancy of the country by the
whites, have been covered with forest
trees. Knowing as we do that in former
times the Indians burned the forest reg-
ularly, the inference must be drawn that
these openings were caused by fire; in
other words, that the forest was gradu-
ally becoming less dense in burned sec-
tions and, on the edge of the timber
belt, was probably gradually retreating
from the prairies. It is obvious that if
the young growth is constantly de-
stroyed by fire, there will be no trees to
replace the old specimens which die or
are cut down.
In advocating the annual burning of
the California forests the mountaineers
are considering only the protection of
the standing timber and are ignoring the
future production for coming genera-
tions. <A private owner may be justified
in pursuing such a policy, but the Gov-
ernment or State must make provision
for the future as well as for the present.
A measure which destroys the founda-
tion of the future forests must not be
thought of for a moment on Federal
lands, and some different method of
protecting the forest from fire must be
devised.
The mountaineers are entirely right in
stating that the material, which accumu-
lates on the ground where the land is
not burned, makes a very hot fire, and
that the danger would be lessened if
there were areas where there is no in-
flammable material. No intelligent man
would, however, advocate indiscriminate
burning without a force of men to con-
trol the fire.
If burning were resorted to at all asa
protection against heavy fires, it should
be confined to areas where there is no
valuable young growth; but our belief is
that it would be possible to organize a
system of forest police which would be
effective in protecting the standing tim-
ber as well as the young growth.
HS.) GRAVES,
Washington, D, C.
1899.
fiber ORESTER.
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Devoted to Arboriculture and Forestry, the
Care and Use of Forests and Forest
Trees, and Related Subjects.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE ForeEsTEx is the Official Organ of
The American Forestry Association,
Hon. James WItson, Sec’y of Agriculture,
President.
THE OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS
No. 117 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents.
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
The mission of THE Forester has been,
and will be, to advance the interests of
scientific forestry and related subjects in every
practicable way. One of these ways, and an
important one, it believes, is to afford through
its pages ample opportunity for an intelligent
discussion of the problems involved, though
not accepting responsibility for the views ex-
pressed by others, Even fair-minded men
may oppose when they do not know the whole
truth ; but when opportunity is given for learn-
ing the facts, THe Forester will have confi-
dence in the decision of its readers,
‘‘Prompt action” is the watchword of the
Minnesota Nationaal Park and Forestry Asso-
sociation, to secure the reservation of valuable
lands in the northern part of that State as ‘‘a
park for the people.” And with such experi-
enced leaders and successful business men in
charge of the project, there is the hope of great
things resulting from the present trip of Con-
gressmen and public-spirited citizens to inspect
the country.
The general approval of the plan could not be
evidenced more clearly than by the thorough
agreement of the daily press and the lumber
journals on the point of the advisability of the
new reserve. Of the articles included in the
symposium in this issue, the first is taken from
the St. Louis Luméerman and the second from
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
224
the Chicago Record, while the third expresses
the views of the Chicago /uter-Ocean.
For the diffusion of general and particular
knowledge regarding the achievements of the
United States in every branch of science re-
lating to agriculture, including forestry, during
the nineteenth century, the 1899 year-book of
the Department of Agriculture will be ex-
tremely valuable. One of the first thoughts
in arranging the scope of the coming volume has
been its distribution at the Paris Exposition.
The Division of Forestry will contribute a
short history of forestry in the United States,
and also an account of the efforts of private
land-owners to apply the principles of forestry.
More has been done in this direction than is
generally supposed, The owners of wood-
lands in many instances have handled their
wood crops with prudence, and have shown
the desire and the ability to preserve the forest
without ceasing to use it, and farmers in the
treeless districts have improved the agricul-
tural resources of their lands by tree planting.
Where private owners have utilized mer-
chantable timber without injuring its product-
ive power, and to establish new forests, there
has been the intention and idea of true for-
estry. In the Spruce lands of the Northwest
small trees have been left standing, so that a
second cropis assured, In New England White
Pine has been planted in waste places with
encouraging results, and the same can be said
of Larch in Massachusetts. In the treeless
States of the West, the Osage Orange, the
Catalpa, Maple, Elm, Box Elder, Scotch Pine
and Norway Spruce have acted spendidly as
windbreaks, and along the banks of the streams
the planting of trees has done good service in
fixing eroding soil, preventing the increase
of floods, checking excessive surface drainage,
arresting the formation of gullies, and other-
wise conserving the fertility of the soil.
It is desired to secure from the public at
large such information as will be pertinent to
a complete review of the forest interests of the
United States. Any one who has practiced
forestry, on whatever scale, will be supplied
with full information by communicating with
the Division of Forestry.
The press of news matter has necessitated the
insertion of seyeral additional pages in this
issue, and the withholding of two valuable
papers intended for this issue, which will ap-
pear next month.
4
THE FORESTER:
CHIPS. ANDICLIPS:
The importation of wood pulp into
Italy is greatly on the increase.
A Vancouver timber merchant has
just made the first importation of Aus-
tralian hardwood into British Columbia.
John Crowe, a forest ranger in the
Rat Portage District of Ontario, was re-
cently drowned in the Mimikon River
in that province.
One and one-quarter million square
miles is the estimate of the timber area
of Canada, as given by the U. S. consul
general at Montreal.
One of the most valuable timber trees
in the great Northwest, the Red Cedar,
grows to a maximum height of 300 feet
and a diameter of 14 feet.
Norway supplied Great Britain with
twice as much ground wood pulp last
year as the United States, Canada, Swe-
den and Holland combined.
Immense Spruce forests will be opened
to commercial development by the ex-
tension of the Atlantic & Lake Supe-
rior Railway to Gaspe Basin, Quebec.
Paper shingles have been introduced
into Japan by an enterprising Tokyo
firm as substitutes for the wooden article.
The new idea is a slab of thick-tarred
pasteboard, more easily managed than
ordinary shingles and costing only half
as much.
Some historical trees have lately come
into the New York lumber market from
the Wilderness battlefield of the Civil
War. The bills of lading showed that
the trees had been felled and the lumber
sawed there. In some of the planks
the minie balls can be seen plainly,
the wood directly adjacent to the bullets
being discolored or rotten, but not
enough to damage the lumber.
While the display of forest products
which Canada will send to the Paris
Exposition of r1goo will include every-
thing from the tree to the semi-finished
product, it is the intention of the special
commissioner to give attention also to
recent exports of wood manufactures.
A bureau of forestry has been estab-
lished in connection with the Canadian
Department of Interior, and has been
placed in charge of Elihu Stewart, for-
mer mayor of Collingwood, a Dominion
land surveyor, who has made a special
study of the various woods of that sec-
tion during the past twenty years, and
has often acted as arbitrator in forest
matters.
The possibilities of a lucrative export
trade in Tamarack between Canada and
Great Britain received something of a
setback in this reply from the Imperial
Institute of London in answer to inqui-
ries from the Dominion: ‘‘Gum of any
kind is practically unknown in England,
gum-chewers being confined to Canada
and the United States.” But there is
said to be a good demand for tamarack
for medicinal purposes, so that some
samples will go abroad at any rate.
The portion of the State of Washing-
ton west of the summit of the Cascade
range is covered with the heaviest con-
tinuous belt of forest growth in the
United States. This forest extends over
the slopes of the Cascade and Coast
ranges, and occupies the entire drift
plain surrounding the waters of Puget
Sound. Excepting the highest moun-
tain peaks and the sand dunes of the
coast, which are treeless, the valleys of
the Cowlitz and Chehalis Rivers, which
are dotted with small Oaks and other
deciduous trees, and the stunted Yellow
Pines occupying with open growth the
barren Steilacoom plain, all of western
Washington is covered with a magnifi-
cent forest.
1899.
The Almighty Dollar.
The need of eternal vigilance in pro-
tecting the forest reserves of the Na-
tional Government is emphasized by the
conduct of certain logging and milling
companies in Western Washington.
When the reserves were set apart under
the Cleveland Administration, it was pro-
vided that the owners of timber lands
within the limits could deed them to the
Government and receive in return an
equal acreage of good standing timber
elsewhere. Officials who have been in-
vestigating the matter find that the com-
panies have practically denuded the land,
which they now wish to exchange for well-
wooded tracts. As there was nothing
said in the law about cutting off the
growth before the transfer, it appears
that the lumbermen have succeeded in
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
24.5
their sharp practice as far as they have
gone. The prevention of further despoil-
ment is the least the Government can
do.—Buffalo (NV. V.) Express.
In Enlightened Africa.
The Congo Free State has issued a
decree intended to prevent the extinc-
tion of the india-rubber tree in that
country. The law provides that not less
than 150 trees shall be planted for every
ton of rubber yielded annually. The
gathering of rubber, except through in-
cisions in the bark, has been prohibited
for some time past, but the law has not
been strictly enforced. Hereafter viola-
tions will be subject to the infliction of
a fine not exceeding $2,000, or by a term
of imprisonment.
Recent Publications.
For more than a year the Division of For-
estry has been engaged in giving practical
advice and assistance to private owners in
conservative methods of handling their wood-
lands. An account of the first important
work along this line is about to be published
in Bulletin No. 26, entitled ‘‘ Practical Fores-
try in the Adirondacks,” by Henry S. Graves.
The publication is important as containing a
description of the first successful attempt at
systematic forest management on a large scale
in the Adirondacks. The work described con-
sisted in the preparation and the actual carry-
ing out of a forest working-plan in Nehasane
Park, of 40,000 acres in Hamilton and Herki-
mer counties, New York, owned by Dr, W.
Seward Webb, and on an adjoining tract of 68,-
000 acres, owned by Hon. William C, Whitney.
Mr. Graves discusses at length the problem
of Forestry in the Adirondacks, and shows
what lines of work are practicable at the pres-
ent time on the above mentioned tracts, as
well as what could be done in the way of For-
estry by the State of New York, were the cut-
ting of timber on State land not prohibited.
In considering the problem of forest man-_
agement by the State, Mr. Graves says: ‘‘ The
chief purpose of the State in maintaining large
preserves is to protect the important water-
sheds and to provide a future supply of tim
ber. The revenue which could be derived
from the sale of lumber is a secondary consid-
eration. The State can go further than the
individual in the direction of systematic for-
estry, for it can afford to make investments
with the expectation of but small profits, or it
can wait many years before realizing anything
at all. Moreover it may be satisfied with indi-
rect returns in the general benefit to the com-
munity. ‘The New York State holdings in the
Adirondacks now exceed 1,000,000 acres, and
are being increased as fast as appropriations
can be obtained for the purpose.
‘“ At present the constitution of New York
prohibits the cutting of timber on State land,
so that its management consists only in pro-
tecting the forest from fire and theft. But un-
doubtedly the constitution will in time be
changed so as to permit conservative lumber-
ing on the State preserve. Werethis possible,
the system of management which would be
practical at the present time would necessarily
be very simple, and would not differ to any
great degree from that which can now be used
by lumbermen and other private owners. The
general plan for cutting Spruce should be the
same as that presented in the working plan
given in this report, namely, to remove the old
timber above a certain diameter and, where
necessary, to leave selected trees above this
size for seed. In this working-plan ten inches
at three feet from the ground has been made
the average minimum limit for cutting. The
State of New York, however, could afford to
246
leave all trees under twelve, and if necessary,
all under fourteen inches in diameter ; in other
words, to leave a larger amount of money in-
vested in the forest than the private owner.
‘The State of New York could further carry
on thinnings, for the improvement of the trees
left standing, rather than profit from the sale
of the timber. Thus the removal of many
one-log Spruce trees, six to ten inches in diam-
eter, which are usually eft standing by the
lumbermen, would benefit the forest to a con-
siderable extent by giving more growing space
and light to the trees wsich remain. In the
same way smalltrees, which could be used for
pulp, often stand in dense thickets, and a thin-
ning of one-fifth or more of the crop would en-
able the remainder to grow much more rapidly.
If a contractor were obliged to cut these trees
he would undoubtedly raise his contract price.
The State of New York could pay this price
for the benefit of the forest. But at present
most private individuals could not afford to
make such an investment. Under certain cir-
cumstances the State could probably girdle
some of the large, crooked hardwoods which
are crowding small Spruces and Pines, or if
necessary, cut them down; but for a lumber-
man in the Adirondacks such work would not
be profitable at the present time.
‘““The State would have a special advantage
over the private owner in being able to enforce
stricter regulations on the contractors in re-
gard to the careful construction of roads,
sparing the small growth in felling timber, in
building skidways, bridges, etc., and lopping
the branches from the tops as a_ protection
against fire. The lumberman can carry out
these regulations only so far as they do not to
any great extent affect the cost of logging.
Moreover, the State could employ a much
larger force of experts to superintend the
marking of timber and to watch the work of
the contractors, or, in other words, could take
better care of the forest than the private indi-
vidual,”
Referring to the private owner the author
says: ‘‘The only reason for lumbermen and
most private owners to adopt forestry is the
financial one, Private individuals and clubs to
whom the income from the forest is less im-
portant than its preservation are in the same
position as the State. But lumbermen have
invested their money in forest land or stumpage
as a business matter, and, unless the ultimate
returns are greater from forest management
than from the ordinary methods of lumbering,
they cannot be expected to consider it at all.
* # * Hitherto many lumbermen, who
have looked up the matter of forestry, have
not adopted it because they have been unable
to make a compromise with the foresters.
Either they have wished to strip the land, or
the foresters have insisted upon certain meas-
ures which the lumbermen could not afford.
‘“‘Every plan of forest management in this
country must be in a measure a compromise
THE ‘FORES@ER:
between the owner of the forest and the forester,
The former must consent to leave a certain
amount of capital invested in the forest in the
form of growing wood, and obtain his returns
from merchantable timber after the necessary
period of growth has passed, or from the in- |
creased valueoftheland. The forester,in turn,
must give up certain operations which would
benefit the forest.”
And again: ‘'The object of the forester is
to obtain for the owner a large revenue from |
the timber, but at the same time to leave the |
forest in a condition.to produce a second crop
in a comparatively short time, and to reseed
the openings made in lumbering with young
growth of valuable species.”
The general plan forcutting Spruce, asrecom- |
mended in the working plan and as actually |
carried out on the two preserves under consid- |
eration, was to remove all trees ten inches and |
over in diameter, with the exception of such
specimens as should be needed for seed. The
plan of work advocated was accepted by the
lumbermen, and during the first year, fifteen
lumber camps were operated and 9,783 acres
were lumbered for Spruce and Pine.
The publication contains a detailed descrip-
tion of the forest on the two tracts under
consideration and a study of the habit, growth
and production of the Spruce. Mr. Graves
has drawn freely from the material contained
in the ‘‘Adirondack Spruce,” by Gifford Pin-
chot, quoting a certain amount of descriptive
matter and a considerable number of tables.
The yield tables have, however, been recon-
structed, and have been simplified to make
them more easily handled in predicting the
amount of future crops.
The most instructive chapter in the book is
probably that which discusses the loss incurred
by ordinary methods of lumbering. By meas-
urements taken in the woods, it is shown that
the loss occasioned by cutting unnecessarily
high stumps amounts to two per cent of the
total product, Similarly the author shows that
a considerable loss is occasioned by the un-
necessary use of Spruce for skidways and by -
leaving large tops in the woods. |
Throughout the book the author’s state-
ments are supported by numerous photographs,
which add interest to the publication. The
practical character of the book and the straight-
forward way in which it is written will make it
sought for by all interested in conservative
methods of handling timber lands in any part
of the country.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
OXGANIZED ApRIL, 1882.
INCORPORATED JANUARY, 1897.
OFFICERS FOR 1899.
President.
Hon, JAmMEs WItson, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President, Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. FERNow. F. H. NEwELL,
Recording Secretary and Treasurer,
GrorGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Directors,
JAmeEs WILSON. CHARLES C, BINNEy,
B. E, FERNow. HENRY GANNETT,
GrorGE W. McLAMNAHAN,
EDWARD A. Bowers.
ARNOLD HAGUE.
GIFFORD PINCHOT,
FREDERICK V. COVILLE,
F, H. NEwELL,
GEORGE P, WHITTLESEY.
Vice Presidents,
Sir H.G. JoLy DE LOTBINIERE, Pointe Platon, Wo. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
Quebec. JOHN GiFFoRD, Princeton, N. J.
CHARLEs C. GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska. Epwarp F. Hosart, Santa Fe, N. M.
CHARLES Mour, Mobile, Ala, WarreEN Hictey, New York, N, Y,
D. M. Riorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz. J. A. Hoimes, Raleigh, N. C.
Tuomas C. McRag, Prescott, Ark. W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
Assotr KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal.
E. T. Ensicn, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rospert Brown, New Haven, Conn,
REUBEN H. Warper, North Bend, Ohio
WituiaM T. Litt ez, Perry, Okla.
E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore.
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del.
A. V. Ciusss, Pensacola, Fla.
R. B. RepparD, Savannah, Ga.
J. M. Coutrer, Chicago, Il.
James Troop, Lafayette, Ind.
Tuos. H. MacBripg, Iowa City, lowa,
J. S. Emery, Lawrence, Kans.
Joun R. Procror, Frankfort, Ky.
Lewis JoHnson, New Orleans, La.
Joun W. Gaxrert, Baltimore, Md.
Joun E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me.
J. D. W. Frencu, Boston, Mass. ;
W. J. Beat, Agricultural College, Mich.
C. C. ANDREWS, St. Paul, Minn.
Wi.uiAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo.
CHARLES E. Bessey, Lincoln, Neb.
J. T. RorHrock, West Chester, Pa.
H. G. RussE.u, E. Greenwich, R. I.
H. A. GREEN, Chester, S. C.
Tuomas T, WricutT, Nashville, Tenn.
W. GoopricH Jones, Temple, Texas.
C, A. WuiTING, Salt Lake, Utah.
REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt.
D. O. Noursg, Blacksburg, Va,
EDMUND S. MEany, Seattle, Wash.
A. D. Horxins, Morgantown, W., Va,
H. C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis.
Etwoop Mean, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Grorce W. McLAnauan, Washington, D,C
Joun Craic, Ottawa, Ont,
Wm. Littie, Montreal, Quebec.
Lieut. H. W. Frencu, Manila, P. I.
The object of this Association is to promote :
1. A more rational and conservative treatment of the forest resources of this continent.
2. The advancement of educational, legislative and other measures tending to promote
this object.
3. The diffusion of knowledge regarding the conservation, management and renewal of
forests, the methods of reforestation of waste lands, the proper utilization of forest
products, the planting of trees for ornament, and cognate subjects of arboriculture,
Owners of timber and woodlands are particularly invited to join the Association, as well as
are all persons who are in sympathy with the objects herein set forth.
THE FORESTER.
BEREA COLLEGE,
BEREA, KENTUCKY.
A YEAR'S WORK IN FORESTRY IS OFFERED.
Local Forest Growth Affords Fine Facilities for Study.
Excellent Advantages at Moderate Expense.
66g1 ‘Er raquisydag susdg way [ey
LINCOLN HALL, BEREA COLLEGE.
re HORTICULTURE “Stns
For full information address
S. C. MASON, M. Sc.,
Professor of Horticulture and Forestry.
P.R. NER PE
Consulting Forester,
Mahwah, N. J.
Kindly mention THE ForeEsTER 10 writing,
‘Valuable . . . cannot fail to be of the ‘““The sections are marvels of mechanical
greatest practical assistance.’”—Revzew of dexterity . . . most interesting.”—NMVew
Reviews. York Times.
HOUGH'S “AMERICAN WOODS.”
PUBLICATION on the trees of the
United States illustrated by actual
specimens of the woods, showing three
distinct views of the grain of each spe-
cies, with full explanatory text. (Sav-
ples of the specimens used, 10 cents.)
““Exceedingly valuable for study. A
work where plant life does the writing
and no one can read without thinking.”’—
G. A. ParKker,-Hartford, Conn.
“Most valuable and the price reason-
able.” —Prof. C. E. Bessry, Lincoln, Neb.
Preparations of Woods for Sti reup=
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Wooden Cross-Section Cards for fancy
and business purposes. (Samples free.)
Views of Typical Trees showing habits of
growth, Write for circulars, addressing
R. B. HOUGH.
10 Collins St., Lowville, N. Y.
PREPARATIONS OF WOODS FOR STEKEOPTICON AND MICROSCOPIC
VIEWS OF TYPICAL TREES, WOODEN CROSS-SECTION CARDS.
C. P, HANCOCK
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THE -PORESTER:
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if you are cot already a member of...
The American Forestry Association
We would like to tell you why you should be.
aia oY f
Rare
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SHE WASSBLIND:
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I have it
It is quecer—I can see your eyes but not your nose.
I can’t read because some of the letters are blurred; dark
spots cover them; it is very uncomfortable.
I know all about it ; 1¢3 DYSPE PSI Wealcesone
of these; it will cure you in ten minutes, ~
What is it ?
‘A Ripans Tabule.
W ANTED.-— A case of bad health that R'I-P’A'N'8 will not benefit. They banish pain end prolong life,
One gives relief. Note the word R'I-P’A‘N’S on the package and accept no substitute. RP AN’S,
10 for5 cents or twelve packets fur 48 cents, may be had at any drug store. T on samples and one thou
sanil testimonials will be mailed to any address for 5 cents, forwarded to the Ripans Chemical Co.,
lu S;ruce St., New York.
now.
e
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Kindly mention THE ForesTeEr in writing.
FUREOID AND WATER SUrELY,
You. V. NOVEMBER, 1899. No. 11.
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
devoted to the care and use of
_ forests and forest trees and
ae
TL acgantinl KW
The American Forestry Association.
i:
ii
a
i
by
PUBLISHED BY
Price 10 Cents. $1.00 a Year.
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
Entered at the Post Office in Washington, D. C., as second class matter.
| ARIZONA | Ne IN THE WOODS
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
A TyricaL Forrest ScENE IN WESTERN WASHINGTON............... Ti Frontispiece. _
‘a
THE Errect oF ForESTS ON WATER SUPPLY..............0s0e00+ Reece clk a ee EIT 247
A Paper Read at the Summer Meeting.
(Number Seven of the Series.)
1.—Investigations Regarding Rainfall and Percolation.
NATURAL REPRODUCTION OF FORESTS IN KENTUCKY..........0.c0cceceeeeees Pair nae Re AG 251 q
A Paper Read at a Special Meeting at Columbus. F
(Number One of the Series.)
SEconD GROWTH PINE VS. AGRICULTURE..........0ececceceeeeeeees ‘tates Se pl oe 255 @
RELATION OF FORESTRY TO COMMERCE 20 0U cand AU UU Oa in, anon dante 256
SHEEP GRAZING IN) ARIZONA( (0007/50 Cc UN ee ace ay ier cl een a ano nd Se eM 257
Second Paper on its Effect on Forest Reserves.
BOREST PRBS. ohio. (lawn evinced sss cul cok oroemaa seer ae at cy SUVs Saat tiy Lanne eee SNe 259 q
California. Texas. Maryland. Pennsylvania. West Nicci: q
POREST PROTECTION Ce iwi. eet ese Pa ge ruCOR CANA PN SE CO AC 260 4
Protecting the Public Domain. A Fair Prophecy. 4
On Congressional Recognition. An Important Decision.
In THE Woops OF MINNESOTA.........000c00000 A oa I wae 267 Oe
Some Considerations in Favor of the Proposed National Park.
By the Forester of the Vanderbilt Forest, Biltmore, N. C.
IDISPELLING ‘AN ILLUSIONS ove nos: doce ek eee CANO SE eNOS Maa OSL 264
Bor tHE Maynsty ior THE FOREST 2.02 ele eens sus oe seskundens cantata ae on eee 265 4
THE FORESTS OF THE NATION. (:.0200. OCUMUM i sna ashi Ae eine LES A Seu aia UM ae 266
Annual Report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office.
(From the Advance Sheets.)
PED ULORTAT. INO UNAS ena ea EPA He Ap ENKEI MAUL ANNE LQ eh 267
The Christmas Number. |
New Subscribers and Members.
National Parks for the People. .
Chips and Clips—News Items. A Valuable Wood.
Nuts for Planting. As Others See Us.
Wood Paving in Parks. Philadelphia’s Innovation.
The Tree-Surgeon’s Work. Plain Talk from Oregon.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS........ esee cass iveeaesnmebeeidgsee Sete cmmitdes EOE Rus Se EME aE Sadaiah eaMly one a
: AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
| The Forester —«
FOR THE YEAR 1900 WILL BE BETTER AND
MORE INTERESTING THAN EVER BEFORE.
Pertinent papers by forest experts, accurate descriptions of the forests
by officials of the U. S. Government, scientific forestry at home and
abroad, questions of lumbering, irrigation, water supply, sheep-
grazing, and a keen summary of forest news.
Fifteen Months cee paze oe $1.00.
FORESTRY SCHOOL,
Ak BillLTMORE, N:-C:
For circular and information apply to
C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D.,
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE.
THE
National Geographic Magazine,
_A JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY—PHYSICAL, COMMERCIAL, POLITICAL.
EDITOR: JOHN HYDE,
Statistician of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
WILLIS L. MOORE,
Chief of the U. S. Weather Bureau.
A. W. GREELY,
Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army.
_ W J McGEE, | H. S. PRITCHETT,
Ethnologist in Charge, Bureau of American Superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic
Ethnology. | Survey.
HENRY GANNETT, | MARCUS BAKER,
Chief Geographer, U.S. Geological Survey. | U.S. Geological Survey.
G. HART MERRIAM, | O. P. AUSTIN,
Chief of the Biological Survey, U. S. Depart- | Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, U. S. Treas-
ment of Agriculture. ury Department.
DAVID J. HILL, ELIZA RUHAMAH SCIDMORE,
Assistant Secretary of State. Author of ‘Java, the Garden of the East,” ete.
CHARLES Hd. ALLEN, CARL LOUISE GARRISON,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Principal of Phelps School, Washington, D.C.
ASSISTANT Epitor: GILBERT H. GROSVENOR, Washington, D.C.
$2.50 a Year, 25 Cents a Copy, Three Months Trial Subscription, 50 Cents.
Requests for Sample Copies should invariably be accompanied by 25 cents.
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CENE
AI, FOREST S
PIC
A Ty
THE FORESTER
NOVEMBER,
+ 1899.
Effect of Forests on Water Supply.
Being a Paper Read at the Summer Meeting, Los Angeles, Cal., 1899.
I.—INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING RAINFALL
AND PERCOLATION AS RELATING ‘TO
WATER SUPPLY THROUGH FOREST INFLUENCES.
The waters of the earth derive their
existence from the heavens above and have
no other source. This is the fundamental
principle underlying all discussions on
water-supply. There is no spontaneous
process of production, no water manufac-
tory in the recesses of the earth, no source
but the clouds.
Forests interpose between earth and sky
and become factors in the engineering
problems of water-supply. Their action
is in the direction of increasing precipita-
tion, decreasing evaporation, and modify-
ing floods. It is proposed in this paper to
review some of the more salient relations
between forests and water.
Many meteorological stations in connec-
tion with forestry have been established in
France, in Germany, in India and else-
where. In this country the subject has
also received attention, but on a more
limited scale. It is an unfortunate fact
in regard to all subjects connected with
rainfall that systematic observations must
have been conducted over a long series of
years—at least thirty-five—ain order to
obtain data upon which to predicate posi-
tive results.
The records of a few years may be, and
frequently are, very misleading. The
secular meteorological changes tend to
move in cycles of wet periods and drouth.
No conclusions can safely be accepted that
are not based on records extending suth-
ciently back into the past to embrace and
give full weight to these cycles.
The records of precipitation at Phila-
delphia extend back to 1825. Charting
the precipitations gives a wave-like curve
descending very low in 1825 but with its
sinuosities all well above that point until
1881, when the minimum precipitation of
1825 was again closely approached. The
period of extreme low precipitation was
fifty-six years. The years of maximum
precipitation were 1841 and: D607 5. tte
period being twenty-six years
Taking the total of sixty- four years and
averaging the annual rainfall by periods
of four, eight, sixteen and thirty-two years
we get the following results: The averages
by four years run from 22 per cent. low,
to 19 per cent. high—as compared with the
average for the entire period of sixty-four
years. Theeight-year groupings gave re-
sults from 11 per cent. low, to I1 per
cent. higli—and the thirty-two-yez 2 per
cent. low, to 2 per cent. high.
Analyzing the recorded rainfall at Los
Angeles for the past twenty-seven years
and averaging by periods of five years
gives results ranging from 35 per cent.
below to 16 per cent. above the average
seasonal rainfall for the entire period of
twenty-seven years. The extreme low
points of the Los Angeles precipitation
curve are twenty-two years apart, being
from the season of 1876-77 to 1898-99.
248 THE FORESTER.
The fluctuations to which the average
annual rainfall is subject have been very
exhaustively discussed by Mr. Binnie, M.
Inst. C.E., in a paper read before the In-
stitution of Civil Engineers, London, in
1892.
From close analysis of records, of forty-
two stations in various parts of the world,
covering periods of from fifty to ninety-
seven years, he drew the following conclu-
sions:
That for records of five yearsthe probable
error in averages ranged from minus 16 per
cent. to plus 17 per cent., the limits of
error decreasing to minus 2 per cent. and
plus 2 per cent. for periods of 30 years and
over. And that the least number of years
the continuous records of which would
give an average annual fall that would not
be materially altered by extending the rec-
ord, would be thirty-five years. He also
concluded that dependence could be placed
on any good record of that duration to give
an average rainfall correct within two per
cent.
These examples will serve to illustrate
the uncertainty attached to any deductions
based on rainfall records of short duration.
Asa case directly to the point we have
certain French observations made about
sixty miles south of Paris. The observa-
tions for. one year gave the precipitation
over woods as 33 per cent. in excess of
that over open ground. Three years con-
tinuous Sasenmciene changed this to 2 per
cent.
Long records for forest purposes are
rare. ‘Lhe necessity for long records is but
one of the many obstacles in the way of ar-
riving at absolute comparisons between
precipitation over woods and open grounds.
Even after sufficient time shall have elapsed
to reduce this particular trouble to a mini-
mum, there will still remain the errors in-
herent to measuring rainfall and the diffi-
culty of obtaining two locations, the one
wooded and the other bare, whose condi-
tions are absolutely comparable.
Rain-gauges are not instruments of pre-
cision, yet no conclusions.can be more ac-
curate than the data upon which they are
based. The gauges record all that falls
within them, Ban except in still weather
November,
and with gentle rains, they do not inter-
cept all that they should. Some very in-
teresting and instructive data upon this
subject has been published by the U. S.
Department of Agriculture. It is shown
that with the common unprotected gauge
very large errors sometimes occur. It has
also been shown that the decrease in catch
of gauges raised above the ground form-
er ly believed to have been due to height,
is in reality due to increased freedom of
wind action.
There is also another and perhaps even
greater element of uncertainty attendant
upon rain-gauging, viz.: The smallness
of the actual collecting area of a gauge
and the comparative immensity of the area
of the country to which its readings are
applied. With a ten-inch gauge to every
four square (and this is a distribution far
above the average), the ratio of area
would be as about 200,000,000 to 1. At
Rothamsted, in England, there is a rain
gauge with anarea of one thousandth of an
acre. The catch on this gauge from 1853
to 1880 was about nine and eight-tenth
per cent. more than the catch in an adja-
cent five-inch gauge. The ratio of their
respective catchment areas is as 320 to I.
Now, if this ratio of area gave a variation
of nearly ten per cent., we must not rely
too implicitly on the results shown by ap-
plying the readings of a gauge to an area
of country several hundred millions times
the area of the gauge. The rain-gauge is
an invaluable instrument, but to fully
profit by its readings we must recognize,
as with other instruments, its limitations
and surroundings.
All these various difficulties considered,
we are not warranted in hoping for any
decisive direct quantitative comparison be-
tween the rainfall over wooded and open
grounds similarly situated and exposed.
However, while lacking in direct proof of
this point, we do not know from the
records of the various forest stations that
woods reduce temperature and increase
the humidity of the air, and, therefore,
must to some extent increase precipitation.
The efficiency of foliage in mechan-
ically arresting and condensing moisture 1s
well known. If there are doubts, a walk
1899.
through underbrush on a misty morning
will carry conviction to the most sceptical.
A notable instance of the economic value
of this feature of vegetation is to be seen
at Ascension—a place that I visited in
1879.
It is a volcanic island lying a few de-
grees south of the equator and about mid-
way between Africa and South America.
It has an area of 30 to 40 square miles and
is used as a naval station by the British
Government. The water supply is ob-
tained from near the summit of Green
Mountain, so named from the fact of its be-
ing about the only green spot visible on the
island. The summit elevation is about
2,500 feet above the sea, and its green cap
of vegetation is maintained by the almost
constant drip from trees and rocks of the
moisture mechanically collected from
clouds and fogs, eked out by light passing
showers.
That the drip from trees should play so
prominent a part in a domestic water
supply is very satisfactory testimony to the
efficiency of woods in mechanically in-
creasing precipitation. Interesting experi-
ments have been made as to the amount
of condensation of aqueous vapor by
leaves, but it does not appear that the
velocity, if any, of the surrounding. air
was taken into account.
Cloud or fog is a manifestation of water
in suspension, and it is obvious that the
more rapidly the cloud is moved against
any surface the more water will be brought
into contact with that surface in a given
time and the more it will collect. Unless
condensation tests are conducted with
reference to air velocity they will not fur-
nish complete values. As before said, it
is questionable whether a numerical value
can ever be satisfactorily established for
the action of forests in a direct increase of
rainfall, but it is without question that
their effect is in that direction—the point
of uncertainty being one of quantity only.
In the matter of conserving of the water
that has fallen, forests are important fac-
tors. They intercept the sun and rain,
saving the earth from packing hard under
the baking of the one and the persistent
beating of the other. They appreciably
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 249
decrease the quantity that would other-
wise pass rapidly off into the runs and
waterways and be lost in floods. Not
only do they lessen the wasteful and de-
structive expenditure of water in floods,
but they afford greater time for the earth
to absorb to its full capacity the water held
back by the mechanical obstructions of the
forest floor. They also reduce the quan-
tity lost by evaporation.
These things we enter on the credit side
of the forest account with water supply,
and on the debit side make the sole entry
of the water used in supporting plant life.
It remains to ascribe values to these various
items and strike a balance.
All permanent water-supplies are drawn
directly or indirectly from the rainfall ab-
sarbed and stored within the earth. Di-
rectly by the means of wells, tunnels, in-
filtration galleries and similar structures ;
indirectly through the medium of running
surface streams, which in turn draw their
supply from visible springs and the unseen
accretions that enter along their beds from
groundwater at high elevation.
The surface water which flows into the
streams after rains gives but a temporary
and passing supply. The permanent flow
comes from ground storage. It must not
be thought from this that all ground-water
reappears at some time or other in the sur-
face streams. Much passes on unseen to
the sea. Its place of discharge into the
ocean is at times well marked.
Off the east coast of England there is a
sub-marine valley, called the Silver Pit,
20 miles long by from 50 to 250 feet deep
below the general surface of the adjacent
ocean bed. The extraordinary depth pre-
cludes it being due to currents, and from the
circumstance of the depression occupying,
as it were, the focus of the concave chalk
formation of eastern England it is held to
be the place at which the inland ground-
waters are discharged through the chalk.
Coming right home we havea discharge
of oil into a sub-marine valley of great
depth off Redondo, indicating a probable
discharge from the inland oil fields. The
direction of these under-ground flows is at
times difficult totrace. Latham, the noted
sanitary engineer, in some of his sewage
250
investigations found the ground-water of a
valley passing partly straight down the
valley in conformity with the surface con-
figuration and partly turning more or less
abruptly and passing under the hills and
coming out on the further slope.
The capacity of the earth to receive and
convey water is all-important to us.
Whatever agencies give the rain freer ac-
cess to the earth should be well studied.
The condition of the ground-surface is of
vital importance and it is here that forests
exercise one of their most beneficent func-
tions—a quality which in itself is more
than sufficient to justify our constant ef-
forts in preserving and extending our
wooded areas.
All soils are dependent upon their top
surface as to whether they absorb water or
not. Take an extreme case: sand cov-
ered by an asphalt pavement, a great ca-
pacity for water but no mouth to take it
in. Take an ordinary case, as exempli-
fied by tests made at Colby, Kansas, by
the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Comparative measurements of the moist-
ure in soil were made at a depth of twelve
inches under three separate conditions:
First, a covering of natural prairie sod;
secondly, bare soil, top cultivated; third,
bare soil, sub-cultivated. The tests were
continued daily throughout the months of
June, July, August and September.
Throughout the tests the cultivated soils
showed over twice the moisture in the
soil under the natural prairie top.
It has been suggested that the chief
cause of the difference may have been due
to the water taken up and evaporated by
the grasses. A study of the record at
times of rainfall, when there could have
been no evaporation to speak of, does not,
however, support any such assumption.
In fact it is of interest to note that evapor-
ation from plants which derive their water
supply from the capillaries of the soil does
not necessarily reduce the moisture of that
soil at any time ; that dependsupon whether
the sub-water is ample to keep up the de-
mands of the capillaries. If the supply is
good, a pipe does not show less water be-
cause the faucet at the end is open.
The percolation gauges at Rothamsted,
THE FORESTER:
November,
the place previously spoken of, gave as an
average for 20 years that 47% per cent. of
the total rainfall percolated through 20
inches of soil and 44.9 per cent. through
60 inches. The surface of the soil was.
kept clear of vegetation.
The capacity of sand for receiving and
transmitting water can be well illustrated
by the water supply of The Hague, cap-
ital of the Netherlands. The city is situ-
ated about two miles inland from the
North Sea and has a population of 190,000.
Its domestic water-supply is drawn froma
tract of uncultivated country lying near the
sea and covered with sand dunes, similar to
portions of the New Jersey coast. The
sand is described as very pure and white.
The water is fresh to a depth of 66 feet be-
low the sea. It is gathered by infiltration
pipes and pumped to its destination.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Corey, the
United States Consul at Amsterdam, I am
able to give the percentage of percolating
water as about 4o per cent. of the rainfall.
According to other information, from 30
to 50 per cent. of the rainfall can be col-
lected, the variation being according to the
season of the year. In summer a loss is
stated to take place by reason of vegeta-
tion. This draws attention to the point
that whether vegetation aids ground stor-
age or not depends largely upon the nature
of the soil. In the case of sand, such as
described, it is detrimental inasmuch as it
impedes penetration and aids the extrac-
tion of moisture.
The water conductivity and capacity of
various soils have received much attention
at the hands of forest experimenters. By
conductivity is meant the capacity to
transmit water, and by capacity the quan-
tity that a given volume of soil can be
caused to receive into its interstitial spaces,
generally spoken of as its voids. Of the
quantity that can be thus introduced into
dry soil, part can be removed only by
processes of evaporation. It is held with-
in the capillaries and as films around the
grains, and will not yield to gravitation.
The texture of the soil is the governing
factor in rate of conductivity. It ranges
from well-rounded pebbles through the gra-
dations of sand and loam to clay. It requires
1899.
no mental effort to realize that conductivity
isa very impor tant element in storm run-
off, and the yield of a ground-storage.
It is to be regretted that the literature of
the subject is scant and_ unsatisfactory.
The greater number of the records of tests
that I have been able to collate are based
on experiments with downward filtration.
This is a very unsatisfactory method of
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
251
determining the lineal speed of percola-
tion, the ingoing water is always in con-
flict with the displaced air, and the results
are vitiated. In my own tests I always
use horizontal percolation with free top
surface or upward percolation. Either
method gives very uniform results.
H. Hawcoop,
Los Angeles, Cal.
(To be continued. )
Natural Reproduction of Forests on Old Fields in
Eastern Kentucky.
Being a Paper Read at the Special Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, 1899.
Among the different phases of forestry
that I fee studied in this region, I have
chosen this upon which to present a few
observations because I feel that it touches
a subject of first importance in American
Forestry.
The vital question in forestry is, whena
tree falls will another take its place ? So
much of formerly timbered land is de-
manded for agriculture that the answer
must be no a creat many times. And yet
if we are to have trees in the future the
‘¢tall Oaks” must ‘from little acorns
grow,” and the conditions under which
they are to grow must constitute the foun-
dation of all forestry.
While in restricted areas, as on the tree-
less prairies, and on small tracts in older
and more highly developed regions of the
country, seed-sowing and hand- -planting
-may be resorted to, yet till forestry is a
much older science than it is in our countr Ys
and forest products have greatly increased
in prices, the great majority of young trees
must come by reproduction under natural
conditions.
I can hardly present to you the condi-
tions prevailing in the Berea region with-
out reference to the geology of the country.
Leaving the Ohio River at Cincinnati
we pass southward through a_horse-foot
shaped area, the famous Blue Grass re-
gion underlaid with Silurian limestone.
Bordering this, as though constituting the
shoe, is a narrow exposure of Devonian
consisting for the most part of black bitu-
minous shales, exceedingly poor soil-mak-
ing material. The beds lying over and
outside of this are clays and fine sandy
shales representing a great silting period
in the sub-carboniferous. The erosion of
these has largely formed the yellow clay
soil that overlies the Devonian shales, giv-
ing the ‘+ flat lands” glades and shashes
which are characteristic of this horse-shoe
strip of country. These landsare ‘ tight”
in the vernacular of the region, becoming
saturated with water during the rainy
Winters and holding it till late in the
Spring. In the hot, dry periods of Sum-
mer they dry out and bake like brick.
Above the shales, in the sub-carbonifer-
ous, we have a layer of fine-grained gray
and buff sandstones which cause a bench
to extend all around the hills at this level.
This is succeeded by the massive moun-
tain limestone, twenty to fifty feet in thick-
ness, capped by the millstone grit of about
the same exposure.
It is to the readily eroded character of
the shales at the base and the resistant
nature of the limestone and more espe-
cially of the conglomerate at the top, that
we owe the peculiar and picturesque topog-
raphy of the region. Bold, outstanding,
flat-topped ‘* knobs” with broadly spread-
252
ing bases, long lines of precipitous cliffs,
deep, narrow valleys, darkly shaded coves
and hollows, ‘* rock-houses,” abrupt ‘* pin-
nacles,” and ‘+ rock-castles” fairly startle
the traveller at every turn. Above all this
stretches away the level plateau of the
coal-measures, but gashed and furrowed
on all sides by the ragged valleys leading
to the lower level. <A difference in alti-
tude of five or six hundred feet in half a
mile is no unusual thing. The resulting
character of the roads and their effect on
the price of lumber and farm crops, not to
mention the effect on social life and edu-
cation, I leave to your imagination. As
climate has everything to do with repro-
duction and growth of trees, this must not
escape mention.
This is a region of abundant rainfall,
the precipitation being from forty to fifty
inches annually. Four months, from De-
cember to the first of April, amount almost
to a rainy period. While occasional ex-
tremes of cold, when the mercury regis-
ters from 20 to 25 degrees occur, weather
above the freezing point is the rule, so that
the Winters are a succession of drizzling
rains, mild freezes, wet snows, thaws and
bright weather. A period of considerable
dryness may be looked for from some time
from June to September, though very
heavy rainfalls may occur in that time.
I have been thus particular in describing
the year’s climate because it is to the gen-
erally wet, open character of the Winters
that I attribute the prolific growth of seed-
ling trees of a great number of varieties.
Where acorns will germinate uncovered
on the surface of a compact clay soil, the
conditions as to moisture and temperature
may be considered good.
The lower Devonian and border Silu-
rian lands were originally covered with
a dense growth of the different Black
Oaks, some White Oak, Black and Sweet
Gum, Cherry, Sassafras of great size,
Scarlet Maple and other species. -On
higher ridges more White Oak was found,
some Chestnut, many Hickories of several
species, large numbers of Pine, a mixture
of P. virginiana, or Jersey Scrub Pine,
but here a tree often seventy-five feet high
and two feet in diameter with P. ech7nxata,
Se THE. FORESTER.
November,
the short Yellow Pine of the western
States.
The most valuable of this growth has
been cut out and sawed, but much still re-
mains. In the calles among the hills,
on the benches and in the heade of the
rich coves is found a mixed hardwood
growth of great value. White Chinqua-
pin, Red and Black Oak, four species of
Hickory, Beech, Soft and Sugar Maple,
Buckeye, Basswood and Ash grow to fine
size and unusual height, the density of the
growth and the steepness of the slope
both forcing them up in search of light.
Higher up, above the grit-rock, le the
ridges clothed with the Chestnut and its
close associate, the Chestnut Oak or Tan-
bark, Quercus prinus.
What I shall call Old Field No. t lies
one-and-one-half miles southeast of Berea.
The soil is a compact yellow clay over
black Devonian shale. The surrounding
growth is the usual mixture of these lands
—the Black, Scarlet and Spanish Oaks,
some White Oak, Hickories of four spe-
cies, Soft Maple, Gum and two species of
Pine. The field is about fifty rods long by
thirty rods wide. It had been cultivated
a good many years, how long I could not
learn, and was turned out ‘‘ about fifteen
years ago,” but was not pastured, as is so
often the case.
The stand of young Pines upon this is
complete, excepting a short distance on
the washed banks of a little draw. The
growth is almost wholly Pinus virginiana,
or the ‘* Black Pine,’ the local name, with
a slight mixture, not 10% of P2zus echi-
mata, or Yellow Pine. ‘There are also a
few Oaks, Hickories and such, but their
number is insignificant.
An average specimen of Black Pine was
cut as close to the ground as possible and was
found to show twelve rings of growth and
to be four and one-half inches in diameter.
This was twenty-seven feet high, was clear-
ing itself of branches for a few feet only,
many dead ones still adhering to the tree.
An average specimen of Yellow Pine
gave practically the same dimensions, but
was straighter and cleaner in trunk, being
clear of branches for half its length.
What the growth was surrounding this
ey
ok
ene ee een
ae ee
gl
a ty
iat
a eit te eae ee
1899.
field fifteen years ago I cannot state ac-
curately, but it could not have been very
different from that at present, and now the
Yellow Pines that might have seeded the
field are fully as numerous as the Black.
The greater vitality of the Black Pine
seed and seedlings is strongly evinced
here, as it is along roadsides and in pas-
tures all over the country.
Field No. 2 is near the foot of the hills
but still on the yellow clay soil. It is a
rounding knoll of about two acres and was
a part of one of the oldest fields in the
region, having been abandoned about
forty years. Here again there has been a
complete stand of eine, though they have
been cut for house logs till in places the
cover 1s a good deal broken. ‘The stand
is about one to every eight feet square on
the average, which admits too much light.
An average specimen of Prxus virginiana
was cut and found to be 9% inches in di-
ameter at two feet and sixty and one-half
feet high, showing thirty-eight rings in the
stump. Six inches of the diameter growth
had been made in the first ten years. The
trunks of these and others were slightly
crooked and was cleared of limbs more
than six feet, the recently dead branches
remaining to form ugly knots for thirty
feet above. Trees of a foot or over in
diameter had been cut here.
A small mixture of Yellow Pine in the
grove gives opportunity. for comparison.
While there are not more than one per
cent. of them the owner assures me that
there has been a much larger proportion
but they have died and fallen down.
Those remaining show evidence that in
many cases the Black Pines are overtop-
ping them, and the fact that in all cases
they have cleared themselves of branches
perfectly to more than half their height
shows that they will not endure shade as
well as the Black Pine. The leader on
Yellow Pine in early Spring is stouter,
the branches are also stouter and stiffer, so
that the tender growth is not bent about as
much by the winds. This fact gives rise
to much clearer and straighter bouice in
the young timber. The Paeerenced is much
that between Scotch and Austrian Pines
when grown together.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 253
A sample specimen of Ves: Pine cut
was 8% inches in diameter, 59% feet high
and showed 37 rings of erowth at two
feet. The growth was more evenly dis-
tributed throughout the period and a com-
parison between old trees would lead me
to think that this will continue to make a
steady gain for a longer time than the
Black ane and remain a sounder tree.
Field No. 3 lies up the hollow directly
above No. 2 and has about the same
history, save that when abandoned for
cultivation it was pastured. Instead of
full stand of trees they are in groups and
patches or singly on the lower ground and
are heavier bodied, short and broad: -topped
except am othe scenten, of (a considerable
group. In such conditions, even, it is to
be noticed that the Yellow Pine has formed
a clean trunk for a considerable distance,
and young trees seem often to do this
under their own cover only.
Higher up on the sides of this hollow,
where the cattle did not care to range, the
stand of Pine is full, both species about
equally represented. Many trees are ten
to twelve inches in diameter and fairly on
the way to make good saw-logs. Here
again the Yellow Bane is sayeiele the best
cleared of branches and presents straighter
and cleaner trunks.
Field No. 4 is about 20 miles southwest
of Berea, near the little station of Gun
Sulphur. The location is a rather thin
clay and gravel soil on the top of the bluff
above the limestone. The millstone grit
in this section is pretty well thinned out.
This field was cleared 20 years ago and
put in corn for two years, then ab: indonedi
The growth is wholly Black Pine and per-
fectly dense, so that one can scarcely find
his way through. The average height is
about 20 feet and the diameter 3 inches.
Similar examples of reproduction of
Pines could be multiplied indefinitely but
these are good types. The Yellow Pine
possesses fone more value as a timber
tree, and follows the more sandy ridges.
The Black Pine, known to most of you as
the Jersey or Scrub Pine, reaches a size to
make profitable saw logs in this region, a
character which I think | it does not possess
elsewhere. Its range is the wet flat-lands
254 THE FORESTER.
rather than the drier ridges where the
Yellow Pine is most abundant. In places
where the two are associated the Black
Pine will take the land to the exclusion of
the better tree and forms dense thickets in
all open places where it can find space
sufficiently light and not too much trampled.
It does not seem in the least disturbed by
the severe droughts and heat to which it is
often subject in July and August. It will
endure almost as much shade as a Cedar.
Field No. 5 lies at the foot of the high
peak near Berea, known as Bear Kenai
It was a long time in cultivation, contained
an orchard, a few relics of which eal re-
main and was last tilled in ’56 or , the
owner being able to locate the date ap BLORE
mately by its relation to family affairs.
Here the predominating growth is hard
wood, though some fine pines are mingled
with this. The growth is dense, the young
trees reaching up fifty to seventy feet high
with clean, straight trunks cleared of
branches for 20 to 30 and even 40 feet.
Many of the trees are beginning to form
crowns, others are still in the pole stage
of growth. The cover is almost perfect.
The species represented are, first, the Black
and Falcate Oaks, some of which are a
foot in diameter; White Oaks are next in
number and are the most beautifully pro-
portioned young trees of the species I have
ever seen, with slender bodies, as clean as
telegraph poles, six to eight inches in
diameter. I shall study with interest to
see whether they will be able to hold their
supremacy in height with the Black Oak
tribe. Hickoriee: of the Shell-bark and
Pig-nut species are six inches to ten inches
in diameter and in the hands of a less con-
servative owner would have been sacrificed
to the spoke trade before now. On the
lower end of this field where a few de-
crepit Poplars (Lzrzodendron) have fur-
nished the seed to be blown a hundred
yards, we find a dense, shapely growth of
aa most valuable Southern tree.
What I shall call Field No. 6 is of a very
different character from the preceding.
This is a piece of ‘* cove” land, being a
widened-out, ampitheater-like head of a
narrow valley and lying just above the
mountain limestone, but passing the mill-
November,
stone-grit and heading in the sandy shales
of the coal measures. Its sides are so
steep that it was ‘‘ tended” when in culti-
vation on the contour plan, 7. e., around
the cove on a level. A wagon would
hardly venture into it, produce and timber
being removed on the low one-horse
*¢ slides,” or sledges peculiar to the coun-
try. This field was one of the first opened
in the region, over fifty years ago, and the
last crop of corn was raised on it in 1864.
It is entirely covered with a thrifty timber,
the cover in most parts being perfect,
though somewhat thin in others from the
cutting out of the new growth for various
purposes. Tamassured that it was a clean
field when the last crop was raised, the
present growth being wholly from the seed
since 1864. Of the taller trees over half
are of ‘* Poplar,” so-called in the South,
the White-wood of the northern markets,
Liriodendron tuliptfera.
If the White Pine is the queen of ‘the
northern forests, certainly the Poplar ranks
as queen of the southern, and at the rate
the old growth is disappearing, we must
hail with satisfaction the appearance of
a new growth under conditions which
indicate that it is readily reproduced. In
the better part of the field, in a hollow
with a northern and northwestern expo-
sure, these beautiful young trees tower up
from fifty to eighty feet, with clean, smooth
trunks as round as columns. Already a
good many of them a foot in diameter and
over have been cut out to make house logs.
The best remaining specimen I cut and
sectioned every eight feet for study. Ata
foot high it was seventeen inches in diam-
eter and showed thirty-three rings, which
would indicate an age of thirty-four or
thirty-five years. The ground must have
seeded in at once on the turning out of the
field and the seed must have blown from
old trees two hundred yards away.
Hickory of two species, from six to
nine inches in diameter and forty to fifty
feet high, were in the field, while better
ones had been cut to nae spoke stock.
A large number of Black Locust had been
cut for posts, the trees being five to eight
inches in diameter, so that scarcely repre-
sentative specimens were left standing.
1599.
This last field is only one of many of
similar character, though many of them
when cultivation ceases are pastured,
which invariably results in an imperfect
cover and poor quality of body growth.
Dogwood and Redbud are the common
under- -growth. Often grapevines get in
and become a great detriment.
The fact that by the time the young
trees have reached this age the owners
often think the timber rotation of sufficient
AMERICAN. FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 255
length and clear the land again, prevents,
in a good many instances, fee young
forests from growing to a profitable age.
The lessons ion shout. however, are full
of significance and encouragement for those
who would take such tracts in hand for
forest purposes.
5S. C. Mason.
Berea College,
Berea, Kentucky.
Second Growth Pine vs. Agriculture.
Some Views on the Desirability of Crops Under Varied Conditions.
In discussing problems of forest policy,
sufficient account is not always taken of the
varying needs of localities with regard to
maintaining forest areas. Often the matter
is treated as if the preservation of forests
everywhere and under all conditions were
adesirable thing. Thereby local antago-
nism is aroused and desirable legislative
measures prevented.
I wish to discuss briefly the question of
to what extent it is desirable that forests be
maintained in those portions of Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minnesota, into which ag-
ricultural settlers are now actively going.
As everybody knows, these regions Sane
heretofore been the chief seats ae the White
Pine industry. Everybody also knows
that from large portions of this area the
mercantile Pine has disappeared, and that
in most of this territory soft wood lum-
bering on a large scale will have come to
an end in about ten years. The people of
the region all appreciate this and are gen-
erally looking towards agriculture to re-
place lumbering as their principal means
of subsistence. The question now is:
Will it be most advantageous to them to
continue this attribute; or would it be
wiser to adopt such measures as will es-
tablish, by the side of agriculture, a series
of industries based upon raw material ob-
tained from local forests.
It should be stated at the very beginning
of such an inquiry, that this question will
be settled with sole reference to the wishes
of the local population. It may well be
that it would be for the benefit of the
nation if these tracts were set apart ex-
clusively for the purpose of raising White
Pine timber. But assuredly such will not
be the case. The land in this region is
nearly all in private hands, except only the
northern part of Minnesota. So there
can be no question of establishing a na-
tional forest reserve, either in Michigan or
Wisconsin. ‘There are in the latter two
states no very large tracts into which the
agricultural settler has not already made
his entrance. Railways are traversing
the region in all directions, towns and
Vv illages are numerous and growing. The
time has long gone by for imposing upon
these territories a policy not desired by
them.
In order to bring about any sort of leg-
islation tending to keep a conside1 Bin
amount of land Sonal forest, it is necessary,
therefore, to convince the local residents
that it is for their own interest to do so.
At present they are very doubtful as to
this. A proposition that forests are to be
maintained by public authority, meets with
the objections that this would keep the
country from developing, and that the
country needs the taxes to be derived from
these lands if owned by private parties.
The lands denuded of their timber growth
are rapidly falling into the hands of specu-
256 THE (FORESTER:
J
lators who endeavor to sell them to agri-
cultural settlers. That they are meeting
with considerable success in this direction
is undoubted. Although much of this
sort of land is unquestionably unfit for
agriculture it is extremely difficult to say
just which is and which is not, as no de-
tailed survey of the region has ever been
made. Some sort of agriculture can un-
doubtedly be carried on over a considerable
portion of these tracts. By that I mean
that settlers may manage to make a living
upon them. Ido not believe that any of
them will ever become as well-to-do as
the settlers on the adjacent hardwood lands
have good reasons to expect.
Next to the interests of the settlers them-
selves, the people to be considered are the
business men in the towns. In fact, these
form really the most important element,
and whatever they approve of is likely to
be advocated by the representatives of
these districts in legislative bodies. Now
this class of men cannot expect to derive
much prosperity from the farmers estab-
lished on the former Pine lands, because
their ability to buy will always be small.
On the other hand, if the denuded tracts
were devoted to the regrowth of construc-
tion timber, they ould derive practically
no revenue from these lands for a period
of seventy or eighty years. But if these
tracts were used for raising timber with
short rotation, it would be possible to make
them the basis of a permanent industry in
manufacturing various kinds of wooden-
ware, packages, boxes andthe like. These
factories would employ large numbers of
men, larger numbers proportionately than
the present lumber industry, with good
ability to purchase, and therefore be the
very best basis for the prosperity of the
business people of the towns.
Of course, it does not follow that the
short rotation management would be the
most profitable for the. owners of these
lands. It is altogether likely that within
the next decade, with improved fire and
tax laws, some of the lumber companies
owning such lands will find it profitable
to raise thereon Pine with long rotations
for construction lumber. This is particu-
larly true of those large concerns who are
November,
able to employ the greater part of their
capital in cutting Southern Pine during the
long interval when their Northern second
growth is maturing. °
But such a condition will not be brought
about unless the laws regarding fire and
taxes are changed so as to treat the lumber
concerns fairly and give them protection.
Such laws, Sranecn ne cannot be hoped
for unless the people of the locality can see
their own direct advantage in maintaining
forests. It follows that any future public
management of forests in the Great Lakes
region must, for some time to come, de-
vote itself principally to the production of
short-rotation material. This observation
is intended to apply especially to those
tracts stocked with soft woods. As to
hardwood material, the original supply is
still so far from being used up that ques-
tions of future restocking need not yet be
discussed.
It is important to keep these principles
in mind so as to be able to overcome reason-
able objections to laws looking toward
permanent maintenance of forests of large
extent in the» Great Icakes*recion. iin=
cidentally they illustrate the point that the
wisest forest policy is not always identical
with the most rational management by the
propietor who looks only to the financial
return.
ERNEST BRUNCKEN.
—_
Relation of Forestry to Commerce.
The necessity for the preservation of the
trees of the forests, to insure the protection
of the rivers and streams of the state, and the
maintenance of waterw ays for commerce,
was emphasized strongly in a recent speech
in Utica, N. Y., by Hon. David McClure.
The speaker, who was a member of the
Constitutional Convention of 1894, related
the enactments of that convention for the
protection of the forests, which was the
most important question before that con-
vention, he believed, since the life of the
canals depended upon the protection of the
streams which fed them.
Mr. McClure advised that the creation
of a single-headed commission for the care
of the forests should be urged.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
iS)
Ge
“I
Sheep Grazing in Arizona.
Second Paper on the Statement that Forest Reserves are Injured by Grazing.
AFFIRMATIVE VIEWS OF A RESIDENT.
[THE FORESTER assumes no responsibility for views expressed in signed communications.
The opposite view on this question was published in the October issue.—ED. ]
It is almost impossible to overestimate
the value of the forests in Central Arizona,
that is the Black Mesa and San Francisco
Mountain Reserves, in reference to the
preservation of the water supply of the
Salt River and Gila Valleys. The drain-
age of these two Reserves through their
numerous tributaries is, to wit., Hell’s
Caiion, Sycamore Cation, Johnson’s Cation,
Ash Fork Creek, Oak Creek, Beaver
Creek, Clear Creek and Pine Creek and
numerous other tributaries or ‘‘ feeders ”
rising on this high plateau, which com-
poses the Black Mesa and San Francisco
Mountain Reserves, and flowing into the
Verda and Salt Rivers and thence on di-
rectly to the country around Pheenix.
They are the highest forest areas of the
whole Territory, and from their extreme
height, some six to eight thousand feet,
and parts as high as ten and twelve thou-
sand, and the large and almost unbroken
forests which cover them, they present in
themselves ideal conditions for catching
and condensing the clouds and _ precipitat-
ing the moisture upon these high table-
lands. .
The effect of sheep grazing in large
bands under the herding system, to any
intelligent person, who has ever observed
the same carefully, cannot fail to be per-
nicious in many ways. Large bands of
sheep passing through these forests bruise
and stunt, and very often break down, the
young Pines. In passing by on the cars
of the Santa Fe, just near the town of
Williams, in an enclosed graveyard the
young trees look exceedingly thrifty and
beautiful, while on the outside or the pub-
lic grazing grounds, there are scarcely any
small trees living, and those that are to be
found are stunted and broken and show
plainly the effects of the trampling of
stock. Nounprejudiced person can pass
by and see the contrast between the trees in
the inclosure and the poor, broken, with-
ered and small trees on the public grazing
ground without being forcibly struck with
the difference.
The sheep in the above named reserva-
tions are herded in large bands (from
eighteen hundred to twenty-four hundred
in a band), by an ignorant Mexican herder
and his dog. He carries on his borro his
entire outfit, consisting of scanty bedding,
rations for two or three days and his cook-
ing utensils. Three times each day—
morning, noon and night—he builds a fire
to prepare his meals, and he has very
little regard as to what becomes of the
fire after it is once built; for soon he has
packed up his cooking utensils and other
belongings on his borro and 1s off with
his sheep again.
For several months during the year,
especially in the Winter and Spring (the
latter part of the Winter and through the
Spring and Fall), these high elevations are
constantly swept by strong winds, and at
those times, as there is very little rain,
everything is exceedingly dry and inflam-
mable. Now consider that there are three
hundred thousand sheep, and one herder
to every two thousand kindling his fire
three times each day, and you can form
some idea of the impossibility almost,
under such circumstances, to prevent for-
est fires. The owners of these sheep, in
most cases, cannot see more than one or
two bands each day, and in that way it is
impossible for them to give this matter of
forest fires very careful and close attention.
In regard to the fact that the streams are
fed by the springs down in the canons,
that in itself shows to any thoughtful per-
son the greatest necessity for protecting
the forest cover and supplying as much
shade, in the way of trees, as possible to
258 THE FORESTER.
prevent the springs from drying up or
largely diminishing in their flow. It is a
fact that is well gwen, and about which
there can be no controversy, that, in the
early settlement of the Atlantic States,
many streams, and even creeks, that were
clear and deep and in whose channels
November,
flowed large volumes of water, from the
denudation of the timber from the ad-
joining hills and valleys, directly ceased
to flow, or flowed only at long intervals
during the 1ainy seasons, after the land
was cleared up and the settlements became
- thick.
__ LONGITUDE \\2° FROM GREENWICH
ae Vs
ARIZONA ,
SHOWING FOREST RESERVATIONS
SCALE L IN.=72 MILES _
cee | FEES
By LONGITUDE 35° FROM WASHINGTON
AN OFFICIAL MAP OF ARIZONA.
1899.
The silting of the canals in the Salt
River Valley from large bands of sheep,
which summer upon these mountains and
upon the reserves in Central Arizona, go-
ing from the reserves across to the water-
sheds of the streams and around in the
vicinity of the canals of the Salt River, is
something that one, who is acquainted
with the effects of sheep-grazing upon the
land, would be compelled to notice, on
account of their pulverizing the soil in
their course. The loose porous soil is
then drifted by the high winds or washed
by the rains of Winter and Summer into
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 259
the canals, rapidly filling them up. In
the San Francisco and Black Mesa reserves
the Government has land naturally suit-
able for forest growing, and if the proper
care be taken there will always be timber
growing up as the matured timber is con-
sumed by the increasing population, and
water flowing from these natural reser-
voirs, prepared by infinite wisdom, through
all time to beautify and enrich a great and
noble State.
Yours truly,
RoBERT PERRINE.
Williams, Arizona.
(Signed. )
Forest
California.
The picturesque slope of Mount Ta-
malpais, opposite San Francisco, was the
scene, the middle of October, of a forest
fire which destroyed severai suburban vil-
lages near Mill Valley and burned Live
Oak and Redwood forests. The rain
finally extinguished the flames which a
small army of fire fighters had struggled
with ineffectually for several days.
In the Santa Cruz Mountains forest
fires also did much damage, burning over
a country dotted with small fruit farms
and vineyards. The lack of water after
a long dry season prevented successful
resistance to the fires, but in one case
40,000 gallons of newly-made wine were
used as an extinguisher. The wine was
pumped from the vats and then forced
through pipes upon the flames.
Aina ther fire in the thriving, artificially-
planted forest of the late Adolph Sutro
was extinguished by the San Francisco
Fire Department after sixty acres of Euca-
lyptus, Pine and other trees had been dam-
aged.
Pennsylvania.
Destructive forest fires raged on the
Allegheny Mountains, and many thousand
dollars’ worth of timber were reported de-
stroyed.
After two days of hard fighting the fire
warden of Union Township, assisted by a
Fires.
large number of men, succeeded in subdu-
ing the flames on the E. & G. Brooke Iron
Company’s woodland, on Round Hill.
About 500 acres were burned over.
A press report from Altoona says that
during the last week in October ‘* more
actual damage was done in that section
than five figures could represent.” The
loss to owners of standing timber, fences,
bridges, telegraph poles, and barns is esti-
mated at $100,000 in Blair, Cambria,
Clearfield, and Center Counties. In pre-
vious years the woods have been kept
more or less damp by the Fall rains, but
this season the forests are dry as tinder,
after six weeks without rain. The resin-
ous smoke from the fires causes incon-
venience even to the townspeople.
Texas.
Forest fires were reported in Hardin
County, Texas, in the beginning of Octo-
ber, ‘‘not a vestige of grass being left
here, and no rain to amount to anything
since July 2.”
In the same State occurred other exten-
sive fires between Wallisville and Turtle
bayou, with considerable damage. There
is much ‘* Loblolly ’’ Pine in this section.
Advices from Houston tell of daily
damage in the counties of Chambers, Tyler,
Hardin, San Jacinto and Polk, a section
ordinarily a good grazing country, but now
suffering from extreme drought.
bo
Oo"
[e)
West Virginia.
From all along the West Virginia Cen-
tral Railroad come reports of great dam-
age. Many farmers about Bayard, W.
Va., have lost all their hay and corn,
others their barns and crops, having been
ignited by sparks from the surrounding
forest fire. The mountains around Bay-
ard are ablaze, and the town is without
fire protection.
A trainload of water was sent out by a
THE FORESTER.
November,
lumber company, whose log and _ truck
men are fighting the flames.—October 28.
Maryland.
Thousands of men are fighting forest
fires all through the Alleghenies. The
mountains are reported to be one mass of
flame all the way from Oakland to Graf-
ton. Timber in the Flintstone and Town
Creek section is reported burning, and the
loss will be heavy.—October 27.
Forest Protection.
Protecting the Public Domain.
President McKinley, on October 21, is-
sued a proclamation changing and enlarg-
ing the boundaries of, the Prescott Forest
Reserve in the Territory of Arizona. The
reserve, which originally contained 10,240
acres, now embraces about 423,680 acres.
The reserving of this additional area
has been necessitated by the reported
urgent need for withdrawing these for-
ested lands from the operation of the Act
of June 3, 1878, under which they were
being rapidly sanfeaiee to wholesale spolia-
tion in the interest of large mining corpor-
ations operating some distance fierce teaene
The Santa Yfiez Forest Reserve, -in the
State of California, has been created by a
proclamation dated October 2. The total
area is about 145,000 acres.
The region set apart is traversed by
the Santa Ynez mountain range, and lies
north of the private land claims bordering
on the coast and south of the private land
claims bordering on the Pine Mountain
and Zaca Lake Boreee Reserve.
On Congressional Recognition.
William J. Nisbet, of the Indian Forest
Service, one of the greatest authorities in
the world on sylviculture, declares the
United Kingdom could save the $50,000,-
000 now paid annually for foreign timber
by giving proper attention to the reforesta-
tion of absolutely waste lands in Great
Britain and Ireland. ‘‘ Every penny of
that vast sum,” he says, ‘‘could be saved,
besides giving healthy and remunerative
employment to thousands of people.” If
this is possible in Great Britain, how much
greater are the possibilities of practical re-
sultsin this country. Forestry is a subject
which should be no longer slighted by
Congress.— Phila. Item.
se
A Fair Prophecy.
Despite the official reports that the for-
ests of Michigan, Wisconsin’ and Minne-
sota are nearly exhausted, announcement
is made that an army of 35,000 men will
be engaged in cutting down Pine trees in
that region during the coming winter.
It is evident that the call for forest
preservation has been made none too soon.
Unless the Jlumbermen are _— speedily
checked, the water supply of the great
lakes may be endangered. Already navi-
gation is difficult in some of the connect-
ing channels and there is talk of building
a oa across the Niagara riv er at Battale
to raise the levels.
When the forests have been laid waste
there will be loud lamentations in the lake
towns, though now they view the situation
with apparent compl
DA) Fess.
ee
An Important Decision.
A matter of very great interest to
citizens generally has been decided by
the Illinois Supreme Court, which has
> gly 5 > he ee
nn re
1899. AMERICAN
ruled that the shade trees in the street in
front of a man’s property belong to him,
and cannot be cut down or mutilated with-
out his consent.
The suit was one in which a property
owner sued a telephone company for cut-
ting off the limbs of his trees in order to
make room for its wires. The decision is
prima facie evidence that the value of
FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 261
“=
trees is becoming more generally recog-
nized everywhere and augurs well foe
greater public interest in forestry itself.
There can be no doubt that were the gen-
eral public more fully aware of the
principles of forestry, there would be
manifested a very pronounced sentiment
for the protection of trees, both in the
cities and forests.
In the Woods of Minnesota.
Trip of a German Forest Expert Over the Site of the Proposed National
Park. Some Considerations Indicating Large Profits to
the State from Small Expenditure.
BY THE FORESTER OF THE VANDERBILT FOREST, BILTMORE, N. C.
The map tells us that Leech Lake’s
shoreline extends over 574 miles. The
state of Minnesota, measured from north
to south, is only 384 miles long. Imagine!
If the shoreline, with all its bays and
beaches and spurs and tongues, was
- stretched lengthways through Minnesota it
would reach way down into Iowa! But
shorelines do not belong to the chapter of
economics.
Safely landed, with the help of an In-
dian pilot, we enter the woods. As usual,
a belt of low hardwoods, Oaks, Elms,
Maples, Birches and so on, occupies a
narrow strip of land along the water-front.
Nature has selected the fittest. Storms
blowing across the lake with unbroken
force are sure to turn over any Pines that
might boldly show their heads beyond the
level of the hardwood crowns. ‘The long
body of the Pine is a capital lever for the
wind, with the help of which a tree is
easily uprooted. The shallow root system
of the White Pine subjects it badly to the
storm’s deadly attacks.
A look at the big hole caused by the
wind tearing outa bce by its roots allows
us to judge the quality of the soil. It con-
sists of sand, with a slight admixture of
loam, a Soil which abroad, where the
population is dense, is Bousidered good for
farming. No wonder, then, that “the im-
migrant-settler is easily induced to occupy
such and similar ground, offered to him by
Uncle Sam’s kindness free of charge, or
at a low price by speculators who secure
from lumbermen, at a nominal sum, large
tracts, denuded of tree growth.
We see such land advertised in the
papers as ‘*the bonanza of Minnesota,”
‘¢the poor man’s paradise,” ‘* the Cripple
Creek of the farmer.” But woe to the
inexperienced new-comer, trapped by these
eulogies! To bring the ground in tillable
condition is expensive, while the growth
of potatoes, corn or cereals will exhaust
the soil thoroughly in five years.
There is so much good land available
in the United States that it does not pay to
occupy medium land cleared from its cover
of trees, even if it is given to the farmer
free of charge. The federal and state
governments have allowed, in the state of
Minnesota alone, an area of several million
acres to be transformed into an unproduc-
tive waste. The main principle of polit-
ical economy, that the productiveness of
every acre of national soil must be main-
tained or increased, has been overlooked.
If the production of meat and hides pays
best on a given soil, let us use it for cat-
tle pasture. Where field crops are most
remunerative, let us raise them. On land
which is so rocky or so sandy as to bear
262
tree growth only, let us raise trees, and
that kind and size of trees which pay best.
A look at the Pine woods surrounding
us on Leech Lake tells us in a moment
how trees should be raised. At the foot
of their mother-trees we find millions of
small Pine seedlings trailing on the ground.
Where a windfall has removed the parent
trees, the children at once shoot ahead
towards the sky, growing at the rate of
twenty inches per year. Why should we
not imitate the wind, cutting all such old
trees which have reached merchantable
size and allowing their progeny of seed-
lings to fill the gap! This natural system
of working a forest will allow ground fit
only for tree-growth to continue to be pro-
ductive after the virgin timber has been
removed. If Nature herself were not sure
to restore young trees in the place of the
old ones, there would not be any forests
on this globe. Imitating nature’s ways, it
is easy to maintain forests.
Why, now, does the timber owner al-
low the ground to be barren? Why does
he give it up to the state for non-payment
of taxes after cutting the old trees? Does
he not realize that sapling trees thirty years
old are worth twenty-five cents apiece, if
the value of trees 120 years old is $2, fig-
uring at three per cent. compound interest ?
Does he not see that skillful handling of
the ax when removing old trees can result
in 500 saplings per acre, which will grow
up into timber of superior quality stand-
ing close together andclearing one another
from side branches?
The timber owner is well aware of all
these natural facts. But he is aware, too,
of another not natural fact: The absolute
certainty of the second growth to fall
prey to fires before it has time to fortify
itself against conflagration by forming a
heavy layer of fire-proof bark around its
stump. In the case of the flat-rooted
White Pine, even old trees, having their
long roots imbedded in combustile mould,
are badly subject to death from fires. The
owner is undoubtedly wise, when leaving
the land bare and barren.
But is the commonwealth wise in allow-
ing the area of barren land to increase an-
nually, in Minnesota alone, 125,000 acres?
THE FORESTER.
November,
Should it not either employ a staff of guards
to prevent fires on private land after lumber-
ing, or else establish as a national forest
and keep under proper care all such land
as is fit for growing trees, and for nothing
else?
We, the public, ruling and loving this
country, must select through our legisla-
tures that way which is best adapted to our
peculiar economic and legal conditions.
For our legislators, a knowledge of the
facts prevailing in northern Minnesota,
Michigan and Wisconsin is indispensable,
if they want to solve the difficult problem.
Col. John S. Cooper’s excursion, starting
from Chicago on September 28th, affords
a chance to see the actual conditions. The
facts form the argument upon which the
urgently needed change of Governmental
laid policy must be ececk
Two trains, consisting of thirty cars
each, loaded high with 110,000 feet board
measure of pine logs, passed the depot
while the tourists were awaiting their train.
Six freights of that description pass
Walker day by day, each one carrying to
the mills what the last 150 years have pro-
duced on an area of twelve acres. ‘There
is not one, but hundreds of logging camps
in the woods, and we might well be proud
of the achievements of American genius in
forest utilization. We do uvemess ona
larger scale than all Europe taken together.
Minnesota alone produces 1,250,000,000
feet of lumber annually, and it might con-
tinue to do so if 10,000,000 acres of pine
land were treated after conservative prin-
ciples.
A short ride through interesting forests
and swamps takes us over to Cass Lake.
The white man has not had a chance yet
to ruin the beauty of the Chippewa re-
serve. Instigated by the dead-and-down
timber act, he has tried, of course, to put
his hand on its chief value, the timber.
As there was not enough dead-and-down
timber to make logging remunerative, he
has worked hard with kerosene and fire-
brand to accelerate the death rate of trees.
Charred Pine trees on hundreds of acres
bear witness to the deed.
There cannot be any doubt that on good
land the farmer’s plow must follow the
1899.
lumberman’s ax. On medium and poor
land, however, the tree must be followed
by the tree, lest the national soil be al-
lowed to lie unproductive. We hear a
great deal of talk relative to reclaiming
barren soil for production by means of ir-
rigation. Why does no one lift his voice
with a view of preventing productive lands
from being changed into a barren waste?
Reforestation of absolutely denuded
tracts is difficult and expensive. France
and Switzerland are spending millions of
francs annually to restore the forest on
tracts wherefrom reckless use removed it
decades ago. We learn abroad how to do
this.and that. There are a few things
which we should learn not to do. Forest
destruction is one of them.
Forests and swamps are nature’s storage
basins. If we destroy them agriculture
and commerce must suffer. Suppose the
advantage annually derived from the mere
existence of forests, owing to their influ-
ence on Water supply, public health, com-
merce and manufacture amounts to a
million dollars. Should we not spend
$200,000 annually for the maintenance of
forests? We maintain an army, a navy,
an administration, a foreign service.
Should we not employ local police, or-
ganized after the army pattern, to guard
the forests on our private, state and federal
land? Germany and France have a forest
service. Why not we?
THE ‘‘ ForEST SOLDIER.”
After some slight training the ‘‘ forest
soldier” might be. employed for laying out
and keeping i in order public roads travers-
ing the forest. The importance of roads
to transport forest produce and for fire-
breaks will make it advisable to put road
matters in charge of the foresters. The
revenue derivable from sale of forest pro-
duce will soon be sufficient to more than
cover all expenses.
The American people have seen their
way clear in many a case. If they only
were aware of the facts they would soon
find a broad highway out of the difficulty.
This is an economic question, and on bet-
ter business men than the American peo-
ple the sun never shown.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
263
The facts are plain enough; millions of
acres in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan
and elsewhere, productive of timber, have
laid idle for years. Private enterprise
cannot transform the waste into produc-
tive land, the transformation not having
proved to be remunerative under the pres-
ent economic conditions. Change the con-
ditions! We not only complain of the
non-production of 150 feet board measure
per acre per annum on the deserted land.
Every 150 feet board measure produced
means employment of common labor in
manufacturing hundreds of commodities
out of wood fiber—furniture, etc. The
labor required to transform 150 feet board
measure into some sort of a manufactured
product averages about $3. If 50,000,-
ooo acres fit for timber growth are lying
idie, $150,000,000 are lost annually to the
American laborer in the near future.
Bewildered at our own conclusions we
stop—just in time—to see at our feet the
foot-prints of deer—long, pointed, a nar-
now bench left between the hoofs, the
hind hoofs slightly impressed in the wet
soil. This is a stag’s calling-card, and
big animal he was. Game is getting
scarce, losing its abode in the vanishing
forests. Large forests cannot and _ shall
not be kept for sport and fun only. But
if sport and fun can be had in addition to
economic use, why not have them? Con-
stant use makes the instrument dull, and
even sharp American wits will require
filing now and then.
The White Pine, being exacting, re-
quires nourishment and help to propagate
its family. Often a generation of Poplars
and Birches must act as nurses for the
much-exacting aristocrats. The old tree,
on the other hand, although it sends its
roots over a space of 600 square feet, em-
bracing rocks and dead stumps with root
fibers, is readily killed by heavy
No wonder, then, that the lumbermen,
instead of leaving this sensitive treasure
in the forest, prefer to transform it into
fire-proof money at the quickest possible
rate.
If you have not seen those giants of the
woods, overtowering their neighbors by
sixty feet, go quickly, before they all dis-
fires.
264
appear. Even if the country adopts a
system of forestry, such giants will not be
produced any more. They are losing
rather than gaining in volume and value.
Now 300 years old, they have not added
more than two per cent. annually to their
volume for the last 150 years. Soon they
will fall and decay. On the dead body,
nature will plant the most beautiful velvet
of tender mosses, decorating the old
giant’s grave. And after a while, amongst’
THE FORESTER.
November,
the mosses a seed will germinate, develop-
ing into a White Pine. The young gen-
eration builds up its new organism on that
made by its ancestors, just as human be-
ings continue business footing on their
fathers’ work.
There is no room in the dictionary for
all our names; all we can secure to last
longer than our life is a good name and
memory, cherished by loving children.
C. ALWIN SCHENCK.
Dispelling an Illusion.
The fear of some citizens of Minnesota
that the creation of a great National Park
and Forest Reservation in that State would
interfere with their material prosperity has
been dispelled in large part by a considera-
tion of the business and population in the
Adirondack Park in New York. In a re-
cent letter in reply to inquiries addressed
to him by: the Chief (Forest) Fire War-
den of Minnesota, Colonel William F. Fox,
Superintendent of State Forests of New
York, says:
GENERAL C. C. ANDREWS,
St: Paul) Minn.
My Dear Sir:—I take pleasure in
acknowledging the receipt of your letter of
the 3d, and would respectfully submit the
following information in reply to your in-
quiries. According to the State Census
of 1892, there was a population of 32,071
within the boundaries of the great forest
of Northern New York, or what is termed
the Adirondack Park. This population
has increased largely since the census was
taken, it having doubled in some localities.
The figures given embrace permanent 'res-
idents only, and do not include the very
large number of hotel people and tourists
who frequent the forests during the Sum-
mer season. There are a/so a great many
sportsmen who go into the woods during
the Spring months to enjoy the fishing,
also the hunters who go there in the Fall
for the deer and partridge shooting.
Of late years the fixed or winter popu-
lation throughout the Adirondacks have
become strong advocates of forest preser-
vation. They admit freely that they can
make more money out of the Summer
people, tourists and sportsmen who fre-
quent the forests than they can obtain from
the lumbermen. There are over 1,000
guides in the Adirondacks. In the An-
nual Report of the Forest Commission for
1893 I published the names and postoffice
addresses of 788 of these guides. When
these men work for the lumbermen they
receive $1.00 per day and board. During
the Spring, Summer and Fall, while em-
ployed as guides, they receive $3.00 per
day with board and other expenses. The
livelihood of these men and provision for
their families depends upon the existence
of the forests.
In further reply to your inquiries I would
say that the population of the Adiron-
dack forest is more largely scattered than
the figures given you would indicate.
There is little tendency to concentrate in
villages. Still, there are several villages
which are entirely dependent upon the
people who come to the woods for pleasure
or health. The village of Saranac Lake
contains about 2,200 people. This place
is built up largely by wealthy persons
who, on account of pulmonary troubles,
are obliged to live in the forests. Lake
Placid, with a population of about 1,500,
is composed almost entirely of hotels and
boarding houses. In the Summer it has
a population of several thousand. These
people do not want any lumbering done
1899.
near them. There is more money for
them in a standing forest than in saw
mills and river driving. They would
rather see the logs standing in the trees
than in piles in the skidways. The vil-
lages of Wells, Indian Lake and Long
Lake have each a population of from 700
to goo people, one-half of whom obtain
their livelihood by work as guides.
In the Catskill forests there are several
beautiful villages, notably Pine Hills,
Tannersville, Palenville, Hunter, Stam-
ford, Margaretville and Fleischmans, with
a population of from 800 to 1,200 each.
These villages are all dependent for their
existence upon the Summer residents, who
throng this region on account of its near-
ness to New York City; but the villagers
are well aware that if the forests which
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 265
>
cover the Catskill Mountains are ever re-
moved or destroyed they will lose the
patronage of the Summer people and their
occupation will be gone. Of the many
thousands who frequent our Adirondack
and Catskill forests each Summer a good
proportion are from outside States. The
large amount of money which these out-
siders leave within the State of New York
will exceed the millions which the State
is paying for the purchase and preserva-
tion of its forests.
Hoping and trusting that the forest
movement in your State will be successful
in every way, I am
Yours with great respect,
WILLIAM F. Fox,
Superintendent State Forests.
A young and prosperous nation is nec-
essarily unthinking, so far as the consider-
ation of posterity is concerned. But with
nations as with individuals, age is inevi-
table, and may we have the good sense to
profit by the experience of some older
countries in a matter of beauty and utility,
an tinicipation of an age that will surely
come. As the years roll on and each suc-
ceeding generation continues to ignore its
duty and to set aside all obligation to re-
_ tain the beautiful in age, our country will
soon be deprived of one of its greatest
glories—its primeval forests. It is nature
and the gods alone who are eternally
young. ‘* For there is hope of a tree if it
_ be cut down, that it will sprout again.”
Nature is kind to her children and in spite
of the many wounds inflicted upon her
_ motherly breast by the greed and thought-
lessness of man, she is ever prompt to heal
the wounds and lend her care to the new
life intrusted to her keeping.
Happily the time has come when the
attention of our people is being called to
this important subject through the efforts
of the American Forestry Association.
To the majority of persons, the word
For the Majesty of the Forest.
forestry suggests a vague idea of planting
trees and beautifying generally, when in
reality this is but a branch of the subject.
‘Forestry is simply the management of
lands grown with forests, and its object is
to derive from such lands the greatest pos-
sible benefit for the owner.”
Forestry does not necessitate the appro-
priation of good agricultural lands; one of
its greatest advantages is that wood and
timber can be profitably grown on soil
that is unfit for farming purposes. Ger-
many discovered this some centuries ago,
and a system of forest schools was estab-
lished which has led to the grand results
seen there to-day. Nor does forestry inter-
fere with the march of civilization, nor the
growth of cities. The Black Forest is an
illustration of this.
The forests of Germany are its crown-
ing beauty as well as the source of health,
wealth, and national independence. And
perhaps there is not a nation in the world
that has paid more attention to the study
and application of the beautiful in forestry
and arboriculture than Japan. The Japa-
nese make the most of every inch of
ground, and take care to plant Firs and
266
Cypresses in barren soils that are fit for
nothing else. For ornament and _ shade,
however, the roads are lined on both sides
with superb Pine trees, which give great
beauty to the country and make travelling
in warm weather a pleasure. And we,
too, are lying the foundation for a like
record in the years to come.
The United States has recently set apart
46,000,000 acres of mountain lands as a
forest reserve, and has appointed a suffi-
cient force to insure their administration
and protection from fire. It is an inter-
esting fact, that for the first time in the
history of our country, the President in
his last annual message, devoted space to
the subject of forestry.
We have much to look forward to from
the increasing interest manifested in our
National and State Parks, and in the con-
scientious efforts of the officers of the As-
sociation to enforce the laws in punish-
ment of wilful destruction and for the still
THE FORESTER.
November,
more disastrous results arising from care-
lessness in starting forest and prairie fires.
The fire wardens in our State have done
much to stop this evil, and the report for
1898 shows, of the total number of fires,
78 per cent. controlled or extinguished by
fire wardens.
The States of New York and Pennsyl-
vania have made more progress in a busi-
ness-like treatment of forestry than any
others in the Union. Pennsylvania sets
the valuable example of being willing to
sink large amounts of money without hope
of return, simply because she appreciates
the immense indirect advantage to be de-
rived from a proper care of her forests.
And let us hope that the people of Minne-
sota may be equally far-seeing, and may
not withhold their hearty co6peration and
substantial aid in furthering the work so
well begun.
REBECCA B. FLANDRAU.
In the Courant, St. Paul.
The Forests of the Nation.
The annual report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office of the Depart-
ment of the Interior, which will shortly be issued, contains the following recommen-
dations referring especially to forestry :
The changing and enlarging of the limits of the Mount Ranier National Park, State
of Washington, on the lines advised by Bailey Willis, of the United States Geological
Survey, in his article, prepared especially for THe Forersrer, and published in the
May issue of this year.
The extension of the Yellowstone National Park.
The appropriation of three hundred thousand dollars for the expenses of the forest
service in connection with the creation and administration of forest reservations.
The enactment of a law that shall empower forest officers, special agents, and other
officers having authority in relation to the protection of public lands and the timber
thereon, to make arrests, without process in hand, for the violation of the laws or rules
and regulations relating to the forest reserves or other forest lands of the United States.
The authority to rent or lease lands within forest reservations for any purposes not
incompatible with the purposes for which such reservations are created.
Legislative provision for the entry of lands within forest reservations which are
found to be more valuable for the coal therein than for forest uses.
Protecting the Government in the exchange of lands within forest reservations for
those without, by legislative provision that the natural state of the tract relinquished
shall not have been changed except to such an extent as may have been necessary in
clearing the land for actual cultivation.
Recommendation in matter of perfected claims to lands in forest reserves (Act June
4, 1897), where ownership is established and land is reconveyed to the United States.
1899.
DHE FORESTER.
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Devoted to Arboriculture and Forestry, the
Care and Use of Forests and Forest
Trees, and Related Subjects.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE FORESTER is the Official Organ of
The American Forestry Association,
Hon. JAMES WILSON, Sec’y of Agriculture,
President.
THE OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS
No. 107 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.,
where all communications should be addressed.
The subscription price is One Dollar a year,
and single copies are sold at ten cents.
Make all checks, drafts, etc., payable to THE
FORESTER.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCETIENT.
The next issue of THE FORESTER will be the
Christmas number. It is the intention of the
editor to make it noteworthy in a number of
ways. There will be moreof the new features
which have marked the recent progress of
the magazine, and which have received the
warm commendation of its readers. Its con-
tents will be even more diversified than usual.
THE FORESTER during the year 1899 has
aimed to commend itself on its own merits to
all who should iook through its pages. If the
editor may judge from letters written by its
Teaders, it has improved in quality as well as in
size and appearance, and it is confidently be-
lieved that the Christmas issue will be voted the
best and most attractive number of a good
volume.
But this end has not been reached without in-
creased expenditures of a very considerable sort,
cheerfully authorized in the firm belief that the
improved magazine would be more welcome
than ever to its old friends, through whose help,
linked with the efforts of the management, THE
FORESTER would reach many new subscribers.
And in the consummation of this plan every
friend of forestry can do yeoman’s service.
“
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 267
“‘ Rally ’round the tree’’ is the watch word, a
little energy and personal influence the requis-
ites. Public interest in forestry is everywhere
increasing rapidly, in proportion as its impor-
tance becomes known. To bring the subject
forward, THE FORESTER makes the following
offer: To all who subscribe during the present
month will be sent THE FORESTER up to Jan-
uary I, 1901, with the issues of the last three
months of this year, including the handsome
Christmas number—fifteen months for $1.00.
Attention is also asked to the blank applica-
tion for membership in The American Forestry
Association, to be found on the page facing page
270 of this issue. et each member have this
filled in and returned by a prospective new mem-
ber. All applications come before the commit-
tee on membership for ratification. New mem-
bers whose annual dues are paid during the
current month will be furnished the above men-
tioned copiesof THE FORESTER gratis. Dupli-
cate blanks with-any further information may
be secured by addressing The American Fores-
try Association, Washington, D. C.
There are many evidences of a public awaken-
ing throughout the United States to the realiza-
tion that the perpetuation of forests is a matter
directly affecting the welfare of state and nation.
There can be no denying the fact that the at-
tention of thoughtful people has been much
aroused lately to the importance of the sub-
eC
The prospect of a great National Park in
northern Minnesota has stimulated other parts
of the country to action. In a letter to THE
FORESTER, a member of the American Forestry
Association says of this movement :
‘Western North Carolina, it seems to us here,
is par excellence the place for a National Park,
Thousands upon thousands of acres of virgin
forest, at an altitude ranging from 2,000 to 6,c00
feet, are now inviting such a beneficent move-
ment. Apart from the Vanderbilt forest of
nearly 100,000 acres, the woodman’s ax is fast
getting in its work in this most beautiful moun-
tain section of America, and a few years from
now the opportunity of establishing a National
Park here may be lost. Senator J. D. Pritchard,
a man of ability and influence, is interesting
himself in the project and I bespeak for the en-
terprise your cooperation.”
268
CHIPS AND CLIPS:
Autumn tree-planting gives emphasis to
the growing interest in forestry.
The forests which have wood ‘‘to
burn,” as the colloquial phrase goes, jus-
tify their name at this season of the year
by frequent fires.
One million people are supported by
forestry in Germany and two millions
more by manufactures of which forest
products form the principal material.
The steady advance in prices in the
lumber trade was brought to mind rather
forcibly by a pack of Chicago thieves who
recently stole 60 feet of a picket fence.
A feature of the forests of British Co-
lumbia, especially of the coast, is their
density. As much as 500,000 feet of
lumber has been taken from a single acre.
Cornelius W. Smith, of Syracuse, N.
Y., president of the New York State Fish,
Game and Forest League, died at his
home of heart disease, October 28, aged
54 years.
The municipal authorities of Camden,
N. J., have prohibited the further posting
of handbills and advertisements on trees
in the public streets on account of damage
done to the trees.
A series of tests, to determine the
strength of British Columbia Douglas Fir
produced very satisfactory results regard-
ing the relative value of the various quali-
ties submitted.
Elihu Stewart, Canadian Chief Inspec-
tor of Timber and Forestry, made an
official trip through Manitoba and British
Columbia lately to investigate the condi-
tion of the forests of Western Canada.
The local authorities in Ulster County,
N. Y., are securing options on 9,000 acres
of wild lands for forest reserve purposes,
THE FORESTER:
November,
under a legislative act appropriating $50,-
ooo for purchasing lands in the Catskills.
Pacific Coast lumbermen expect that
Russia, with her trans-Siberian railway,
the development of seaport facilities and |
the establishment of commerce on the
Pacific will prove a valuable customer in |
the near future. ]
Pennsylvania seems to be experiencing |
a considerable awakening to the good |
which Commissioner Rothrock can accom- |
plish if provided with the necessary means. |
But the State Treasury has no funds for
forestry at present.
In Europe there are a number of good
examples of remunerative forestry. The
duchy of Baden derives a net annual rev-
enue of $667,000 from 240,000 acres of
public forest, and the kingdom of Wur-
temburg $1,700,000 from its 418,000 acres
of public forest.
The White Spruce is a very useful tim-
ber, grows in low swampy lands, and does
not occur in large compact bodies, but in-
terspersed among Fir and other trees. It
almost equals the Fir in circumference, but
does not grow to such a height nor is its
stem so clear of branches.
Japan is taking kindly to the principles|
of forestry, the government now making}
provision for perpetuating the forests on a
definite plan. In the main islands the
forest cover has been considerably de-|
nuded, and an imperial edict has decreed
that young trees shall be planted for every,
mature tree cut down.
The city of Santa Barbara, Cal., has
consummated the purchase of 3,500 acres
of mountain lands in the Santa Yfez range,
in accordance with an act of Congress al
lowing an option of $1.25 an acre, for
purposes of water conservation. A tunnel
will be built to Santa Yiez River, a dis+
tance of three and a half miles, to suppl
the water.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
_ ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882. INCORPORATED, JANUARY, 1897.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
e OFFICERS FOR 18g9.
President,
: Hon. JAMES WILSON, Secretary of Agriculture.
4 First Vice President. Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. FERNOW. F. H. NEWELL.
5 Recording Secretary and Treasurer, GEORGE P. WHITTLESEY.
| Directors,
_ JAMES WILSON. CHARLES C. BINNEY. EDWARD A. BOWERS. FREDERICK V. COVILLE.
B. E. FERNOW. HENRY GANNETT. ‘° ARNOLD HAGUE. F. H. NEWELL.
GEORGE W. McCLANAHAN. GIFFORD PINCHOT. GEORGE P. WHITTLESEY.
Vice Presidents.
Str H. G. JoLy DE LOTBINIERE, Pointe Platon’ Wwm. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
Quebec. JOHN GIFFORD, Princeton, N. J.
CHARLES C. GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska. EDWARD F. HoBart, Santa Fe, N. M.
CHARLES Mouwr, Mobile, Ala. WARRON HIGLeEy, New York, N. Y.
D. M. RIORDAN, Flagstaff, Ariz. J. A. HOLMES, Raleigh, N. C.
THOMAS C. MCRAE, Prescott, Ark. W. W. BARRETT, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
ABBOTT KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal. REUBEN H. WARDER, North Bend, Ohio.
E. T. ENSIGN, Colorado Springs, Colo. WILLIAM T. LITTLE, Perry, Okla.
ROBERT BROWN, New Haven, Conn. E. W. HAMMOND, Witmer, Ore.
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del. J. T. RoTHROCK, West Chester, Pa.
A. V. CLUBBS, Pensacola, Fla. H. G. RUSSELL, E. Greenwich, R. I.
R. B. REPPARD, Savannah, Ga. H. A. GREEN, Chester, S. C.
J. M. CoutTeERr, Chicago, Ill. THOMAS T. WRIGHT, Nashville, Tenn.
JAMES Troop, Lafayette, Ind. W. GoopRICH JONES, Temple, Texas.
THOMAS H. MACBRIDE, Iowa City, Iowa. C. A. WHITING, Salt Lake, Utah.
J. S. EMERY, Lawrence, Kans. REDFIELD PROCTOR, Proctor, Vt.
JouHN R. Proctor, Frankfort, Ky. D. O. NouURSE, Blacksburg, Va.
LEWIS JOHNSON, New Orleans, La. _ EDMUND S. MEANY, Seattle, Wash.
JOHN W. GARRETT, Baltimore, Md. A. D. HOPKINS, Morgantown, W. Va.
JouHN E. Hosss, North Berwick, Me. H. C. PuTNAM, Eau Claire, Wis.
J. D. W. FRENCH, Boston, Mass. ELWoOoD MEAD, Cheyenne, Wyo.
W. J. BEAL, Agricultural College, Mich. GEORGE W. MCLANAHAN, Washington, D. C.
Cc. C. ANDREWS, St. Paul, Minn. JOHN CRAIG, Ottawa, Ont.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo. Wo. LITTLE, Montreal, Quebec.
CHARLES E. BESSEY, Lincoln, Neb. Lieut. H. W. FRENCH, Manila, P. I.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP.
; To the Assistant Secretary,
: AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
Washington, D. C.
DEAR Sir: I hereby signify my desire to become a member of the American Forestry Association.
Very truly yours,
: Na VILE wccvcnccccccccocccccscncvcccsccscsscocsececaseneuencucsncnnensnnascnannscanacansnanaacenacencncacaancacesscsacne -
;
| PE OMA GATES See eae Hace nas Ta ease sas Saale yan a aee cna eae ee
[
New York State College of Forestry,
CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, N. Y.,
THE FORES TER. \
Offers a complete four-year course in Forestry leading to the degree of Bachelor in
the Science of Forestry (B.S. F.).
Special students for shorter terms accepted if properly prepared.
Tuition $100 per year. New York State students free.
The Spring terms of the junior and senior years are spent in the Demonstra-
tion Forest in the Adirondacks, devoted to practical work.
Requirements for admission similar to those in other branches of the Univer- |
sity. Send for prospectus.
Instruction in preparatory and collateral branches given by the Faculty of |
the University. ;
For further information address, Director of State College of Forestry, Ithaca,
INGO:
B. E. FERNOW, EEDs
FILIBERT ROTH, Assistant Professor. Director. |
JOHN GIFFORD, D.Oec., Assistant Professor.
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
The object of this Association is to promote:
continent.
2. The advancement of educational, legislative and other measures tending to |
promote this object.
3. The diffusion of knowledge regarding the conservation, management and re-|
newal of forests, the methods of reforestation of waste lands, the proper util-|
ization of forest products, the planting of trees for ornament, and cognate’
subjects of arboriculture. |
Owners of timber and woodlands are particularly invited to join the Association, |
as well as are all persons who are in sympathy with the objects herein set forth. Fill)
in the blank application on the preceding page, and address only
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
WASHINGTON, D. C. |
Kindly mention THE FORESTER in writing.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Hough's “American Woods”’
A PUBLICATION ON THE TREES OF THE UNITED STATES
ILLUSTRATED BY ACTUAL SPECIMENS OF THE WOODS
“A work where plant life does the writing, and which no one can read
without thinking.’’—G. A. PARKER, Esq., Hartford, Conn.
““T know of nothing so well calculated to make young people fall in love
with trees.’”.—E. H. RUSSELL, Principal State Normal School, Worcester,
Mass.
“This is a unique and beautiful publication for which the lovers of
nature owe a great debt to Mr. Hough.’’—Dr. A. E. WINSHIP, Editor of
Journal of Education, Boston, Mass.
“You must be working more in the interest of mankind generally than
for yourself, to furnish so much for so small a compensation.’’—C. H.
Baker, C. E., Seattle, Wash.
“Cannot show my appreciation better than by subscribing for an addi-
tional copy.’’—Professor GEO. L. GOODALE, Harvard College, Cambridge,
Mass.
WOOD SPECIMENS FOR CLASS USE
PREPARATION OF WOODS FOR STEREOPTICON
AND MICROSCOPE
VIEWS OF TYPICAL TREES
‘WOODEN CROSS-SECTION CARDS
for invitations, menus, personal cards, etc. Admirably adapted lo
India-ink work and painting for gift cards, etc.
Send for circulars and enclose ten cents for sample specimens from
**cAmerican Woods””
Address ROMEYN B. HOUGH, Lowvitte, N. Y.
FE. R. MEIBR,
Consulting Forester
Mahwah, N._J.
Kindly mention THE FORESTER in writing.
THE FORESTER.
After looking through this issue, write us,
if you are not already a member of... .
The American Forestry Association
We would like to tell you why you should be.
i N
one
“ee
= ‘
— er = Sea oS SS = SE
——e = SSS
—————— % =
ee
SHE IWAS BLIND.
A blindness comes to me now and then. I have it
now. It is queer—I can see your eyes but not your nose.
I can’t read because some of the letters are blurred; dark
spots cover them; it is very uncomfortable.
I know all about it; it’s DYSPEPSIA. Take one
of these; it will cure you in ten minutes.
What is it ?
A Ripans Tabule.
Ve. case of bad health that R'I'P’A‘N'S will not benefit. They banish pain and prolong life,
One gives relief. Note the word R'I'P’A'N'S on the package and accept no substitute. R*I’-P’A‘N’S,
0 for5 cents or twelve packets for 48 cents, may be had at any drug store. Tn samples and ove thou-
éand testimonials will be mailed to any address for 5 cents, forwarded to the Ripans Chemical Co., No.
10 Spruce St., New York.
— “= ees
Kindly mention THE FORESTER in writing.
| SEGIETANT WILQUN UN FUntat HT,
low. V. DECEMBER, 1899. No. 12.
WY of i
C Q af - oF of I
ot. ul Al ouF ae
CGPYRIGHT, 1808, vAPHE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. om
=a EE e Post ein Washington, D. C., as second class matter, -
| EFFECT OF FORESTRY ~ic--_ THE PRACTICAL IN
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(AN EXAMPLE OF SCIENTIFIC PORESTRY) 235, cucigiyaue orang eesmsed senye .....Frontispiece.
WHAT Forestry MANS TO ‘THE UNITED BTATHS A eee els cen as Pes 2714
By the Secretary of Agriculture. .
HE PRACTICAL IN POREGTRY, 6:5. isl asus dugdoredaraseeee naib clde A hie ee ce aBivis era en nat at 275 a
Blending of Ideas Regarding Lumbering, Forest Conservation and
Reforestation.
From the Lumberman’s Standpoint.
ForESTS FOR THE RICH ONLY..,..........+. OME ee Mer inal Mame ena Eons KSA Mah 316) 278 9
EFFECT OF FORESTS 'ON WATER SUPPLY.,.j.-ccesscrsceneececusbeneseeees Sai cena stant . 299 4
II.—Investigations Regarding Capillary Action and the Effects of
Forest Cover.
CHANGING Mt. Rarntrer’s BOUNDARIES........- AER IRC RN HOG GO RAR Wa ate 282
Official Recommendation of the Commissioner of the General Land
Office.
In THE SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES. D6. ,ivesscdsua te iedonodsteseneede Sa ota ra eee 283am
Establishment of a National Park and Forest Reserve in North Caro-
lina.
INFLUENCE OF Forests UPON STORAGE RESERVOIRS...........cceeeceeeeeees SCREEN 285
Some Conditions Essential to the Maintenance of Streamflow and Water —
Conservation.
For’ AN INTERNATIONAL, CONGRESB i) evr nc banda a Ue uae Cibetdcmains pate wai mete ee uae ue zes
ECONOMIC SLREE (PLANTING (olin Un US RU PSUR RS AGRA i 0 SOO Oe 288
OITORIAL. US Aa AIA RENAE th Ng Ae SET SAHA Asie Sar nce uins ‘.. 200m
American Forestry Association.
Completion of Another Volume.
Enthusiasm for National Parks.
Chips and Clips—News Items. European Forestry.
The Sportsman’s Willow. _ Coming of the Light.
Transplanting Carolina Poplars. Arousing Popular Interest.
A Great Opportunity. An Appreciation of Forestry.
RECENT (PURDICA TIONS io ela ane Uo acu (eC Lee eee EO Es bad lebabeaeeee dace aaa tare
AMERICAN FORES TRY ASSOCIATION.
The Forester —-
FOR-THE YEAR 1900 WILL BE BETTER AND
MORE INTERESTING THAN EVER BEFORE,
Pertinent papers by forest experts, accurate descriptions of the forests
by officials of the U. S. Government, scientific forestry at home and
abroad, questions of lumbering, irrigation, water pany, oes
grazing, and a keen summary of forest news.
Fifteen Months (See page 267) for $1. OO.
FORESTRY SCHOOL,
AT BILTMORE, N. C.
_ For circular and information apply to
C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D.,
Forester to the BILTMORE ESTATE,
New York State College of Forestry,
ZORNELL UNIVERSIT VY, ISAGCA NOY,
- Offers a complete four-year course in Forestry leading to the degree of Bachelor in
» the Science of Forestry (B.S. F.).
Special students for shorter terms accepted if properly prepared.
Tuition $100 per year. New York State students free.
The Spring terms of the junior and senior years are spent in the Demonstra-
tion Forest in the Adirondacks, devoted to practical work.
Requirements for admission similar to those in other branches of the Univer-
sity. Send for prospectus.
Instruction in preparatory and collateral branches given by the Faculty of
the University.
For further information address, Director of State College of Forestry, Ithaca,
mn: YY:
B. E. FERNOW, LL.D.,
FILIBERT ROTH, Assistant Professor, Director.
JOHN GIFFORD, D.Oec., Assistant Professor.
Kindly mention THE FORESTER in writing.
THE FORESTER.
HENRY ROMEIKE,
The First Established and Most Complete
Newspaper Cutting Bureau in the World.
110 FIP TE AVENUE; NEW YORK. |
8
ESTABLISHED LONDON, 1881; NEW YORK, 1884.
BRANCHES: LONDON, PARIS, BERLIN, SYDNEY.
é
THE PRESS,-CUT TING BUREAU
which I established and have carried on since 1881 in Iondon, and 1884 |
in New York, reads, through its hundreds of employes, every news- |
paper and periodical of importance published in the United States, |
Canada and Europe. It is patronized by thousands of subscribers, pro-
fessional or business men, to whom are sent, day by day, newspaper |
clippings, collected from all these thousands of papers, referring either
to them or any given subject.
é
HENRY ROMER:
110 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK. —
Kindly mention THE FORESTER in writing.
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THE FORESTER.
Vor. WV. DECEMBER, 1899. Novae:
What Forestry Means to the United States.
Bb Meth oe ene LARY OF AGRICULTURE.
Among the great questions which bear directly both on the present prosperity of the
United States and upon the future wealth and happiness of its people, forestry occupies
a conspicuous place. To realize how prominent is its part among the problems of our
national life it is only necessary to glance at its relation to the great industries of the
country. Practically all manufactures are tributary, directly or indirectly, to the forest.
The great business of transportation would be wholly impossible without it. A failure
of timber in mining is often as disastrous as the failure of the ore-body itself. Even
Agriculture, without the products of the forest, would be everywhere seriously crippled
and in many parts of the country almost absolutely impossible. In a word, forestry is
interwoven with the whole of our present activity as a nation.
The public mind has not, however, always been awake to the vital connection of for-
estry with our national welfare, nor has it always understood what the term itself de-
notes. Toquote from an article in the last year-book of the Department of Agriculture :
‘The meaning of the word ‘forestry’ changes in the public mind from decade
to decade. ‘The change is due not only to a better understanding of the subjects with
which forestry deals, but also to a radical difference in the way forestry is esteemed.
The progress of the knowledge of any subject is almost always accompanied by a
change in the point of view from which that subject is regarded. Thus, electricity,
from being a matter of purely scientific curiosity, has made its way in public thought
to the position of one of the foremost industrial forces of the time, with the promise of
such future usefulness that whatever relates to it finds a ready hearing. In somewhat
the same way forestry is gradually winning a better standing and a larger place in the
consideration of the people.
‘¢ At first forestry was understood to relate to trees; andit was not until recently that
it began to be seen that it has far less to do with individual trees than with forests. At
that time landscape work and forestry were completely confounded, nor even at this
day is the distinction always clearly made. Street trees were supposed to be the special
province of the forester, and even yet one of the great Eastern cities has a city forester,
whose duties are not concerned with any forest land. This point of view has served a
most useful purpose, it is true, in enlisting the countenance and support of very many
persons whose interest in forest matters, rightly so called, would have been small in-
deed, but it may fairly be questioned whether there has not been a counterbalancing
loss of the good will and consideration of practical lumbermen and owners of forest land.
‘‘ Apart from the zxsthetic point of view just referred to, a serious check to the progress
of forestry, or, as this side of it might well be called, of conservative lumbering, was
272 THE FORESTER. December,
the general praise given to European methods of forest management and the frequent
and strenuous, but utterly impracticable, advice to apply them in the forest of North
America. To very many of the men upon whom the introduction of forestry in the
forest depended and still depends, this was a complete barrier, for it made forestry seem
unworthy of even the most casual consideration. But these were mere temporary ob-
stacles to a true understanding of forestry and marked what may have been inevitable
stages of its progress. Another and a worthier point of view has been that of the
effect of forests upon climate, a subject of which, it must be confessed, we know com-
paratively little. To-day this subject is largely replaced in general discussion by the
effect of forests on water supply, with which we are better acquainted. This, at last,
is one of the real and vital issues with which true forestry is concerned.”
But it is only one of them. The vast material progress which, since 1865, has dis-
tinguished the United States among all the nations of the world, would never have been
achieved without the great resources in timber which we have been able to command.
In spite of the enormous development of the use of metals in this country, our material
civilization is still distinctly founded on the use of wood. If we had not had an abund-
ance of wood from the beginning of our life as a nation until the present day, the
United States would not now be first in the family of nations in wealth and in food-
producing power. Whether or not it is true that republics are ungrateful to their great
men, it certainly is a fact that their citizens are careless of the resources to which their
prosperity is due. That great wealth finally tends to prodigality is an axiom in human
nature, whose illustration can nowhere be found better than in the treatment of the
forest resources of the United States by its citizens. It is not without interest to note
that the first settlers in New England, with the vast stretches of unexplored wilder-
ness before them, and a body of standing timber to draw upon whose amount they
could not even reckon, took immediate steps to prohibit the waste of wood and the
destruction of forests. It was only later, when a knowledge of the vastness of their
timber resources led to recklessness, that the indiscriminate destruction of forests began.
Still later came the second effort toward forest protection, in which we are still engaged.
It has not been wholly due to recklessness or thoughtless haste to be rich that the
destruction of vast areas of forests has occurred in the United States. Economic rea-
sons have had immense influence and one of the chief of these is the question of taxes
on timberland. Referring to the unbearable weight of the taxes too often assessed on
uncut or cut-over timberlands, the article quoted above says with entire justice :
‘* Hundreds of thousands of acres in the white-pine region, notably in Pennsylvania,
and in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, have been cut over, abandoned, sold for
taxes, and finally reduced by fire to a useless wilderness because of the shortsighted
policy of heavy taxation. To lay heavy taxes on timber land is to set a premium on
forest destruction, a premium that is doing more than any other single factor to hinder
the spread of conservative lumbering among the owners of large bodies of timber land.
Not only does this policy lead to the destruction of the forest, but it reduces eventually
the sums raised by taxation. Devastated lands are valueless, and therefore can not be
assessed at anything like their former rates. Then follows a reduction in the sums
raised, and then a higher tax rate for the rest of the real property in the region; and so,
by a roundabout but certain road, the chickens come home to roost, and the men who
invited the destruction of the timber that should have made and kept them prosperous
have to pay some part at least of the penalty of their shortsightedness.
‘* It does not change such facts as these to explain how the heavy taxes happened to
be assessed. It is true that the temptation to tax nonresident owners is very great; that
companies are often made to suffer for their local unpopularity, and that the burden of
building and maintaining roads and bridges and court-houses in sparsely settled coun-
tries bears heavily on their people. But when every allowance has been made, the
fact still remains that heavy taxes are responsible for the barrenness of thousands of
1599. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 273
square miles which should never have ceased to be productive, and which must now
lie fallow for many decades before they can be counted again among the wealth-making
assets of the nation. It is not greatly to the interest of any man to protect such
| wastes, and so fire runs over them year after year, and their possible utility recedes
further and further into the future.”
This instance of the destructive agencies which are constantly reducing the area of
productive forests is but a single example chosen from very many because it is less
widely known. Forest fires, sheep grazing without proper safeguards, and the lack of
a general knowledge as to what is possible in forestry are among the other great influ-
ences at work for harm. It is only of recent years that the conservative forces have
begun to make themselves felt, and even yet they are by no means up to the level of
their task, albeit steadily gaining. The conflict against the forces of forest destruction,
with its enormous attendant evil to the nation, as opposed to conservative forestry, with
the security it brings is worthy of the best interest and effort of every patriotic citizen.
For many years a small body of earnest men has been calling public attention to the
urgent need of action for the preservation of forests in this country, until at last they
have convinced the people at large that something needs to be done. At first there was
a general impulse to ridicule the warnings and appeals of the American Forestry Asso-
ciation, to which in the end nearly all of these men came to belong. There was a rea-
son for this state of affairs, for at first much that was written and said by over-enthus-
iastic friends of forestry was less practical and less directly applicable to the American
forest problem than it should have been. But this tendency gradually disappeared be-
fore a better understanding of the problem by the friends of forestry, and a truer con-
ception of the real purpose of the forest reformers by the lumbermen and the general
public.
At present there is scarcely an intelligent American who is not in accord with the
aims of the American Forestry Association. The time has evidently come when this
Association, strengthened by the approbation of its objects now practically universal
among our people, is about to make its beneficent influence much more widely and
practically effective than ever before. Indeed all the agencies at work for the perpetu-
ation of our forests are taking on new vigor, forest schools are springing up here and
there, young men in numbers are turning their eyes toward forestry as a profession, and
the general desire of the people, expressed through their representatives in Congress, is
giving greater efficiency, year by year, to the work of forest education and right forest
management on the ground. Among the forces on the side of progress the Depart-
ment of Agriculture has long held, and still maintains, an honorable place.
Protection, chiefly against winds, floods, and drought, and the continuous production
of wood, are the prime objects of forestry. To review in detail what forestry means
to the United States would be to discuss the value to the nation of practically all its in-
dustries, for practically all of them use wood, and the comfort and prosperity of practi-
cally all its people, for we all use wood in ways we could very ill afford to spare.
In addition the lumber, tanning, and wood-working industries, with their enormous
annual output, would have to be specially considered. Forestry means the preserva-
tion and perpetuation of all these, just as continued forest destruction means their in-
jury or their complete decay. But my limits will not permit me to dwell upon this
phase of the subject. I pass now to a sphere of forest influence with which, as a
farmer, I have had special opportunity to become acquainted. It may serve as an ex-
ample of how closely forestry may be related to the men of a widely separate calling.
The interest of the farmer in forestry is a vital one, and by no means confined to the
effect of great forest masses on the climate or on the distribution of the rainfall. Such
bodies of forest usually lie apart from the chief farming regions, and their influence,
however great it may be, and however generally it may be acknowledged, is far less
tangible and convincing to the farmer than the things he can see and handle on his own
274 THE FORESTER. December, —
farm. I have no desire to belittle the vast utility of mountain forests, or to slight what —
may fairly be called the appalling need of conservative forest management throughout
all the great forest areas of the country. These are matters of the first importance to
the prosperity and happiness of us all, and it would be difficuit to give them undue
weight in any consideration of the great resources of the United States. In this paper,
howeve er, I must take them for granted and go on to consider briefly what interest the
farmer has in forestry on his own farm.
There being, according to the census of 1890, more than 200,000,000 acres of forest
in farms, it appears at once that this is, in the aggregate, a very great question for the
farmers in wooded regions. As we shall see, it is no less important for the farmer
living where all the trees have been planted by the hand of man.
A farmer who has a woodlot on his farm is interested in it in three ways. If he
lives in a treeless country the protection of his house, his stock, and his growing crops
against freezing and drying winds is of the very first consequence. It may be objected
that this matter of ee inrealen and shelterbelts is outside the domain of forestry, but
the objection is not well taken. Forestry deals with forest trees in their relation to the
material welfare of the human race. Whether the service they yield to man is rendered
in fuel, timber, or protection does not affect the definition. Nor is it material whether
the protection given is against floods, snowslides, blizzards, or drying winds. All these
are within the province of forestry.
The farmer in a treeless region is deeply concerned, with the presence or absence of
windbrakes and shelterbelts on his farm, not only because of the essential necessity of
the protection they afford, but for another and most practical reason as well. It has
been ascertained by the estimates of competent men on the ground that the average
value of a farm, in certain of our treeless States, is actually increased about ten per
cent. by the presence of good plantations.
The farmer, where trees grow unplanted, is likewise concerned in the protection
which his woodlot gives, when he is fortunate enough to have it rightly placed, but his
dependence on shelter is far less than that of the man in the treeless West. . Still it is
often enough to make the difference between comfort and discomfort, or sometimes be-
tween prosperity and want.
In the second place the farmer is interested in forestry as a producer of wood. The
planted grove or windbreak of the prairie farmer not only supplies him with part or all
of his fuel with fence posts, and with wood for other uses about the farm, just as the
woodlot dies more abundantly for the farmer of the wooded regions, but it may con-
tribute, through the sale of any of these items, ready cash to no inconsiderable amount.
On many farms in the East the products of the woodlot, such as ties, posts, and cord-
wood, bring in a very large per cent. of the yearly revenue in money. It is by no
means uncommon for a farmer, to whom his cultivated fields would give but a bare liv-
ing, to be lifted into comparative ease by the produce of his woodlot. For the Eastern
farmer it is always harder to get ready cash than to raise produce for the subsistence of
himself, his family, and his stock, and it is just here that his woodlot, rightly handled,
is often his main reliance. It is hardly too much to say that under intelligent handling
it might always be made so.
In the third place, the farmer is concerned in forestry because he is a purchaser of
timber. The price of his agricultural machinery and of nearly all his tools is affected
by the progressive destruction of our forests. His house and barn, in the vast majority
of cases, are built of purchased timber and roofed with shingles which have cost him
money. His produce goes to market in wooden cars hauled over wooden sleepers. His
cradle and his coffin are of wood. It behooves him, scarcely less than the lumberman,
and far more than many other classes of the community, to see to it that the forests of
our country are not destroyed. To that end the American Forestry Association is an
instrument sharpened and ready for his use. This Association, if I may be allowed a
ae ee
1899. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
275
word about an organization of which I am an officer, and in whose work I am deeply
interested, has for its chief objects to bring about a wise and more conservative treat-
ment of the forest resources of this continent, to diffuse information concerning the con-
servative management and the renewal of forests, and to encourage the intelligent plant-
ing of trees.
Tt i is therefore broad enough in scope rightly to be called American, and
its purposes may be justly said to be patriotic, in the true sense of that strong word.
In addition to the general interest of the farmer in forestry, and even more vital to
his welfare, is the condition of the plantations or the woodlot on his own farm.
For-
estry is a subject not to be mastered in a day, and yet the woodlot and the plantation
should have all the assistance that common sense and training together can give.
Such
assistance the Department of Agriculture offers to the farmer for the asking.
JAMES WILSON.
The Practical in Forestry.
A Paper on the Blending of Ideas regarding Lumbering, Forest Conservation
and Reforestation.
FROM THE LUMBERMAN’S STANDPOINT
There is an ancient platitude which is
often heard, that ‘* There are two sides to
every question, the right and the wrong ;”
but in the question and the study of forestry
there are four, viz: the right, the wrong,
the theoretical and the practical. Per-
chance the four may mingle one into the
other three, or the three into the one, but
it is my intention to expound the practical
factor in the great, important, and far-
reaching study of forestry in the United
States, or, more precisely, on the Pacific
Coast.
In the Oriental countries the picturesque,
artistic style of the garments donned by
the natives impresses the average traveler
as most pleasing to his vision. He wonders
at the grace, the ease of movement, the
subtleness and the many evidently desirable
characteristics of the costumes worn; and
so, departing from the country of his ob-
servations, he is impressed by the ensemble
but overlooks the other aspect of the con-
sideration. Through the vista of his
romantic conceptions he forgets to study
the practical, and deeper evidences which
affect the wearer of those habiliments of
the past. So it is likely to be with the stu-
dent of the theoretical conditions of the
forest movement.
I would not have it understood for a
single moment that I am not heartily in
(Aue of the preservation of our forests and
the conservation of our waters, but the
function of this paper is to dwell on the
practical avenue of the consideration: to
view forest preservation from the stand-
point of the operating lumbermen of the
Pacific Coast and of California in particu-
lar.
Certainly the numbers and the status of
the manufacturers of Redwood lumber de-
serve and demand attention in the formu-
lation of the acts of this Association which
is so nobly championing the cause of forest
preser vation all over the United States. It
is only right; it is only just, for the stric-
tures of a despotism ‘alone would forbid
and repress the arguments, Avo ef con, on
any subject under Cansiierssipn. In truth
it is to assist and further the efforts of all
of us who are so deeply interested in the
forest matters of moment, that I have com-
piled this paper.
I believe it best to throw as much light
as my feeble pen will permit upon the
276
possible obstacles in the path of the future
onward march of progress, leading toward
and to the goal of successful forest meas-
ures, so:that we may be strong enough and
wise enough to avoid the stumbling blocks
and remove the boulders of all opposition.
We shall thus be able to leave for our
posterity a grand inheritance—the sublime
forests which the good Father Protector
has given us in all their primeval grandeur.
Let us all, as many are now doing, labor
to preserve or reproduce, by decades of wise
forest enactments, this generous, this bene-
ficent gift.
We all love to linger, as true worship-
pers of Nature, in the restful calm of the
vast forests, indulging in an almost Druid-
ical reverence of the mighty giants of the
Sequoia groves; listening to the music of
the waving branches which sang their
songs of creation long before the Infant’s
wail, from His cradle in the manger,
heralded the advent of a new faith. We,
everyone of us, delay our hurrying foot-
steps to draw fancy sketches of all of
Nature’s loveliness and drain to the full our
flagon of poetic inspiration, while rejoicing
that the world has been moulded in so
beautiful a conception. But in our peace-
ful wanderings we never encounter the
importunate exactions of the tax collector,
or discover, on a bright and sunny morn-
ing, that our notes have matured at the
bank. We theorize and sup at the board
of fancy; but the lumberman, the owner
of these same preserves, while feeling and
appreciating the natural beauties of his
possessions, has with him the omnipresent
sense of business responsibility. He has
paid with funds and labor, and, to preserve
his integrity and status as a man, must
open some avenue toward the successful
future possession of a new dollar for an
old one.
There may exist a misapprehension that
the lumbermen of the Pacific Coast are
opposed to any efforts being made to pre-
serve the forests, because of a possible
encroachment on their rights as lumber-
men. <A thorough canvass of the larger
mill operatives and holders of extensive
timber lands in California failed to discover
a single individual or company in opposi-
THE FORESTER.
December,
tion to a wise supervision of timber prop-
erties. Butthe character of such methods
of preservation must be wise and prac-
tically planned. Some of the purely theo-
retical may be wise, but the average mill-
owner has had considerable experience with
the holder of theoretical ideas on this sub-
ject and looks with suspicion and disfavor
upon the ‘* unhappy dreamers,” as one of
the prominent lumbermen described the
type.
But let one fact be understood and appre- |
ciated to the greatest extent: the Califor-
nia lumberman recognizes with all of us,
that only with the proper care of the for-
ests of this State and of the Coast, under
a wise preservative policy, conservative,
yet radical, can our water supply of the
future be assured, and the prosperity of
the agricultural classes remain a compara-
tive certainty. He continues in this line
of thought and reasons rightly that, with
the well-being of the latter class, will come
the growth, the advancement and the pros-
perity of the commercial, the mercantile,
the manufacturing and the social divisions
of the commonwealth. Knowing these
truisms and appreciating their great bear-
ing upon the welfare of the Golden State,
the lumber manufacturers and the posses-
sors of the timber lands are heartily in
support of the preservation of our State
and Coast forests.
Now for the direct consideration of the
practical aspect of the present question of
forestry. For the sake of brevity, I will
divide the subject into two sections: First,
the difficulties opposing forest regulations
on this Coast; and secondly, what meas-
ures will meet with the sanction of the
lumber manufacturing interests.
The first difficulty met with is the enor-
mous amount of the standing timber of
to-day in this State, since the lumberman
is prone to think only of the present and
not of the possibly exacting demands of
the future. It has been found, also, that
when the mighty mammoths of the forest
have been felled, there appears and spreads
over the lands so cleared a dense under-
growth of the wild blackberry, with which
is mingled the purple Ceanothus, collo-
quially known as the California lilac.
St Gd eta agape Sree batt ot 2
Se
1899.
This rapidly growing shrub affords, in my
opinion, a far better means of conservation
for the waters than did the members of the
original grove of Sequoias, since in many,
if aa all, of the localities, the thicket is
so dense ‘that it prohibits the passage of
man. This feature has the evident ten-
dency to cause the mill and forest land-
owner to set aside all arguments relative
to the non-conservation of the waters
through the clearing of these forest lands.
But what most heavily impresses the
lumberman is the fact that suitable war-
dens, in their minds, cannot be selected.
Suppose, for example, that a supervisor
should be selected by the Federal or State
governments. Either of these would be
prone to follow their present doctrines of
economy. ‘The warden would not receive
a sufficient salary. He would thus be open
to corruption in nine cases out of ten and
with his fingers closely grasping a gold
piece, he would find the occasion timely
for a visit to a distant locality when an
infraction of the forest laws was in pros-
pect.
This absence of trust in the integrity of
the appointee is to be deplored, but it is
natural on the part of the millman, and
makes the latter view with suspicion all
endeavors to secure possible enactments
for re-forestation and water conservation
and the furtherance of the same through
the acts of wardens. This statement may
seem too sweeping, but this idea is sup-
ported by the remarks of many of the
authorities who know of what they speak,
from years of experience in the manufac-
ture of redwood products. High wages
seem an impossibility: without which
comes the almost certain liability of cor-
ruption of the State and Federal officers.
In the consideration of the idea of
governmental selection of the timber
to be felled there enters the element of
wisdom. This characteristic is an ab-
solute essential. Bohemia has proven the
success of similar schemes of forest super-
vision by the government, but the condi-
tions confronting the warden here in Cali-
fornia are vastly different. Let the timber
of a certain gulch be selected for exploita-
tion. The company constructs a logging
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 277
way, it may be either a skid road or a
railroad, at considerable expense, and, for
remuneration, this company depends upon
the receipt of timber in large enough
quantities and of medium qualities from
the affected district. Here is where the
wisdom on the part of the warden proves
a necessity. Should he subject the timber
to an unwise and too exacting supervision,
the company would necessarily suffer a
heavy loss on their logging-road outlay.
From that occasion the suffering lumber-
man would seize every means in_ his
power to circumvent the functions of the
supervising g government agent. But if the
latter be wise and possessed of a thorough
knowledge of his profession (for it must
De cag pk Sessiene the company is concili-
ated and a good effect accomplished.
Under all other conditions save this single
welcome one, the warden encourages the
furtherance of a vast amount of evil,
rather than of good.
The greatest danger feared by the mill
owner is that governmental action will not
be uniform or accurately adjusted to the
varying conditions of timber localities.
To be successful and of permanent benefit,
the Pine, the Spruce, the Fir and the Red-
wood properties must be superintended
jointly and wisely on a thoroughly un-
biased plan or else the results will be nil.
Relative to the proposal of the govern-
mental purchase of cut-over ence the
same does not meet with approval of the
Redwood lumbermen. In the Pacific
Northwest the conditions may be more
favorable, since the mills are owned by in-
dividuals who purchase the logs from
others. But the Redwood manufacturers
own their own lands and accomplish their
individual logging for their own plants.
These companies will not dispose of their
cut-over lands since, in the majority of
cases, their logging opet rations extend back
from adjacent rivers tributary to the ocean
and the right of way over these lands de-
termines the increments of expense and
time. Again, should the companies dis-
pose of their lands near these rivers, the
occupation of such would be dangerous to
the purchasers because of the frequency of
log-jams and the subsequent flooding of
248 THE FORESTER.
the adjacent properties with a possible,
yes, probable, accompaniment of heavy
loss of life. In many instances, companies
have refused a fair price for their cut-over
lands to avoid legal complications over this
latter feature, and the inconveniences of the
loss of the right-of-way for logging opera-
tions.
These are in part the fundamental objec-
tions on the part of the mill operators.
Now for the measures which would receive
the support of the lumbermen.
The primal essential in the minds of all
is the absolute need of a thorough system
of forest education which will simultane-
ously embody the essentials of the theo-
retical and the practical. This would in-
sure a capable foundation for the general
and specific labors of forest culture and
preservation.
Secondly.—Under the supervision of
either the State or the Federal govern-
ments, should they assume the direction of
forest movements, a sufficient salary must
emphatically accompany the position of
forester. This wise feature would nullify
all attempts at warden corruption by the
efforts of the interested lumberman.
Third.—The political element in the
selection of forest supervisors must, first,
last, and for all time, be eliminated, anda
thorough civil service procedure be inaug-
urated in the selection of these officials.
The technical qualifications, allied with
the practical, should be the basis of ap-
pointment, and not because the warden is
a close business associate of the head of
the government, either State or Federal.
Fourth.—TVhe enactments designed to
insure wise forestry supervision must be
equal and equitable for the various timber
species since the warring Redwood and
Pine interests will never suffer any ele-
ment or circumstance to give one iota of
weighty influence to either, to the detri-
ment of the other.
Fifth.—The idea of governmental pur-
chase of cut-over forest lands may just as
well be relegated to the rear of forest pos-
sibilities on account of the evident oppo-
sition of the lumbermen. Perhaps some
few companies in isolated cases might
favorably entertain the contemplated pur-
December,
chase, but the important majority would
not.
In the furtherance of these ideas the
lumbermen of California and of the Pacific
Coast will undoubtedly give their individ-
ual and united support. Each and every
one of them is heart and soul with the
movement, provided no foolish, unwise,
ill-advised obstacle is placed in the way of
the successful lumbering operations of
their future. What they most favor, is
the Bohemian policy of gradual re-foresta-
tion, which the authorities of that country
have followed for decades. There every
tree cut into fagots for the warmth of the
poor and lowly is immediately replaced by
small seedlings, transplanted from the
nursery plot elsewhere. In 250 years (the
minimum life allotted to the wonderful
forests of Humboldt County) the lumber-
man feels a goodly account would be
rendered by the saplings planted in this
century.
WaLLace W. EVERETT,
San Francisco, Cal.
—->+
Forests for the Rich Only.
The present agitation for street and
roadside tree planting draws attention to
the appreciation of such plans in England.
A recent traveler there, describing the
road to Warwick, says:
‘¢ There are fine trees all along, many
Oaks, some Poplars rising aloft, but es-
pecially tall and stately Elms; these are so
plentiful that there is a local name for
them, ‘ Warwickshire weeds.’ Except
in the parks of the rich people, however,
there are no woods, no forests, no ‘ belts’
of ‘timber’; the trees rise out of the
hedgegrows, stand beside the road, and
gather about the houses. Sometimes there
is an avenue of them.”
The statement that there are no forests
except for the rich may be regarded as ‘a
word to the wise” to consider in time the
advisability of national parks for the peo-
ple in America.
The result of the efforts of Minnesota
and North Carolina to secure the establish-
ment of national parks will be watched
with interest throughout the United States.
its =
a ee
1899.
€
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
te
~I
\O
Effect of Forests on Water Supply.
II.—INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING CAPILLARY
ACTION AND THE EFFECT OF FOREST
COVER, AS RELATED TO WATER SUPPLY.
The mechanics of granular soils present
some particularly interesting features. It
can readily be demonstrated that, if the
granules are true spheres and of one
iunform diameter, the voids form one
constant percentage of the total cubical
contents, irrespective of the actual diam-
eter of the spheres, and also that the area
of passages between the spheres bears a
constant ratio to the area of the circum-
scribing cross
diameter.
formity of
section, irrespective of
This is a property of uni-
size. By mixing different
sizes together in such proportions that
each succeeding smaller
size enters the
intersticesof the preceding larger grains of
soil may be made impervious to water,
save by capillary action. This feature of
mixtures will frequently explain the im-
perviousness of stream beds in sandy gravel.
Although the voidsand water passages bear
a constant ratio to the total volumes and
areas with grains of uniform size, the
rate of the passage of water is higher the
larger the grains. With very minute
grains the passages become capillaries en-
tirely and gravitation is overcome.
Capillary action is one of surface ten-
sion. Imagine a membrane enclosing
each grain and stretched thereon. The
tension of this imaginary membrane is
analogous to surface tension. The surface
tension increases with decrease of radius.
The sharper the curvature the greater the
tension. When neighboring interstitial
spaces are filled with water to a greater
or less degree surfaces or films of sharper
or flatter curvature are produced. The
surfaces are not in equilibrium and a
movement from the flat to the sharper
curves takes place, and continues until, by
re-adjustment of the curves, equilibrium is
established.
This is the nature of capillary action;
it takes place in all directions according to
the surrounding conditions. In soils the
conditions are usually such that the action
is upward and opposed to gravity. Evap-
oration at the ground surface depletes the
interstitial spaces, the films around the
grains grow sharper of curvature and a
movement takes place toward them from
the lower interstices refilling the upper.
Forests reduce surface evaporation and re-
tard the capillary depletion of ground
water. In chalk the limit of capillary
action exceeds 16 feet. In sandy soils
one and a half feet has been found to be
an extreme. In very open coarse material
the limit may be but a few inches.
The rate of percolation is affected by
the temperature. The viscosity, or inter-
nal friction, of water increases with de-
crease of temperature. Assuming the
viscosity at 32° Fahrenheit to be 1oo, the
viscosity at 77° is found to be 50; at 86°,
45;,dand. at 112°, 31... The viscosity of
gases, contrary to that of fluids, increases
with increase of temperature and as air is
frequently used in making permeability
tests of soils grave errors are liable to be
introduced, unless these opposite character-
istics are duly accounted for.
Tests at ten German forest stations show
that the general effect of forests is to raise
the soil temperatures during the cold
months and lower them during the warm
months. This has the effect of facilitat-
ing percolation during the rainy periods
and retarding capillary upward action dur-
ing the warm months when little rain
falls. The surface tension of water is
also lowered by increase of temperature,
causing less capillary resistance to gravi-
tation and increasing percolation.
The rate or velocity of percolation is
very variable. It varies with every soil,
from no movement whatever, to over 100
feet per hour. Each soil is more or less a
law unto itself and must be studied by it-
280
self if exact results are sought. There is
one great distinction between water flow-
ing freely in open channels or pipes of
measurable size, and percolating water.
The flow of the former is a function of
the square root of the head, while the flow
of water traversing minute passages varies
directly with the head.
Capacity, as previously stated, is the
quantity of water which can be introduced
into a dry soil. It is usually expressed as
a percentage of the soil volume. The
total quantity that a soil is capable of im-
bibing is termed its maximum capacity.
This quantity is divisible into two parts:
the one removable by drainage, the other
by evaporation. This latter part is again
sub-divisible into two parts, one brought
to the surface by capillary action and there
evaporated; the other almost permanently
retained within the soil, requiring for its
removal long continued applications of
heat. This part is termed hygroscopic
moisture.
German authorities have determined the
maximum cape of various soils to
range from 46% per cent. for quartz sand
to 70M per cent. for humus, and_ the
minimum capacity or water remaining
after gravitation to range from 17 per
cent. to 49 per cent. Of the minimum
capacity the portion retained as hygro-
scopic moisture has been determined by
Longbridge, of the California Experiment
Station, to range from less than 1 per cent.
for sand to 14% per cent. for clays, these
percentages being referred to maximum
capacity. The wide range in the figures
serves to illustrate the necessity of experi-
menting directly with any soil under con-
sideration if exact data are required.
Of the different capacities the hydraulic
engineer is more particularly concerned in
that which relates to the quantity that may
be drained out; on the other hand, the ar-
boriculturist is much interested in the
amount of capillary water from which
plant life largely draws its supply. An
authority on effects of forest cover (Dr.
as, Ebermay er), found that, except for the
top layers, unshaded soil had more
capacity than shaded soil. Taken as a
whole, however, for a depth of 32 inches
THE FORESTER.
December,
he fqund the soil under young Spruce
trees to have 2 per cent. and under old
Spruce trees 74% percent. greater capacity
than naked soil. These are very instruc-
tive figures.
THe ‘* Forest Fioor.”
It is manifest that the character of the
forest floor, 7. ¢., the litter covenme, the
ground, must have a marked effect upon
the absorption of water. Wollny found
as a result of his experiments that under a
grass cover there was 50 per cent. less
percolation than in naked soil. He found
a litter of Oak leaves to pass 42 to 74 per
cent. of the rainfall, Spruce litter 46 to
78 per cent., Pine ‘needles 52° to: 69 sper
cent., Moss 39 to 53 per cent. The vari-
ations are due to varying thickness of
cover. The shallower the cover the less
the soil imbibed, for the obvious reason
that the water was presented to it too
quickly. Again, considering the Rotham-
sted tests, which gave the percolation of
bare soil at from 45 to 47% per cent. of
the rainfall, it will be seen that ordinary
forest litter will pass more rainfall than
the earth. ordinarily imbibes. | Conse-
quently the cover will remain in a state
of saturation for a greater or less period
of time during which it will protect the
ground from evaporation. A soil cover-
ing of humus, however, would allow little
water to pass to the soil beneath. It
would be beneficial in lessening the force
of storm water, but otherwise would work
a loss to ground storage. Ebermayer says
that besides clay it is especially humus
which imbibes almost all precipitation and
gives up little water to the ground below ;
and he adds that if the earth were covered
by a humus soil of one meter in depth,
subterranean drainage would be so slight
that springs would be scanty and continu-
ously flowing springs absent.
The forest floor is a most important
factor in retarding storm-water and pro-
tecting the earth from erosion. This is
particularly true on steep mountain slopes.
The destruction of forest litter by fire,
sheep, or deforestation is little short of a
national calamity. Each rain washes
away tons upon tons of loam, sand and
1899.
rocks to cover up the lower lands—a
double disaster. The fertile soil of. the
higher lands is destroyed, the fertile soil
of the lower lands is buried under a waste
of débris.
There is one other subject to consider—
evaporation. Under this head will be in-
cluded transpiration from foliage. Tem-
perature and wind are the chief controlling
elements in evaporation. Woods lower
temperature and reduce the velocity of
the wind. It is to be expected, therefore,
that evaporation in woods would be much
smaller than in the open. Such is found
to be actually the case. The observations
of sixteen forest stations in Germany show
a marked saving effected by the woods.
Of the rainfall an average of 42 per cent.
was evaporated in the open and 24 per
cent. in the forest—a clear saving of 18
per cent. The evaporation from water
surfaces in woods was found to be about
38 per cent. of that from water surfaces
in the open.
As an offset to the saving in the evap-
oration comes the moisture transpired
through the foliage, and that retained in
the substance of the tree. The transpira-
tion computed by various observers ranges
from an equivalent rainfall of one-quarter
inch per annum for four-year old Firs, up
to 15 inches for cereals and 37 inches for
grasses. Forests of mixed growth trans-
pire about 6% inches. According to ob-
servations at the Austrian stations, decidu-
ous trees transpire during the period of
vegetation 500 to 1,000 pounds of water
per pound of dry leaves, and the conifer-
ous from 75 to 200 pounds. (This sug-
gests the natural selection of conifers for
our own mountain slopes. )
One remark of Hohnel, regarding the
Austrian observations, is very “suggestive.
He says: ‘‘ A plant will transpire in pro-
portion to the amount of water which is
at its disposal.” This remark serves to
illustrate the point that willows and other
water-loving growths along the streams
consume more water than they save. There
is a coincidence between the fall and rise
of the Los Angeles river and the budding
and fall of the willow leaves.
It is estimated that a coniferous forest
best showing, will give
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 281
will transpire 8 per cent. of a total rain-
fall of 20 inches and a Beech forest 48
per cent. The amount of water annuz illy
absorbed into the structure of the trees has
been estimated as ranging from 19 to 25
per cent. of the weight of the wood, and
54 to 65 per cent. of the weight of the
leaves.
The hard wood deciduous trees absorb
38 to 45 per cent., the soft wood 45 to 55
per cent., and the conifers 52 to 65 per
cent. These quantities are equivalent to
about 2 per cent. of the water required for
transpiration and are in addition thereto.
On the basis of these figures a conifer-
ous forest, which of all forest makes the
g, a net increase to
the ground storage ‘of about LO per cent
of the rainfall, to say nothing of its effect
upon incre eased conductivity of the soil and
the storm water held back so that the earth
has better time to drink its fill, in them-
selves important items.
The State of New Jersey has wisely ex-
pended large sums in measuring the flows
of its streams and in ascertaining the phys-
ical elements controlling these we The
Engineer of that Seeen in language free
om hesitancy, says, after long feikers and
study on the subject :
‘¢ We believe it will be helpful to the
cause of forestry in the future if the ef-
fects of forests upon stream-flow are more
carefully and accurately stated. Their ef-
fect in holding and preserving the soil
upon slopes is very well known, and be-
sides this they create a mass of humus and
absorbent matter upon the surface which
has an effect upon stream-flow, and the
general evils resulting from deforestation
are a matter of careful observation and
record, so that too much stress cannot be
laid upon the desirability of preserving a
proper area of forest.
‘¢ The study of the streams shows that
in every case, almost, it is the watershed
on which is the Iz irgest proportion of for-
est which shows the largest flow from
ground-water.” This is particularly per-
tinent to the present discussion.
H. Hawcoop,
Miselintsta Cabra
Los Angeles, Cal.
ty
oa)
Ww
THE FORESTER.
December,
Changing Mt. Rainier's Boundaries.
Official Approval of the Suggestions made by An Authority through
The Forester.
An excerpt from the annual report of
the Commissioner of the General Land
Office, recommending to the Secretary of
the Interior the extension of the Mount
Rainier National Park, will be of especial
interest to readers of THE FORESTER, in
that the recommendations made by Mr.
Bailey Willis, in the leading article of the
May issue of THE Foresre|r are officially
approved by the head of the Government
Forest Reserve service.
In the section of the report devoted to
the care of the National Forest Reserves
under his supervision, the Commissioner
speaks as follows:
‘¢ One of the most important measures
taken during the past year in connection
with forest reservations was the action of
Congress in withdrawing from the Mount
Rainier Forest Reserve a portion of the
region immediately surrounding Mount
Rainier and setting it apart as a national
park.
‘¢ The peculiar features of this region
demand protection of a widely different
and much more stringent nature than that
afforded a forest reservation. The forests
that clothe the slope and foothills of
Mount Rainier require, as great regulators
of floods, to be preserved absolutely un-
touched, while the fact of the presence of
arctic animals in that region calls for ex-
traordinary measures to insure to them
proper protection.
‘¢The importance attaching to effective
measures to preserve these arctic forms of
life was strikingly set forth in the memo-
rial presented to the United States Senate
from committees appointed by several of
the scientific societies of the United States,
which reads on this point as follows:
‘*¢But Mount Tacoma (Mount Rainier)
is single not merely because it is superbly
majestic; it is an arctic island in a tem-
perate zone. Ina bygone age an arctic
climate prevailed over the Northwest and
glaziers covered the Cascade Range.
Arctic animals and arctic plants then lived
throughout the region. As the climate
became milder and glaciers melted, the
creatures of the cold climate were limited
in their geographic range to the districts
of the shrinking glaciers. On the great
peak the glaciers linger still. They give
to it its greatest beauty. They are them-
selves magnificent, and with them survives
a colony of arctic animals and_ plants
which cannot exist in the temperate climate
of the less lofty mountains. These arctic
forms are as effectually isolated as ship-
wrecked sailors on an island in midocean.
There is no refuge for them beyond their
haunts on ice-bound cliffs. But even
there the birds and animals are no longer
safe from the keen sportsman, and the few
survivors must soon be exterminated un-
less protected by the Government in a
national park.’ ”
‘‘ The necessity of having this unique
peak and its environs preserved in a state
of nature has for years attracted much at-
tention, not only inthis country but abroad,
and the matter of setting it apart as a
national park has long been one of inter-
national interest, eminent scientists of
England and Germany being among the
promoters of the move.
‘‘In view of the great importance thus
attaching to the subject, I regret to report
that the area set apart fails to embrace all
of the features of that region which it is
desirable to have included. Certain dis-
tricts have been omitted which belong
more rightly within a national park than
to a forest reserve, and as such should not
be left without the protection of the park.
‘‘Upon this point the views of Mr. Bailey
Willis, of the Geological Survey, are of
especial value. In an article in the May,
1899, issue of THE Forester, compiled
partly from official data, Mr. Willis states
as follows :
1899.
‘¢¢ The boundaries to the park as now
established by law are not well considered
for its future development. They are too
limited. They fail to include districts
whose scenic aspects are essential to the
unity of the park, and whose features
should not be left outside of its protection.
This is most especially true of the western
limit, and is to some extent true of the
northern and southern bounds.’ ”
After quoting further, at considerable
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
283
length, from the article in THE Forester,
concluding with the suggestions offered by
Mr. Willis, the Commissioner sums up the
matter in these very complimentary words:
‘¢ From all the data available upon the
subject, I am of the opinion that I can not
do better than indorse the recommenda-
tion referred to; and I accordingly recom-
mend that the limits of the park as now
established be changed to conform to the
boundaries here suggested.”
In the Southern Alleghenies.
Public Interest in the Establishment of a « National Southern Park and Forest
and Game Preserve in Western North Carolina.”
The Parks and Forestry Committee of
the Asheville Board of Trade has taken
the initiative in calling an interstate meet-
ing at Asheville, November 22, to form an
association and take practical steps for con-
summating the plan for a great forest pre-
serve in the wild mountain regions of that
state. Itis aimed to bring the matter before
Congress with a popular request for a com-
mission to inquire into the feasibility of a
National Southern Park in North Carolina.
A large petition has been signed and the
committee is assured of the aid of the state
representatives and of many influential citi-
zens who have long favored the movement.
Its importance to the South and to the Na-
tion is claimed to be of the first magnitude,
as the committee expects to prove in due
time. The petition is addressed to Con-
gress, and reads:
‘*The undersigned citizens and voters
represent that in the mountain regions of
western North Carolina there are great
tracts of timber lands, blessed with a salu-
brity of climate that renders the country
admirably adapted for health-seekers and
tourists. This region, as yet compara-
tively little known, is threatened with the
denudation of its forests by lumbering and
other enterprises. The exceeding beauty
of the region, with its numerous springs
and waterfalls, is dependent largely on the
protection of its trees. The increased ac-
tivity in the various leather and woodwork-
ing industries has, however, given an im-
petus to the lumbering and tanning trades,
and the destruction of these mountain
forest lands is proceeding to a degree
which makes it but a question of a short
time when the ruin will be completed.
Despoiled of the trees, the land will be
comparatively useless. The resulting dry-
ing up of the springs and water-courses
with attendant destructive floods will mark
the irreparable damage done to this region
unless legislative interference comes to its
aid.
‘© The advantage to the nation at large
in the establishment of a National Park in
these mountains would be incalculable,
from the fact of its readiness of access from
all the large centers of trade, being within
twenty-four hours journey, approximately,
of New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton, Indianapolis, etc. Your petitioners,
undersigned, therefore, urge that measures
be adopted looking to the protection of
the region by the establishment of a Na-
tional Park and Forest Reserve.”
In furtherance of the project, the Park
and Forestry Committee has sent out a
handsome illustrated pamphlet, calling at-
tention to the favorable opportunities now
existing and emphasizing the cansequences
284
of present neglect. The article in ques-
tion says:
‘An authority, Dr. C. A. Schenck,
the eminent forester, in one of his in-
teresting monographs asks, ‘ What is
forestry: 2? and answers that no one seems
to realize the scope and meaning of the
term. Present conditions in the commer-
cial and industrial world and in the South-
ern Alleghenies point to the rapid de-
struction of the virgin woods. The stu-
dent of forestry is taught, and experience
has proved the teaching to be true, that
deforested land, patricularly in a moun-
tainous country, is the direct cause of de-
structive floods. The interference and
absorption by the trees distributes and
regulates the rainfall. In the dry season
the trees protect and hold back the evapo-
ration of the innumerable and minute trib-
utaries to the springs, watercourses and
rivers, thus regulating and preserving the
water supply, without which regulation no
region can long remain attractive or
profitable.
‘« By the present system of lumber opera-
tions the virgin forests of the South bid
fair to be soon destroyed. As the authority
on the subject has indicated, if the forests
are lumbered out rapidly as at present and
if the fires are allowed to rage unchecked
as at present, the same condition will
speedily prevail in the South that now
prevails in the lake states. There will
not, it is claimed, be any sudden collapse
of the lumber industry either South or
North when the virgin forests are destroyed
—if we are to permit them to be destroyed.
The forests will be logged over three or
four times; trees that are not worth taking
now will be worth taking a few years
hence, and so on. Gradual slackening of
the industry will take place. It will slowly
step down to the level which it occupies
abroad. The mills will be supplied with
short logs about ten inches through on an
average. Lumber will be much more ex-
pensive as the supply will not equal the
demand.
‘* Such seems the future of the forests
and the lumber industry of the South.
From an innate love of nature and sense
of its beauty, every one regrets the seem-
THE FORESTER.
December,
ingly inevitable doom; the woodman, per-
haps, more than the townsman.
‘« For the commonwealth, forestry as a
permanent business is extremely desirable
for climatic and economic reasons, the
forests acting as a source of national health,
steady water supply, and revenue from
land often not fit for any other production.
The people as a whole are interested in
conservative, jasting forestry. The in-
dividual owning forests is solely interested
in money-making forestry, conservative or
destructive of forests as the case may be.
‘¢Tt would be an impossible task to in-
duce individuals to come to the aid of the
country in regulating the lumbering and
other operations single threaten its owl
being, and hence the project of a Great
Southern National Park in which the for-
ests will be conserved and timber cutting
be regulated on correct and economic prin-
ciples by which means an object lesson
will be given to the country and a strong
argument offered why the forests through-
out the land should be placed under forest
wardens appointed by the State.
‘¢ The establishment of such a Southern
National Park somewhere in the Blue
Ridge or Great Smoky Mountains would
mean the care of the forests and a stimu-
lation of their growth, and regulating the
cutting of the trees at maturity; the
building of good roads through what are
now inaccessible woods and mountain
heights; the building of inns and _ hotels
at convenient points, inducing a vastly in-
creased travel from the North and South
on the part of tourists and others; the
more or less permanent residence of
wealthy citizens who would be disposed to
build homes in various localities in this
region as they are already doing to some
extent; the perpetuation of the beauty
and healthfulness of the region and its
elaboration in the way of making its most
beautiful localities more accessible to the
great mass of the people.
‘¢Tt must not be supposed that lumber-
ing or bark gathering would be materially
interfered with. The Park project, if suc-
cessful, would seek to conserve these in-
dustries. Under the present system they
bid fair to hasten their own undoing by
a ee oe
1899.
the destructive and wasteful methods now
in vogue. When all lumbering and bark
gathering operations are under scientific
control these businesses may be confident
of a steady and regular supply of timber
and bark. The individual will not be in-
terfered with in his private rights. he
lands suitable for the Park will be pur-
chased at a valuation and the owners will
receive in a lump sum more than they
could hope to secure by selling off timber
or bark.
‘¢ Pleasure and health seekers and tour-
ists show a disposition to come in increas-
ing numbers to this section of the South
in the winter time and in the summer visit-
ors from the South come to the mountains
year after year, building homes and enter-
ing into the progress of the various com-
munities.
“
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 285
‘¢ The attraction to these people is the
healthful climate and the beauty of the
region, and to this healthfulness and
beauty the woods and forests are the
prime contributors. With the destruction
of the forests and the attendant evil effects
upon the region, what has it to offer to at-
tract visitors and others? In addition it
must be remembered that the South has
no park conducted on the same principles
and aims as those in the North.
‘¢The central character of the region
gives the project of a Southern National
Park attractiveness not only to the people
of the South, but to the entire nation.
Being within twenty-four hours from
New York and the same length of time
from the Gulf States the park would be a
benefit to the greatest number of citizens
of the United States.”
The Influence of Forests Upon Storage Reservoirs.
Some Conditions Essential to the Maintenance of Streamflow and Water
Conservation.
In an arid region, where irrigation is a
necessity, and where the streams are inter-
mittent in their flow, ranging in discharge
from violent floods to trickling rivulets,
storage reservoirs are essential for any con-
siderable extension of the irrigated area.
Sites for reservoirs of large capacity are
very scarce, where all conditions are right
for the construction of safe dams, for
the certain filling of the reservoirs, and
for the convenient distribution of the
water to lands suitable for its use. The
scarcity of such sites renders it all the
more essential that those which exist
should be guarded from all influence tend-
ing to the destruction of their usefulness.
The mountain slopes of Southern Cali-
fornia are more than ordinarily precipi-
tous, and the denudation of these steep
slopes of their forest growth by destruc-
tive fires, or by equally destructive bands
of sheep, tends to loosen the surface soil
and render it easily eroded, so that as the
vegetation of the mountains disappears,
the streams become more torrential, and
more heavily laden with débris. All this
gravel, sand and soil is deposited in the
bed of the reservoirs located in their path.
The result is to fill the space which
should be devoted to the storage of water,
thereby lessening its capacity.
The rapidity of this destruction of the
reservoirs will depend somewhat upon
their location; if they are in the moun-
tains and have large watersheds of steep
slopes they will more rapidly fill with
coarse material. If they are nearer the
plains on flatter slopes they will receive
sand rolled along the bottom of the stream
at their upper ends, and fine mud over the
remainder of the area. Under these con-
ditions they will fill less rapidly. The
Sweetwater reservoir, near San Diego, is
a type of the latter class, where conditions
are most favorable. Recent measure-
ments have shown that the deposit in the
286
reservoir during the eleven years of its ex-
istence has been about 5 per cent. of its
total capacity. The filling has been al-
most directly as the depth of the water,
being greatest at the dam, where the fine
mud is 2 to 2% feet deepy and is largely
from the washings of plowed fields.
Were this reservoir higher in the moun-
tains the filling would be coarser and of
greater volume, and if the reservoir were
smaller, it would, of course, fill more
rapidly.
Streams should always run clear, or
nearly so, and their volume should be uni-
form throughout the year. The more
perfectly fae! watersheds are covered with
forest growth, decayed leaves, chapparal,
and hardy grasses, the more nearly will
this ideal condition of run-off be ap-
proached. The soil will be so bound
with a network of roots that the rain and
melted snow will pass off slowly without
washing the surface, and the storage reser-
voirs will receive a minimum of detritus
and a maximum of water.
This ideal condition, when perfectly at-
tained, becomes in fact a substitute in
large measure for storage reservoirs, and
the soil itself of the mountain forests is
converted into a great sponge, which con-
stantly replenishes the springs and streams
and keeps them in more uniform flow.
Under such perfect conditions, reservoirs
would be needed only to store the water
of the rainy season for use in the Summer
months, while the streams themselves
would have higher irrigation duty in the
dry seasons. A general extension of for-
est growth will fare available many small
reservoir sites that are now practically
worthless because of the torrential nature
of the streams, and their exposure to rapid
destruction.
The essential, therefore, for the preser-
vation of storage reservoirs and the general
increase of stream flow is to maintain as
dense a growth of vegetation upon the
mountains as possible, and so patrol the
sources of our streams as to prevent the
spread of forest fires.
It is not well established that forests have
-any special influence in increasing the rain-
fall of a region, although the presumption
THE FORESTER.
December,
is that they have a slight tendency in that
direction. But it is conceded that they
have a very decided influence upon the
temperature and humidity. In southern
California we particularly need all such
influence to counteract the effect of desert
winds upon our orchards, and lessen evap-
oration upon our reservoirs.
The loss by evaporation in reservoirs,
ranging as it does from ten to fifty per cent.
of their capacity annually, according to
their relative depth and surface area ex-
posed, as well as their elevation above
sea level, is one of the most important fac-
tors in estimating the duty of stored water.
No other losses can compare with it, and
anything which will lessen it will extend
their usefulness. A general extension of
the forests of the arid region must have
marked effect in cooling the surrounding
atmosphere, reducing the velocity and tem-
perature of winds, increasing humidity,
and lessening evaporation.
One of the encouraging features of the
situation on the Pacific Slope is the
rapidity with which all forest trees except
the Redwood are being reproduced
wherever they are protected from fires and
from the ravages of sheep. Young Pines,
Firs and Gedars spring up spontaneously
where there is soil and moisture, and grow
with vigor if let alone. This is in marked
contrast to the sand plains of Wisconsin,
Michigan and other more Eastern States,
where the Pine forests once out, seldom
reproduce themselves, but are replaced by
brambles and worthless brush. With
proper care, therefore, the Western forests
can be made a constant source of revenue,
continually replenished.
A popular misconception of the intent
and object of the Government in segregat-
ing forest reserves at the headwaters of
our streams, is that they are to be forever
left in a virgin state, and so lost to public
utility. This opinion is widely held, and
needs to be eradicated, for the reverse is
really true.
The forests are not and should not be
regarded as too immaculate for use. It is
well recognized to be far better and safer
to make them a source of luniber and fire-
wood, utilizing the older trees and encour-
1899.
aging new growth, than to allow them to
go to maturity and decay untouched.
The guardians of the forest preserves
should be required to gather seeds of trees
and plants and sow Phen wherever they
can be induced to grow. They should
keep the young groves properly thinned
out and have authority to sell saw-logs and
firewood wherever the trees can be judi-
ciously spared.
One of the important, though little con-
sidered, uses of the forest to the irrigator
is the conversion of organic vegetable mold
into nitrogenous plant-food. This is going
on through the agency of the ever-present
bacteria which re-convert the organic waste
of the world into innocuous and_ useful
mineral matter. Water filtering through
the soil is constantly bearing these mineral
nitrates into the streams and thence out
upon the lands. Streams from treeless
mountains lack these nitrogenous elements
to a great degree, and the water has less
fertility and is less valuable for irrigation.
The effect of the destruction of forests
in mountainous regions is eloquently de-
scribed by the eminent French _ political
economist, Blanqui, in a memoir read be-
fore the Academy of Moral and Political
science, Of Trance, in 1843. He says,
referring to the Alps of southern France:
‘¢ Signs of unparalleled destruction are
visible in all the mountain zone, and the
solitudes of those districts are assuming
an indescribable character of sterility and
desolation. The gradual destruction of
the woods has, in a thousand localities,
annihilated at once the springs and the
fuel. The abuse of the right of pasturage
and the felling of the woods have stripped
the soil of all its grass and all its trees,
and the scorching sun bakes it to the con-
sistency of porphyry. When moistened
by the rain, as it has neither support nor
cohesion, it rolls down to the valleys,
sometimes in floods resembling black,
yellow, or reddish lava, sometimes in
streams of pebbles, and even huge blocks
of stone, which pour down with, a fright-
ful roar, and in their swift course exit
the most convulsive movements. No
tongue can give an adequate description
of their devastations in one of those sud-
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
287
den floods which resemble in almost none
of their phenomena the action of ordinary
river water. They are now no longer
overflowing brooks, but real seas, tumbling
down in cataracts and rolling before dere
blocks of stone, which are heried forward
by the shock of waves like balls shot out
by the explosion of gunpowder. <A furi-
ous wind precedes the rushing water and
announces its approach. Then comes a
violent eruption, followed by a flow of
muddy waves, and after a few hours all
returns to the dreary silence which at
periods of rest marks these abodes of
desolation.”
After years of agitation and discussion,
the work of restoring the woods, and of
controlling the floods and destructive ero-
sion of the torrents, was undertaken by
the French Government, at enormous
cost, but with gratifying results, wherever
carried out. The improvements consisted :
(1) of the systematic planting of trees,
grass and underbrush near the source of
the streams to prevent the sudden and
rapid collection of large quantities of rain
and melted snow water. (2) The protec-
tion of the shores of the streams from
undermining, and their beds from erosion,
by the erection of small dams of masonry,
loose rock, and brush, to diminish the
grade and decrease the power of the water,
to raise and widen the bed, and retain and
store detritus. Many of these structures
were made of green branches that were
induced to take root and grow. (3) The
terracing of the mountain slopes in a way to
retard the run-off and guide the water into
channels of light grade, where it could be
conducted to the main streams without
washing the soil. Onone small watershed
of less than 1,000 acres the Government
expended $125,000, but the benefits re-
sulting immediately after completion were
estimated at more than double that sum.
The Austrian and Swiss Governments
have done a great deal of this work to re-
store the mountain watersheds to their
original condition before the forests were
destroyed, and great numbers of masonry
dams have been erected to an extreme
height, in one case in the gorge of Ferrina,
Australian Tyrol, of 116 feet. These are
288
built exclusively for retaining débris and
curbing the power of the torrents. The
usual height of such structures, however, is
about 25 feet, and they are placed as near
to each other as the grade of the torrent
necessitates. Their effect is incidentally to
store water, as well as sand and gravel, for
the voids in gravel reservoirs of that kind
retain a considerable volume of water,
which is given off gradually to the stream.
Such work could be done to advantage
on every mountain stream in California,
and I have no doubt that similar works
will ultimately be undertaken in various
parts of the arid West as a necessity, al-
though it will require much agitation and
united public opinion to secure appro-
priations from the general Government
for such construction. ‘The most impor-
tant work in hand is to take measures for
preventing further destruction, and thus
THE FORESTER.
December,
avoid the necessity for extensive correc-
tion of erosion in our mountain slopes and
in our mountain streams. This costs less
than the subsequent correction, and is
more easily accomplished.
When this is well in hand, and when
we have adopted practical measures for
recovering our denuded mountain areas
with plant growth and for protecting the
forests we have left, a persistent effort
should be directed toward the bridling of
our torrents and the conversion of every
mountain canyon into storage reservoirs.
In this way only will our water supply be
sensibly augmented and a large propor-
tion of the wealth of water, annually wast-
ing into the ocean or sinking in the des-
erts be retarded and retained for useful
ends.
JAMEs D. ScHUYLER,
Los Angeles, Cal.
For an International Congress.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson has
addressed to M. Thiebaut, Charge d’Af-
faires of France, French Embassy, the
following note referring to the proposed
international Congress of Forestry at the
Paris Exposition: ‘* Sir:—As president of
the American Forestry Association, I have
the honor to transmit herewith a copy of
resolutions passed at the Columbus meet-
ing of the Association with the request
that you will have the kindness, through
your Government, to transmit them to M.
Meline.”
It is hoped the Commission Interna-
tionale des Congres Agricoles, through its
President, M. Meline, will call such a Con-
gress at Paris during the Exposition.
This action is a part of the movement
begun some time ago, chiefly through the
instrumentality of Baron Herman, of the
German Embassy, to bring about the
compilation of forest statistics of all the
countries in the world, on a uniform basis.
The plan has already been approved also
by the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science and the National
Geographic Society.
Economic Tree Planting.
The effect of the sweeping winds on
the prairies is shown in the picture of the
single row of White Willow pollards,
near Ames, Iowa. These trees have been
permanently bent and their tops flattened
by the prevailing southwestern winds.
The accompanying illustration is repro-
duced by permission from a_ photograph
in the proposed exhibit of the United
States Department of Agriculture at the
Paris Exposition of 1900, showing the re-
lation of Forestry to Agriculture.
1899.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
289
oe td ORES EER.
A MONTHLY
DEVOTED TO ARBORICULTURE AND Forestry, THE CARE
MAGAZINE
AND UsE oF Forests
AND Forest TREES, AND RELATED Supsjkcts.
THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF
The American Forestry Association,
President Hon. JAMES WILSON,
Secretary of Agricullure.
The subscription price of THE FORESTER is One Dollar a year, single copies ten cents.
All checks and drafts should be made payable to THE FoRESTER, and all communications ad-
dressed to the office of publication,
107 Corcoran Building, Washington, D. C.
THE FORESTER is on sale at all news stands in the principal cities. If your newsman does not
have it, he will secure it upon request.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCETDIENT.
The annual meeting of the American Forestry
Association will be held on the second Wednes-
day in December, being the thirteenth day, in
the hall of the Cosmos Club, Washington, D.C.
With the issuance of the present number THK
FORESTER closes the fifth year of its continuous
publication. In its present form, with the
support of a steadily increasing number of
readers, the fact of its survival emphasizes the
energy and enthusiasm of the founder of the
paper, and his belief that the general adoption
of forestry throughout the United States is one
of the greatest safeguards which could be pro-
vided. In this connection it is interesting to re-
call a very unobtrusive comment in Baedecker,
but one which has much food for thought :
“Of all the wooded districts of Germany,
none present as beautiful and varied landscapes
as the Black Forest; the heights are covered
with fragrant Pine forests, while the valleys are
fertile and well cultivated. In this prosperous
district beggars are unknown.”’
The establishment of a ‘‘ National Southern
Park and Forest and Game Preserve ’’ in West-
ern North Carolina is receiving much favorable
comment and support from the citizens of that
and adjoining States. The dissemination of the
JOHN KEIM STAUFFER, Eprror.
a
principles and ideas of forestry has brought
about so much greater interest in the preserva-
tion of the forests that what was but lately the
‘“‘fad”’ of the few, as it was sometimes termed,
has now commanded the attention of the great
body of the people.
Public sentiment has been formed with the
gradual absorption of ideas on the practical
value of forest protection. ‘The people of North
Carolina have come to understand that under
present conditions the mountain and valley
lands of the Southern Alleghenies will soon be
denuded of their forests unless adequate legis-
lation is obtained to regulate the cutting of
timber and to secure protection against forest
fires. ;
The attention of the South has been attracted
to the strong efforts which will be made at the
coming session of Congress for the enactment
of laws to form a great National Park and Tim-
ber Reserve in Minnesota, Michigan is also
seeking State and National legislation to protect
what remains of the once magnificent forests of
that State. Pennsylvania is urging the acquisi-
tion of large tracts of unproductive mountain
land for forest reserves, and New York keeps in
the forefront of the forest movement. In the
closing month of the year there is much cause
for encouragement from the general public
awakening for forestry in the year of grace 1899.
290
THE FORESTER.
December,
CHIPS SAINI CIES:
It is a Bavarian maxim to plant a tree
in every open space.
At the end of a prosperous year, ‘+ Logs
is riz” is still the burden of the lumber-
man’s song.
It is predicted that Gum will soon be as
popular as Cottonwood in all branches of
the package business.
A thousand dollars tariff was collected
on a single cargo of Canadian Pine at
Dunkirk, N. Y., recently.
The Transvaal War has spoiled the
prospects of Pacific Coast exporters who
were building up a considerable trade with
South Africa.
Governor Scofield, of Wisconsin, has
acquired large timber tracts in Idaho, to
which State he will remove at the end of
his official term.
The annual meeting of the Minnesota
State Forestry Association will be held the
first Tuesday in December, being the 5th
prox, in Minneapolis.
A five-foot flood in the Susquehanna at
Williamsport, Pa., has brought down
many stranded logs, much to the lumber-
man’s delight and profit.
A Wisconsin lumber company has
entered into a contract with a Chicago
firm disposing of its entire lumber cut for
1900, approximating fifty million feet.
The Division of Forestry of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture has increased
400 per cent. in the numbers of its work-
ing force, during the past eighteen months.
Eight hundred and four thousand feet
of lumber were turned out by a Min-
neapolis mill, in’a regular run of eleven
hours, beating the best previous record by
82,000 feet.
Apropos of the convening of Congress,
it seems unfortunate that the genius who
counts on utilizing sawdust commercially
cannot join forces with the politicians who
‘saw wood.”
The official report of exports of forest
products from Canada during the past year
shows a falling off of nearly one-sixth, the
total export valuation being placed at
twenty six and a half millions.
The camphor tree (Laurus camphora)
is being planted as a street tree in New
Orleans, La. A tree planted in 1883 in
a four-inch pot is now 35 feet high and 52
inches in circumference at the butt.
Deciduous trees can be moved very
easily at this season of the year. By dig-
ging a trench around the tree now, the
change of location can be made without
trouble at any time during the Winter.
The Manufacturers’ Association of
Brooklyn, N. Y., at its November meeting,
approved the resolutions recently adopted
by the State Commerce Convention on
‘*'The Preservation of Our State Forests.’”
The American record for a single cargo
of lumber exported was broken a short
time ago by the Norwegian steamer
‘¢ Guernsey,” which carried nearly three
and one-half million feet out of Portland,
Oregon.
The increasing use of wood for street
paving purposes in England has attracted
attention to the Jack Pine of Ontario. This
is a heavier, stronger and denser wood
than the Baltic or Norway timber, and its
durability is said to be remarkable.
There is a strong suggestion of an ac-
ceptation of the principles of forestry in
a Minneapolis lumberman’s purchase of
large tracts of California Sugar Pine. It
is said he will hold them for his sons to
develop, when they become of age.
1899.
A plan is under consideration for making
use of water to develop 3,200 horse power
for distribution to mines in the neighbor-
hood of Cripple Creek, Col., the source of
the water supply being Beaver Canyon.
A steel rock dam will be built, having a
storage capacity of 150,000,000 cubic feet.
The kingdom of Saxony, from its 430,-
ooo acres of forest, mostly Spruce and
mostly on poor mountain land, derives an
annual net income of $1,900,000, being
$4.50 per acre. This is being done with-
out exhausting the forests; on the contrary,
they are worth double to-day what they
were forty years ago.
The former method of transporting logs
from the forests in the northern part of
Pennsylvania to the saw- mills in Williams-
port by floating them down the river has
been abandoned by one enterprising firm
there on account of the uncertainty of the
water supply in recent years. Hereafter
the logs will be moved by rail.
In no part of the world are the forests
more appreciated, probably, than in Cen-
tral Africa, in the region inhabited by the
tribe of pigmies discovered by Henry M.
Stanley. These people, none of whom
exceed four feet in height, never leave the
forest under any circumstances. ‘They are
perfectly formed and fairly intelligent, but
are timid and wary of strangers.
In the reconstruction of the Ontario
Cabinet consequent upon the retirement
of Hon. A. S. Hardy, Hon. J. M. Gib-
son, for four years in charge of the Crown
Lands Department, has become Attorney-
General. The new Commissioner of
Crown Lands is Hon. E. J. Davis, lately
Provincial Secretary, who is the head of
one of the leading tanning firms of
Canada.
A practice in vogue in France, Germany,
Belgium and other European countries, is
to plant fruit trees along the public roads.
The local governments plant the trees and
cultivate them as a source of revenue. In
Belgium there are three-quarters of a mil-
AMERICAN FORESTRY
ASSOCIATION. 291
lion roadside fruit trees, which in one year
produced $2,000,000 worth of fruit. The
favorite trees for roadside planting are the
Cherry, Plum, Apple, Chestnut and Wal-
nut.
The Douglas Fir was named after David
Douglas, a oeanict who explored Califor-
nia in the first quarter of this century. It
is distributed over a wide area from the
coast to the summit of the Rocky Moun-
tains. On the coast it attains the greatest
proportions, specimens being sometimes
found rising to a height of 300 feet with a
circumference of 30 to 50 feet at the base.
The ordinary average is, however, about
150 feet clear of limbs, with diameter of
5 or 6 feet at the base. The straight, clear
stem, bare of branches almost to the top,
makes the tree peculiarly valuable from a
lumbering point of view.
A prominent English lumber manufac-
turer, Thomas J. Marone, aftering touring
this country and Canada in quest of sup-
plies, says:
‘¢The people of this country fail to re-
alize what the people of European coun-
tries have known to their sorrow for years
—that the willful destruction of forests
brings want in the end.
‘¢ Reforestization is now being practiced
in all these older countries, but for fifty
years to come Europe will have to look to
America for the greater portion of her
supply of lumber. Will America, with
the destruction I see on every hand, be
able to supply this demand even if we are
willing to pay a good price?”
The far-reaching effects of forest de-
struction become more apparent day by
day, sometimes in ways seldom thought of
by the general public. An instance of
this is the perturbation caused among bee-
keepers by the destruction of the Bass-
wood forest, their anxiety for the future
being shown in the following comment in
an exchange:
‘¢ The problem is indeed a serious one ;
the States of New York, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, that
have produced such large quantities of
basswood honey, will possibly in the fu-
ture have to depend upon clover and other
sources, and instead of ranking among the
leading States for honey they may pos-
sibly in time drop down to second place.
Already supply manufacturers are begin-
ning to consider what material they will
have to use for sections when Basswood is
gone.”
_—_. +
The Sportsman’s Willow.
A gigantic Willow tree, which had
been planted near the River Chelmer at
Boreham, Essex, in England, in 1835,
was cut down some time ago and has been
found to weigh nearly 12 tons. It was
ror feet long, and 534 feet in diameter, a
magnificent piece of willow. It is said
that this one tree contained wood _ suf-
ficient for making more than a thousand
fine cricket bats.
+— +
Transplanting Carolina Poplars,
An attempt will shortly be made to
transplant Carolina Poplars, a species of
Cottonwood, in Pennsylvania. Timber of
this species is said to make excellent wood
pulp, and it is ready for cutting within
fifteen years from the date of planting.
Dr. J. T. Rothrock, Commissioner of
Forestry, determined to make the experi-
ment on a large body of land in Pike
County which recently reverted to the
State.
~—-> -¢
A Great Opportunity.
In connection with the valuable sugges-
tions on the care and commercial culture
of trees from the pen of Mr. Pinchot, it is
pleasant to recall the words of Dr. Hale,
of Boston, at the last annual meeting (the
forty-second) of the first Village Improve-
ment Society in America, the Laurel Hill
Association of Stockbridge, Mass.
The preservation, enlargement and im-
provement of our forest domain was, he
said, ‘‘ the great opportunity and necessity
of our country,” though he prayed that
forestry. might be preserved from ‘+ those
landscape gardeners who know better how
to plant a garden than God in Eden.” Its
THE FORESTER.
December
forests, said Dr. Hale, had made America.
It was sassafras and planks that had paid
the Pilgrims’ debt to their English credi-
tors. It was a New Hampshire staff that
had carried the admiral’s flag into Santiago
Bay. Yet many States derive nothing
from their woodlands, and he wished that
the States might use whatever surplus was
at their disposal in making forests where
now are deserts.
This is a measure that is greatly needed,
or will be by the coming generation. Our
resources are not inexhaustible. Indeed
they are already within measurable dis-
tance of exhaustion. The laws that we
have are inadequate. It may be noted
that Germany, France and Switzerland
are constantly adding to their forest pre-
serves and that they make them the source
of considerable revenue. No man or na-
tion is rich enough to be a spendthrift.
Churchman, New York City.
>
Impressions of European Forestry.
An American tourist, cycling through
Germany, has thus written of the roadside
trees:
‘¢ These trees are either for shade pur-
poses or are fruit trees, carefully tended,
which produce a good revenue for the
maintenance of the road. The Lombardy
Poplar is the most striking of the first class
and perhaps the most common; as these
Poplars are so very slender they are planted
close together and consequently with their
great height furnish a fair shade except
when the sun is directly over the road.
Others of the shade trees are Elm, Linden,
Beech and Horse Chestnut. One can ride
for miles on the sunniest days and be con-
stantly in total or partial shade; and this
feature makes touring in the Summer
months quite pleasant.
‘©The fruit trees, however, presented
even greater features of interest, for they
furnish not only an excellent shade, but
also a fairly regular source of revenue.
They belong to the ‘ Kreis,’ or township,
as we would say, and areas carefully
tended as the trees in the best kept orchard.
One’s first thought on seeing them is—
Will not the fruit be stolen by those going
1899. AMERICAN
along? The loss thus is, however, no
greater than from private orchards along
the roads; and there is, of course, a fine
or imprisonment ready for the trespasser
here, as there is in so many instances in this
land of the ‘ Verboten.’ When the fruit
is well advanced towards ripeness an auc-
tion is held and the different sections of
the roads are knocked down to the highest
bidder. Thus the township receives a defi-
nite amount, and the purchaser sells the
fruit for the highest price he can get.”
*— «+
The Coming of the Light.
It isa healthy sign that more and more
attention is being paid to the question of
forestry by the several State governments.
We have very trequently in the past urged
the vital importance of intelligent forestry,
but, while regretting the absence of any
widespread general interest or action, it
has been fully realized that the best results
to the nation would accrue, not from an
effervescent though enthusiastic move-
ment, but from a slower growth. It is
essential for the best results that the urgent
necessity be a deep-rooted conviction,
which can only be developed as slow
growth. The very fact that forestry is
receiving serious attention after such a
period of laxity may be looked upon as a
healthy clause in the future of our national
forests.
America is undoubtedly in a condition
far ahead of that which confronted the
governments of France, Germany, and
the other European countries at the time
when they turned their attention to the
preservation of their forests; and with
characteristic energy, when the present
gentle awakening becomes a strong and
hearty movement, the forests of America
will be placed on a footing so far above
that of the European forests as to surprise
our own people. And, moreover, America,
in this, as in so many other things, has
the benefit of being able to learn what not
to do from the errors of those countries
which have gone before.
Our foresters will have to deal very
largely with the reclaiming and manage-
ment of the original forest land; it is not
“
FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 208
merely a question of planting timber trees
for profit. No country with a forest area
anything like that of the United States is
so poorly equipped for maintenance, and
though the 30,000 acres of New York
State devoted for the benefit of the entire
nation is but a trifling area in proportion,
still it is a step in the right direction.—
American Gardening.
Sg et
Arousing Popular Interest.
Several papers on forestry will be read
at the Forty-second Annual Meeting of the
Missouri State Horticultural Society, to be
held in the Opera House, Pranceton Mo.,
December 5th, 6th and 7th. Among the
papers will be:
‘¢ Forestry for Missouri, will it Pay?”
by D. C. Burson, Kansas City, Mo.;
‘¢The Care and Management of Street
Trees, by Exot. H.C: Irish, of the Mis-
souri Botanical Garden, and Hermann
Von Schrenk, of the U. S. Department
of Agriculture; ‘‘ Ornamental Trees,” by
H. R. Wayman, of Alvord, Mio: s'il,
our Trees are Short-lived,” by Brot Je Cc
Whitten, of Columbia, Mo.
*—_+
An Appreciation of Forestry.
Ir. Gifford Pinchot, chief forester of
the government, has just issued A Primer
of Forestry, being Bulletin 24, Division of
Forestry, U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture. It is well bound, beautifully and
profusely illustrated, and contains a vast
amount of valuable information for the
public at large and especially for citizens
of Oregon and Washington, where forest
protection is becoming a pertinent ques-
tion, and is receiving attention at the hands
of men densely ignorant of the subject, as
well as a few who are well informed.
The author is probably the ablest forester
on the American continent at the present
time and this book is intended for the
general public, consequently it is written
in a popular manner and is free of scien-
tificterms. Children of the schools should
read it as well as business men, stockmen,
lumbermen, professional men and all others
interested in forests and forest protection.
— Oregon Native Son, Portland, Oregon.
294
‘¢ Nothing of more practical value, in
our opinion, has ever been issued from the
government office than this Primer. The
subject is of vital importance to the ma-
terial welfare of the country, and the in-
THE FORESTER.
December,
formation given in this publication ought
to be in the possession of every American
citizen. It is an excellent and most satis-
factory work.”—Leslte’s Weekly, New
Work:
Recent Publications.
‘The White Pine (Pinus strobus Linnzus)—By M. V. Spalding, Professor of
Botany in the University of Michigan.
(REVISED AND ENLARGED BY B. E. FERNOW, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY F. H. CHIT-
TENDEN AND FILIBERT ROTH.
The present volume represents most careful
investigations covering more than ten years,
the first draft having been prepared as early as
1888, since which time it has undergone careful
revision and received several important addi-
tions. As the title indicates, ‘‘ The White
Pine”’ is not, strictly speaking, the work of any
-one person. Professor Spalding, after the first
writing, made several revisions, but was then
forced from press of other work to abandon the
-completion of the study, which then fell to Dr.
Fernow. Thirty pages out of the eighty-five,
however, are definitely assigned to two of the
contributors, while, in addition, the important
subject of measurements in the field are ac-
credited to Austin Gray and A. K. Mlodziansky,
the latter of whom also gave a portion of the
material bearing upon the ‘‘ rate of growth.”’
The monograph opens with a clear and fairly
full account of the geographical distribution of
Pinus strobus, followed by notes upon the char-
acter of its distribution by regions, with notes
upon the boundaries of its distribution, and con-
clusions regarding its distribution in the virgin
forest. In connection with this topic is a map
showing the original distribution of the species,
and half-tones showing the White Pine in mix-
ture on tracts in New York State. The inter-
esting topic of the history of the White Pine
lumber industry is next taken up for a couple of -
pages, with some figures as to the yield of
lumber from the Lake States from 1873 to 1897,
and other figures. Passing then through the
subject of original stand and present supplies,
the natural history of the tree is reached. This,
including the botanical description and observa-
tions on the morphological and histological
characters, and on seeding, forms a decidedly
valuable section.
As the object of the monograph is to supply.
the information necessary to the right utiliza-
tion of the species, the topics already considered
form properly a mere introduction to the dis-
cussion of the rate of growth and of the con-
ditions of development, or the silvicultural
characters of the White Pine. These latter con-
siderations furnish the data upon which all
BULLETIN NO. 22 OF THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY. )
treatment of the tree as a forest crop will prop-
erly for the chief part depend. The matter of
growth is treated consequently at some length,
and the tables resulting will doubtless serve as
a basis for working plans, when, in any instance,
the special conditions of a specific region have
also been studied and compared with these gen-
eral statements. ‘“Yield,’’ the whole affairin a
word, can then be treated with sufficient thor-
oughness.
This concludes the exposition of the White
Pine under normal conditions, and gives place
to the discussion of ‘‘dangers and diseases.’’
On this subject F. H. Chittenden has con-
tributed a valuable paper on ‘“‘Insect Enemies
of the White Pine.’’ A discussion of the forest
management of the’ tree here and in Germany
follows, the monograph closing with a paper on
the ‘‘ Character and Physical Properties of the
Wood,”’ by Filibert Roth. An appendix con-
tains numerous tables of measurements, and
diagrams of growth.
In the United States, where much of the
highly elaborated financial calculation deemed
so essential in Germany is practically valueless
at present, and is likely always to receive com-
paratively slight stress, it is the thorough
knowledge of the silvicultural characters of any
given species as well as the fact of growth
which must underlie all the earlier stages of
forest management. If this be true, the mono-
graph under discussion deserves high praise.
It adds very materially to our knowledge of the
White Pine as a tree and as a member of a most
important forest crop. It is to be regretted that
this valuable data could not have been collected
and put to use before so much waste had oc-
curred through ignorance. Yet it is not too
late to use it now, and there is every reason to
hope that many owners of pine lands may apply
to the care of a second crop the principles
which were ignored in the harvesting of the
first. The book, besides, will serve as a useful
example for further work along similar lines.
Admirable illustrations and diagrams form an
important element in the work, adding much to
its completeness.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
ORGANIZED APRIL, 1882. INCORPORATED, JANUARY
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
OFFICERS FOR 18q9.
. 1897.
President,
Hon. JAMES WILSON, Secretary of Agriculture.
First Vice President. Corresponding Secretary.
Dr. B. E. FERNOW. F. H. NEWELL.
Recording Secretary and Treasurer, GEORGE P. WHITTLESEY.
Directors.
JAMES WILSON. CHARLES C. BINNEY. EDWARD A. BOWERS. FREDERICK V. COVILLE.
B. KE. FERNOW. HENRY GANNETT. ARNOLD HAGUE. F. H. NEWELL.
GEORGE W. McCLANAHAN. GIFFORD PINCHOT. GEORGE P. WHITTLESEY.
: Vice Presidents.
Sir H. G. JoLY DE LOTBINIERE, Pointe Platon, Wma. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H.
Quebec. JOHN GIFFORD, Princeton, N. J.
CHARLES C. GEORGESON, Sitka, Alaska. EDWARD F. HOBART, Santa Fe, N. M.
CHARLES Monr, Mobile, Ala. WARRON HIGLEY, New York, N. Y.
D. M. RIORDAN, Flagstaff, Ariz. J. A. HOLMES, Raleigh, N. C.
THOMAS C. MCRAE, Prescott, Ark. W. W. BaRRETT, Church’s Ferry, N. D.
ABBOTT KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal. REUBEN H. WARDER, North Bend, Ohio.
E. T. ENsIGN, Colorado Springs, Colo. WILiaAM T. LITTLE, Perry, Okla.
ROBERT BROWN, New Haven, Conn. E. W. HAMMOND, Wimmer, Ore.
Wo. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del. J. T. RoTHROCK, West Chester, Pa.
A. V. CLUBBS, Pensacola, Fla. H. G. RUSSELL, E. Greenwich, R. I.
R. B. REPPARD, Savannah, Ga. H. A. GREEN, Chester, S. C.
J. M. CouLTER, Chicago, I11. THOMAS T. WRIGHT, Nashville, Tenn.
JAMES TrRooP, Lafayette, Ind. W. GoopRICcH JONES, Temple, Texas.
THOMAS H. MACBRIDE, Iowa City, Iowa. C. A. WHITING, Salt Lake, Utah.
J. S. EMERY, Lawrence, Kans. . REDFIELD PROCTOR, Proctor, Vt.
JOHN R. PRocToOR, Frankfort, Ky. D. O. NouRSE, Blacksburg, Va.
LEWIS JOHNSON, New Orleans, La. EDMUND S. MEANY, Seattle, Wash.
JOHN W. GARRETT, Baltimore, Md. A. D. HopKINs, Morgantown, W. Va.
JOHN E. Hopss, North Berwick, Me. H. C. PUTNAM, Eau Claire, Wis.
J. D. W. FRENCH, Boston, Mass. ELWooD MEAD, Cheyenne, Wyo.
W. J. BEAL, Agricultural College, Mich. GEORGE W. McLANAHAN, Washington, D. C.
C. C. ANDREWS, St. Paul, Minn. JOHN CRAIG, Ottawa, Ont.
WILLIAM TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo. Wo. LITTLE, Montreal, Quebec.
CHARLES E. BESSEY, Lincoln, Neb. Lieut. H. W. FRENCH, Manila, P. I.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP.
To the Assistant Secretary,
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION,
Washington, D. C.
DEAR Sir: I hereby signify my desire to become a member of the American Forestry Association
Very truly yours,
IN GI fo ee 5 IRE ES SNE eee
PO, Adaressic..=
THE FORESTER,
The National Geographic Magazine,
A JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY—PHYSICAL, COMMERCIAL, POLITICAL.
Epitor: JOHN HYDE,
Statistician of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
A. W. GREELY, WILLIS L. MOORE,
Chief Signal Officer, U.S. Army. | Chief of the U. S. Weather Bureau.
W J McGEE, H. S. PRITCHETT,
Ethnologist in Charge, Bureau of American Superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geode.te
Ethnology. Survey.
HENRY GANNETT, MARCUS BAKER,
Chief Geographer, U.S. Geological Survey. U.S. Geological Survey.
G. HART MERRIAM, 0. P. AUSTIN,
Chief of the Biological Survey, U. S. Depart- Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, U. S. Treas-
ment of Agriculture. ury Department.
DAVID J. HILL, ELIZA RUHAMAH SCIDMORE,
Assistant Secretary of State. Author of ‘‘Java, the Garden of the East,” etc.
CHARLES H. ALLEN, CARL LOUISE GARRISON,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Principal of Phelps School, Washington, D.C.
ASSISTANT EpIToR: GILBERT H. GROSVENOR, Washington, D. C.
$2.50 a Year, 25 Cents a Copy, Three Months Trial Subscription, 50 Cents.
Requests for Sample Copies should invariably be accompanied by 25 cents.
CORCORAN BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Forestry and Village Improvement.
MVliss Mira Lloyd Dock is prepared to give informal talks on Forestry
and Village Improvement, with or without lantern slides. For subjects,
terms, etc., address : 1427 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, Pa.
the object ot The American Forestry ASSOCiatiOn is to promote:
1. A wiser and more conservative treatment of the forest resources of this
continent.
2. The advancement of educational, legislative and other measures to that end.
3. The diffusion of knowledge regarding the conservation, management and re-
newal of forests, the methods of reforestation of waste lands, the proper util- __
ization of forest products, the planting of trees for ornament, and cognate
subjects of arboriculture.
Owners of timber and woodlands are particularly invited to join the Association,
as are all persons who are in sympathy with the objects herein set forth. Fill in the
blank application on the preceding page, and address only
THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, Washington, D. C.
Kindly mention THE FORESTER in writing.
AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
Hough's “American Woods’’
A PUBLICATION ON THE TREES OF THE UNITED STATES
ILLUSTRATED BY ACTUAL SPECIMENS OF THE WOODS
‘A work where plant life does the writing, and which no one can read
without thinking.’’—G. A. PARKER, Esq., Hartford, Conn.
‘*T know of nothing so well calculated to make young people fall in love
with trees.’’-—E. H. RUSSELL, Principal State Normal School, Worcester,
Mass.
“This is a unique and beautiful publication for which the lovers of
nature owe a great debt to Mr. Hough.’’—Dr. A. E. WINSHIP, Editor of
Journal of Education, Boston, Mass.
““You must be working more in the interest of mankind generally than
for yourself, to furnish so much for so small a compensation.’’—C. H.
BaKer, C. E., Seattle, Wash.
“Cannot show my appreciation better than by subscribing for an addi-
tional copy.’’—Professor GEO. L. GOODALE, Harvard College, Cambridge,
Mass.
WOOD SPECIMENS FOR CLASS USE
PREPARATION OF WOODS FOR STEREOPTICON aga
AND MICROSCOPE
VIEWS OF TYPICAL TREES
WOODEN CROSS-SECTION CARDS
for invitations, menus, personal cards, etc. Admirably adapted to
White Elm
India-ink work and painting for gift cards, etc.
Send for circulars and enclose ten cents for sample specimens from peas ini ean em a)
‘ , +? {. ilver Maple
‘American Woods EE
Address ROMEYN B. HOUGH, Lowvittz, N. Y.
ie ee NII IC,
@Comsulting Forester
iia ahi. IN. J.
Kindly mention THE FORESTER in writing
THE PORESTER:
After looking through this issue, write us,
if you are not already a memberof.. .
The American Forestry Association
We would like to tell you why you should be.
== 4
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spots cover them; it is very uncomfortable.
I know all about it; its DYSPEPSIA. Take one
of these; it will cure you in ten minutes.
What is it ?
A Ripans Tabule.
A ANTED A case of bad health that R'I-P’A‘N’S will not benefit. They banish pain and prolong life.
One gives relief. Note the word R'I-P’A‘N’S on the package and accept no substitute. R°1PA'N'S,
10 for5 cents or twelve packets for 48 cents, may be had at any drug store. Ten samples and one thou-
gand testimonials will be mailed to any address for 5 cents, forwarded to the Ripans Chemical Co., No.
10 Spruce St., New York. ase
Kindly_mention THE ForEsTer in writing.
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