364 



ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



five years have rcnu)vc(l over oO per cent of tlie dead timber from an 

 area ot approximately 350,000 acres. 



The chief ol)stacle to making additional sales has been the refusal 

 of many apjilicants to pay the appraised value of the timber. Other 

 sales have not been consummated because of the unwillingness of 

 purchasers to comply with the requirements imposed by the Service 

 lor the protection and perpetuation of the forest. As indicated 

 above, however, a more lenient policy in these res])ects is considered 

 advisable in view of the duty of the Service to maintain stable values 

 for National Forest timber and to regulate the cuttings so that the 

 objects of the National Forests will be carried out. 



Timber Trespass 



The receipts for the year included $43,236.37, paid in settlement 

 for timber cut in trespass, and S14,371.16 paid in settlement of fire 

 trespass, the greater portion of which was for the destruction of 

 merchantable timber and young forest growth. The receipts from 

 these sources during the year 1910 totaled $35,755.55. 



Free Use. 



The following table summarizes the free-use business of the service 

 during the past year : 



Free use of timber on National Forests, fiscal year 1911. 



The amount of timber cut under free-use permits was 22.8 per cent 

 of the total cut for the year. 



The polic}' pursued with regard to permitting the free use of 

 National Forest timber has followed closely that of the past, this privi- 

 lege being accorded residents in or near the National Forests who need 

 material for personal use, and who can not reasonably be expected to 

 purchase. Special consideration is given to new" settlers and prospec- 

 tors for minerals. Free use is also granted on a liberal scale for 

 cooperative enterprises and public purposes. In granting free-use 

 permits, dead timoer is first disposed of wherever available and suit- 

 able for the needs of the applicant. Approximately three-fourths, or 

 91,956,000 feet b. m., of the material cut under free use during the past 

 vear was dead timber. 



