96 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



be lumbered. The effort to sell this timber did not consist merely 

 in making known the fact that it was for sale and offering it at a 

 low price. Almost before the fires had ceased to smoke preparations 

 had begun for cruising the timber in order that full data might be 

 available for prospective purchasers. By being able to tell interested 

 lumbermen what quantities of timber were obtainable on specific 

 logging units, what development of transportation facilities would 

 be required, and w'hat logging methods could be employed, sales 

 were facilitated. The same method is being extensively practiced 

 for sales of live timber. Reconnoissance parties are put in the field 

 to secure detailed timber estimates and make accurate maps, thus 

 obtaining data valuable both for devising a long-term plan of man- 

 agement and for making immediate sales; intensive reconnoissance 

 studies have now covered nearly 9,000,000 acres, of which nearly 

 4,000,000 acres were covered last year. Less intensive reconnoissance 

 has covered an additional 17,000,000 acres. 



On the basis of the best information in hand, I fix each year a 

 maximum cut to be allowed during the year, usually for each Forest, 

 but sometimes for groups of Forests so situated that from the stand- 

 point of sustained yield they may be treated as a single unit without 

 jeopardizing the future supply of timber for local use. This maxi- 

 mum cut is prescribed in order to prevent overcutting — that is, the 

 removal of more timber than the current production through growth. 

 The maximum cut authorized from all Forests during 1911 was a 

 little less than 3,300,000,000 board feet. All sales are made with 

 primary consideration for developing the productive power of the 

 Forests through utilizing material w^hose removal will either be fol- 

 lowed by the establishment of a new crop or increase the growth 

 of the part of the stand left or both together. Merchantable dead 

 timber and overripe timber, which is declining in quantity and value 

 through decay, are being disposed of wherever a market is open. 

 Under the silvicultural methods which are being applied steady in- 

 crease in the rate of annual growth will be secured for many years. 



Out of a total of 5,G53 separate sales made during the year, 5,144 

 were for less than $100 worth of timber each, 397 for from $100 to 

 $1,000 worth, and only 39 for over $5,000 worth. These figures show 

 the extent to which the National Forests are drawn upon for the 

 supply of small local demands. It is evident, however, that, along 

 with continued use of the Forests for meeting local needs through 

 small sales, a wise public policy demands the making of sales to large 

 purchasers who will operate through a term of years, in Forests too 

 far removed from present markets to permit of utilization in the 

 near future without heavy investments of capital for means of trans- 

 portation to get the timber out. Prior to the year 1911 no contracts 



