REPORT OF THE FORESTER. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Forest Service, 

 Washington, October 1, 1917. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the work 

 in the Forest Service for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1917. 

 Respectfully, 



Albert F. Poiter, 



Acting Forester. 

 Hon. D. F. Houston, 



Secretar^y of Agriculture. 



THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



Again, as in the fiscal year 1916, the receipts from the National 

 Forests touched a new high level. Their total was $3,457,028.41. The 

 increase over the previous year was $633,487.70. 



Practically every form of use of the Forests was greater than ever 

 before, and every revenue-producing activity contributed to the gain 

 except sales of turpentining privileges — a small item, since these 

 sales are made only on the Florida Forest. The chief increases were 

 in timber receipts, which totaled $1,692,520.21, and in grazing re- 

 ceipts, with a total of $1,549,794.76. 



The increase from timber over 1916 was $265,525.71, and from 

 grazing $339,580.17. The former was due to improved market con- 

 ditions Avhich stimulated cutting under old contracts for large sales 

 and also resulted in a greater number of new sales, both large and 

 small. The increase in rcA^nue from grazing came chiefly from the 

 higher schedule of charges introduced in the spring of 1917. It was 

 also partly the result of more intensive utilization of the range. 



The reasons for raising the rates of charge for the grazing privi- 

 lege were set forth in last year's report. An advance was made for 

 the 1917 season of 25 per cent. This did not carry out in full the 

 principle that the charge should represent the actual value of the 

 grazing privilege. In November. 1916, the Secretary of Agriculture 

 proposed a plan for an advance in the fees of 100 per cent, in three 

 annual installments. Opportunity was then given for live-stock in- 

 terests to be heard regarding its fairness. As a result of hearings 

 and conferences, the plan was modified. In view of the possibility 

 that the real value of the grazing on different Forests or in different 

 general localities varies to such a degree that the full increase might 



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