REPORT OF THE FORESTER. 161 



from the Chugach National Forest, Alaska, which embraced lands of 

 low value for any purpose other than mining. 



A very large part of the agricultural lands in the Forests already 

 has been eliminated. The effect appears in the year's record of 

 individual applications for Forest homesteads. During 1915, 4,433 

 applications for Forest homesteads were received in the seven dis- 

 tricts. In 1916 the number was 2,589, a drop of 41 per cent. The 

 number of tracts listed was 1,102. 



FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



The total amount of timber cut from the Forests in 1916 was 

 664,920,000 board feet, as against 669,676,000 board feet in 1915. 

 Continuing unstable conditions in the lumber industry tended to 

 restrain operators for the general market from undertaking further 

 contract obligations far large quantities of timber. In consequence, 

 the volume of timber placed under contract during 1916 was less 

 than in preceding fiscal years. While a much smaller volume of tim- 

 ber was contracted for in large sales, a larger number of medium- 

 sized sales was made. A slight increase in the total number of com- 

 mercial sales indicates the widening field of service for National 

 Forest timber. Ninety-seven per cent of all sales made during the 

 year were under $100 in value, indicating the extent to which the 

 homesteader, rancher, miner, small mill-man, and others in need of 

 a limited quantity of timber draw upon the Forests. In all, 10,840 

 sales were made, of which 4,433 were at cost rates to homestead 

 settlers and farmers entitled to this concession by act of Congress. 

 While the number and total volume of sales at cost during the year 

 was slightly less than in 1915, the actual cut from such sales exceeded 

 that of the previous year. 



Under free-use permits 97,708,000 board feet of timber was cut 

 and without permit about 21,775,000 feet. It is estimated that the 

 free-use privilege was exercised by 42,055 individuals. 



An average price of 82.01 per thousand board feet was received for 

 timber placed under contract in commercial sales during the year, in 

 contrast with that of $2.48 per thousand board feet for 1915. As 

 stated in previous reports, the average price in sales for the year is 

 no indication of the average market value of National Forest timber, 

 but varies according to the location and character of the sales made. 

 The average price for 1915 was raised by large sales of one of the 

 more valuable commercial species in eastern Oregon. 



TtMBER SALES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR. 



The quantity and value of timber sold and timber cut under com- 

 mercial sales is given by States in Table 1. In compiling this table 

 material of all kinds was converted into board feet, log scale. 



