32 THE "blui^^g" axd the "eed rot" of the pine. 



for the purpose of determining about how much dead and dying- tim- 

 ber one could safely count on removing this winter. Estimates were 

 individual, and these estimates "■ agreed fairly well as to the relative 

 amounts of the various grades of timber present. Taking these 

 estimates as a basis, it appears that about half of the timber in this 

 particular region is now dead. This refers to the standing timber, and 

 leaves the fallen timber entirel}" out of consideration. This immense 

 amount of timber is drying out rapidly and forms a tremendous fire 

 danger. Should fire start in these woods, it would sweep the dead as 

 well as the living- trees from the hillsides. The great danger of leaving 

 the trees with the beetles in them, which will be ''sorrel tops" next 

 summer, has been jDointed out by Hopkins. Besides these two dangers, 

 there is still another point worthy of attention, and that is the loss, 

 under present conditions, of the value of this wood. The following 

 considerations are made, keeping in mind both the protection of the 

 living timber against further insect and fire loss and the possible 

 utilization of the vast amount of dead timber. 



POSSIBLE DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD WOOD. 

 IX THE BLACK HILLS. 



Timber from the Black Hills Forest Reserve is now being used by 

 tne mining interests in the Hills, and to a verj^ small extent by the rail- 

 roads on their lines in South Dakota. The mining interests use the 

 wood for mine props, lagging, and fuel. They are absolutely depend- 

 ent on the timber in the Reserve for the lumber necessary for use in 

 mining, for their fuel, and for their water, which is conserved because 

 of the forests on the hillsides. The I'ailroads use the wood for cross- 

 ties on the lines which extend from Lead Cit}' and Deadwood south to 

 the State line. The timber used for mine props, lagging, etc.. by all 

 the mines in the Black Hills is stated to be about 75,000.000 feet at the 

 maximum. The amount of timber used for ties is practicalh' inap- 

 preciable, and at this writing most of the tie cutting has practically 

 stopped. 



It appears from this that the amount of dead timber which could 

 possibly be used in the Black Hills is not more than 75,000,000 feet. 



«The exact estimates were a:^ follow;?: 



The third estimate was made by Dr. Hopkins and the writer. 



