EARLY ARIZONA PROBLEMS 

 Bv Theodork S. Woolsey, Jr. 



The other day I happened upon some correspondence in my personal 

 files with Fred S. Breen, Supervisor of the Coconino Forest, during 

 that interesting period of Forest Service administrative development 

 in 1906 and 190T, when the main problems confronting the executive 

 officer were "personnel" organization, dealing with the public, and the 

 development of policy and procedure. 



In April, 1906, a large sale to a lumber company had been negotiated 

 by "O" and "B" at a price of $2.50 per thousand feet board measure. 

 When the sale began in October, 1905, the contract had not been drawn 

 up and signed. In April, 1906, Mr. Breen wrote : 



'■ . . . The contract came back. ... I do not see anything covering 

 seed trees, though, as near as I can figure out, we might save what we need, 

 though there might be some agreement verbally to the effect that they were 

 to have all 'trees 16 inches and over. ..." 



This is typical of the doubt which often arose in the administration 

 of the first sales on National Forests, regarding the stipulations which 

 governed cutting. All this, of course, is now a thing of the past. 

 Contracts are drawn up and fully explained before cutting begins, and 

 it is rarely, if ever, that misunderstandings arise. 



Further on, Breen wrote: 



"I have written 'P' relative to keeping sheep oflf logged-over sections ; 'D' re. 

 clearing right of way and permission to burn ofif homesteads outside the 2.50-foot 

 right of way clearing." 



Perhaps this is the first reference in Forest Service administration 

 relative to the restriction of sheep grazing during and directly after 

 the logging of timber as well as the clearing of railroad rights of way 

 for fire protection. Evidently April was a wet month in 1906, for 

 Breen concludes : 



XoTK : Permission to publish extracts from his personal letters was obtained 

 from Mr. Breen in December, 191."); he kindly agreed to publication on my 

 representation that his letters contained much of historical interest. In 1906 

 Breen had charge of what is now the Coconino, Tusayan, Sitgreaves, .Apache, 

 and Tonto National Forests. 



13.S 



