204 EEPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



year were occasioned by sparks from locomotives. The value of prop- 

 erty destroyed by the forest fires ^as estimated to be upwards of 

 $25,000,000. The proportion of this loss which was occasioned *by 

 sparks from locomotives is not estimated in the census returns, but the 

 loss thus suffered is too great to be borne without making all reason- 

 able efforts for its prevention or at least its great mitigation. The laws 

 at present existing which have for their professed object the preven- 

 tion of fires occasioned in this way are very inefBcient. There are vari- 

 ous contrivances for the consumption or arrest of locomotive sparks. 

 Some of these are pronounced by railroad oflQcers and engineers to be 

 satisfactory in comidetely attaining their object, while at the same time 

 they can be attached to any engine at comparatively little expense, and 

 in the case of some of them their use is said to be attended with a 

 diminished consumption of fuel for the same service. There would 

 seem to be no sufficient reason, therefore, why all railroad companies 

 should not be required by law to i)rovide their locomotives with efli- 

 cient spark arresters. 



TEMBEE TniEVES OX TUBLIC LANDS. 



Vast quantities of timber continue to be stolen from lands belonging 

 to the United States: and there is reason to believe that persons not 

 destitute of respectability are in collusion with the thieves. Large sec- 

 tions of railroads are now being furnished with ties and bridge-timber, 

 taken, it is said, from the public lands without any warrant of law or 

 right, and without any compensation. This divisioii has been informed of 

 such depredations repeatedly, and has done what it could to stop them 

 by making the facts known to the Commissioner of the Land Office, 

 the only functionary who is authorized to prosecute such offenders. 



MONTANA RESERVATION. 



It is much to be regretted that the bill introduced into the Senate by 

 Mr. Edmunds, for the permanent reservation of a forest tract in ]\Ion- 

 tana, near the headwaters of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers, did not 

 make its passage through the House of Eepresentatives and become a 

 law, thus providing for all time a regulator of those important streams, 

 besides securing other advantages. 



SUSPENSION OP SALE OP TIMBER LANDS. 



In view of the continued destruction of the timber on the Government 

 lands, and the greater importance of preserving for permanent cultiva- 

 tion and use such portions of forests as are adjacent to the head-springs 

 of rivers, or which may be needed for climatic or other reasons con- 

 nected with the general welfare, I repeat my conviction that a wise 

 public policy demands that the further sale of timber lands belonging 

 to the United States ought to be suspended, until a careiul survey shall 

 ascertain what portion of them may be disposed of without injury to 

 the country, and what ought to be held permanently in a forest con- 

 dition. 



ENCOURAGING PROGRESS. 



The review of the year is encouraging. The interest in the subject of 

 forestry has increased throughout the country. The publications of the 

 Department by themselves, and yet more as they have been republished 



