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FOREST PRODUCTS. 



Wood Utilization. 



The field work in the study of dead timber on the forest reserves has been com- 

 pleted for this season, and final reports are now being prepared. The reserves exam- 

 ined were Pecos River, Jemez, Pikes Peak, Holy Cross, Battlement Mesa, Gunnison, 

 San Juan, Medicine Bow, Beaver, and Uinta. 



This study has brought together a great deal of valuable information upon the 

 quantity, condition, accessibility, and usefulness of the sound dead timberfDn these 



Statistics of Forest Products. 



In furtherance of the plan of cooperation between the Bureau of the Census and 

 the Forest Service for the collection of annual statistics of forest products, R. S. Kel- 

 logg has been appointed a Special Agent of the Bureau of the Census. Satisfactory 

 progress is being made in the preparations for collecting the statistics for 1906, and 

 so far the plan of cooperation is proving to be an excellent one. 



Fence Post Treatments. 



The experiments of treating dry lodgepole pine posts with creosote are giving 

 very satisfactory results. The sapwood is entirely penetrated with ease. The time 

 required for sufficient treatment and the best methods of operation are yet to be 

 determined. 



RECORD. 



Accounts. 



Vouchers for salary of Technical Assistants on duty on forest reserves must be 

 forwarded monthly to Washington for settlement by the Supervisor in charge, who 

 will initial all such vouchers and accompany them with Form 647. 



Supplies. 



A number of letters have recently been received from Forest Officers stating that 

 the agents of local express companies refuse to deliver shipments marked ''Prepaid" 

 unless the charges, either in whole or in part, are prepaid in cash. Express ship- 

 ments from the Service in Washington are, when practicable, prepaid in full to 

 destination, including both express and stage charges. There are, however, a few 

 towns in which the headquarters of Forest Officers are located, remote from the 

 railroads, with which express companies have no stage connections. Shipments to 

 these points are prepaid only to the nearest or most convenient station. When this 

 is done, notation of the fact is made on the invoice of the Property Clerk. Hereafter 

 similar notation will also be attached to each package. In such cases the stage 

 charges only should be paid by the consignees, for which a receipt showing rate and 

 weight must be taken and submitted in the monthly reimbursement account. When 

 the payment of charges is demanded on shipments marked " Prepaid in Full to Des- 

 tination," Forest Officers, before making payment, should request definite instruc- 

 tions from this Office. 



