15 



sales where sealers are not regularly employed and where purchasers are 

 required to mark the log lengths on the small end it is imperative that the 

 Forest officer check up the number of logs in the skidway after scaling and see 

 that none have been missed. 



Cardboard Rules for Mapping 



A supply of cardboard rules designed with reference to the Atlas Standard 

 is being sent out to all supervisors. It will be noticed that the scale on these 

 rules shows on one edge feet and on the other edge miles and chains. It is 

 believed that the new celluloid rule of this pattern will be of great assistance 

 in mapping on the National Forests. 



Notice of Sale 



In every Class C sale which has been acted on during the past month an extra 

 copy of the notice of sale has been sent to the supervisor for his files. This has 

 been done to enable the supervisor to compare the printed notice with the notice 

 as sent from the Washington office, so that any mistakes which have been made 

 may be promptly discovered. If mistakes are found, they should be corrected 

 before the next issue of the paper, and the last date for receiving bids should 

 be made one week later. Forest officers should make every effort to obtain a 

 copy of the first issue of the paper containing the advertisement, FO that this can 

 be done. This is very important, since the timber must be properly advertised 

 before it can be sold. 



Bid Envelope, Letters of Transmittal, and Deposits 



In a number of recent sales the bids received at the Washington office were not 

 inclosed in the formal envelope provided for this purpose and were not desig- 

 nated in accordance with the instructions in the notice of sale. Frequently the 

 deposit required by the notice to be sent to the Fiscal Agent when the bid is 

 submitted to the Forester is inclosed in the same envelope with the bid and with- 

 out a formal letter of transmittal. To avoid mistakes of this kind it is of the 

 utmost importance that the Forest officer furnish each prospective purchaser 

 with a prepared bid envelope and a formal letter of transmittal and instruct 

 him that the deposit should not be inclosed with the bid. Bidders should also 

 be told that their bids should be submitted promptly in order that they may be 

 received in Washington before the time fixed by the notice of sale as the last 

 day for receiving bids. Letters of transmittal which are prepared for pros- 

 pective bidders other than the applicant should not contain in the designation 

 the name of the original applicant, but should give only the date of the applica- 

 tion and the name of. the Forest. 



Verbal Agreements 



Forest officers should not in any case change by verbal agreement the terms 

 of sales as set forth in the agreements. This is very important for two reasons : 

 First, if the change is made without the consent of the approving officer, it is 

 of no effect and therefore gives the purchaser just ground for dissatisfaction and 

 complaint ; and, second, where a bond has been given, any change of this kind 

 made without the written consent of the sureties releases them from their obliga- 

 tion. The following clause is now being inserted in all timber-sale agreements : 

 " The terms of the sale are completely set forth in this agreement and 

 can not be varied or modified except with the written consent of the 

 Forester. No Forest officer has or will be given authority for this 

 purpose." 



