18 



In doing so the utmost care should be exercised properly to identify each site by giv- 

 ing not only the number under which it was withdrawn, but also a description of the 

 tract withdrawn. 



Boundaries 



On May 23 the President approved an act defining the boundaries of the Minnesota 

 National Forest. These boundaries include, as additions, ten sections around Cass 

 Lake, the islands in Cass Lake, and Pine and Sugar points, with the uncut merchant- 

 able timber on them. The total area of these additions is approximately 14,769 acres. 

 Provision is made for payment to the Indians of such amounts as may be found due 

 them for lands included in the Forest and for the timber left standing. The percent- 

 age of seed trees reserved is increased from 5 per cent to ]0 per cent. The Forest is 

 further consolidated as a result of the provision for the relinquishment to the Forest 

 Service of Indian allotments. The act further provides that the graves of the Indians 

 within the Forest are not to be disturbed, and permits further use of the lands for 

 this purpose. 



A proclamation was signed by the President on June 18, to take effect at once, 

 eliminating 2,559 acres from the Gila (N) National -Forest, and adding 28,180 acres 

 to the Gila (S) National Forest. On the same date a proclamation was signed which 

 changed the name of the Gila (N) National Forest to the Datil National Forest, and 

 consolidated the Gila (S) and the Big Burros National Forests into the Gila National 

 Forest. The area of the Gila National Forest is now 1,589,841 acres and the area 

 of the Datil National Forest 1,270,500 acres. 



Executive orders changing the boundaries and names of several National Forests 

 were signed June 18, to take effect July 1, 1908. The new names are: Fillmore, 

 Nebo, Columbia, Rainier, Chelan, Snoqualmie, Wenatchee, Washington. The Fill- 

 more National Forest will be composed of the present Beaver and Fillmore (S) 

 National Forests; the Nebo will contain the Fillmore (N), the Vernon, and the Pay- 

 son National Forests; the Chelan, Snoqualmie, Wenatchee, and Washington National 

 Forests will include the area formerly in the Washington, with the exception of the 

 small portion which went into the Rainier. 



BRANCH OF OPERATION. 



OFFICE OF ACCOUNTS. 



Appropriation for Permanent Improvements 



The new appropriation for permanent improvement work can be used only in the 

 construction and maintenance of roads, cabins, etc. It is held that rangers and 

 guards may be paid from this appropriation, but only for such time as they are 

 engaged on improvement work. Supervisors who use ranger labor on improvement 

 work should indicate on Form 143 the dates when the rangers are so employed, and 

 should charge the amount on the new Form 99, in the improvement-fund column, 

 entering it in the journal of expenses against the authorization for improvements and 

 not against the salary allotment. 



The total amount so charged should always be shown on the lower part of the new 

 Form 99, in order that the salary allotment of the Forest may be given proper credit 

 in the Office of Accounts. 



By using ranger labor in .this way and making proper record of it on Forms 143 

 and 99 it will be possible for supervisors to retain on duty a large part of their force 

 that would otherwise have to be furlough ed during the winter months. 



This method of handling the improvement appropriation will necessitate a change 

 in the manner of making entries in the new project ledger. Corrected instructions 

 for these entries have been prepared and will be sent to each supervisor as soon as 

 received from the printer. These should then be pasted in the project ledger over 

 the instructions alread_y there. 



The appropriation act for improvement work is so worded that it will be impossi- 

 ble to pay for the cost of any boundary surveys from this appropriation. Super- 

 visors must therefore pay for such work, if approved, from the allotments covered by 

 their regular letters of authorization. Where such surveys are necessary the approval 

 of the Forester should be obtained before work is begun. 



