REPOET OF FORESTEY BUEEAU, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 13 



The application for a license finally reaches the central office at 

 Manila, containing the indorsements of the forestry officials and with 

 evidence of the character and responsibility of the applicant. 



Licenses are issued on special forms: There is the timber license, the 

 firewood license, the gratuitous license, and then a general form to include 

 any special product desired, such as gutta-percha, rubber, and other 

 gums. Where the government valuation of a forest product has not 

 been specifically mentioned in the regulations, provision is made that a 

 valuation of 10 per cent on the prevailing market price in Manila will 

 be charged for such product. The licenses are issued for one year, and 

 may be revoked for violation of the regulations. A gratuitous license 

 is issued to needy residents upon application, accompanied by a certifi- 

 cate by the president of the town in which the applicant resides, to the 

 effect that the applicant is a needy resident and that he should be granted 

 the license. This license runs for a period of six months. The licensee 

 is not permitted to utilize more than 1,000 cubic feet of timber, and is 

 prohibited from utilizing tree species of the superior and first groups. 

 (Thirty-five tree species thus protected; this restriction is noted on 

 back of license.) A gratuitous license may also be issuecj. to govern- 

 ment officials upon written application, stating the public work for 

 which such timber is to be used and the amount and variety of woods 

 desired. 



A list of licenses is sent to the forestry officials in the provinces, and 

 the instructions of these officials provide for the supervision of the 

 methods of operation in the forest of the various licensees. 



Parties bringing into market forest products without license are 

 fined for first offenses 25 per cent of the valuation of said products, an 

 increased fine for the second offense, and confiscation of products with 

 a fine of 100 per cent provided for the third offense. 



It has been found that many of the dealers in forest products, and 

 not the actual loggers in the woods, were the holders of licenses. This 

 has been the subject of careful investigation during the past six months, 

 and as far as possible none but the actual lumbermen working in the 

 forest are now given licenses. 



Owing to the disturbed conditions in the islands many natives 

 engaged in logging were afraid to leave their districts and go far from 

 home, and as the forestry officials were always in towns garrisoned by 

 United States troops, many natives never came in contact with the 

 forestry officials, and operated in the forests without license. As con- 

 ditions improve, this difficulty will be removed. 



Under Spanish administration no form of license was issued. The 

 applicant received his letter of application with an indorsement of 

 the central office in Manila, stating whether or not he was permitted 

 to utilize the forest products. 



Prior to March 2, 1901, 467 licenses had been granted by the for- 

 estry bureau at Manila. 



Up to May 14, 1901, the number of licenses granted by the military 

 government were as follows: 



Timber 348 



Firewood 169 



Rubber and other gums 32 



Dyewood 10 



Gratuitous 21 



Total... .. 580 



