A FOREST SERVICE TIMBER DEAL 483 



It has been the policy of the Forest Service iu the past to limit the time 

 allowed for completing the cut contracted for in sales to five years. But in 

 order to protect the investment required iu undertaking such a large scale as 

 the one proposed, this period is evidently too short. Therefore, ten years will 

 be allowed in which to complete the contract, beginning at the time of comple- 

 tion of the railroad and sawmill, for which two years additional time will be 

 allowed. 



The minimum price which will be considered is $2.50 per M. ft. B. M. for 

 the first five years of the contract and |3.0U per M. ft. B. M. for the last five 

 years. 



The tract contains what is probably the finest large body of timber 

 remaining in the Southwest, and is located on a large plateau, well watered, 

 with almost ideal logging conditions. The ground is smooth, level or gently 

 undulating, enabling logging to be done at mimimum cost, while owing to the 

 favorable topography spur tracks can be constructed very cheaply. 



The stand of timber is heavy, and the quality is excellent, assuring a 

 large percentage of upper grade lumber. 



The major conditions of the contract as proposed are: All timber to be 

 cut will be marked for cutting, by the forest officer in charge. All timber will 

 be scaled by Scribner Rule, Decimal C. The purchaser will co-operate in fire 

 protection by assisting in fighting fire and by disposing of the debris of 

 logging as directed by the officer in charge. Dead and marked green trees 

 which are a fire menace will be felled. Free special use permits will be granted 

 for the construction of necessary railroads, telephone lines, sawmills, camps, 

 commissaries, etc. The Government reserves the right to turpentine any of 

 the timber included in this sale, the turpentining not to interfere in any 

 way with the logging operations. 



These regulations are those which have been in effect in timber sales 

 made by the Forest Service during the last five years. 



A deposit of |10,000 is required with all bids and the successful bidder 

 must give a bond of |50,000. 



A sample contract showing the provisions in detail together with further 

 information and regulations governing sale, can be obtained upon application 

 to the District Forester, Albuquerque, New Mexico, within whose jurisdiction 

 the sale lies. 



Taken altogether this is one of the most attractive propositions to be 

 found in the Southwest, not only from the point of view of the lumberman, but 

 also from that of persons interested in opening up and developing new regions. 

 Yet this can hardly be called a new region, since settlement has been going 

 on for many years, and will undoubtedly be stimulated by the building of a 

 railroad to reach the timber under consideration. At the present time tens of 

 thousands of cattle, sheep and horses graze in the region, yet all beef, mutton, 

 wood and other products must be driven on the hoof to Holbrook, for ship- 

 ment, or else freighted by wagon, over distances varying from 30 to 100 miles. 



Besides the timber involved in this case, other large bodies aggregating 

 one and one-half billion feet, board measure, will be made accessible by means 

 of the proposed railroad. 



