78 



THE FORESTER April, 



entire Cascade Range obscured from guishment when the camp is abandoned, 

 view by smoke. So noticeable was this and who will make arrests of persons 

 relief that the leading newspaper of the violating the regulations or permitting 

 Pacific Northwest commented editorially fires to extend into the forest, and in 

 as follows : further aid of this purpose the Depart- 

 " Usually from the first of July to the ment of Justice has been requested to 

 middle of September the air has been direct United States Marshals to deputize 

 heavy with smoke and cinders and the all forest rangers in order that they may 

 destruction of timber great. As a result have authority to make arrests within 

 of the vigilance of the range patrol the the reserves for offenses committed in 

 valleys of the Umpqua and Rogue rivers violation of the forest regulations, 

 are now free from smoke, no fires being We can never fully comprehend thereal 

 in progress in that section. * * value of the forest relative to conserva- 

 The absence of the forest fires in the tion of the water supply until we are 

 mountains of southern and southwestern reminded of the vast domain of our 

 Oregon as the result of this system for country now remaining vacant and un- 

 the first time in many years may be held appropriated, aggregating 546,549,655 

 to have proven its efficacy under a vigi- acres, exclusive of Alaska and our recent 

 lant supervision." Island possessions. Of this aggregate 

 Reports from superintendents of other 332, 176,000 acres require the aid of water 

 reservations in other States all contain to render them of utility for farming, and 

 testimony as to the great exemption of of these acres 69,000,000 are barren, irre- 

 fires from the forests within theircharge. claimable waste. Under the best eco- 

 The progress thus far made in reserv- nomic management sufficient water is 

 ing forest area can best be appreciated available for the reclamation of only 

 when it is known that at the present date 71,000,000 acres for agricultural crops, 

 there have been nearly forty-six millions One thing yet remains to make the 

 of acres set apart and withdrawn from success of the Government complete as 

 entry, or a quantity which would about to its forest administration, and that is in 

 equal thirty-one times the size of the a more earnest co-operation on the part 

 State of Delaware. The reserves are of the States and land grant corporations 

 situated in eleven States and Territories. having lands within or near the reserves. 

 The area embraces thirty-five distinct A patrol of the even sections of the Gov- 

 reserves, not including the Afognak eminent can never be adequate so long 

 Forest and Fish Culture Reserve in as the corporation owning the odd sec- 

 \laska. To superintend, supervise and tions fails to exercise like vigilant care 

 patrol this vast empire of forest land as to them. Where sheep grazing is per- 

 there will be employed during most of the mitted on the odd section it cannot be 

 presentyearnine superintendents, twenty- prevented on the even section except at 

 seven supervisors, and 275 rangers or fire an enormous cost to the Government, 

 patrolmen. The reserves are all mapped Fire originating through carelessness or 

 and each fire patrol district is designated, design on the one section quickly coin- 

 so that reference to the map will indicate municates to that adjoining, whatever 

 the location of each supervisor and of all may be the efficiency of the patrol. The 

 the rangers under him. Reports are General Land Office is now in corre- 

 promptly made at stated periods from spondence with State authorities, and 

 which can be seen where each official has with land-grant companies owning lands 

 been at any particular day and the kind within or near the reserves, with a view 

 of service engaged in. Campers, tourists to mutual cooperation for forestry pro- 

 and hunters while in the reserves will be tection, and I am glad to say that already 

 under the constant supervision of the many cordial assurances are received in 

 rangers, who will visit the camps and response. A further suggestion still re- 

 inspect the fires and see to their extin- mains. There exist vast bodies of vacant 



