398 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



September 



sprouts. Not more than one in 8 or 10 

 of these will mature, but by selecting 

 the most promising the full vigor of the 

 parent stump may be concentrated on 

 them to the great improvement of their 

 rate of growth. The observations made 

 by the Bureau have proved that low 

 stumps produce more vigorous sprouts 

 than high ones, and that winter or 

 spring cutting is followed by better re- 

 sults than that done in the summer or 

 fall. Telephone poles are grown in 

 Maryland from healthy stumps in from 

 35 to 38 years, and ties may profitably 

 be cut in about 29 years. Too early 

 cutting of ties should be discouraged as 

 wasteful in the long run. The practice 

 of permitting contractors to cut unre- 

 strictedly for a given sum is one which 

 works much injury to the permanent 

 productiveness of the woods. 



Although the study of the Bureau of 

 Forestry, already referred to, was con- 

 fined to southern Maryland, many of its 

 conclusions are applicable, with proper 

 local modifications, to chestnut through- 

 out its range. It is an illustration of 

 the practical work which the Bureau is 

 doing for the benefit of the mass of 

 owners of small tracts of timberland, 

 for whom the employment of the serv- 

 ices of a forester is out of the question, 

 but for whom the application of the 

 knowledge furnished by scientific for- 

 estry is essential if they are to reap the 

 full value of their holdings. 



Power Mr. H. A. Storrs, Elec- 



Development trical Engineer of the 

 on Missouri. Reclamation Service, is 

 about to begin investi- 

 gations for the purpose of determining 

 the feasibility of a steam power and 

 pumping system on the Missouri River 

 near Bismarck, North Dakota. An 

 abundant supply of lignite exists in that 

 vicinity, and it is proposed, if feasible, 

 to locate a central steam plant on the 

 east bank of the Missouri River adjacent 

 to a bed of lignite, this plant to generate 

 electric power to be transmitted up and 

 down the river to pumping plants placed 

 at points most favorable for raising water 

 to the top of the bluffs. 



Preliminary surveys will be run back 



from the bluffs to determine the most 

 advantageous arrangement of distribut- 

 ing canals and the existence of possible 

 reservoir sites for storing water. The 

 investigation will also include the de- 

 termination of the quantity and quality 

 of fuel available ; the range of rise and 

 fall of the river ; amount of sand in the 

 water ; character of ground on which 

 power and pumping plants would be 

 built ; the difficulties to be expected in 

 building and maintaining a transmis- 

 sion line ; climatic conditions ; relative 

 amounts of government and private 

 lands ; character of the soil and infor- 

 mation as to the value and character of 

 crops, transportation, etc. 



An outline of the work is being care- 

 fully planned by Mr. Storrs from maps 

 and other available data, so there will 

 be no delaj^ in the investigation after 

 the party enters the field. 



Bureau of In addition to its force en- 

 Forestry Field gaged in forest-reserve 

 Work. work, the Bureau of For- 



estry has this summer 1 1 6 

 skilled men in the field. Of these 68, 

 scattered in 26 states, are studying com- 

 mercial trees, making working plans for 

 woodlots and forests, and gathering data 

 invaluable for the proper management 

 of wooded areas. The remaining 48 

 experts, divided among 10 other states, 

 are studying means of replacing the for- 

 est on lands from which it has been de- 

 nuded, making planting plans for tracts 

 to be forested, and planting in the west- 

 ern forest reserves. The data they will 

 gather will be worked over and con- 

 densed by the office force this winter, 

 and put into shape for practical use. 

 Reports from the field which are com- 

 ing in daily show that the year is to be 

 one of distinct achievement, and that 

 the work is progressing everywhere 

 with important advance in American 

 forestry. These experts, in covering 

 their various territories, are zealous 

 missionaries in the cause they serve, 

 for wherever their work carries them 

 the purpose of forestry, its methods, 

 and its incalculable importance to the 

 general welfare are understood, appre- 

 ciated, and applied as never before. 



