578 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION December 



cedure is simple. Application for the timber t-be same as in sales made 

 what is wanted is made to the nearest by one private person to another. Ap- 

 forest officer, who, with the applicant, plication for sale may be made by any 

 goes to the locality where the timber one at any time. The amount that may 

 is found and marks out what is to be .be purchased is only limited by the 

 cut. Permit to cut is thereupon issued amount available in the reserve, keep- 

 by the proper authority and the appli- ing in mind danger of impairing its 

 cant cuts and removes his timber and capacity to subserve the great pur- 

 piles up ready for burning the refuse poses for which it was established, 

 resulting from his work. For large Foreseeing the necessity of having 

 quantities of timber wanted under the all undertakings within forest reserves 

 free use privilege, the Secretary of the carried on in such manner that they 

 Interior issues the permit, but for should not defeat the very purposes 

 amounts where the stumpage value is of the law. Congress gave the Sec- 

 $20 or less, the superviser of the re- rotary of the Interior power to regu- 

 serve issues the permit. It must not late the occupancy and use of reserves, 

 be inferred that the fixing of a stump- Whenever the construction of a road, 

 age value for timber cut under the a telephone line, or a ditch, or anything 

 free use privilege implies any cost or of the kind is desired, or if it be the 

 expense whatever to the consumer. wish of any one to start a store or oth- 

 The applicant gets what he 'asks for er business establishment, the Secre- 

 without a cent of expense in any way tary requires that proper application 

 or form. The valuation is merely for for the privilege be presented and 

 the convenience of forest officers in de- proper permit therefor be granted be- 

 termining the value of timber taken by fore the thing asked for may be done, 

 the people under this "free use privi- There is no cost or expens involved; 

 lege." It will thus be seen that the all is free to the applicant. The reg- 

 Government has most scrupulously illation is imposed to prevent the ex- 

 guarded the interests of the individual. istence in the reserves of what might 

 the prospector or other poor man, who be most highly detrimental to them, 

 is struggling to maintain himself. P>ut Without such supervisory control, 

 the "free use privilege" is restricted to the forest reserves would be only a 

 individuals; if timber is needed by a name, their administration a laughing 

 corporation it must be purchased. Con- stock, and the law a nullity. 

 gress in the enactment of the forest It is often objected that the methods 

 reserve law very wisely and very just- prescribed relative to securing timber 

 ly held the view that, while the indi- or obtaining a permit for a special 

 vidual striving to improve and develop privilege are cumbersome and involve 

 his claim or other property is entitled unnecessary inconvenience and delay; 

 to every encouragement, the aggrega- in other words, that there is so much 

 tions of capital represented by cor- "red tape" in the forest reserve busi- 

 porations are -able to pay for what ness that consumers are practically de- 

 they need in their enterprises. And nied the benefits which Congress in- 

 again, too, if timber is wanted for tended should be enjoyed under the 

 speculative purposes, for sale to third reserve system. The objection is more 

 parties, as for instance, if it is de- specious than sound. Whenever it is 

 sired by a saw mill operator, it must the puropse to run a tunnel or sink a 

 be purchased. shaft for development, or to extend 

 In sales of timber from a forest re- the workings of a property in extract- 

 serve the requirement relative to cut- ing ore, it is known beforehand that 

 ting .and disposing of refuse are sim- timber will be needed for such under- 

 ilar to those in "free use" cases, but ground work; if the construction of 

 the price to be paid is determined by a mill is contemplated, the first thing 

 forest officers and depends upon the to look for is suitable material ; if a 

 situation, condition, and character of steam power plant is to be operated, 



