358 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



August 



As accessories are planer and 

 shingle mill, which are operated alter- 

 nately with the saw mill. 



Skidding is done by means of a 

 drum and steel cable, driven by a 12- 

 horsepower engine. 



American foremen direct the saw- 

 ing, planing, and shingle making, as- 

 sisted by a crew of fifteen natives. 



The advantage of a steam skidder 

 over the use of carabaos is at once ap- 

 parent, and is the only means by which 

 many of the steeper slopes can be lum- 

 bered profitably. 



The lumber finds a ready market in 

 general construction work about the 

 summer capital, and, in order to meet 

 demands at present, the mill is kept 

 running day and night. The logs are 

 remarkably free from defects, such as 

 heart rot, but the boards warp con- 

 siderably when not properly piled, As 

 a rule, the lumber is very resinous, but 

 occasional pieces are as clear and free 

 of resin as an average grade of white 

 pine. 



The stumpage price, which is the 

 Government charge, represents $1.20 

 per thousand, board measure, while 

 the average selling price is $50. The 

 number of merchantable trees per acre 

 will average from eighteen to twenty, 

 from which nine or ten are selected 

 for felling. Allowing an average of 

 90 cubic feet of merchantable timber 

 per tree, we have for the stand, per 

 acre, 1,710 cubic feet. Stands of con- 

 siderable extent are found, however, 

 which will yield four or five times the 

 above amount. There is no doubt but 

 a severer selection would be more 

 favorable to reproduction, but would 

 destroy the esthetic, which it is im- 

 portant to retain for those who would 

 enjoy the summer resort. 



SUPERVISION. 



With the beginning of lumbering 

 about Baguio, the Bureau of Forestry 

 installed a system of management, 

 which has been largely protective. 

 During the critical season of fires, or 

 February, March, April, and May, a 

 force of native fire wardens is em- 

 ployed, each warden being assigned a 



section if possible, the locality in 

 which he resides. Trees are selected 

 for felling by the forestry officer, who 

 resides permanently at Baguio. 



In general, fires have been appre- 

 ciably checked and lumbering regu- 

 lated and carried on in a conservative 

 manner. The Igorote, who is respon- 

 sible for the greater number of fires, 

 has been found to be the most satis- 



View Showing Character of Bark of 

 Pinus merkusii 



factory man in fighting them, using 

 as weapons only pine switches. In 

 case the fires have made too great 

 headway the Insular police are called 

 upon to assist. The many roads and 

 trails leading out from Baguio serve 

 well the purpose of fire lines, and, ex- 

 ce; t in the event of very strong winds, 



