20 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



and efficient labor. Planting work is ting even though they have no prospects 

 always of short duration. For climatic of anything better elsewhere. Much 

 reasons it lasts only for six weeks or difficulty was experienced in this re- 

 two months at best, and it comes at a spect during last spring's operations, 

 time of the year when all lines of work Periodic storms which precipitated from 

 are opening up and labor is in great live to thirty inches of snow occurred 

 demand. The ordinary laborer is up until the latter part of May. Dur- 

 wholly unskilled in the art of planting, ing these storms the temperature never 

 and usually does not display a very dropped to freezing and the snow 

 lively interest in the fine points of the quickly disappeared. The occurrence of 

 work. It is necessary therefore to have each storm was, however, the occasion 

 a constant close supervision of the men for an exodus from camp. This is one 

 by a forest officer to insure careful of the most serious problems met with 

 work. An officer can supervise from in planting work, for it increases the 

 j."> to :>0 workmen after they have be- cost very materially, and the man in 

 come efficient, but for the first two days charge must tax his ingenuity to keep 

 during the period of instruction fifteen the crew contented, 

 men will keep him very busy. Because A few measures which have been suc- 

 of the cost of breaking in men to the cessful to some degree to keep the 

 work, it is very desirable to keep the planting crew contented are: (1) pro- 

 same men throughout the season, and vide good food; (2) furnish plenty of 

 so far as possible to secure the same straw for bedding; (3) furnish each 

 men in successive years, for it is a note- tent with a camp heater ; (4) provide 

 worthy fact wherever the same men are reading matter, current magazines pre- 

 secured on successive years they begin f erred ; (5) prohibit gambling and the 

 to take an interest in the work, are far bringing of liquor into camp; (6) have 

 more efficient and require much less su- the cook keep a small stock of chewing 

 pervision. In order to eliminate the and smoking tobacco, socks and canvas 

 drifting tramp labor as much as possible gloves for the accommodation of the 

 it has been found necessary to hire the men; (7) keep a simple shoe-repairing 

 men with the understanding that no outfit on hand for their use; (8) pro- 

 compensation will be allowed any man vide facilities for washing clothes, 

 who does not remain more than three Some attention to such details has 

 days, and only half pay is allowed if he proven well worth while, 

 does not stay one week. In 1912 the The economic value of this reforesta- 

 men were paid $1.70 per day with tion work is a matter well worth con- 

 board. They were housed in tents and siderataion. Is the benefit to be derived 

 provided with straw upon which to from these plantations commensurate 

 spread their blankets. Competent camp with the cost of establishing and pro- 

 cooks were employed and the men re- tecting them? As foresters and con- 

 ceived substantial board at a Govern- servationists we have always maintained 

 ment mess. The cost to the Forest that reforestation work on lands which 

 Service of subsistence per man per day formerly bore forest and which are not 

 was $0.ocS, making the total cost per better suited for other purposes is jus- 

 man per eight-hour day $2.28. The tifiable. However, in the Pike's Peak 

 number of higher salaried men required region the nature of a large part of 

 to supervise the work raised the aver- the treeless areas is so inhospitable that 

 age cost to $2.48 per man per day. it is a question whether sufficiently high 

 From forty to sixty laborers were em- returns could be realized if the stands 

 ployed on the job, the number fluctuat- were established solely for the produc- 

 ing up or down with fair or stormy tion of timber. Other economic consid- 

 weather. It is one of the peculiar erations must therefore enter into the 

 vagaries of laboring men that, though valuation of this reforestation work if 

 they may be working very contentedly, we are to show justification for the esti- 

 let there come a slight interruption and mated expenditure of $80,000 on this 

 it becomes the signal for general quit- planting work. 



