80 THE NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL. 



Title to Lands for Improvement. 



Buildings and other structures should be erected only on withdrawn adminis- 

 trative sites or on National Forest land, which has been properly posted. If 

 Government land is not available the land should be leased. The policy out- 

 lined under " Quarters ? ' should govern supervisors in the matter of leasing land. 



Signs. 



All trails and roads in or outside the Forests used by Forest officers in the 

 transaction of their duties, and all streams and other prominent natural features 

 should be provided with suitable direction or identification notices or signs. 



Disposal of Debris. 



All debris and refuse resulting from improvement work should be properly 

 disposed of in order to reduce the fire hazard and to insure neatness and 

 cleanliness. 



Contracts. 



Improvement work can often be performed more economically by contract 

 than by day labor. Contract work, to be successful, requires extreme care in 

 drawing up the specifications and close supervision on the ground during con- 

 struction. In order to guarantee a satisfactory fulfillment of the contract, it 

 may be necessary, in some cases, to detail a Forest officer to the project until 

 it is completed. 



Request for Bids. 



When the supervisor decides to let a contract for improvement work he will 

 prepare the request for bids on Form R. The specifications should describe the 

 project in minute detail. In addition to the quantity of material required the 

 quality should be stated. In every case where it is necessary to give a clear 

 understanding of the project the form should be accompanied by blue-print 

 drawings or plans. All accompanying papers should be securely fastened to 

 the form and upon it should appear the statement. " In accordance with the 

 attached plans and specifications which form a part of this bid." 



Bids should be sent to as many prospective bidders as practicable, and every 

 effort should be made to secure the best possible terms for the Government. 

 The procedure which covers the authority of officers to accept bids is given 

 under paragraph 25 of the Fiscal Regulations. 



THE PURCHASE OF MATERIAL. 



Contracted Materials. 



Contracts for certain classes of material used in improvement work are let 

 by fiscal years. Notice will be sent supervisors before July 1, giving the names 

 of successful bidders and the contract price for each class of material. Super- 

 visors will order material for which an annual contract has been let only from 

 the contractors. 



Care must be taken to furnish exact shipping directions, together with a 

 Government bill of lading, and instructions regarding its use, whenever material 

 is ordered. 



Purchase of Barb Wire. 



Barb wire is ordered and charged for by pounds, but furnished in reels, which 

 are not exactly uniform in weight Consequently the total pounds furnished 

 may be little more or less than ordered. The following model may be used in 

 preparing Form A, to be sent when an order for barb wire is placed : 



reels 2-pt. galvanized Glidden barb wire, . 



pounds, 



at $3.05~per cwt 

 Annual contract. 



If the signed voucher when received from the company checks with the ship- 

 ment, it should be certified and mailed to the District Forester for payment: 

 otherwise a new form should be prepared and returned to the company for 

 signature, together with a letter of explanation. An addressed franked envelope 

 should always be included with orders. The weights per mile of the two kinds 

 of wire usually furnished under contract are as follows : 



Pounds. 



2-pt. galvanized Glidden barb wire, approximately 330 



2-ply barbless wire, approximately 310 



