ADMINISTRATION OF THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 17 



and improvement plan*, and other administrative activities is performed by 

 ra Hirers. Each Forest is divided into ranger districts of such a size that, under 

 ordinary conditions, all the regular work can be handled effectively by one fully 

 qualified ranger with the necessary temporary assistants. The average ranger 

 district has about 60,000 acres, but where means of travel and communication 

 are good, or where there is only a small volume of business or the fire hazard 

 is low, very much larger districts may be established. 



The district rangers have their headquarters at the nearest business center, 

 or if that is not practicable, permanent headquarters with barn and pasture 

 are provided on the Forests. 



The requirements for assistant forest ranger, the grade to which appointments 

 are made, are as follows : 



REGULATION G. A.-l. Only citizens of the United States and those wh 

 have declared their intention to become such, and who are between the ages of 

 21 and 40, are eligible for ranger examinations. Selection for appointment will 

 be made when practicable from qualified citizens of the State in which the 

 National Forests, respectively, are situated. These qualifications will not be 

 waived under any circumstances. (Issued August 12, 1912.) 



The entrance salary is $1,100 per annum, and the appointee will nearly always 

 be required to provide his own horse or other means of transportation, though 

 a limited amount of forage is usually supplied by the Service. 



Physical soundness and endurance are essential on account of the heavy 

 labor and exposure involved in such work as building improvements and 

 fighting fire. The examination consists of a written test, a field test embracing 

 compass surveying, timber work, and the handling of horses, and a rating of 

 training, experience, and fitness. In the Southwest a knowledge of the Spanish 

 language is also required. The examination is usually given in October of each 

 year, at each supervisor's headquarters. The most successful rangers are 

 usually those who have been brought up in timber work or on ranches or 

 farms, and who are thoroughly familiar, through long residence, with the region 

 in which they are employed. 



Lumbermen. 



Lumbermen are appointed after a civil-service examination, which requires 

 much previous experience in woods work and a high degree of proficiency in 

 cruising, logging, and milling. A thorough knowledge of scaling methods is 

 absolutely necessary. Lumbermen are assigned temporarily to Forests where 

 the need for their work arises. 



Sealers. 



Sealers are appointed after a civil-service examination, which requires much 

 previous experience in scaling and woods work. 



Planting assistants. 



The position of planting assistant requires special training in nursery and 

 planting work. The duties include the preparation of seed beds, seed sowing, 

 transplanting and care of seedlings, and field planting. 



Forest guards, field assistants, and temporary laborers. 



Skilled and unskilled labor of a temporary character required in the use, 

 protection, and improvement of the National Forests, is performed by forest 

 guards, field assistants, and temporary laborers. These positions are not in 

 the classified civil service, but are filled through selection by the forest super- 

 visor or by officers in charge of field parties, to whom application for employ- 

 ment should be made. 



Forest clerks. 



Clerical work in the supervisor's office is performed by forest clerks. Only 

 male applicants are admitted to the examination, which is held as required. 

 Proficiency in stenography, typewriting, and the elements of bookkeeping is 

 tested. The entrance salary is from $1,100 to $1,200. 



Minor clerks and stenographers are selected from the register established 

 for the Government service at large, in which no sex limitation exists. The 

 entrance salary is ordinarily $900 per annum. 



22GS 13 2 



