Some Construction Economies. 



Improvement accounts and estimates for a number of years 

 though they may seem dry to those not in tho Service, tell Inter- 

 esting tales to the clerk. In espoolal, they describe certain 

 interest ins economics and suggest others. Per e:sample, when 

 lists of supplies for the Grouse Valley trail construction this 

 lant summer were being made up, Ranger 3oothe, bent on leaking 

 the allotment go as far as possible, telephoned: ''Dclil c.nd I 

 think we can burn oliarooal in there, and save packing In black- 

 smith coal. 3c only one sack of ooal was packed in. Iho char- 

 coal burning was a success, oven at that elevation where the 

 best wood that could be obtained was the pinon (i-inus monophylla) 

 Report of trail work showed, also, that with proper protection 

 i winds, ooal or charcoal can bo made to go nuoh farther in 

 - -'orge than without protection. 



.'.s an example of the other sort economies suggested by 

 their absence note this account received from a District 

 Ranger: 



June 1, 20^ nails, 2 pair strap hinges 



5 nail, .1.00-, two door locks ..'1.50 

 7 doz. window catches, 15 / 8d nails 

 14 30" 8d nails, ton mill files. 



and that was onl? the first part of the account. Hail items 

 appeared seven times . ''".That is the trouble with thought 

 tl:e clerk. Did he fall down in his nail estimate (for all the 

 account was chargeable to one building project) and that not 

 once nor twice ? If I were doing it, I beliove I'd buy at least 

 the commoner sizes by the keg, and keep data about the r^Uc.ntity 

 of other sorts used so that once a year I could buy nails 

 and have that thing off my mind. The time it takes to make a 

 purchase every time one goes for the mail Is appalling In the 

 aggregate." 



On the Sierra, we have been fortunate In having a medicine 

 sl.cll, an altruistic young doctor having bestowed certain drugs 

 on the lorcst when he loft the mountains. Hence with each crew 

 going into the high country, there is sent a -icdioine chest con 

 taininlng simple remedies for the digestive troubles and colds 

 that mcj occur, permanganate of potash for snake bites, first 

 aid packets and a first aid manual. Those things can now be 

 purchased with Government funds, but the Sierra is lucky enough 

 to have acquired the habit, and it is a genuine economy, a sav- 

 ing o time and temper thus to be able to cure a slight ailment 

 before it becomes a greet one and tal cs a man off the job. 



