OTHER FOREST ACTIVITIES 157 



Since the range outside the forests is not sufficient, it means 

 a good deal of crossing by stock from winter to summer grazings 

 and vice versa. There is urgent need either for the develop- 

 ment of more grazing area or else a reduction in the number 

 of stock. As late as 1852 there was actual armed conflict 

 over grazing rights. This illustrates that the problem is not 

 a simple one and must be handled with great tact. 



Quarters. — The ranger stations usually include : one or 

 more houses, a shed or small barn, outhouse, water system, 

 and fenced garden. Separate rooms are provided for inspect- 

 ing officers, for the ranger, and for each guard. The quarters 

 are commodious ; at the Aitone forest house ^^ there were no 

 less than 8 rooms on the second floor, kept vacant for the use 

 of officers on inspection — a dining room, kitchen, small study 

 (in the hall), and 5 bedrooms. The ranger was assigned a 

 kitchen, combined hving and dining room and bedroom, and 

 each of the three guards also averaged three rooms. Plenty 

 of storage space is provided. 



Besides these quarters there are detached houses with only one or 

 two rooms, located at strategic points as refuges or dinner camps 

 for caUpering or marking crews, improvement laborers , and the hke. 



At the Aitone forest house the equipment provided for the 

 inspecting officers' quarters, of which the ranger is custodian, 

 was inventoried at 2201 francs ($424.79) and included complete 

 kitchen and table service, beds and bedding, and generous 

 furnishings. These quarters are, on written permission from 

 the conservator, put at the disposal of visitors for a few days; 

 yet, as the conservator's order states, the houses are not to be 

 regarded as hotels. 



Official charges are posted: 4 francs ($0.77) a day for the 

 cantonment chief, 5 francs ($0.96) for other forest officers, 

 and 6 francs ($1.16) per day for ordinary visitors. The 6 

 francs ($1.16) per day is divided as follows: breakfast, 0.50 

 franc ($0.10); lunch or dinner, 2 francs ($0.39); lodging, includ- 

 ing linen, lights, and heat, 1.50 francs ($0.29). 



** The name "forest house" seems more precise than the term "ranger house" 

 or "ranger station" used in the United States. 



