46 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 
While District 4 is not heavily timbered comparatively, 
there is approximately 50,000,000,000 feet B. M. of timber 
of which 30,000,000,000 is saw timber. As only a fraction 
of this amount is now accessible, the present cut of 35,000, 
000 board feet per annum falls on a small part of the total 
area. The District is but little developed with a consequent 
weak demand. Large operations are also hindered by the 
lack of large continuous timber bodies. For these reasons 
it is likely that for a long time the greater part of the lum- 
ber business will be mostly local and supplied by small scale 
operators. 
The following problems are at the present time the 
most important: Forest fires, Reforestation, Forest tax- 
ation, Grazing in relation to Forestry, Agricultural versus 
Forest land values, Utilization, and Silvicultural problems. 
FOREST FIRES. 
It is an old story that forest fires have done great 
damage and one that has been emphasized by the past year. 
The reduction and ultimate prevention of this source of 
loss is an enormous and pressing problem. It is mainly 
one of organization and improvement of the forest. To 
prevent fires gaining headway an extra patrol is necessary 
during the danger season. Telephone lines, roads, trails 
and fire lines are indispensable to make the patrol effi- 
cient. An equipment of tools and storehouses distributed 
over the forest for emergency use is also necessary to con- 
trol small fires at the start. 
This work cannot all be accomplished in a year or two 
even were the money available. It must be the result of 
a steady growth and building up of the forests along the 
line of permanent improvement. Wonders can be accom- 
plished in fire protection by concentration of effort in a 
bad season, as evidenced by the past year’s experience, but 
a well planned means must be provided beforehand if the 
protection is to be complete. 
Of first importance in eliminating forest fire is care 
with camp fires and other sources of fire. Much care- 
lessness is due to the fact that the danger is not generally 
