524 DEPABTMENTAL KEPORTS. 



take place with considerable regularity and that the seeding of a tract 

 depends upon the proximity of seed-bearing trees, the condition of 

 the surface soil, and the character of the ground cover. The latter 

 two conditions being subject to easy control, there seems good ground 

 for believing that methods may be found under which, if seed trees 

 are present, the landowner ma,j, without great difficulty, secure a 

 fairly even stand of White Pine. The investigation, which is to be 

 continued during the coming season, will make it possible to give 

 definite recommendations to landowners who wish to improve the con- 

 ditions for White Pine reproduction. 



Forest Fires. 



The object of the study of forest flres is to get the best information 

 possible both on the immediate money loss by forest fires and on the 

 indirect damage to the forest and to local interests of various kinds. 

 The ultimate purpose is to find effectual methods of prevention and 

 control. 



OREGON AND WASHINGTON. 



After the fires which occurred in Oregon and Washington in Sep- 

 tember, 1902, the Bureau at once made an investigation of the losses 

 which had been sustained. The report of this investigation covered 

 the loss of life and property, the causes of the fires, the methods used 

 in fighting them, the damage to the soil, and the outlook for repro- 

 duction. The burned districts were mapped. 



The area burned over in Oregon was approximately 170,000 acres, 

 of which 120,000 acres carried a heavy stand of Red Fir, estimated at 

 17,700 board feet per acre, or 2,124,000,000 board feet. The value of 

 this timber at a stumpage rate of $1 per thousand, board measure, was 

 $2,124,000. Though much of this is a total loss, a great deal can still 

 be utilized if lumbering is undertaken immediately. Logging roads 

 have already been built into the burned districts. 



The principal flres in Washington were in Skamania, Cowlitz, and 

 Clarke counties, where the area burned is estimated at 434,000 acres. 

 With the exception of 150,000 acres all of the land was fully as heavily 

 timbered as in Oregon and of better quality. The amount destroyed 

 is estimated at 5,026,800,000 feet board measure. At a stumpage value 

 of $1 per thousand the total stand of Red Fir amounted to $5,026,800. 



In addition to the green timber, both States sustained heavy losses 

 in sawmills, sawed lumber, logs, railroad ties, telephone and telegraph 

 poles, and cordwood, besides farm buildings, stock, hay and grain, 

 fences, farming machinery, vehicles, and orchards. The total losses 

 in Washington and Oregon are estimated to be as follows: Oregon, 

 13,910,000; Washington, $8,857,100— total both States, $12,767,100. 



Many of these fires could have been extinguished before they became 

 serious. An efficient system of forest patrol in these localities would 

 probably have prevented them altogether. Watchfulness on the part 

 of the Government rangers prevented severe flres on the forest reserves. 



GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. 



An investigation was begun last March to determine the damage 

 done by fires to forest reproduction in the Longleaf Pine forests of 



