206 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



TIMBER AND WOOD. 



During the past fiscal jear applications for the purchase of timber 

 were received, and 411 sales were made of a total of 96,060,258 feet, 

 board measure, and 35,202-J cords, for which $85,596.47 were received. 



Approximately 40 per cent of the timber and wood sold was dead 

 or damaged by msects, and every effort has been made to dispose of, 

 this class of material. The prices obtained were generallv low, partly 

 because until February 1, 1905, no timber or wood could be exported 

 from the State or Territory in which the reserves were situated, and 

 for this reason the purchases were for local use and wide competition 

 was lacking. With the law as now amended the sales should soon 

 greatly increase. 



No trespass of any magnitude occurred during the year. 



GRAZING. 



Grazing permits to the number of 7,981 were issued for the season 

 of 1905, for a total of 632,793 head of cattle, 59,331 horses, and 

 1,709,987 sheep. 



No great changes in the number of stock allowed to graze in the 

 different reserves were made. In some of the older reserves, where 

 grazing has been under control for a sufficient length of time to se- 

 cure an improvement in range conditions, the number of stock al- 

 lowed was correspondingly increased; in other cases, where the 

 forage crop of the reserves was not being fully utilized, additional 

 allowances were made to accommodate the stock of new settlers and 

 to provide for the natural increase in the herds of those previously 

 occupying the range. In the reserves created at a more recent date, 

 where the ranges were found to have been overstocked, a reduction 

 was made iii the number of stock allowed. The result was a marked 

 improvement both in the condition of the range and in that of the 

 stock occupying it. 



In reserves recently created all stock which were occupying the 

 range at the time the reserves were established or which were grazed 

 in them during the past season were allowed to graze during the 

 season of 1905 without permits. 



CROSSING PERMITS. 



Five permits issued under paragraph 22 of the circular of May 22, 

 1903, allowed 30 head of cattle and horses and 13,200 head of sheep to 

 cross reserve lands to reach areas of private lands within the Sierra, 

 Warner Mountains, and Mount Eainier forest reserves. 



Under the regulation allowing stock to be driven across the forest 

 reserves in transit between summer and winter ranges and to reach 

 points of shipment, 341 permit's were issued by the forest supervisors 

 for the crossing of 15,136 head of cattle and horses and 749,924 head 

 of sheep. In granting this privilege it is the policy to allow the use 

 of such width of driveway as is necessary and to give- sufficient time 

 in crossing to permit the proper handling of stock. 



T^'Tienever it is necessary to cross regularly any portion of a re- 

 serve which is closed against the grazing of any class of live stock, a 

 regular driveway is established, and the limits and time allowances 



