FOREST SERVICE. 21 



WORKING FLAWS. 



The Forest Service prepares detailed Avorking plans for the con- 

 servative use of the forest reserves as rapidly as its funds permit and 

 trained men are available for the work. But the area "for which 

 working plans can be prepared at present is small. Every timber 

 sale entails a careful advance examination, including an estimate of 

 the timber, the preparation of a forest map, a description of the 

 forest, and regulations for the conduct of the logging. So urgent 

 and so widely scattered is the demand for timber that the resources 

 of the Service have been absorbed in caring for these sales, and few 

 independent working plans have been attempted. 



The preparation of a working plan was begun for a large portion 

 of the Henrys Lake Forest Reserve, in Idaho. The forest contains 

 a very limited supply of mature timber, which is in great demand for 

 the development of a rapidly growing agricultural community. 



TIMBER TRESPASS. 



Of the total of $242,668.23 received during the year from timber, 

 $39,334.9fi was collected in settlement for timber trespass. This sum 

 was in settlement chiefly of trespass on public lands afterwards 

 thrown into reserves. As soon as a reserve is created and placed 

 under administration, timber trespass practically ceases. 



INSPECTION. 



Systematic inspection of timber sales by a corps of special inspect- 

 ors was organized earty in the year. The forest reserves Avere divided 

 into districts and an inspector held responsible for the standard of 

 the work in his district. Assistance and advice is given the local 

 forest officers in initiating neAv sales and in the technical conduct of 

 the cutting under current sales and free use. Inspectors report regu- 

 larly to the Washington office the condition of timber-sale operations 

 on the reserves within their districts. 



COOPERATION WITH PRIVATE OWNERS. 



During the papt year, 99 applications were received for advice and 

 assistance in the management of small woodlots, comprizing an area 

 of 8,068 acres, and 61 from owners of timber tracts covering an area 

 of 761,965 acres. These applications came from 30 States and Terri- 

 tories. The total area of private forest lands, in the management of 

 which assistance has been asked, since the publication of Circular 21, 

 is 11,717,269 acres, of which 37,326 acres is in woodlots. 



During the past year examinations were made of 54 timber tracts, 

 in 26 States, covering a total of 2,076,085 acres. Detailed working 

 plans were recommended and begun on 11 of these tracts; on the 

 others final reports could be and were prepared with recommenda- 

 tions for the conservative management and protection of the forest 

 without making special working plans. This was a result of the 

 knowledge of forest conditions thruout the country gathered by 

 past work. On many of the tracts the recommendations have been 

 already put into effect. 



