14 DEPABTMENTAL KEPOBTS'. 



The local administrative and protective force on the National 

 Forests on June 30, 1907, was 96 supervisors, 11 deputy supervisors, 

 639 rangers, and 464 guards. Each field officer engaged in patrol cov- 

 ered, on the average, 132,236 acres. 



Aid in technical matters was given to supervisors by 25 forest 

 assistants and 10 planting assistants. 



The transfer to the local officers of administrative details formerly 

 handled in Washington, together with the routine work arising from 

 the larger use of Forest resources, made it necessary to increase the 

 number of clerks in the offices of supervisors from 6 to 29. 



Protective measures against forest fires on the National Forests 

 were highly effective. The area burned over during the calendar year 

 1906 was restricted to 115,416 acres — less than 7.7 acres in 10,000, as 

 against 26 for the preceding year. The number of fires reported was 

 1,133, and the average burned area less than 102 acres. The esti- 

 mated value of the timber destroyed was $76,183, as against $101,282 

 for the preceding year. The cost of fighting fires, exclusive of the 

 salaries of Forest officers, was $8,768. This small damage from fires, 

 many of which were started by lightning and other unavoidable 

 causes, in immense stretches of mountainous country, is evidence that 

 the measures adopted for detecting and extinguishing fires on the 

 National Forests are efficient. It is certain that loss by fire can be 

 virtually eliminated if appropriations for the Forests provide ade- 

 quate means of communication and sufficient protective force. 



Provision was made for establishing a buffalo pasture on the 

 Wichita National Forest in Oklahoma. The New York Zoological 

 Society inaugurated the project on March 25, 1907, by offering to send 

 18 American bison of pure breed from the New York Zoological Park 

 to the Forest in order to provide for the perpetuation of the species, if 

 appropriate provisions were made for their protection and care. 

 An appropriation by Congress of $15,000 provided funds for the 

 necessary fence and buildings. Substantial progress was made with 

 the work of fencing an area of about 8,000 acres and erecting suitable 

 buildings. This work will be completed early in the ensuing fiscal 

 year, and the herd placed under the care of a Forest officer experi- 

 enced in handling buffalo. 



WOEK FOB THE ENSUING YEAE. 



The National Forests will be redistricted with a view to their 

 more' economical administration and to making the headquarters 

 more accessible to users. This redistricting will involve the creation 

 of many new administrative units. The Forests will be divided by 

 watersheds and natural boundaries rather than by legal subdivisions. 



Steps will be taken to afford rangers opportunity to receive in- 

 struction along lines which will add to their efficiency. This will 

 be done either by short winter courses in local institutions or by 

 lectures at ranger meetings. 



Joint meetings of the supervisors and rangers of groups of Forests 

 will be held throughout the West. Hitherto rangers' meetings have 

 been held by each supervisor for the men on his own Forest merely. 



The responsibility of the field officers will be largely increased 

 by moving into the field more of the work now handled in Wash- 

 ington, so that questions of local administration may be settled at 

 closer range. 



