182 OUR NATIONAL FORESTS 



tisement the Supervisor (or District Forester) 

 opens all bids received and awards the sale to the 

 highest bidder. The sale contract is then prepared 

 and executed by the purchaser. 



A specific statement of financial abihty is re- 

 quired in all sales of ten million feet or more, and 

 in smaller sales in the discretion of the approving 

 ofBcer. Such a statement may be required before 

 the approval of the sale apphcation, either formal 

 or tentative, and in any event before the timber is 

 awarded to the successful bidder. The contract 

 must be supported by a suitable bond given by two 

 responsible sureties or by a surety company au- 

 thorized to do business with the United States. 



Timber Sale Contract Clauses. The sale con- 

 tract contains in full all the conditions under which 

 the cutting is to be done. In all sales of National 

 Forest stumpage the contract provides that no tim- 

 ber shall be cut until it has been paid for, and that 

 it shall not be removed until it has been scaled by a 

 Forest officer. All hve timber is marked or other- 

 wise designated before cutting, and any merchant- 

 able timber used for logging improvements, such 

 as houses, bridges, stables, etc., must be scaled and 

 paid for. In order to secure full utilization of the 



