SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 65 



Considerable areas of grazing land exist, especially in tbe southern 

 hills. It is estimated that 5,000 head of cattle and horses are pastured, 

 «snth little or no injury to the forest. Practically all grazing land is the 

 result of fire; and the process by which a forest is converted into open 

 prairie is visible in its various stages almost throughout the hills. 

 Unless grazing should lead to the setting of fires for the purpose of 

 improving or extending range or pasture land, the pasturage of cattle 

 and horses should be allowed under suitable restrictions. Sheep should 

 be rigorously excluded. 



FOREST POROK 



It has already been recommended, on page 46 of Part II of this report, 

 that 1 forest ranger be stationed at Deadwood and another at Ouster, 

 with 5 forest guards at Deadwood, Eochford, Ouster, Sheridan, and Bear 

 Gulch. Sixty tire watchers at local points complete the force recom- 

 mended. 



The Black Hills afford a better opportunity than any other forest 

 reserve for the immediate application of forest management. Mining 

 assures a constant demand for timber. Either this demand must be 

 met, and that without delay, or the reserve will be reduced in area to 

 an extent which may force its abandonment. To illustrate : Very large 

 blocks of mineral lode claims are being located in the best timbered 

 portious of the hills. These claims are fraudulent, and are made solely 

 for the sake of the timber. These facts are perfectly well known through- 

 out the hills, and it is generally asserted, and with great particularity, 

 that these fraudulent claims are being located for or by the Homestake 

 Oompany, and this contention is supported by the fact that no other 

 party is in position to lumber most of them advantageously. The 

 Homestake has already surveyed a railroad line to one body of these 

 claims in the northeast portion of the hills. The evident intention is 

 to cut off the timber and then abandon the claims; but if a decision of 

 the Oommissioner of the General Land Office forbidding the use of tim- 

 ter except in connection with the particular claim upon which it is cut 

 should be enforced, these claims will be patented, and the great areas 

 they cover will be lost to the reserve. There is but one way out, and 

 that lies in the line of immediate action. 



I am informed that the unexpended balance of the appropriation 

 under which the special forest agents and supervisors are appointed 

 will be sufficient to continue the present force during the remainder of 

 this fiscal year. I recommend that in place of the supervision, neces- 

 sarily desultory and ineffectual, now exercised by a few men over the 

 great area of' the reserves in Washington, Oregon, California, and 

 Arizona, a forest service composed exclusively of trained men be organ- 

 ized at once to take charge of the Black Hills Eeserve. The advantages 

 of this course are evident and undeniable. An actual example of 

 forest management will be afforded. The beginning of the sale of 

 Government timber will be made. Public opinion in one of the reserves 

 where it was most strongly antagonistic will be secured to the reserva- 

 tion policy, and an opportunity will be provided to test the advantages 

 of scientific and conservative forestry. It is confidently believed that 

 the whole expense of the force recommended for the Black Hills may 

 be paid, almost from the beginning, by the sale of timber. This recom- 

 mendation is made only with the distinct proviso that trained men 

 of active habits, familiar not only with Western conditions, but with 

 S. Doc. 189 5 



