30 



SURVEYS OF FOKEST RESERVES. 



MISOBLLANBOTJS DATA CONCERNING FORESTS ON RESERVES. 



Mr. Leiberg, after completing his reports upon the Priest Eiver and 

 Bitterroot reserves, prepared a report upon the timber lauds of northern 

 Idaho, a region of which he has made a prolonged study and with which 

 he is familiar. 



There is in existence, scattered about in the hands of many persons, 

 but uncollected and unpublished, a vast amount of information con- 

 cerning our forests. Nearly all the subdivided forest lands of the West 

 have been examined. All the lands comprised in the heavy timber belt 

 of the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and California), except those 

 wliich have not yet been subdivided by the General Land Office, have 

 been examined with reference to their timber, and much of them 

 repeatedly, by timber cruisers in the employ of the States (for making 

 selections), railroads, and lumber companies. These cruisings have 

 never, so far as learned, been compiled. These statistics are being col- 

 lected. Altogether there have thus far been ascertained the timber 

 supply and its distribution over some 6,000,000 acres, and similar sta- 

 tistics concerning some 10,000,000 or 12,000,000 acres more are now 

 being compiled. These statistics will furnish, for the flrst time, clear, 

 definite information concerning the amount, character, and distribution 

 of the merchantable timber of the West, and will enable public and 

 private holders of timber land to manage their holdings with economy 

 and profit. 



Survey of forest reserves, statistical summary. 



Amount allotted $126, 000 



Amount expended to March 1 81,219 



Balance available for ofBcework in completing Qeld notes and for continuing surveys in 

 the spring 44,781 



