66 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



forestry as well, are contemplated iu making it. The transfer of the 

 present force of special agents and supervisors would altogether fail to 

 meet these conditions, it is not believed that G-overnment forest man- 

 agement in the Black Hills under such a transfer could be anything 

 but a failure. =" 



FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



The immediate advantages offered by the Black Hills for the inau- 

 guration of Government forest management are many and important. 

 There is a good market for products of all grades. The reproduction 

 of the forests is admirable under good conditions. The various age 

 classes of trees are all present, which is the first condition for a con- 

 tinuous yield. Transportation by rail is well developed, and there are 

 good roads in plenty as compared with other reserves, and public opin- 

 ion throughout the hills is strongly in favor of the protection and man- 

 agement of the forests by the Government. Sawmill men, for example, 

 assert that they would prefer to pay a stumpage rate of $1 per 1,000 

 feet, in place of the present rate of 25 cents from mineral claims and 

 nothing at all from Government land, for the sake of security against 

 prosecution and definite possession of the timber. It not infrequently 

 happens at present that timber is cut by sawmill men merely to get it 

 away from others, even when they do not need it themselves. 



The system of management recommended rests on these principal 

 conditions : 



1. A definite working plan must be prepared, approved, and adhered to. 



2. No trees may be selected for cutting except in accordance with 

 this plan. 



3. No trees may be cut except when designated for cutting by a forest 

 ofiicer. 



Other essential conditions of good management are provided by law. 



The silvicultural system adopted should be a form of cutting on 

 restricted areas, combined with improvement cutting, and should be 

 based on a stump diameter of not less than 12 inches. Under such a 

 system properly enforced, the local demand for lumber, mine timber, 

 and supplies for settlers may be met with safety to the forest, and an 

 assured yield in the future will repljice the present distant but not 

 doubtful prospect of an approaching scarcity of timber. 



Reference is made to the admirable and exhaustive report of Mr. 

 Graves for further particulars concerning the forests of the Black Hills 

 and their management. 



PUBLIC SENTIMENT. 



Public sentiment throughout the Black Hills is ready to welcome 

 active steps by the Government looking to the prevention of fire and 

 for the sale of timber in larger amounts than are provided for by the 

 rights accorded to settlers and miners under the law. Similar opinions 

 were freely expressed at length and in detail by men in control of some 

 of the largest mining plants in the Hills. The conclusion is plain. 

 Failure on the part of the Government to take advantage of this favor- 

 able state of the public mind will mean the loss of an unparalleled 

 opportunity, and, very probably, the ultimate loss of the reserve as well. 

 The necessary appropriation is now available, suitable men can be 

 found, and there does not appear to be any reason why the hope and 

 expectation of intelligent men throughout the Black Hills should not 

 be met without delay. 



