418 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
Mr. Scotr. That is fenced, though, is it not? 
Mr. Brooks. I do not think the fencing cuts any figure. 
Mr. Pricsz. I think a great deal can be done by raising the standard 
and increasing the power. of the rangers, rather than by increasing the 
number of rangers. There are places where it would be advisable to 
put on more rangers only during the fire season. The effective pro- 
tection of the reserves from fire is practicable without enormous 
expense; but the details need working out on the ground. 
Mr. Scorr. You spoke in your preliminary remarks about the 
studies of forest fires. 
Mr. Price. Yes. The purpose of those studies has been to ascertain 
the effect of fire on the forest, the causes of fires, and the best methods 
of prevention. The ‘result of that work will be published this year, 
and I believe it will be of practical value. That-is the purpose of it. 
For instance, there has been a study made of forest fires in the Adiron- 
dacks, the only comprehensive study of the terrible fire that raged 
there last spring. A representative of the Bureau will appear before 
the State senate committee of New York on next Tuesday in order to 
testify along the lines of that report, and in order to suggest a forest 
policy for the State to the committee. 
Mr. Havern. What can you tell us about the forests of Alaska? 
Mr. Price. I wish I had Mr. Langille here, who made that exam- 
ination. 
Mr. Haveen. You have a general idea of the results? 
Mr. Pricz. Yes, sir. Mr. Langille had a very interesting trip 
and drew the boundaries for the proposed reserves he was sent to 
examine. He reports that there are dense forests, but the area of 
merchantable forest is decidedly small. 
Mr. Scotr. Owing to the difficulties of transportation ? 
Mr. Price. Yes. And because the trees are exceedingly scrubby 
and short. For instance, the red fir, which is of such immense size in 
Washington, in Alaska is a comparatively small tree, and a very 
branchy one. 
Mr. Henry. It is rather worthless, then? 
Mr. Price. Yes, sir; exceptas a forest cover for the mountains. 
Mr. Bowtrz. I want you to please explain what you mean by investi- 
gating the causes of fires? Do you not know in advance, without 
investigation, what causes a fire? 
Mr. Price. We do not always know, locally. Fires may be caused 
in a good many ways, and the cause frequently indicates the best method 
of prevention. 
Mr. Bowrz. What causes have you found out that you did not know 
of before you began to investigate? 
Mr. Price. None that we did not know existed, but through knowl- 
a of local causes we have found the best ways of preventing the 
res, 
Mr. Lamps. It is a sort of detective work? 
Mr. Pricr. No, sir; not exactly that, but a close study on the 
ground. 
Mr. Bowiz. What do you mean by determining the effect; what is 
left unburnt? 
Mr. Prics. Yes, sir; what the effect is on the forest. For exam- 
ple, the fire does not kill the mature long-leaf pine, while it practically 
destroys a spruce forest in the Adirondacks, so that the question of 
