28 MISC. PrBLICATIOX 11, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTUKE 



2. (a) To cut over the forested area four times iu the next 140 years, begin- 

 ning from the year 1921. removing the mature, decadent, and defective timber 

 in the first cut. 



(&) To make such thinnings in young stands as are economically possible. 



REGULATION OF THE CUT 



1. Rotation. — A rotation of 140 years has been chosen as the basis for manage- 

 ment. This period is based largely on figures of growth obtained by Johnson in 

 cut-over stands in the Black Hills National Forest in 1922. Johnson's figures 

 indicate a rotation of approximately 130 years. Pending confirmation of his 

 calculations by continued studies during the next seven years, a rotation of 140 

 years has been adopted as conservative. (See p. 37 for growth figures obtained 

 by Johnson.) 



2. Cutting cycles. — The best growth figures available indicate that four cut- 

 ting cycles of 35 years each during the rotation are feasible. In any case the 

 35-year cutting cycle for the removal of the first cut appears to be satisfactory, 

 inasmuch as it provides for the removal of the decadent and defective timber 

 as quickly as possible. Likewise it produces a yield suflicient to maintain 

 established industries on a sustained yield basis, and furthermore, does not 

 endanger continuation of a sustained yield through the subsequent cutting cycles. 

 (See p. 30 for detailed calculations.) 



3. Ailowatle cut. — Calculations to be found in the Appendix show that an 

 annual cut of 7.000,000 feet board measure is possible. This volume limitation 

 is therefore adopted to apply during the remainder of the period 1921-1930. 

 It is not adopted for the entire cutting cycle for the following reasons: 



(1) The accuracy of some of the timber estimates used in these calculations 

 is doubtful. 



(2) Within the next seven years a large part of the circle west of Pleasant 

 Yalley, which at present is not covered by accurate timber surveys or esti- 

 mates, will have been mapped and cruised. The accurate data such a cruise 

 will give may indicate that some changes must be made in the size of the 

 annual allowable cut. 



GENERAL PROGRESS OF THE CUT 



The units listed in the cutting budget are those most in need of cutting, as 



determined by their maturity or by the presence of injurious insects. Quali- 

 fying factors considered in making the selections are: 



1. Volume of timber available ; practicability of mill settings. 



2. Location, with reference to as equitable a distribution of timber-sale work 

 among ranger districts as is possible. 



3. Location with reference to present mills. 



4. Accessibility. 



5. Presence or absence of valid mining claims in unit. 



Most of the cut for the first 10-year period will come from French Creek, 

 Pleasant Yalley. Willow. Mayo, and Cold Brook blocks in the order named. 



TIMBER-SALE POLICY 



1. The number and size of sales will be governed by the control budget and 

 the foregoing policies. 



2. Sales will be made with the idea of caring for established operators first 

 and giving them a continuotis cut. Thus bodies of timber near or adjoining 

 going operations will be advertised only when the going sale is about completed, 



3. The average annual cut for the period 1921-1930, inclusive, will not exceed 

 the maximum of 7.000.000 feet board measure. 



4. Until competition and demand become keener timber will be advertised 

 only on application. 



5. Fnits will be appraised on the basis of a mill of capacity sufficient to handle 

 most efficiently the volume of timber being sold. 



6. Sales to operators desiring to cut over 1.000,000 feet annually will be 

 confined to Pleasant Valley, Lower Hell Canyon. Pass Creek, Hawkwright, and 

 Wind Cave blocks, unless due consideration shows that an operation of such 

 size in another block would best serve the interests of good forest management, 



7. Sales made under regulation S-22 will be confined to small isolated tracts 

 of timber that are not a logical part of a large unit, except that in cases where 



