WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE 



9 



opportunity for a fair profit. Unless the amount is small, the tim- 

 ber is then sold through public advertisement to the highest bidder. 



Before an extensive program of timber sales is started forest offi- 

 cers make a careful survey of the timber resources and prepare a plan 

 of management prescribing the amount of timber which may be 

 cut annually or by other short periods and the methods and order of 

 cutting. These long-time plans are made in order to insure a con- 

 stant supply of timber for the communities and industries dependent 

 upon the forest for raw materials. This makes possible the estab- 

 lishment of permanent wood-using plants and prosperous commu- 

 nities of people who look to the woods as a market for their labor. 



The trees to be cut on a sale area are usually marked in advance 

 by a forest officer, the object being to leave enough trees to seed the 



Figure 5. — Timber-sale area on the Sitgreaves National Forest, Ariz. 



ground or younger trees to form the basis of a second crop of tim- 

 ber on the same land. Where the forest protects a watershed, no 

 cutting is done that would injuriously affect stream flow or start or 

 increase erosion, nor is mature timber taken from recreational areas 

 where it has a special value for scenic purposes. 



Small sales of timber are made by the local ranger. Larger sales 

 are made either by the supervisor of the forest, the regional forester, 

 or the Chief of the Forest Service. 



National forests also serve local people in supplying needed tim- 

 ber. Settlers, farmers, and other bona fide residents may obtain free 

 timber for their own use for such domestic purposes as firewood, 

 fencing, and building, where the taking of such material aids in pro- 

 tection and improvement of the forest. They may also obtain higher 

 grade material when needed by paying the costs of making the 

 sale. 



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