8 STATUS OF FOKESTEY IN THE UNITED STATES. 



from regions where local consumption requires the entire supply, 

 or is certain to do so in the future. The law prohibits export from 

 South Dakota of any timber from the Black Hills National Forest, 

 unless cut from dead or msect-infested trees. 



Anyone except a trespasser may purchase timber upon the National 

 Forests. There is no limit but the capacity of the forest to the 

 quantity which may be sold to one purchaser, except that monopoly 

 to the disadvantage of other users of forest products will not be 

 tolerated. 



Purchases of less than $50 worth of timber can be arranged with 

 the nearest forest officer. Larger sales, up to the limit set by the 

 Forester, are handled by the supervisor of the Forest, while sales for 

 amounts above the limit set for supervisor's sales require the approval 

 of the district forester. In all sales involving $100 or more, adver- 

 tisement is made for competitive bids, on the basis of a minimum 

 stumpage price, and the timber is sold to the highest bidder. 



Since no cutting or logging of timber for sale is done by the Gov- 

 ernment, the silvicultural measures required to renew and improve 

 the forest are provided for in the sales contracts, and are mainly 

 executed by the purchaser. Logging is expensive in the present 

 undeveloped condition of the country, and if the stipulations of the 

 contracts are too burdensome the would-be purchaser will be turned 

 away. On the other hand, the good of the forest, as well as the local 

 demand for timber, requires that ripe National Forest timber and, 

 above all, dead and diseased timber, be removed. In its timber- 

 sale policy the Service seeks constantly to work out a compromise 

 between these conflicting conditions and to secure the welfare of the 

 forest and the development of the community together. In carrying 

 out this policy its main reliance is the use of marking rules prepared 

 for each of the forest types, by which reproduction is secured by 

 leaving seed trees and a steady improvement made in the condition 

 and make-up of the forest. In accordance with these rules, trees are 

 carefully marked for cutting in each sale as local forest and market 

 considerations dictate. The provisions of the timber-sale contracts 

 cover such essentials of good forest work as care against injury to 

 young growth; low stumps; full utilization of the tree; the removal 

 of inferior trees and often of undesired species; and the proper dis- 

 posal of brush — in piles for burning or scattered evenly, as the case 

 demands. A marked improvement in forest conditions attests the 

 success of the silvicultural treatment under these limitations. 



FREE USE OF TIMBER. 



Forest officers are authorized to grant permits without charge for 

 $20 y;^orth of timber during any one year to persons who may not 

 reasonably be required to purchase. This amount may be increased 



[Cir. 167] 



