^^' Vacation Land — The National Forests in Oregon 



The timber that is mature and ready for cutting is offered for sale to the highest 

 bidder. When a sale is made, the trees to be cut are marked by a forest officer, 

 provision being made for the preservation of the young growth and the perpetuation 

 of the Forest. The purchaser of National Forest timber is required to dispose 

 of the logging slash in such a way as to prevent its becoming a fire menace. 



As the result of great forest fires there are here and there on the National 

 Forests large burns which are completely deforested and which can be reclaimed 

 only by the artificial planting or sowing of small trees. Such areas the Forest Service 

 is reclaiming by planting young trees grown in the Service nurseries. About 

 1,500,000 small trees are planted annually in the National Forests of Oregon. 



On most of the National Forests there are areas suitable for the grazing of sheep 

 or cattle. These are allotted to the sheep and cattle men for a regular fee of so much 

 per head of stock. Settlers who live within or near a Forest are allowed to graze 

 a small number of domestic stock free of charge. Care is taken to see that each 

 settler and stockman gets his fair allotment of range, and that the range is not 

 overgrazed and spoiled for the next grazing season. 



The greatest menace to the forest is fire, and the Federal Government spends 

 annually on the National Forests of Oregon about $60,000 for patrol work and from 

 $5,000 to $80,000 for actual fire fighting. On each of the Forests in Oregon there 

 are one or more lookouts who are stationed on the higher peaks and ridges. Upon 

 these the Forest Service depends for the speedy discovery of fires. It is intended 

 that all parts of every Forest shall be under constant observation during the summer 

 season. The lookout is housed in a small cabin and provided with field glasses and 

 instruments for determining the location of fires. Telephone lines enable him to 

 report the fire to the district ranger. Once a fire is discovered and located, it is the 

 business of the ranger to put it out. Tools are always ready at the ranger stations 

 and in special boxes at strategic points in the Forest. The ranger and his assistants 

 are always ready for prompt action, and the majority of fires are reached and extin- 

 guished inexpensively by a small crew before they spread to large proportions. If 

 the fire is too large for the ranger to handle, the forest supervisor takes charge and 

 by means of plans made in advance is able to secure on short notice experienced 

 crews of fire fighters, transportation, and large supplies of tools and equipment and 

 food for the men who may have to spend a week or more on the fire line. The 

 greatest energies of the Forest Service are directed to the prevention and suppression 

 of fires. 



