GOVERNMENT FOREST WORK ht 
and stake a claim wherever he finds any evidence of 
valuable minerals. The only restriction is that min- 
ing claims must be bona fide and not taken up for the 
purpose of acquiring valuable timber, or for a town 
or power Site, or to monopelize the water supply on 
stock ranges. Bona fide mining men do not wish to 
take up claims for an unlawful purpose, and the na- 
tional forests are open to them at all times. Pros- 
pectors may obtain a certain amount of national-forest 
timber free of charge to be used in developing their 
claims, and in other ways the Forest Service gives the 
mining man all the help it can. As to deposits of coal, 
oil, and gas, permits to prospect for and leases to 
develop must be secured through the Department of 
the Interior. 
—— OF TIMBER RESOURCES OF 
NATIONAL FORESTS 
Ripe standing timber on the forests, of which there 
is a large amount, is sold at a fair price. Anybody 
may purchase timber, but no one Can obtain a mo- 
nopoly of it or hold it for speculative purposes. The 
Government is anxious to sell the mature timber on 
the forests, because it is no longer growing at a 
profitable rate and should give way to younger trees 
and seedlings which will constitute succeeding crops 
of timber. The fewest possible restrictions are im- 
posed upon purchasers of timber, only such as will 
insure cut-over areas being left in the best condition 
for future growth. Experienced foresters estimate 
the quantity and quality of national-forest timber 
and itS approximate value as a basis for the price 
to be charged. (Fig. 3.) In fixing this all factors 
which affect the cost of lumbering, Such as accessi- 
bility, number, and kind of improvements necessary, 
as well as general market conditions, are taken into 
account. The prices set allow the purchaser of 
national-forest timber opportunity for a fair profit. 
Bids are then obtained through public advertisement, 
unless the amount is small enough to come within 
the limit which can be sold without advertisement, 
