Forest Reserve Manual

INSPECTOR OF FOREST RESERVES.

1. The forest inspectors are appointed only after having established special proficiency in timber surveying, measuring and estimating, and all kinds of work connected with forest reserves. Successful experience in forest-reserve service will count for much.

2. The salary of the inspectors will be determined by the Secretary of the Interior, but in all cases they will be allowed all necessary traveling expenses and $3 per diem in lieu of subsistence.

3. The inspector is the superior officer in the field, wherever he is assigned to duty. He advises with all forest officers and has access to any books, reports, or other records at the headquarters of these several officers, and is assisted by the supervisors and superintendents in his work.

4. His duties are to inspect the different reserves, their condition, and the progress, condition, and execution of all work, and to report to the Commissioner of the General Land Office all facts necessary for a proper management of such reserves. He investigates special cases when assigned to him, and assists, by suggestion and advice, the central office as well as the superintendents and supervisors or other local officers.

5. He is authorized to hire men and purchase materials necessary in the performance of his duties, but not involved in his subsistence, but must obtain special authority from the Department in advance for such special expenditures in excess of $50.

SUPERINTENDENTS.

1. Superintendents will only be appointed after having shown special proficiency in timber surveying, measuring, and estimating and all other forest-reserve work. Successful experience in forest-reserve service will count for much.

2. The salary of forest superintendents will not be uniform, but will be fixed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the importance attached to each jurisdiction, but in all cases necessary traveling expenses are allowed.

3. The forest superintendent acts as local inspector for the reserves under his charge. He has access to any books, reports, or other records of the several forest officers, and is assisted by the supervisors and rangers in work connected with their respective reserves.

4. His duties are to inspect the different reserves under his charge, their condition, and the progress, condition, and execution of all work, and to report to the Commissioner of the General Land Office all facts necessary for a proper understanding of existing conditions and for the management of such reserves. He assists, by suggestion and advice, the central office as well as the local officers, and consults with the supervisors and helps plan the work of the reserves.

SUPERVISORS.

1. Forest supervisors will only be appointed after demonstrating their ability to perform the duties of the office; and only men well grounded and experienced in forest survey, timber estimating, and timber business will be considered eligible. Successful experience in forest-reserve service will count for much.

2. The salary of supervisors will not be uniform, but will be fixed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the amount of business in the reserve or reserves in each jurisdiction.

3. Each supervisor will be required to keep, at his own expense, one or more saddle horses, to be used under saddle or to vehicle, for his transportation in the reserve and will only be allowed such necessary traveling expenses as are incurred when the urgency of the ease requires some other means of transportation.

4. The supervisor will have full charge of the subordinate employees and the business of his reserve or reserves.

5. He will plan and direct all work, have entire disposition of his rangers and other help, and will be responsible for the efficiency of the service.

6. He has authority to suspend any subordinate employee in his reserve, except head ranger, and to recommend his discharge from the date of suspension; and also to recommend such changes in the field force as the good of the service may demand.

7. No charge for services of a surveyor, scaler of timber, assistant, or extra help, nor for any other than ordinary and usual expenses will be allowed, unless specific official authority is first obtained therefor in each case, which will be granted only on such statement of facts as the Commissioner may decide to justify the authorization requested. However, in case of emergency clearly precluding prior authorization, he may employ the necessary assistants without first obtaining the required authority; but when the expense incurred in an emergency case is transmitted for payment, the expense account must be accompanied by a full and complete statement of the facts, showing why the case was one of emergency, and also, conclusively, that the expense was absolutely necessary and for the good of the service; failing in this, the charge will be disallowed.

8. In the case of forest fires the supervisor is authorized to hire temporary men, purchase materials and supplies, and to pay for their transportation from place to place to extinguish the fire; but when it is evident that the expense of any fire in any such case is liable to be over $300.00 he must at once telegraph the central office for authority to incur the additional expense. No expense for fighting a fire outside of the reserve must be incurred unless the fire threatens the reserve.

9. The supervisor will advise with the forest inspector and superintendent whenever either calls upon him, or is on duty in his reserve or reserves. He will also consult with his head rangers on the work intrusted to their care, and whenever the importance of any case demands.

10. He must make general monthly reports to the central office concerning all matters of importance coming to his attention, embodying therein all information affecting the reserve coming from the rangers or from other sources.