History of the Fremont National Forest

PERSONNEL 1950-1960

Personnel Sketches

John E. McDonald. John E. McDonald was born in Heber City, Utah, on January 4, 1916. He grew up on a small cattle ranch. Educated in public schools, he attended Utah State Agricultural College in 1934-1939 for his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and again in 1946 for his Master of Science in Range Economics.

Before being appointed forest supervisor of the Fremont National Forest in 1950, he served as district forest ranger in various forests. He was also an instructor in range management at Utah State Agricultural College for almost four years, between June 1946 and February 1950.

After serving as forest supervisor of the Fremont for over seven and one-half years, John McDonald resigned to take a position with the Lakeview Lumber Products Company of Lakeview. In every other instance when a supervisor left the Fremont, he also left Lakeview, but in this case, it has been Lakeview's good fortune to have the McDonalds remain in Lakeview as our friends and neighbors.

While supervisor of the Fremont, McDonald was a leader in a great many community activities in which he has continued: member and director of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, member and president of the Rotary Club, president of Lake County United Fund, recipient of the Lake County Senior First Citizen Award, vice-president of Modoc Area Council of Boy Scouts, and recipient of the Silver Beaver Award for Boy Scout work.

"Singing the Blues" is the theme song on the Fremont. We were all somewhat stunned and needless to say left with a mingled feeling of loss and sadness by the news that our supervisor is leaving the Service. "Mac" has been on the Fremont a long time and will be greatly missed. Everyone wishes him the best of everything in his new work. At least we are glad for the fact that the McDonalds will remain in Lakeview.

Neland Kissinger. Mr. Kissinger started his Forest Service career during the summers from 1947 to 1950 on several forests in the Rocky Mountain area as recreation and timber sales aid and as range management aid. After graduating from Colorado A & M College in 1950, he received his yearlong appointment as range conservationist with the Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. It was during this assignment that he carried on a number of range reseeding and brush control studies which resulted in several important publications. In April 1953, Mr. Kissinger was transferred to the Fremont National Forest where he has been chief-of-party for the range resource inventory crew. In 1955, he was transferred to Okanogan, Washington, as district ranger in charge of the Okanogan District. Neland passed away on August 10, 1958.

Henry C. "Hap" Hulett. On March 22, 1955, Hap Hulett passed away at his home in Hillsboro, Oregon, after a disability that lasted over two years. He leaves his widow Otelia and a married daughter, Conja.

Henry Hulett, or "Hap" as he was called because of his sunny disposition, came to this region in 1926 after graduating from the forest school of the University of Michigan. He worked in the regional office on timber cruising, then on the Deschutes, Wallowa, the old Santiam, and finally several years on the Fremont. Then followed a few years in the Washington office and the Lake States. With this wide background of experience, he returned to this region in 1942 as supervisor of the Ochoco. In December 1952 he left the Service because of poor health and moved to Hillsboro.

His special interest was in timber management work, but he had unusual ability in dealing with people inside and outside of the Forest Service. He was an effective leader in community affairs. The Boy Scout movement was his favorite hobby, and for his accomplishments he received the coveted Beaver award. (Timberlines, May, 1955)

Gatherings and Farewells

Our Christmas party, December 15, was a gala affair. Farewell, good luck, and speedy return were wished to Kenny Ratcliff and Bob Bjornsen, who have been called into the armed services. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," December 27, 1950)

Guy Martin, after long and faithful service, has retired. The Martins plan to spend the winters in Arizona and the summers at home in Silver Lake. Chuck Sullaway is leaving the forest this fall to try his hand at private employment. ("Northwest Forest Service News,"³ November 25, 1953)

Friends of Bill Augustine will be glad to know that he was able to go home from the Lakeview Hospital on August 11. The two boys, Bob and Dave, went home several days before. They are all recovering satisfactorily from the serious burns received on June 21, when their house exploded and burned.

Approximately sixty-five members of the Fremont and their wives attended a farewell dinner at the Lakeview Hotel on July 27 for the Nat Smiths and the David Mennes. Smitty, our shop mechanic for the last eight years, has resigned to go into the insurance business. Dave Menne, a 1953 J. F. appointee, resigned to return to St. Louis, Missouri. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Earl Sandvig of the regional office, who showed us their most interesting colored slides of their trip to Chile. Their pictures and comments were greatly enjoyed by all. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 18, 1954)

About seventy forest employees and friends met Saturday evening, April 21, for a going away party for Glenn Rhoton (Mt. Baker), Lew Harris (Bureau of Land Management), Lee Corbin (Wenatchee), and Frank Mauger (Gifford Pinchot). Bridge, pinochle, and other games were enjoyed. Lunch was served late in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Ross Shepeard (former ranger at the Bly District and now retired to a farm at White Salmon, Washington) were welcome guests. They were on their way to California for a vacation. The party was a welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Carlson who have just transferred from the Umatilla. We are looking forward to the arrival of two new rangers—Don Allen and Richard J. "Bud" Brookins. We also have the welcome mat out for Harold Olson, who will be our new administrative assistant. ("Northwest Forest Service News," May 9, 1956)

A loss to the Fremont is a gain to the regional office. We are regretting the transfer to Portland of three important staff members at the same time. With the transfer of Jack Groom, Forrest Jones, and Harold Olson, we feel that we are way out on a limb. We have enjoyed and appreciated all the years they have spent with us, and we all wish them the best of success and happiness in their new jobs and homes.

Jack is going to Recreation and Lands; Forrest is going to Timber Management; and Harold is going to Procurement. We shall expect to have a lot of influence in the regional office from now on. We are glad to hear they have plenty of room in their new homes as we all plan on "visiting around" with them every winter during the slack period here on the Fremont. A potluck dinner and dancing party attended by about eighty people was held in their honor at Dog Lake on September 13. We hope they won't forget the Fremont and will look forward to having them return to "inspect" us in the future. ("Northwest Forest Service News," October 8, 1958)

Our Social Committee is planning a dinner and social meeting at Van's Cafe the evening of Saturday, February 14. We are looking forward to a chance to relax for a short time from the report season and to meet and visit with our new (and old) co-workers. ("Northwest Forest Service News," February 11, 1959)

Ex-Fremont Wafter J. Perry, 1873-1959, passed away in Bend, Oregon, on July 19, 1959. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 17, 1959)

Staff Shortage and Turnover

Jack D. Saubert has arrived from the Willamette to take over Lloyd's timber management duties and Chester M. Biel of the Deschutes replaced Homer at Paisley. Thatr leaves us two districts without rangers (Warner and the newly formed Thomas Creek District), and makes Ellis Gross the old-time ranger on the forest. Ellis has been on the Bly District two years. However, we have been promised Clyde Peacock from the Deschutes for the Warner District and Henry McCormick from the Malheur for the Thomas Creek District.

The shortage of rangers is further accentuated by the fact that all rangers, TMA's, and anyone else available are marking 35 MM feet of timber on the Paisley District for two weeks in preparation for an active cutting season to start soon. ("Northwest Forest Service News," May 22, 1957)

Several of the timber management and engineering boys threaten to enter the "bird dog" shows this fall after trying to keep up with the sales program, road program, fires, and diversified training, as well as taking the place of the foresters we didn't get plus those taken by the military.

Consoling expression commonly heard here, "Well, next year should really be a cinch." Of course, we heard it last year too. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 31, 1955)

Outside of too few J.F.'s, too many porcupines, too high water, shortage of funds, and one of the biggest cuts for the Fremont coming up, we haven't got a problem in the world. ("Northwest Forest Service News," May 9, 1956)

The personnel turnover, especially clerical, from transfers and resignations continues at a high rate with the never-ending training job for all. We can see one compensation among our recent transfers — Vince Killeen, TMA of the Bly District, is being transferred to Personnel Management in the regional office. Now we are all depending on Vince to fix us up with reclassifications and generous raises. A large crowd attended the picnic for the Killeens at the beautiful Sprague River campground on Sunday, May 25. The Killeen family will be greatly missed. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 4, 1958)

TIMBER MANAGEMENT

Summary of Fremont Timber Cuts

The following tables show the amount and value of timber cut on the Fremont for the seven-year period ending in 1952:

Timber Companies

The sale of Shevlin-Hixon to Brooks Scanlon and the closing of the Shevlin Camp came as a surprise. Shevlin-Hixon has operated on the Fremont since 1942, cutting nearly a billion feet through sales and exchanges and from their private lands before exchanges were negotiated. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," December 27, 1950)

The Lakeview lumber industry is taking steps to enlarge the plant facilities for additional processing of lumber and other wood products. The industrial committee of the local Chamber of Commerce, Lakeview mill operators, and Jim Thompson of our staff made a trip to Alturas on April 6 to view a glue-up process developed by the White Pine Lumber Company, in which short lengths of knotty and defective material are glued together and resawed for use as the core of veneered door jams. This company plans to establish a plant soon in Lakeview that will produce the blued-up core stock from the trimmings of box and shop productions. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," May 9, 1951)

A number of things have been done in recent years toward increasing the use of the timber. Two local firms have employed foresters to plan harvesting and utilization methods. One firm has built two dry kilns. One built a large building to house a glue-up process, and operated the glue-up plant for some time, although not this year. Another is using a finger joint gluing process.

One firm has intensified its selection of box factory lumber, getting many more usable cuts [from] their logging contracts. (Lake County Examiner, December 24, 1953)

Sales, Land Exchanges, and Cuttings

1950. During the year 131 million board feet of timber were cut at a value of over $2,000,000. This was the greatest value ever cut on the forest, while the amount cut was exceeded only in 1944, when nearly 159 million board feet were cut. Sixteen sale or selection areas of a million board feet or more each were operated during the year, indicating the demand for timber was great.

Eight auction sales were held during the year, containing a total volume of 77.725 million board feet.

Christmas tree sales dropped from 18,114 sold in 1949 to 10,223 in 1950. Total value sold was $2,759.30, or an average value per tree of $.27. Many white fir trees were damaged by frost or insects making them unsuitable for Christmas trees.

The two uncompleted Shevlin-Hixon land exchanges, Case #79 and Deschutes #107, were transferred to the Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company of Bend, when the Shevlin-Hixon interests were purchased by Brooks-Scanlon. This marked the end of our transactions with the Shevlin-Hixon Company, which has been operating on the Fremont since 1942, cutting nearly a billion feet.

Title was accepted for these small exchanges:

Jack C. McCartie Exchange #3 (80 acres offered land, 40 acres selected area)

Don Sprague Exchange #6 (640 acres offered, tripartite basis)

Fred Anderson Exchange #5 (40 acres offered and 40 acres selected land)

Reports were completed for the following four exchanges:

Deely-Twomey Exchange #8 (340 acres offered and 648 acres selected land)

D. C. and Clarence Tracy Exchange #9 (299.97 acres offered and 56.82 acres selected)

Heckman-Langslet Exchange #7 (160 acres offered and 160 acres selected area)

Jeremiah O'Leary Exchange #4 (80 acres offered, 160 acres selected)

During the winter we have auctioned timber on three sales: 8,800 MBF of pine went at $23.00 and 3,200 MBF of pine at $15.95. The other sale of 8,500 MBF of pine and 2,800 MBF of white fir sold, after twenty-six bids, at $15.20 for pine and $1.00 per M for the fir. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," April 5, 1950)

Our timber business is booming. An auction on August 7 had spirited bidding but didn't last long. Ponderosa pine bids were jumped from $21.40 to $27.91 in three bids and white fir was raised from $1.00 to $3.00. The White Pine Lumber Company was the successful bidder. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," August 16, 1950)

Timber business is still humming with cutting still in progress on five of the twenty-two active sales. The 1950 cut of Fremont National Forest timber will crowd 140 MMBF. Just completed preliminary advertisement of 74 MMBF sale in the Klamath Working Circle as well as a tour over the sale area with six prospective bidders. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," December 27, 1950)

The following is a tabulation of cut by the Working Circles for the calendar year 1950:

(Timber management report, 1951)

1951. Approximately 81,200 MBF of timber was cut on the forest this year on timber sales and on exchange selection areas. The reported value of this timber was $1,413,271. Of the total volume cut, a little over 18 MMBF feet was from exchange selection areas to which a stumpage value averaging $5.35 was assigned. The 1951 cut is very close to the annual allowable cut for the forest.

Nearly 20 MMBF feet of timber was killed on the three fires that occurred in 1951. Virtually all of the fire-killed timber was on a reserve stand in cut-over land, and it was salvaged before the close of the year. Several sales were made early in 1951 to dispose of wind-thrown timber and the total volume of such sales was about 1.5 MMBF feet.

Fifteen advertised sales were awarded in 1951 with a contract volume of 163,657 MBF, and 897 MBF of saw timber was sold by use of unadvertised sale procedures in thirteen sales. Sale preparation work was considerably reduced in 1951 by the occurrence of three large fires on the forest. However, the award of three sales, the operation of which will extend into 1953, has helped considerably to reduce sale preparation pressures. (Timber management report, 1951)

The sales program for the Lakeview Working Circle was slowed during the winter months until the Secretary rendered a decision upholding the Chief in establishment of the Federal Sustained Yield Unit in February. Since that time, three sales within the Lakeview Federal Unit have been awarded which involve a volume of 285 MMBF feet of timber. Two more sales are being prepared for an advertisement this spring for an additional volume of 68 MBF. We have recently completed the preparation of a 75 million-foot sale within the Klamath Working Circle for approval by the Chief. The awarding of these sales will result in the construction of fifty-five miles of timber access roads. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," May 9, 1951)

Logging crews are working ten hours a day and six days a week to get logs ahead of winter sawing. Logs are going from the forest at the rate of over 1.25 million board feet a day. Operator-built roads are in the process of construction. On June 30 and July 2, we held two timber sales for a total of 112 MMBF board feet of timber and a price of just under $3,000,000.

A timber re-inventory of the Lakeview Working Circle is in high gear, and we are just winding up the field work of a range inventory on the Drews Valley District. The 18 MMBF of timber killed in the Camp Creek fire will be sold September 17. Plans are made to seed our burns to grass and trees late this fall. We have 1,200 acres of sagebrush plowed and ready for reseeding and plan on seeding over 1,400 acres of skid roads and landings this fall. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," September 19, 1951)

Christmas tree sales for 18,600 trees, valued at nearly $5,600, were made in the fall of 1951. (Timber management report, 1951)

Thirteen Region 6 forests sold 48,460 Christmas trees in 1951 for $11,942. The Fremont had the highest score with 20,410 trees at $8,066; the Ochoco was second with 13,173 at $1,374; Mt. Hood was third with 3,192 at $407. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," January, 1952)

1952. Three land exchanges were consummated during 1952, wherein the government acquired 1,543 acres of forest land in exchange for 145 acres of national forest land and a value of timber to equal the difference in land values. These exchanges resulted in a net gain of national forest acreage amounting to 1,398 acres. The purpose of these exchanges was to block up ownership and facilitate more efficient management, both for private owners and the government.

We will complete field work on a joint cruise with Brooks-Scanlon on the offered lands of the old Shevlin-Hixon Exchange #79 in the Klamath Working Circle on June 14. All woods operations are back in action after the winter shutdown. Our fences, phone lines, roads, and trails really suffered from the heavy snows last winter. It will keep us moving to get them maintained by fire season. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 11, 1952)

Log decks are the largest they have ever been. The old Shevlin camp has been moved to the Deschutes Forest. ("Northwest Forest Service News," October 22, 1952)

1953. We are trying out the Unit Area Control systems for timber management with two sales amounting to 58 million board feet under contract and another for 15 million board feet about to be advertised. So far the system is working fine with both operators and administrators pleased. "Northwest Forest Service News," July 15, 1953)

Harvesting of timber made a slow start last spring but gained momentum during the summer. With a favorable fall, we were able to cut a little over 100,000,000 board feet, which has a value of $1,300,000. We hope to hit the 2,000,000 mark by the end of the fiscal year. ("Northwest Forest Service News," November 25, 1953)

The Weyerhaeuser Timber Company continued operation on the Skull Creek sale, logging about 21 million board feet this season.

The American Forest Products Corporation logged on their South Warner area and on exchange cutting, totaling about 16 million board feet.

The Spangler Lumber Company at Bly cut about 8.5 million board feet on the Boulder Creek area.

Fremont Sawmill Company purchased the Augur Creek sale and logged about 19 million board feet from the area.

White Pine Lumber Company completed logging on the Dog Lake sale with a cut of about 16.5 million board feet and in addition purchased the Strawberry sale and cut about 2.5 million board feet from this area.

Adams Lumber Company at Paisley completed logging on the Moss Creek sale and Coffeepot sale and began cutting on the Green Creek sale for a total cut of 6 million board feet.

The Silver Lake Lumber Company purchased the Buck Creek sale and the Picture Rock Pass sale and completed logging on other small sales. The total cut on these sales amounted to 5.5 million board feet. Sumpter and Allison of Silver Lake logged about 2.5 million feet of salvage timber from the String Butte area.

1954. Timber management staff are busy preparing sales for 170 million board feet which we expect to advertise and award before July 1, and 90 million feet more before September 1. ("Northwest Forest Service News," April 7, 1954)

We don't dare quote any figures—too many business statistics and other reports might not agree entirely on FY, CY, and five-year averages, etc. Anyway, the cut is just under 100 million, sold about 170 million, cruised over 200 million, and exterminated over 1,000 porcupines. Winter TSI work has started. Blisters, worn out shoes, and sore muscles are not yet tabulated. ("Northwest Forest Service News," December 22, 1954)

All of the timber operations on the Fremont were fortunate in not being affected by the general strike in the West coast lumber industry. Timber was harvested in the full allowable amount and, in addition, a number of salvage sales were made to recover trees that were blown down or killed by insects or disease. There were seventy-two commercial timber sales. (1954)

1955. Again this year, the full allowable amount of timber has been harvested and additional salvage sales were made to recover trees that would otherwise be lost because of insects, decay, or blow down. All timber killed in the six major forest fires was sold, and much of it has now been logged. The following is the year's timber business in brief:

1956. Big business in the way of lodgepole pine pulpwood is fast becoming a reality, with work under way on a proposed sale of from 400,000 to 600,000 cords. We're just beginning to realize how little we know about lodgepole management. ("Northwest Forest Service News," May 9, 1956)

An auction timber sale was held in the conference room at the regional office on August 22 for 360,000 cords of lodgepole pine and other species of pulpwood on about 173,000 acres in the Fremont National Forest and an additional 90,000 cords on about 77,500 acres on the Rogue River National Forest. It is the first large-sized lodgepole pulpwood sale in the Region 6.

Two firms entered the auction: Johns-Manville Products Corporation of Oregon and Brooks-Scanlon, Inc. Each firm entered eight bids. The appraised prices were $1.50 a cord on the Fremont and $2.20 on the Rogue River. Total value as bid was $749,600 for the 450,000 cords in the sale. Bidding lasted one-half hour. Johns-Manville Products Corporation of Oregon was the successful bidder.

The closing date of the sale is 1973. The first reappraisal will be made July 1, 1962, and each three years thereafter. The logging plan calls for clear-cutting in staggered settings. However, the Forest Service reserved the right to save any trees within the cutting units that would be more valuable for products other than pulpwood. Under the terms of the sale, it is possible to sell such trees by separate sale during the life of the pulpwood contract. A high degree of utilization will be required. All trees within the cutting units having a diameter of 6 inches dbh are merchantable. The minimum diameter is 4 inches dob.

Johns-Manville has disclosed plans for a plant at Klamath Falls to make products from these trees, too small in diameter for most lumber mills. The trees generally are six to ten inches in diameter. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 29, 1956)

Salvage logging of last year's burned over areas has been completed, with recovery of over 22 million feet of timber. A half million trees (including about 60,000 Jeffrey pine) have been planted in the same areas. Regular timber business is still booming, the big problem being to stay within the allowable cut. ("Northwest Forest Service News," September 12, 1956)

Loggers

Contrary to local opinion, the Fremont personnel aren't out on strike — they're out in the brush taking care of the timber business, since our loggers aren't out on strike either. To date the mills on the Fremont have not seen the picket lines common to so many of the other Northwest areas. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 18, 1954)

1957. The Fremont National Forest consists of two Working Circles: the Lakeview Working Circle with an allowable cut of 53 MMBF, and the East Klamath Working Circle. During the year, final computations of the previous year's re-inventory work allowed the annual cut on the East Klamath Working Circle to be raised from 36 MMBF to 47 MMBF. This gives a total annual allowable cut on the Fremont Forest of 100 MM board feet.

The actual cut during the year amounted to 117 MMBF with a value of $2,230,000. Of this amount, 2 MM board feet came from salvage sales. This timber would otherwise have been lost, and the volume is not chargeable against the allowable annual cut.

1958. Despite the slump in lumber prices, all of the local mills have operated on a normal schedule, and no lack of interest has been noted in the timber sale program. ("Northwest Forest Service News," January 29, 1958)

This spring's sales total about 80 MMBF in harvest sales, plus a number of salvage sales consisting of dead and dying timber, and scattered, high risk, live trees. All hands are expecting an all-time record of accomplishment in TSI work this season. The present goal is to leave every acre of cut-over land with a proper stocking to give maximum efficient timber production. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 4, 1958)

Locally, ten mills, employing about 2,000 workers, are dependent to a large extent upon national forest timber, making the timber sale program one of primary importance on the Fremont. During the year a total volume of 106 MMBF was sold. This amount, added to the 372 MM board feet already under contract, made 478 MMBF available for cutting. Total cut on the forest for the year was 122 MMBF, of which 3 MMBF was in salvage sales. The forest has been accelerating its cut in the East Klamath Working Circle to make up past undercuts and will soon close the gap to its sustained yield capacity. In the Lakeview Working Circle, an overcut of 8 MMBF will require slightly reduced activity. 16,800 Christmas trees were sold. (Timber business report, 1958)

1959. Timber business on the Fremont continues to flourish. At the present time we have 351 million board feet under contract yet to cut. We are even forced to run a graveyard shift in order to scale the winter logging shows now in progress (roads are frozen harder at night). Wendel Harmon from the regional office recently gave a talk on TSI at the local S.A.F. Chapter and found an enthusiastic reception among our timber beasts, who rattle on about "maximum basal area," "usable rind," etc. ("Northwest Forest Service News," February 11, 1959)

Apparently the combination of the withholding of the Indian Service timber from the Klamath Falls market and the improved lumber prices are responsible for livening up the timber business on the Fremont Forest. At a recent sale in this office, our pine, appraised at $23.50, was purchased for $49.00 per M and our lowly white fir, appraised at $7.10, was purchased for $14.00. Six other bidders finally gave up to Ellingson Timber Company, whose successful bid resulted in the highest price ever received for pine on this forest. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 17, 1959)

Timber Management

Reseeding and Timber Improvement. Our tree planting program is under way, and our plans call for the planting of 138,000 ponderosa pine seedlings on about 230 acres of cut-over and non-restocked burned areas. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," May 9, 1951)

On December 20, 1952, Rick Helicopters, Inc., Los Angeles, completed the aerial seeding operations on 2,860 acres of timber land which were burned on the Fremont last summer. Contract called for spreading a grass seed mixture over the entire national forest burned acreage, and the seeding of 1,000 acres of ponderosa pine. An area of about 3,000 acres, which included the area to be tree seeded and an isolation strip around the area, was treated with poison bait to control rodents before the tree seed was dropped. Early storms and high winds caused much delay in the project, but the helicopter proved to be a very useful means of spreading seed. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," January 30, 1952)

We have lust completed planting 568,000 ponderosa pine seedlings on 1,047 acres and hand-seeding an additional 160 acres with pine seeds. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 11, 1952)

Selected stands of ponderosa pine were treated to increase the quality and volume of the future timber crop. The following tabulation shows the 1952 accomplishment:

If the 254.00 trees we planted this spring don't survive and grow, we had better find a new system. Mother nature certainly furnished ideal planting conditions. ("Northwest Forest Service News," July 15, 1953)

Two hunter fires were reseeded by airplane during October. The Forest Service Noorduyn was used and was piloted by Ed Scholz of Cave Junction. Orville Looper, also of Cave Junction, was hopper tender. Slender wheatgrass, mountain brome, and orchard grass were used on 600 acres of the Mill Flat fire that burned this fall. The Oregon State Game Department furnished 100 pounds of bitterbrush seed and paid half the cost of the reseeding job on this burn. This fire was in a brush field in the old Cox Creek burn. The Ben Young fire, which burned a year ago and was logged this summer, was also seeded; 120 acres of this burn was broadcast with mountain brome, timothy, and orchard grass in fifty-minutes of flight time. ("Northwest Forest Service News," December 22, 1954)

In 1954 we seeded 150 acres with ponderosa pine, planted 165 acres with 109,000 ponderosa pine seedlings, pruned 1,168 acres, and thinned 641 acres to improve quality and rate of growth.

In 1955 we seeded 258 acres with ponderosa pine seed, planted 304 acres with 409,000 ponderosa pine seedlings, pruned 1,029 acres, and thinned 1,213 acres to improve quality and rate of growth.

Planting contractors have been "greening up" some of the snow of our burns of last fall. The planting project will begin on the Silver Lake District this week. We will plant some 450,000 trees in all, 90,000 of which will be Jeffrey pine. This will be our first experiment with Jeffrey pine on the Fremont; it does well for our neighbors to the south in Region 5, and we hope to have equally good results here. ("Northwest Forest Service News," May 9, 1956)

Operation Grass Seed is beginning on the Fremont. Sixteen tons of grass seed are being broadcast on some 4,000 acres of skid roads and landings that were disturbed by logging during the summer. Erosion control mixtures are made up of orchard grass, timothy, smooth brome, and crested wheat. Two hundred and ten acres on the Dry Creek allotment, which was plowed this summer, will be drilled to pubescent wheatgrass. (1957)

The planting of 535,000 trees is nearly all being done by contract. Bid prices ran between $15 and $16 per acre, which is lower than in previous years. Kudos will go to the first district to successfully contract their thinning work. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 4, 1958)

Two new pieces of equipment are being tried out on the Fremont. The Rogue River Forest was kind enough to lend us their new seeding and mulching machine, along with our old friend, Sam Poirier, to try out on road cut and fill slopes under east side conditions. Cut and fill slopes on twelve miles of the South Warner Road were mulched with thirty tons of straw. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at 100 pounds per acre. Timothy, orchard grass, and alta fescue were broadcast in the mulch. The result of this job will determine if additional work of this kind should be undertaken on the Fremont and other east side forests. Bill Rines, Warner District assistant ranger, and Ellis Carlson, fire control assistant, supervised the job.

The 20,000-pound Marden Brush Cutter will be tried out on four types of work. It will be used to eradicate areas of dense ceanothus brush; to scarify the soil where reproduction is lacking but there is a good seed source; to dig up weed and grass cover on old burns; and to thin ponderosa pine reproduction. ("Northwest Forest Service News," October 8, 1958)

Porcupines. In the January 5 issue of the "Northwest Forest Service News," we noted with much admiration the report from the Malheur indicating a kill of 1,314 porcupines. Our final count for 1954 was not complete at the time, and we wondered how our record would compare. Here is the final count for 1954 (not entirely comparable with the Malheur period of May 15 to November 15):

High individual count was captured by Bill Maxwell of the Bly District who tallied 359 and who has been duly commended and rewarded. The above counts are for kills made by Forest Service personnel only. Our cooperators bring the known count on the Fremont to well over 3,000 "good porkys" for 1954. ("Northwest Forest Service News," April 27, 1955)

The porcupine contest for young people, sponsored by the local Elks Lodge is paying big dividends. To date, the boys and girls (yes, girls!) have turned in over 1,300 porky noses. The contest among Forest Service employees is also helping to thin out the Fremont's number one tree destroyer. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 31, 1955)

Fremont porcupine hunters were not able to keep up with the 1955 record of kill; however, they did continue the reduction in the porky population. The final tally showed a kill of 2,200 of the spiny tree-eaters by Forest Service people. Again, individual honors went to Bill Maxwell of the Bly Ranger District with a count of 478. ("Northwest Forest Service News," January 16, 1957)

In the battle of the porcupine, we should like to tell you of the accomplishment of Bill Maxwell, fire control aid on the Bly District. In the last five years, Bill has killed a total of 2,772 porcupines, which has to be a record. We challenge anyone to equal or surpass it. ("Northwest Forest Service News," October 8, 1958)

A cooperative porcupine bounty program, supported by private timber companies and Lake and Klamath counties, has resulted in an estimated 20,000 porcupines killed on the forest the past year. The destructive effect this pest has on young pine stands continues to be serious and will require continued control. (Timber business report, 1958)

Here's the latest report on the porcupine battle. The cooperative efforts of the timber owners, the people of Lake County, and Forest Service employees have resulted in the reduction of the porcupine population by 9,895 animals during the 1958 season. Last spring a fund of $3,000 was collected through contributions of $1,000 each by the Warner Mountains Timber Company, the Fremont Lumber Company, and the Lake County Court. The money was disbursed by the county's paying $.50 for each porcupine killed and resulted in the destruction of 6,000 porcupines before the fund was exhausted in December. Forest personnel killed another 3,895 porcupines during their work hours and in their spare time in the evenings and nights for which no bounty was paid. ("Northwest Forest Service News," February 11, 1959)

Pine Beetle. Past history of the forest indicates that trends in the degree of insect infestations must be closely observed each year. Inventory losses as a result of epidemic infestations of the western pine beetle, in particular, have been shown to be of significance over a period of years. Not only do those insect attacks influence our available timber supply, but in many cases result in major changes in the orderly plan of timber harvest. The Forest Service insect surveys from 1938 to 1955 indicate annual losses from .28 percent to more than 1 percent of the total ponderosa pine stand annually. A local survey in the Warner Block during the early summer of 1953 showed a kill of nearly 1.5 percent of the ponderosa pine volume in the north half of the block (a virgin area) as a result of the epidemic attack of the pine bark beetle during 1952. Such peak attacks have occurred in cycles over many years and occur both in virgin and residual stands. Such attacks must be recognized and the areas salvaged promptly. Any mortality losses above those allowed for in the computation of the sustained yield must be accounted for at the time the inventory record is reviewed and brought up to date. (Lloyd G. Gillmore and Forrest W. Jones, "A Plan of Management for Timber Resources of Fremont National Forest," September 1, 1955)

Our old friend Dendroctonus keeps trying to get his nose into our cutting plans — even calling for assistance from his cousin, D. monticolae in pole-sized ponderosas. But we ain't about to turn our management plan over to the bugs. ("Northwest Forest Service News," February 11, 1959)

Lakeview Federal Sustained Yield Unit

Federal Unit Proposed. A public hearing was held on the proposed Lakeview Federal Sustained Yield Timber Unit March 7 at Lakeview. C. C. Carlson, U.S.D.A. attorney, served as hearing officer. Regional Forester Andrews outlined the plan from the Forest Service's viewpoint for those present at the hearing. The plan, which has almost unanimous backing among residents of Lakeview, would limit all Fremont National Forest timber cut in the Lakeview Working Circle to the mills in the Lakeview and Paisley area. The proposal calls for a minimum of five man-hours of labor per thousand to be put on the lumber in remanufacture within the area of primary manufacture. Mr. Andrews stated that private timber is rapidly being consumed and the need for cutting federal timber is great. He brought out the fact that under the Federal Sustained Yield Unit there would be a 50 MMBF per year as compared to the 65 MMBF cut in 1949.

Ray Harlan, for the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce presented a brief favoring the plan and was backed by numerous local organizations favoring the proposal. These groups pointed out that in view of the diminishing timber supply, a sustained-yield unit is needed to keep the mills running to stabilize the industry in the area, to boost local employment, and to make possible some planning for the future.

A storm of protest from the Willow Ranch Company over being left out of the proposed manufacturing area broke out during the hearing. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hanna, speaking as managers of the Willow Ranch Company took the stand that they did not oppose the sustained-yield unit, but wanted the right to bid on the timber contained therein. The opposition came near the end of the hearing. The record will be kept open for another fifteen days for the filing of written statements. Assistant Regional Foresters Lund and Lowden, Homer Hixon, and Supervisors Hulet and Jolley attended the meeting. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," March 5, 1950)

Lakeview Unit Approved. Word has been received that Secretary of Agriculture Brannan has upheld establishment of the Lakeview Federal Sustained Yield Unit on the Fremont National Forest. This unit was established October 10, 1950, but appeal was made to the Secretary of Agriculture by the Willow Ranch Lumber Company, which owns and operates a sawmill in northern California about six miles south of the Oregon state line. Under its policy of sustained yield forest management, the Forest Service will allow 50 MMBF of national forest timber to be harvested from the Federal Unit each year. The present installed capacity of Lakeview and Paisley mills is 65 MMBF annually, so it is anticipated that there will be competition in sales of the public timber. The Lakeview Sustained Yield Unit was established under a federal act passed in 1944. This is the second Federal Unit established in the Pacific Northwest under the Act. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," February 21, 1951)

Federal unit Inventory. A cooperative agreement was negotiated early in 1951 with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce under which the cooperator has deposited $7,500 for use by the Forest Service to complete an inventory of the Lakeview Working Circle. When completed, the data gathered in this inventory will be used to recalculate the allowable cut for the Working Circle, and the figures thus arrived at will facilitate the planning by local industry for development of remanufacturing and wood utilization plants within the Lakeview Federal Units. The field work for this inventory was a little over 50 percent complete at the close of 1951. (Timber management report, 1951)

Value of Federal unit. When you consider that there are approximately 1,500 or 1,600 families in the entire of Lake County, it can be seen that the heads of more than half the families draw their livelihood directly from the lumbering and logging industry. By far the major portion of this population is within the Federal Unit . . . at least 90 percent of it.

The Unit was created to retain at Lakeview and Paisley the sawmilling and remanufacture of the 50,000,000 board feet of allowable annual cut of national forest timber within the unit and thus to ensure a continuing supply of timber at these points, the better to encourage investment toward greater utilization of the trees; the better to stabilize or increase the payrolls and other income from this industry.

Mills at Lakeview and Paisley had the capacity of sawmilling 65,000,000 board feet per year and for several years they had been cutting that and more, between national forest and private timber. The community economy had grown to be more than 50 percent dependent upon the payrolls and income from that sawmilling capacity. But with the decline of private timber supply, the mills were faced with having to rely on the allowable annual cut of national forest timber, 15,000,000 feet less than capacity.

Unless the economy of the communities should be harmed accordingly, something had to be done, first, to retain here the permitted cut of national forest timber, and, second, to offer this stable supply as encouragement for investment in further remanufacturing and in waste utilization processes. (Lake County Examiner, December 24, 1953)

Policy Amendments. The amended policy statement raises the annual allowable cut from 50 MMBF to 53 MMBF. Under "Limits of Manufacturing Area," three additional exceptions are listed:

1. To remove material or species unsuitable for saw logs which may be utilized as pulp or products other than saw logs for which no market exists in the manufacturing area.

2. To remove dead timber resulting from fire, windthrow, insects, disease, or other causes, when beyond any reasonable doubt following usual sale procedures would result in a significant loss to the government through deterioration of timber involved. This exception is intended to expedite the sale of small selective tracts of timber.

3. The third exception is to consummate exchanges of land which do not reduce the amount of timber available for sale in the unit. (Timber management report, 1957)

FIRE MANAGEMENT

Fire Reports

1950. There were a total of ninety-one fires, thirty-four man-caused (twenty-five by hunters) and fifty-seven lightning-caused. Ninety-two acres were burned, amounting to only one-tenth of the five-year average.

During 1950 a total of 17.13 inches of moisture was recorded at the Lakeview weather station.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1950 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1951. The 1951 fire season was the most severe of any on record. Seventy-five fires occurred on the forest, burning 4,338 acres within the protective area.

Lightning caused forty-nine fires that burned a little over four acres. This is eight less fires than the five-year average for the forest, and the acreage burned is less than the ten-year average. There were a number of small storms throughout the year that started a few fires, but a major storm occurred on August 4 and 5 that started twenty-five fires. All lightning storms had small amounts of moisture with them. At no time did the lightning fire situation tax the forest's facilities to its limit, but it is recognized that prompt action held many of these fires to their small size.

Twenty-six man-caused fires occurred this year. The past five-year average for this forest is thirty-five. Ten of this year's fires were started by hunters, but all of these were held to less than one-fourth acre in size. Sufficient rain occurred on the first day of the hunting season to end the fire season, so this, combined with the closure of the forest on the first day of hunting season, accounts for the small number of hunter fires. Timberman fires were responsible for six fires that burned over 4,080 acres of forest land. One incendiary fire burned 247 acres. All of the large, severe fires started and spread in slash areas.

The weather this past summer was very dry. All of the large fires made their greatest spread on days of high winds, when the class of day was seven or higher.

The forest had five fires that cost over $300 to control, four fires that cost over $1,000, and three that cost over $5,000. Severe weather conditions were responsible mainly for these unusual costs, but the fact that several fires were started in critical slash areas also made it necessary to spend large sums to control. Probably more money was spent on fire control this year than at any time since the forest was established.

Airplanes of the conventional type were used after lightning storms and to scout on large fires. This use did not cost very much and surely paid off in keeping fire costs down. In all cases, the planes were rented from the local Lakeview Airport operator.

Special work crews were employed on all districts except Paisley, which had a two-man maintenance crew. All these crews spent at least one month on fire suppression, and one crew was sent to the Willamette Forest on two occasions to help in fire suppression. These crews were financed out of fire money only while actually working on fires. There was very little standby necessary because the crew was constantly available by radio. (Fire report, 1951)

The third largest fire in Fremont National Forest history was controlled last Friday, July 20, after burning 3,200 acres in Camp Creek-Augur Creek area. Most of the blaze, about 1,800 or 2,000 acres, was on national forest land and the remainder, about 1,200 acres, was on Lakeview Logging Company Land.

About 850 men were on the fire at the peak of the fight, and control was gained about mid-morning on Friday, less than twenty-four hours from first smoke. These included thirty-eight forest service men brought in from other national forests as overhead personnel.

The blaze, which started on the west fork of Camp Creek, was first discovered at 12:15 Thursday, July 19, by Clyde Lewis, truck driver for Lakeview Logging Company. Lewis had gone past the spot shortly before and loaded his truck with logs. On the trip out he spotted the blaze which was at a brush pile (piling crews had worked the area the day before). The smoke was from the far side of the brush pile and about 100 feet from the road.

Lewis related that he ran to the spot with an extinguisher from his truck. As the extinguisher was not effective, he returned to his truck, sounded the horn and yelled "fire" in efforts to attract help. Then he tried to get a nearby Caterpillar tractor with bulldozer started but was not successful.

Willard Buckhorn, member of the Lakeview Logging brush piling crew, heard the call of "fire" and arrived at the fire about 12:20. With a rake he tried to stop the blaze but did not succeed.

At about 12:30 the smoke was seen by Vern Morris, operator of the loader for Lakeview Logging. He sent his crew to the scene and notified Lakeview Logging Company by radio. By the time this crew got to the scene, said McDonald, the fire had crossed the road and was out of control.

The first forest lookout to report the fire was Wesley Striet, on Cougar Peak, at 12:35. Almost immediately reports came from Shoestring lookout and others.

Fremont Sawmill, Lakeview Manufacturing, American Box, and White Pine shut down operations and rushed men to the fire to aid the Lakeview Logging employees already there. National Forest crews and overhead personnel were rushed in and the fight organized.

McDonald extended thanks to the hundreds of fire fighters, particularly to the crews and "Cat" operators who worked so diligently Thursday night. It was primarily this work, he said, that enabled control of the blaze by Friday. He added that excellent cooperation was had from everyone concerned, locally and from distant points; and that the stores, bakeries and other suppliers cooperated 100 percent with the result that there was little confusion. (Lake County Examiner, July 26, 1951)

The Lakeview weather station recorded a total of 16.46 inches of moisture during the year.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1951 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1952. The 1952 fire season was not so very severe, but the forest was kept busy by the largest number of lightning fires in the forest's history. On several occasions, there were over twenty lightning fires burning at one time, but because of the excellent work of the guard force, all were held to a very small size. The largest fire of the year was a lightning fire that got to be thirty-five acres before it was controlled.

(Fire report, 1952)

The Lakeview weather station recorded a total of 11.80 inches of moisture during the year.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1952 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1953. The fire season started out as gentle as a lamb but ended during the hunting season with a bang! ("Northwest Forest Service News," November 25, 2953)

During the year forty-six forest fires were set by lightning and twenty-nine were man-caused for a total of seventy-four fires. Twenty-six hunter fires burned 446 acres.

The Lakeview weather station recorded a total of 16.34 inches of precipitation during the year.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1953 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1954. There were a total of sixty-six fires, burning 1,101 acres: twenty-seven lightning fires (6 acres), twenty-seven hunter fires (1,089 acres), three fires in timber operation (1 acre), one fisherman fire (less than 1 acre), one stockman fire (less than 1 acre), seven fires, cause unknown (5 acres). (Fire report, 1954)

The Lakeview weather station recorded a total of 14.47 inches of moisture during the year.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1954 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1955. The Yocum Valley fire of 250 acres, which started on August 7, was possibly caused by a uranium prospector. Rangers and guards are busy checking blasting methods on many claims. The season is one of the driest for many years, and fires travel fast and furiously in slash areas.

Most of our fire fighters are now working on the Deming Creek fire, which started August 22 in a Weyerhaeuser Company slash area five miles north of Bly. Last report was 2,500 acres with possible control at that size. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 31, 1955)

Our fire season peaked on September 6 and 7 when there were twenty-six fires burning, four of which were big fires. The country was dry with no rain. Nearly all manpower and fire fighting equipment in our area were recruited and organized to combat this fire emergency. By September 10, all fires were under control.

There were eighty-nine fires, burning 11,039 acres: sixty-four lightning fires (8,297 acres), eleven hunter fires (1.5 acres), six miner fires (2,740 acres), two fires in timber operations (less than one acre), four fisherman fires (less than 1 acre), two fires, cause unknown (1 acre). (Fire report, 1955)

The Lakeview weather station recorded a total of 16.56 inches of moisture during the year. Low amounts of precipitation during the months of May through August allowed fires to burn rapidly. This resulted in a total of 11,039 acres burned over during the year.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1955 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1956. Fire season has been hectic with lightning storms about once a week. At first we said it was all good practice, but after 100 fires, we said something else. Summer crews have gone back to school but the fire season continues more critical than ever because of the high winds which occur nearly every afternoon. Fuel sticks are down to four. We could use a good rain before hunting season. Any of you Indians know the "Rain Dance?" ("Northwest Forest Service News," September 12, 1956)

Here are a few unusual items to report for the Fremont for the past year: precipitation was 19.71, the greatest on record since 1907. . .we had 132 fires, but the total area burned was only 19.85 acres, the smallest annual burned acreage on record. ("Northwest Forest Service News," January 16, 1957)

The Lakeview weather station recorded a total of 19.70 inches of moisture during the year.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1956 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1957. The 1957 fire season was about average so far as burning conditions were concerned. August and the first half of September were very dry. The Fremont had a total of seventy-five fires which burned only 166.1 acres within the Fremont Forest protective area. Frequent lightning storms started fifty-five fires, all of which were controlled while small. Credit for this good record is due to prompt detection from airplanes and lookouts, and fast action by ground crews in getting to each fire, controlling and putting it out.

A real sneaky lightning storm hit us September 16 and set twenty-nine fires scattered over four districts. Those who watched the storm are still unable to understand why we had so few fires.

The Lakeview weather station recorded a total of 17.84 inches of moisture during the year.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1957 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1958. The fire season has been below average as far as fire weather is concerned. There has been a thunderstorm or rainstorm bringing in rain to the forest almost every two weeks all summer. However, the Modoc Forest, just a few miles south, had a 600-acre fire, proving that it could happen. So far the Fremont has burnt a total of less than one acre inside the protective boundary. Several grass fires outside the protective boundary have given us some fast action. ("Northwest Forest Service News," October 8, 1958)

A total of 136 fires was recorded this year with only one acre burned. Thirty-four fires were man-caused and 102 caused by lightning. The total number was only exceeded during 1949 when 156 fires burned 835 acres. (Fire report, 1958)

The Lakeview weather station recorded a total of 15.48 inches of moisture during the year.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1958 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

1959. Smoke jumpers, helicopters, and borate planes were used for the first time on the Fremont. A complete fire replanning program was undertaken, with the basic work completed in 1959. A major change in the replanning was the inclusion of an initial air attack program. Special training in fire behavior will be given to all fire fighters in 1960. A new communications system on 168 megacycle frequency will be installed on the forest before the 1960 fire season starts.

Statistics

(Fire report, 1959)

The Fremont fire season opened about two months ahead of schedule. The Bly District reported humidity readings of fourteen and Class five fire weather early in April. The Weyerhaeuser Company reported their power saw started two fires in a snag felling operation. After five early fires, the rains came, and things greened out to normal. A large fire, problem practice was run through on June 8, with the forest's first team acting as trainers, while trainees wore the headdress and pushed the buttons and pencils. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 17, 1959)

Fire activities dominated the work program this past summer. Most everyone either worked on fires or was ordered on standby most of the weekends. We had several severe electrical storms and more incendiary fires than occurred during the past ten years.

Our cumulative burning index rating on the Warner District (continue adding B.I. for each day) for the period of June 20 to October 1 was 618 compared to 417 for the 1952-1956 average. This indicates a 33 percent higher cumulative B.I. than average for the period. This buildup was reflected in the way our two project fires traveled. The Little Honey Creek fire covered about 1,000 acres in the first hour on July 22, traveling three miles in virgin timber. The cumulative B.I. read 259 on July 22, compared to the five-year average of 142, representing an abnormal fire danger buildup, 45 percent above the five-year average.

The Mud Spring fire of September 11 averaged one-half mile per hour rate of spread in timber for the first six hours. The cumulative B.I. on September 11 was 565 compared to 356 for the five-year average, indicating another abnormal buildup, 37 percent above the five-year average.

Our borate operation, we feel, saved us several other possible project fires. We used over 50,000 gallons of borate on fourteen fires. Except for the two large fires, the borate either assured control or aided to some extent. At least five of our fires were crowning in reproduction and spotting when the borate arrived. In addition to our own fires, we dumped 4,800 gallons for the Modoc, 1,000 for Walker Range, 8,900 for Klamath Falls Protect Association, and 40,200 for Bureau of Land Management and the Hart Mountain Game Refuge. ("For Forest Personnel," October 28, 1959)

A somewhat drier year than normal was recorded with a total of 8.89 inches of moisture.

("Climatography of the United States," No. 11-31 1959 climatological data, Lakeview, Oregon)

WILDLIFE

Game Population

It is estimated that about 40,000 deer spend at least six months of each year on the Fremont Forest. Browse plants, which are the major forage for deer, are being over-used on many parts of the Fremont National Forest. If we are to maintain the excellent hunting we now enjoy, deer numbers must be kept in balance with their food supply. The Forest Service is cooperating with the Oregon State Game Department to plan the management of the game on national forest ranges. (Wildlife management report, 1952)

The deer population came through the last winter season in excellent condition, resulting in many twin fawns and low natural losses. Light snowfall allowed the deer to feed in a much larger area than usual, which relieved the pressure on concentration areas. Hunting season was again dry, making it difficult to find the deer. The three-day hunters' choice season following the regular buck season, however, brought the hunter success to about normal. (Wildlife management report, 1953)

Although the snow pack was much greater than usual in the mountains, the deer passed the winter with only about normal losses. The excellent growth of summer forage picked them up rapidly, and a good fawn crop resulted. Approximately 42,000 deer grazed for 252,000 deer months. (Wildlife management report, 1956)

The open winter of 1957-1958 allowed deer to range over a wide area, and winter losses were below normal. Browse growth during spring and summer was the best in many years and will make good feeding conditions for the 1958-1959 winter. Forest-wide deer hunting pressure was normal in the fall of 1958, but kill was light due to fair weather. These favorable conditions have caused deer numbers to increase. (Wildlife management report, 1958)

Hunters and Trappers

Hunters visited the Fremont in large numbers, with 24,000 of these bagging 4,000 mule deer. In addition to the regular hunt, a special season was opened for hunting the interstate deer herd. This was based upon recommendations of the Interstate Deer Herd Study Committee, which indicated that 1,500 head of antlerless deer should be removed from the interstate herd in California and another 1,500 in Oregon. About 1,319 deer were removed from the California side, while the hunt in Oregon was not so successful. Weather conditions started the deer migrating southward the week before the special season was opened, and only a few deer were left in the hunt area. In spite of this, Oregon hunters bagged 688 does and immature animals. (Wildlife management report, 1950)

Approval has been given for 7,000 doe deer permits from the Fremont, which will mean more hunters than usual. The forest is still bone dry. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," September 19, 1951)

Hunters again visited the Fremont in large numbers during the regular deer season. It is estimated that 20,000 of these sportsmen bagged 3,500 buck mule deer. In addition to the regular hunt, special hunts were held on the Interstate and Bald Mountain deer herds to reduce the size of the breeding herd.

Statistical information on the special, interstate doe hunts on deer during the summer of 1951:

(Wildlife management report, 1951)

This hunting season appears to be a record year in many ways. There is a bumper crop of hunters who have harvested so far a relatively small number of bucks. The woods have remained dry for a longer period than is usual, but hunter fire cooperation has been excellent. With an estimated 20,000 hunters in the woods, so far only three hunter fires have occurred. We have received excellent help from these sportsmen in controlling fires. ("Northwest Forest Service News," October 22, 1952)

Summer and winter, the Fremont Forest is visited by many people who enjoy the clean, fresh air of the mountains. It is estimated that in 1952, there were 70,000 recreation visits. These were made up of the following:

(Recreation report, 1952)

The warm dry weather in the early part of hunting season resulted in a lighter than usual harvest of buck deer. Favorable weather later in the season resulted in a good harvest of antlerless deer. Hunters killed about 6,000 bucks and 6,500 antlerless deer. (Wildlife management report, 1956)

The Fremont was blessed with pre-hunting season storms. This resulted in a reduction in hunter patrol work and an increase in hunting time by forest personnel. Hunter success by local people is nearly 100 percent and is expected to average over 65 percent for all hunting on the forest.

We all are happy that the goose season shows promise of supplanting the fire season for this year. ("For Forest Service Personnel," October 28, 1959)

Wildlife Meetings

We played hosts May 23 and 24 to the Interstate Browse Committee, which was attended by about forty wildlife men from Washington, Oregon, and California. Joe Pechanec and Bill Huber were down from Portland to help with the browse tour. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 11, 1952)

A two-day school has been completed by Rod Canutt for training district personnel in wildlife range analysis. It is planned to complete all wildlife range analysis on the forest this fall and winter. ("For Forest Service Personnel," October 28, 1959)

LIVESTOCK

Livestock Permits Issued

Reseeding Overview

In order to improve the forest ranges, the Fremont Forest has entered upon a reseeding program as funds have been made available. The following table shows what has been done to reseed the Fremont Forest to grass:

Reseeding Equipment

Brushland Plow. The famous brushland plow has been reconstructed according to designs prepared by the Range Reseeding Committee. We have just completed testing and approving it on 1,000 acres of rocky sagebrush land on the Paisley District. The improved plow had little difficulty in going over boulders as much as two feet in height. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," August 16, 1950)

Farmall Tractor. Ranger Knudson of the Paisley District completed the planting of eleven and one-half acres of bitterbrush on December 22. Some ten inches of rain, freezing weather, and at one time sixteen inches of snow made the project a tough nut to crack. The Fermall tractor couldn't be used because if enough frost was in the ground to hold the tractor, the drill wouldn't cut, and if the drill would work, the tractor would mire down. Finally, working from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon, before the ground was thawed out, and by using an RD-6 caterpillar, the job was completed. The value of reclaiming sagebrush lands by plowing and drilling with browse species such as bitterbrush may determine the big game future of many of our arid areas. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," December 27, 1950)

Fremont Rangeland Drill. John M. Kucera and Nathaniel R. Smith invented and built the first Fremont Rangeland Drill in 1951. It was for the purpose of drilling grass seed in extremely rocky soil. It could drill over the top of rocks two feet in height, and could penetrate or put seed in extremely hard soil, eliminating the necessity of plowing, which was very costly. Because the drill could penetrate hard soil, it became feasible to use 2-4D sprays to eradicate sagebrush and other undesirable range plants instead of plowing. In addition to being cheaper, spraying also tends to eliminate the possibility of accelerated erosion that normally occurs following plowing. Plowing pulls up and disturbs the roots, allowing the loose soil to be washed away.

John Kucera took the original model drill to the Forest Service Arcadia Equipment Depot in Arcadia, California, in January 1952. Engineers at the shop made blueprints by which to manufacture future models. The basic design and principles of the original drill were retained. The engineers merely added refinements. In John Kucera's words, "They converted it from a Model T to a Model A."

The first machine built by the Arcadia Shop was then sent to the Fremont in September 1952, where it has been used ever since by the Fremont, surrounding forests, and other agencies. A great number of these machines have since been built, and they are now in general use in the western states by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Soil Conservation Service, and many counties.

John M. Kucera and Nathaniel R. Smith received meritorious promotions for their invention.

Grazing Seasons

Grazing Season of 1950. For the first time in several years, the bitterbrush on the McCarty Butte and Mowich allotments was used by domestic stock. These areas have been closed for the past two or three years because of the heavy deer use and caterpillar damage. Following logging of these allotments, the bitterbrush made a good recovery.

Limited use was also made of the Coffeepot reseeding area this year for the first time following planting. The cattle seemed to prefer the crested wheatgrass over the timber feed on adjoining areas within the Coffeepot field. (Range management report, 1950)

The drilling of grass seed on 1,000 acres of plowed rangeland was halted, due to unusually heavy fall rains, after completing planting on 580 acres. The reseeding of 880 acres of skid trails has been completed. Lakeview has had sixteen and one-fourth inches of moisture so far in 1950 compared to ten and four-fifths in 1949. Lakeview has had five inches since October 1. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," December 27, 1950)

Grazing Season 1951. The 1951 grazing year was characterized by an extremely dry summer. Rains normally received in June did not occur. Consequently there was no measurable rain between May and October. This resulted in the forage becoming dry in late July and staying that way until the fall rains. In some instances it was necessary to remove ewes and lambs from the ranges before the end of the grazing season.

The Coffeepot reseeding area was fully utilized this year. The animal months' feed obtained was not as great as anticipated. This was probably due in part to the fact that the cattle all stayed on that part of the area seeded to crested wheatgrass. The timber feed was not used at all and open hillsides very little.

Continued high prices for wool and lamb is probably responsible for keeping the majority of Fremont sheepmen in the sheep business. This has also reduced the pressure for transferring sheep permits to cattle permits. Rodents still continue to be a problem on most meadow areas. Coyotes caused sheepmen some trouble in the northern part of the forest but are still virtually extinct on the southern part. (Range management report, 1951)

Another 900 acres on the Morgan Butte project was plowed this year. This acreage, plus that part of the 1950 seeding on this and the Doe Mountain project which was killed by frost last winter, was drilled to intermediate and crested wheatgrass. The Fremont drill was used on extremely rocky areas. In addition, 1,345 acres of skid trails were seeded by broadcast methods; 2,790 acres in the Camp Creek, Willow Creek, and Dog Lake fires was contracted for seeding with a helicopter.

Species plots were established at Phelps Spring and Ingram Meadow. Twenty acres of skid trail in the Willow Creek sale was drilled with a six-foot drill and tractor to determine if covering the seed would result in a better grass stand in the dry skid trails of this area. (Range management report, 1951)

Grazing Season of 1952. The Fremont Forest is of primary importance to the livestock economy of Lake and Klamath counties because it furnishes green, nutritious forage during the summer months. It is during this period that the winter's forage is being grown on the hay lands, and the grasses in many of the spring-fall pastures are dry and low in food nutrients.

On June 2, members of the Oregon Federation of Garden Clubs watched a massive brushland plow commence breaking ground on seventy-five acres of depleted rangeland on the Fremont, about thirty miles southeast of LaPine. Sagebrush will be replaced by crested wheatgrass as the 1952 conservation project of the Oregon Garden Clubs under the leadership of Mrs. Jack Shumway, state conservation chairman, and Mrs. J. George Eisenhauer, state president, in cooperation with the Forest Service. Suitable dedication ceremonies were participated in by Garden Club officials. The Forest Service was represented by Fremont Supervisor John E. McDonald, Deschutes Staffman Gail C. Baker, and L. G. Jolley, I and E. A handsome sign, carved by Larry Espinosa of the Mt. Hood National Forest, was erected at the site. Legend on the plaque reads:

GRASSLANDS PROJECT
Oregon Federation of Garden Clubs
and
Fremont National Forest

("Northwest Forest Service News," June 4, 1952)

Grazing Season of 1953. The exceptionally good spring moisture conditions produced a bumper crop of grass. The 500 acres of intermediate wheatgrass which were planted in the fall of 1951 on the Chewaucan allotment were grazed for the first time this fall, with about 1,000 cow months' use. The 1951 Camp Creek and Willow Creek burns which had been seeded from a helicopter to timothy, orchard grass, and mountain brome again made excellent growth. These areas were also grazed this year by sheep. (Range management report, 1953)

Plans are being made to spray 3,000 acres of depleted sagebrush rangelands with 2-4D. This is a cooperative project with the Modoc National Forest of Region 5. About 1,500 acres lie in each forest. Some 900 acres of this land will be drilled to intermediate wheatgrass this fall to hasten recovery where native grasses are not present in large enough quantities to furnish a good seed source. The spraying will be done by a contracted B-17 plane, which will carry a 1,200-gallon load, will fly at 150 miles an hour at fifty feet above the ground, and will cover sixty acres in one minute with 450 gallons of herbicide. The project will begin July 13. ("Northwest Forest Service News," July 15, 1953)

Grazing Season of 1954. Grazing allotments produced less forage due to the cold spring and dry summer. Most allotments were cropped close than usual this fall. The following improvements were made in 1954:

-234 acres plowed and drilled to intermediate wheatgrass (Dent Creek allotment)

-300 acres drilled to intermediate wheatgrass

-720 acres Mill Flat Fire seeded by plane to bitterbrush and grass

-290,000 acres surveyed by Range Inventory crew

-16 miles of new range fences built

-315 miles of old fence maintained

-35 new stock water ponds

-6 new water spreading dams

Grazing Season of 1955. Work is progressing on our soil and water management project. The work is being done in the Coffeepot Flat area on the Paisley District and consists principally of water and soil control. This is being accomplished by a system of water spreading dikes and ditches which will halt erosion and at the same time spread the spring runoff water and summer rain water over a large area reseeded to crested wheatgrass. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 31, 1955)

Grasses and other forage developed slowly this spring due to the late cold spring. Forage development was very good, but the hot dry summer dried up the feed earlier than usual, and very little regrowth was made.

Grazing Season of 1956. Cattle and sheep permittees were unanimous in their statements that the 1956 grazing season was the best that they had experienced for many years. The climate was ideal for establishment of grass on over 8,000 acres which were seeded during the late fall of 1955 and early spring of this year.

Work has begun on plowing and drilling some 700 acres of sagebrush. The areas will be drilled to intermediate wheat, crested wheat, and meadow foxtail in the wetter sites. The Drews, Warner, and Silver Lake districts are each sharing in the revegetation work this fall. Bud Brookins is harvesting crested wheatgrass seed from the 160-acre field at the ranger station. It is expected that this field will yield well over 15,000 pounds of seed. ("Northwest Forest Service News," September 12, 1956)

Grazing Season of 1957. The Fremont was favored again with an excellent forage production year. Soil moisture was above average during the early part of the year, which favored growth of the desirable perennial grasses. (Grazing report, 1957)

Grazing Season of 1958. Old timers tell us the winter thus far has been very mild. Despite this fact, moisture conditions are normal, and prospects look good for forage production and water storage for the coming year. ("Northwest Forest Service News," January 29, 1858)

Forage production was again above normal. Soil moisture was maintained throughout the year by good winter storage and frequent summer showers.

Grazing Season of 1959. Snow conditions on the Fremont are making old timers predict a long, dry summer. Where three feet of snow was measured last year there is eight inches or less this year. Reservoir storage, however, is above the storage measured last year at the same time, and soil moisture storage is at a high level. We still have hopes for late, wet snowfall and adequate spring rains that will put us on par with the last three years of above normal moisture. ("Northwest Forest Service News," February 11, 1959)

Problems in range management are (1) competition between deer and livestock for important browse plants, (2) trespass grazing, and (3) inadequate distribution of livestock on large grazing allotments. The following improvements have been made or planned:

-6 allotments put under deferred rotational system of grazing to improve forage and obtain better livestock distribution

-16 allotments planned to be under deferred rotation grazing by 1960

-143 condition and trend study plots installed at the end of 1959

-195 condition and trend plots planned to be in operation by the end of 1960

-79 range allotments grazed

-427 acres of sagebrush land plowed and planted to grass

-15 acres of sagebrush and rabbit brush sprayed with herbicide

-18 miles of fence built

-21 stock water developments and ponds built

(Range management report, 1959)

Trespassing

The supervisor of the Fremont National Forest reports that over the past several years, a determined effort has been made to rid the forest of wild and semi-wild horses. Seventy head of these animals have been rounded up recently under the state trespass law. It is estimated that twenty to thirty are still at large. Determined efforts have been made by local ranchers and forest officers to capture them, but due to the wildness of these horses and the timbered, rough nature of the terrain, all efforts to date have failed.

It is the consensus of the local ranchers and the forest officers that some other means will have to be employed other than the roundup method if the nuisance of these horses is to be abated. The presence of heavy stands of timber, brush, and the mountain terrain combine to make other attempts to round up these horses impractical. Therefore, it is requested that an application be submitted to the Secretary's office for a closing order for the Fremont National Forest effective for the period March 15, 1952 to June 30, 1953. (E. D. Sandvig for J. Herbert Stone, Chief of Region 6, 1952)

The whole forest was advertised as an impounding area on April 25 under Regulation T-12 in an attempt to reduce trespass livestock. May 9 marked the end of the required fifteen-day advertising period, and impounding can be done throughout the remainder of the year as trespass stock are discovered. It is expected that the advertising procedure will eliminate most ordinary trespass. ("Northwest Forest Service News," May 22, 1957)

IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER FOREST SERVICE OPERATIONS

Roads

Timber sale operators constructed forty-five miles of road on the forest transportation system. (1950)

Construction work on the first six-mile section of the Thomas Creek timber access road has been held up the past week by heavy snows. To date, the first five miles of this road have been "roughed up." Work has also been temporarily stopped on the Dog Lake, Skull Creek, and Krock Spring roads being constructed as part of timber sales to be made next spring. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," January 30, 1952)

The Fremont National Forest is progressing in a planned manner toward developing these public lands so that there can be an orderly harvest of the timber and other crops. An important part of this plan is the construction and maintenance of a permanent road system. This road system is being paid for largely from the first crop of trees sold from the land. There are many advantages to well-planned and constructed roads. Future sales of timber will be worth much more because the trees will be accessible by public roads that are built to standards that will avoid costly equipment breakdowns and slow log hauls. Trees killed by insects or blown down by the wind can be economically harvested and will not be left in the woods to rot. Costly losses from fire can be prevented because the forests will be more accessible and faster control action can be taken.

During 1952, surveying was completed on thirty-six miles of timber access roads, and construction work was partly completed on seventy-three miles of roads. The contract was let on the second section of the Thomas Creek road, and work was started under the supervision of the Bureau of Public Roads.

The Lakeview Logging Company is making rapid progress in building another six and one-half miles of the Thomas Creek access road. This section is from Cox Flat to South Creek, and, together with the first fourteen miles already constructed, will be used for hauling out the fifty-four million feet of timber on the Shoestring Creek sale. The sale was made to the Fremont Sawmill Company. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 18, 1954)

Our engineers have been busy completing the design of fifty-five miles of roads to be built by logging operators. Plans are being made to build six bridges and replace two large culverts that were damaged by the winter floods. Crews are working on other flood-damaged roads—about five miles of road on Thomas Creek and Chewaucan River. ("Northwest Forest Service News," May 9, 1956)

Buildings, Bridges, Wells

An eighty-foot cantilever-type, reinforced concrete bridge was constructed over the Sycan River at Pikes Crossing. (1950)

We brought in a new well at Paisley with a good flow of water at a depth of sixty-four feet. Just completed one five-room apartment at Paisley to be occupied by the district assistant. We hope to complete the other part of this duplex during this fiscal year. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," August 16, 1950)

Two permanent-type bridges have just been completed in Dent and Drews creeks in the Lost Township, and construction work will start soon on the Pole Creek bridge just south of Bly. Construction work on the Thomas Creek access road has been delayed by the late spring but should be finished in September. ("Northwest Forest Service News," July 15, 1953)

Pole Creek and Drews Creek bridges are completed. Both are the new type: concrete piers and glued, laminated stringers. ("Northwest Forest Service News," November 25, 1953)

Materials for the new 100-foot Chewaucan River bridge on the road to Round Pass lookout will be delivered this month, and it is expected the bridge will be built in September. Two other bridges on Five Hold Creek have been contracted and will be built this fall. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 18, 1954)

The new bridge across the Chewaucan River on the Round Pass road has been completed, eliminating the old water crossing, where many forest officers have been detained, especially in the spring. ("Northwest Forest Service News," December 22, 1954)

The construction business is in full swing with a new ranger's residence at Silver Lake, four bridges, a new work center on Shoestring Creek, and lots of miles of roads. ("Northwest Forest Service News," September 12, 1956)

The new house at Silver Lake is nearing completion. It will be a big improvement in this isolated spot. Also, we have almost completed a new airport at Silver Lake. ("Northwest Forest Service News," January 16, 1957)

Construction is well under way on the office building at Lakeview for the three ranger districts, and the foundation is finished for the new residence at Paisley. We expect construction to start soon on the Silver Lake residence. Road and bridge construction is keeping us busy too, but we like it that way. (1957)

Our new triple range station office at lakeview has been completed and is occupied. This resulted in more office space for the supervisor's organization. We are still crowded, but not sitting in each other's laps anymore. The engineering organization has vacated their rental quarters over town and are now housed in the supervisor's office with the overflow at the triple office building. ("Northwest Forest Service News," January 29, 1958)

Meetings and Courses

The regular overhead training conference and annual guard school were held at Dairy Creek June 29 to July 2, which at first seemed late, but proved to be about right. ("Northwest Forest Service News," July 15, 1953)

The Fremont's annual ranger meeting was held the week of April 18-22. On Friday afternoon, all yearlong employees met in the circuit courtroom of the new Lake County Courthouse for the purpose of becoming acquainted with the problems of the forest and our goals and objectives. Talks were given by the supervisor and staff men with time for group discussions. Employees and wives met at the Hunters Hot Springs Hotel for dinner and dancing on Friday evening to help celebrate the fifty-year anniversary and as a fitting climax to our winter work period before embarking upon the field season. ("Northwest Forest Service News," April 27, 1955)

We are happy to be hosts to the Columbia River Section of the Society of American Foresters on Saturday, October 26. This will be a full day field trip over the Fremont and adjacent private forest land to study and observe the different phases of ponderosa pine management. ("Northwest Forest Service News," September 12, 1956)

Recreation

Recreation visits were approximately 48,000. Plans for Cottonwood Meadow Recreation Area were discussed at great length. A meeting was held with the organization known as Cottonwood Camp, Incorporated, about the proposed special use for the camp.

The Warner Canyon Ski Area was replanned, and a timber sale was made on the area to clear a larger space. Five additional ski runs were cleared, and all slash disposed. A new tow was installed, and the lodge was remodeled. (1950)

The Warner Canyon ski area is being enlarged, and the Fremont Highlanders Ski Club hopes to have two ski tows in operation when snow arrives. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," August 16, 1950)

The Fremont Highlanders have just completed a successful season on the Warner Canyon Ski Area. Improvements on the area, and complete news coverage were responsible for getting out unusually large crowds from Lakeview, Alturas, and Klamath Falls. Snow conditions were only fair. ("R-6 Administrative Digest," May 9, 1951)

Recreation use during 1953 was estimated at 59,000 visitors. This number is less than estimated in 1952 because it is believed that hunters were spread over a wider area in the state this year. The Warner Canyon Ski Area again received much improvement through donations from interested groups and individuals. New shakes have been put on the ski lodge, and a new fireplace is in the process of construction. The ski hill under the rope tow has been shaped, and three take-off points have been graded out at various points along the rope. These improvements make the hill safer and more enjoyable by all classes of skiers. (Recreation report, 1953)

All of the rangers are up to their ears in campground rehabilitation planning, a new experience in most cases. The Bly Lions Club donated enough lumber to build eleven campground tables and three toilets. These were built this summer with contributed time and with very little direct expense. A drilled well is planned to supply drinking water for the heavily-used Sprague River campground. ("Northwest Forest Service News," September 12, 1956)

Miscellaneous

Fiftieth Anniversary. February 1, 1955, marked the Golden Anniversary of the establishment of the Forest Service in the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In the past half century it has grown to the largest single forestry organization in the world, It presently manages 155 national forests in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Alaska, which in the fiscal year 1954 netted $67 million in cash receipts for the Federal Treasury from timber sales, grazing and land use fees, 25 percent of which is returned to local governments. In addition, the Forest Products laboratory and nine regional experiment stations do forest and range research of great benefit to all forest and range managers. The Forest Service also cooperates in forestry programs with the state and private woodland owners.

. . . It is fitting on this 50th Anniversary of the U. S. Forest Service that tribute be paid to the men and women who pioneered the organization and through deep rooted democratic practices gained the respect and support of the citizenship of the country for a program of use of the resources on the National Forests that will assure continued and even increased production of good timber, forage, water, wildlife, and recreation. (Lake County Examiner, February 3, 1955)

Forest Radio. Forest headquarters radio located on Blackcap has had a rugged winter, Icing conditions have been so severe that it has been necessary to put under ground both power and telephone leads to the radio station. The antenna problem has not been solved, but it appears to be necessary to install hurricane models to withstand the ice and wind that occur on this point. ("Northwest Forest Service News," March 4, 1953)

Forest Receipts. The Fremont National Forest covers 1,772,637 acres, of which 1,253,678 acres are federally owned and 518,959 acres are privately owned. The 1952 fiscal year receipts from the Fremont National Forest lands amounted to $1,621,843. A breakdown of these receipts is as follows:

This income amounted to $1.36 per acre of national forest land.

Each year, one-fourth of the income from the Fremont National Forest is paid to Lake and Klamath Counties in lieu of taxes on these lands. For the fiscal year 1952, Lake County received $269,347.47, and Klamath County $136,113.13 from the Fremont National Forest receipts. This in lieu tax payment to the counties amounted to $.32 for every acre of national forest lands. In addition to the money paid to the counties, 10 percent of the receipts goes into the Treasury of the United States.

In 1956 the receipts from the sale of Fremont National Forest products reached a new high, over $2,500,000. (1956)

LOCAL NEWS

Mitchell Recreation Area

Public dedication of America's only World War II continental battleground has been set for August 20 at 2:00 p.m., according to R. R. Macartney, manager of Weyerhaeuser Timber Company's branch operation at Klamath Falls, Oregon.

The road accessible site is on Weyerhaeuser tree farm land northeast of Bly. Six civilians were killed here on May 5, 1945, by the explosion of a grounded bomb carried to this country by one of the numerous Japanese balloons released during the closing days of World War I. Five children and Mrs. A. E. Mitchell, wife of a Bly minister, were victims.

Weyerhaeuser is establishing the historic spot as a patriotic shrine, to be known as Mitchell Recreation Area. A native stone monument, bearing a bronze plaque with the names of the six victims, will be dedicated as a permanent memorial. Other developments include outdoor stoves, appropriate signs for the memorial and a protective iron fence around the site of the tragedy and monument.

Speakers on the program will include Governor Douglas McKay and Colonel Karl C. Frank, representing Sixth Army headquarters. (Lake County Examiner, August 31, 1950)

Lakeview Courthouse Replaced

One of Lakeview's most familiar landmarks, the Lake County Courthouse, is now being wrecked. The new courthouse, built in an "L" around the old one, was completed in May, and all county offices and the county library are moved in. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 18, 1954)

Uranium Mining

The Fremont now is in the mining business with several uranium claims filed in the Upper Deep Creek area. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 18, 1954)

The uranium strike early in July made prospectors out of many of our loggers, permittees, other Oregonians, and many out-of-state people. Hundreds of prospectors came from all over the West to try their luck. To date, 560 claims have been filed, and probably that many more are staked but not yet officially filed. Two claims appear to have high grade commercial ore but the extent of the veins and their value will not be determined until more drilling now in progress is completed. ("Northwest Forest Service News," August 31, 1955)

The big mining rush that followed the uranium strike of June 21, 1955, has quieted down except for the White King and Lucky Lass mines which are being operated commercially. The Lakeview Mining Company has signed a contract with the Atomic Energy Commission for the sale of uranium output. A $2,600,000 reduction plant will be constructed just north of Lakeview during 1958. (1957)

The Lakeview Mining Company is busy constructing their new $3,000,000 uranium mill just north of Lakeview near the Lakeview Logging Company office. The work in the mine continues steadily. They are down more than 200 feet with one shaft and expect to start a new shaft soon. ("Northwest Forest Service News," June 4, 1958)

A recap of our mining activities shows the uranium mill went into operation December 1. The mill processes about 210 tons of mill ore per day. The end product is "yellow cake," a trade name for uranium concentrate. Fifty men are employed at the mill, and 121 men are working at the mine. A three-compartment shaft for transporting timbers, men, and ore is down 340 feet. All ore produced so far has come from original prospect shaft. The new multipurpose shaft will start producing next summer, according to mine officials.

Flood

The town of Lakeview and the Fremont National Forest did not escape the flood; true, it was minor compared to other parts of Oregon and California, but considerable damage was done to homes, stores, and roads. It started the night of December 21, 1955, and by morning of December 22, full blown rivers were running down three streets in the main part of town, entering stores, flooding basements, and stopping traffic. The good work of the fire department through use of sandbags prevented more serious damage. Some families had to be evacuated in the lower parts of town. Approaches to the bridge over the Chewaucan River in Paisley were washed out and the Forest River Road southwest of Paisley ceases to exist in places. The Thomas Creek road leading northwest from Lakeview was also badly damaged. Other damage to forest roads will undoubtedly show up in the spring when snow is gone and they can be reached. ("Northwest Forest Service News," January 4, 1956)

Omni Range Station

The Civil Aeronautics Administration hopes to have their new Omni Range Station on Round Pass in operation within a month. This has been an expensive installation and may prove to be costly to maintain on this windy mountain top. ("Northwest Forest Service News," October 8, 1958)

The new Omni Range Station, located on Round Pass (our former lookout) is now in operation by the Federal Aviation Agency. It provides aviation navigational information for both private airline and military aircraft, and ties in with the newly designated airways over Lakeview. ("Northwest Forest Service News," February 11, 1959)

West Coast Airlines

The newly installed air service by West Coast Airlines at Lakeview is proving very successful. Use is above the average required minimum and is expected to increase as more people become accustomed to this modern mode of travel. One and a half days of travel time are cut from a round trip to Portland by use of air travel. ("For Forest Service Personnel," October 28, 1959)

NOTES

1. The "+' signifies that records are not available past the year indicated and employment may have lasted longer.

2. Supervisor John McDonald created the Thomas Creek District in May 1957 from the northwest part of the Warner District (Bach, p. 34).

3. The Forest Service newsletter changed names on April 23, 1952, from "R-6 Administrative Digest" to "Northwest Forest Service News" (Bach, p. 605).

John E. MacDonald, Forest Supervisor, February 1, 1950 to September 30, 1957

John Kucera with rangeland drill he developed in 1951.

Standing, left to right: Bill Harbison, Ellis Gross, Ralph Jaszkowski, Vince Killeen, Chuck Waldron, Bob DeWitz, Don Allen, Bud Brookins, Herb Hadley, Max McLain George Pike, Al Hickman. Seated, left to right: Ellis Carlson, Harold Herrin, Harold Olson, Jack Groom, John McDonald, Lloyd Gillmor, Cliff Windle, Al Waterhouse, Mike Palmer. (click on image for a PDF version)