History of the Rogue River National Forest Volume 1 — 1893-1932

C. J. Buck, Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Klamath National Forest, Yreka, California, arrived in Medford, Oregon, on March 15, 1903, to establish the office of Forest Supervisor of the Cascade (Mazama) National Forest. Other changes made at this time which affected the Cascade (South) created the Cascade (Willamette) and the Cascade (Umpqua). Bartrum was forest supervisor of the latter forest.

The Cascade (Mazama) included the area south of the Umpqua-Rogue River Divide, and the western portion of the Siskiyou Forest (Applegate country).

Buck opened the office in the Jackson County Bank Building. The personnel consisted of the following:

C. J. Buck, Acting Forest Supervisor, salary $1,600 per year. Samuel S. Swenning, Deputy Forest Supervisor, salary $1,400 per year. Transferred from Cascade (South) National Forest at Roseburg, to Medford on March 15, 1903. He had been promoted to Deputy Forest Supervisor Jan. 1, 1908, and worked for Smith C. Bartrum until his transfer to Medford. Swenning had received his initial appointment with the Forest Service on Feb. 1, 1905, as a Ranger, by transfer from the Department of Interior. His salary was $60 per month. He was promoted on July 1, 1905, to Assistant Forest Ranger at $720 per year. Again promoted on Jan. 1, 1907, to Deputy Forest Ranger at $1,000 per year, and on March 1, 1907, promoted to Forest Ranger at $1,200 per year, all on the Cascade (South) Forest Reserve.

Ira Tungate, Forest Ranger, Applegate Division, salary $900 per year. Transferred from Siskiyou Forest.

Silas L. McKee, Assistant Forest Ranger, Lake of the Woods, salary $900 per year. Transferred from Cascade (South). McKee received his initial appointment with the Forest Service on Feb. 1, 1905, by transfer from the Department of Interior as a ranger at $60 per month. He was furloughed on Feb. 2 and restored to duty on April 1, 1905. He was promoted to Assistant Forest Ranger on July 1, 1905, at $720 per year and furloughed on Dec. 1. He was restored to duty on May 1, 1906, as Assistant Forest Ranger at $900 per year and again furloughed on Nov. 1, 1906. He was restored to duty on April 10, 1907, and promoted on Jan. 1, 1908, as Deputy Forest Ranger at $1,000 per year. He was furloughed on April 1, 1908, and died on June 8, 1908.

Wm. G. Kropke, Deputy Forest Ranger, Ashland. He received his initial appointment with the Forest Service by transfer from the Dept. of Interior as a Ranger at $75 per month. He was promoted on July 1, 1905, to Deputy Forest Ranger at $900 per year and on Jan. 1, 1907, his salary was raised to $1,000 per year. He was terminated on March 31, 1908.

J. Wesley Kelsoe, Assistant Forest Ranger, Butte Falls, salary $900 per year. Transferred from Cascade (South). Kelsoe received his temporary appointment as Forest Guard on July 1, 1907, at a salary of $900 per year. He received his probationary appointment as Assistant Forest Ranger on Dec. 14, 1907, at $900 per year, and was furloughed on Dec. 31, 1907. Restored to duty on April 18, 1908, and was again furloughed on Feb. 28, 1909. He resigned on March 31, 1909. All above action was on the Cascade, Mazama and Crater National Forests.

Stephen A. Moore, Assistant Forest Ranger, Ft. Klamath, salary $900 per year. Transferred from Cascade (South). He was appointed Forest Guard on May 15, 1907, at a salary of $900 per year.

George H. West, Forest Guard, Upper Rogue, salary $900 per year. Appointed June 15, 1908.

Harold D. Foster, Forest Assistant, salary $1,200 per year. Transferred from Wenaha National Forest on May 1, 1908. On July 1 his salary was raised to $1,400 per year. Foster had received his initial temporary appointment on June 7, 1902, as a Student Assistant at $300 per year in Washington, D. C., in the old Bureau of Forestry. He was terminated on Sept. 9, 1002. Appointed again to the same status on July 1, 1903, until Sept. 30. He received his probationary appointment on July 1, 1904, as Forest Assistant at a salary of $1,000 per year in Washington, D. C., and was transferred to the Wenaha National Forest, Oregon, on July 1, 1905, at a salary of $1,100 per year.

Horace G. Whitney, Forest Clerk, salary $900 per year. Assigned to Mazama National Forest on June 10, 1908.

John E. Gribble, Forest Guard, salary $900 per year. Transferred from Siskiyou National Forest on March 25, 1908. He received his appointment on Sept. 9, 1907, on the Siskiyou as a Forest Guard.

The Mazama National Forest received the following allotment of funds for the period March 15 to June 30, 1908:

Other personnel on the Mazama National Forest were:

Wm. T. Kinney, Assistant Forest Ranger, Cherry Creek, salary $900 per year.

Delbert W. Myers, Forest Guard.

H. M. Hale, Forest Guard.

Chris Beale, Forest Guard.

John D. Holst, Forest Guard. Holst entered on duty April l on Butte Falls District and worked on the original trail from Skeeters Swamp Ranger Station to Fish Lake, with Wesley Kelsoe in charge.

News items from "Ashland Tidings":

March 30, 1908:

MORE FOREST RANGERS WANTED

The United States Civil Service Commission has just announced that examinations will be held for the position of ranger at the Supervisor's headquarters at every National Forest on April 23d and 24th. It is estimated that 300 more rangers will be required during the present fiscal year than were on duty last year, and eligibles to fill these vacancies will be furnished the Forest Service by the coming examination. The examinations will be held in seventeen states and territories. In Oregon they will be held at Eugene, Grants Pass, Heppner, John Day, Lakeview, Medford, Portland, Prineville, Roseburg, Sumpter, Wallowa.

Applicants can secure information on the examination from the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C., or from the Forest Supervisor at any of the places before mentioned. Those who wish to take the examination should ask for application form 1093, a copy of the "Use Book," and a copy of "Information Regarding Employment on the National Forest."

Only those men who are at least 21 years of age, and not more than 40, of good character, temperate, and in good physical condition are eligible to take examination. The salary paid to beginners is $75 per month. Compensation runs as high as $1,400 per year for rangers who have had some experience and demonstrate their capability. Still better places are open to these men, for it is the policy of the Forest Service to fill vacancies in high positions by the promotion of rangers who have proved their capabilities.

April 2, 1908:

FOREST SUPERVISOR HERE

C. J. Buck, the acting supervisor of the new Mazama National Forest, spent Monday in Ashland on official business. Mr. Buck has only recently taken charge of the work here and has been busily engaged in taking an inventory of the properties connected with the service. Mr. W. G. Kropke, so long the efficient ranger in charge of the Ashland Forest, tendered his resignation several months ago, and was busy with Mr. Buck Monday turning over the government property in his charge, preparatory to leaving the service with the close of March.