History of the Rogue River National Forest Volume 2 — 1933-1969

1952

PERSONNEL

District Rangers

PERSONNEL CHANGES

Loyd Bransford transferred to Willamette National Forest and was replaced by Hector Langdon who transferred from the Willamette.

John F. Henshaw, long-time Forest Service employee, retired July 24. He was fire control aid on the Butte Falls Ranger District.

Gordon C. Kirkland, District Clerk, Union Creek Ranger District, transferred to the Supervisor's Office as principal clerk.

MISCELLANEOUS

Total receipts for the Rogue River National Forest reached a new high of $1,642,237, including receipts from National Forest O&C lands. They were derived from the following principal sources: timber sales, $1,626,778; grazing fees, $11,064; summer homes, resorts, and miscellaneous fees, $4,395. Funds in lieu of taxes returned to the counties in fiscal year 1952 included: Jackson County, $158,349.45; Klamath County, $132,693.88.

TIMBER MANAGEMENT

Slightly less than 102 million board feet of timber was cut in 1952. Seventy-two million board feet of timber was sold for a total value of $885,000. There were 78 separate timber sales, only 12 of which exceeded $5,000. Blowdown and subsequent salvage was light.

Presale and preparatory work for future timber sales was done on Red Blanket Creek, Huckleberry Mountain, Sunshine Creek, and Joe Creek. Each of the proposed sales included 25 to 30 million board feet of timber.

Approximately 319,000 seedlings, mostly ponderosa pine, were planted on 477 acres. Planting was hampered by a long, dry fall which ended with snow in many areas, halting tree planting until the following spring.

FIRE CONTROL

The 1952 season was one of the longest fire seasons on record. Seventy four fires burned 402 acres. All fires were kept reasonably small. Despite the long and dangerous season, only 11 of the 74 fires were man-caused.

Broadcast slash burning was accomplished on 805 acres of National Forest timber sale clearcut areas, all the broadcast slash which was ready for burning.

RECREATION

It was estimated that over 100,000 people visited the Forest in 1952 while an additional 150,000 enjoyed the scenic beauties along the highways through the area. The recreation report for the year noted a growing enthusiasm for skiing.

WILDLIFE

A cooperative agreement was entered into with the Oregon State Game Commission for the management of fish and game on National Forest lands immediately adjacent to the western shore of Klamath Lake, the strip to be used primarily as a migratory fowl public shooting area.

Several joint field trips were made with local Game Commission biologists to review plans and practices on timber sale areas to preserve habitat for fish and game. The serious late fall fire season extended into the hunting season.

GRAZING

Ninety-six permits for 3,039 head of cattle and three sheep permits for 2,548 head were issued on the Forest. The extended dry fall caused more than average difficulty in gathering cattle off the range. Stock were scattered and there were some losses.

Range reseeding was confined to erosion control on logging areas with 400 acres being seeded during the year.

LANDS

Except for one small parcel, land exchanges were confined to adjustments of ownership for better management of domestic water supply on the watersheds of the cities of Ashland and Medford.

The Forest entered into a cooperative agreement with the City of Medford in May. Under the terms of the agreement the Forest Service would manage and administer at cost, the City forest lands surrounding the Big Butte Springs municipal water supply with income from timber sales and other uses in the area to go to the City.

ENGINEERING

A new ranger dwelling was built at Star Ranger Station. The former residence was one of the oldest on the Forest and it was planned for remodeling. There were four Forest Service bridge jobs in the mill for this year. Woodruff over Rogue River; Lower Jim Creek over Rogue River; Little Butte Creek on Poole Hill; Elk Creek on Buzzard Mine Road; two operator bridges—Woodruff Creek on Jim Creek Road, and Mt. Stella Road over Rogue River.

Advance road location was accomplished on 43 miles of timber sale roads. Timber sale operators constructed 40 miles of access road on 13 sales.

Slightly more than 500 miles of road and 600 miles of trail were maintained. Five permanent type bridges were constructed or rebuilt.

The Forest was in the process of converting the radio communication net from AM to FM type.

OTHER

History of 85-day Hunt for Killer hiding on Rogue River National Forest June 25, 1952.

Medford Mail Tribune

State Officer Phil Lowd Slain—Posse Searching Upper Elk Area for Suspected Killer

Lowd, a State Officer for years, was shot and killed yesterday while conducting an investigation in the Persist area near the head of Elk Creek. The shooting occurred at about 5 p.m. just off Buzzard Mine Road, about 17 miles from the Crater Lake Highway.

Lowd, who had the reputation of being a fearless law enforcement officer, was sent into the area at about 3 p.m. yesterday to investigate reports that shots had been fired at a National Forest trail crew. He was accompanied by Lowell Ash, district assistant ranger at Union Creek, who had reported the first shots.

As the pair approached a cabin owned by George Baker Dunkin, 67, a miner, one or more shots were fired, according to Ash, who said they took cover behind a log, an act which is believed to have saved Ash's life.

Lowd then radioed in for more help. State Police Officer Charles Offenbacher was ordered to the scene to give assistance and he and Lowd again approached the cabin. They saw Dunkin slip out the cabin door and disappear into the woods, according to the reports given County Coroner Carlos Morris. Minutes later, shots were again fired and Lowd fell dead, wounded through the temple, about 30 yards from the cabin.

State Police said this morning, "We know that Dunkin fired the shots." The man was arrested by Lowd a year ago on a charge of illegal possession of deer meat. Dunkin is described as being 5'6" tall, weight about 140 lbs., slender build, blue eyes and mostly gray hair.

Medford Mail Tribune, June 26, 1952.

50 Square-Mile Search Conducted for Killer.

Authorities have blocked off a 50 square-mile area around Dunkin's cabin, near Buzzard Mine Road where the shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon. Tracks found this morning led police to believe that Dunkin is hiding in the area and they hope he will eventually be starved out.

Police pointed out today that they are operating at a terrific disadvantage in the extremely rugged terrain. The area is covered with thick underbrush and big timber, according to loggers and other persons well acquainted with the area.

First of a series of steps to keep Dunkin out in the open was started today when police began burning all lean-to's, shanties and shacks in the Elk Creek region to prevent him from "hole-ing up" in some protected area. Parsons has stated that, if Dunkin is able to kill a deer, or obtain food in some other way, he can remain at large indefinitely.

Medford Mail Tribune, September 18, 1952.

Dunkin Captured by Policeman
Suspect in Murder of Phil Lowd Taken at Nephew's Cabin.

Dunkin put up no struggle when he was apprehended by Officer Russell E. Maw, Salem, who was in the woods looking for him since August 26. Dunkin's nephew, Wes Miller, was instrumental in the capture Maw said, and the fugitive was taken at Miller's cabin in the woods in the north of the County.

Dunkin's presence was reported to Maw by Miller after Dunkin obtained food and clothing from him. Maw posed as a trapper and stayed with Miller until Dunkin again appeared at the Miller cabin today.

At 7:30 today Dunkin arrived and was met by Miller at a barn near the cabin. He gave his nephew some bear meat. Miller took the 30-30 Winchester rifle Dunkin had carried since the Lowd murder and followed him toward the house. As the two neared the cabin, Maw stepped from behind some bushes and told Dunkin he was under arrest. Dunkin turned to run, but Maw ordered him to halt, and Miller held Dunkin's own gun pointed at him. Dunkin stopped and asked Maw if he was a State policeman. When told he was, the grizzled trapper gave up.

Dunkin is thin and his grizzled beard is about 4" long. He has lived on bear, deer and beaver meat, Maw said. Two weeks ago he broke into the Larson ranch in the area and stole some fruit and other food.

Medford Mail Tribune, September 19, 1952.

Dunkin Denies Murder Intent.

Under questioning Dunkin admitted firing a shot in Lowd's direction, but stated he was just trying to scare him away. He claimed he did not know he had killed Lowd but he did know it was serious because of the extensive search for him.

Regarding shots fired at the Forest Service trail crew on the day that Lowd was killed, Dunkin said "he was just trying to scare the crew away." He added that if he had been shooting at a crew member he "would have killed him."

Medford Mail Tribune, September 26, 1952.

Dunkin Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder--
Life Prison Term Given Lowd's Killer by Circuit Judge.

1953

PERSONNEL

District Rangers

MISCELLANEOUS

Receipts for the Rogue River National Forest totaled $1,461,846.94. Jackson County's 25 percent amounted to $168,945.38, Klamath County's share was $141,560.10 with lesser amounts paid by the Forest to Josephine, Douglas, and Siskiyou counties.

TIMBER MANAGEMENT

Harvest of timber totaled slightly less than 98 million board feet. There were 72 individual sales of timber, 67 of which were for amounts valued under $5,000. Two tracts including 60 million board feet were offered for sale in September, but because of the late season offer and uncertain markets, no bids were received.

Timber cut was 97,539,000 board feet valued at $1,271,776; timber sold measured 42,379,000 board feet valued at $358,088. In addition, 4,898 Christmas trees sold for $3,794.

The City of Medford received almost $27,000 from timber sold on its Big Butte Springs watershed timberland through the cooperative management agreement with the Rogue River National Forest. Planting of 20,000 seedling trees on the watershed was accomplished along with rodent control work and long-term planning.

REFORESTATION

Approximately 361,000 seedlings, mostly ponderosa pine, were planted on 600 acres of logged and burned areas on the Forest. Experimental planting of tree seed on 90 acres on the Union Creek District was accomplished, in addition. Seed used in experimental planting was treated with the chemical tetramine, which, it was hoped, would act as a repellent to seed eating rodents, one of the greatest problems in direct seeding.

FIRE CONTROL

The fire record for 1953 was one of the best in years. Lightning occurrence was greater than usual but was offset by favorable weather. A total of 89 fires from all causes burned 53 acres. Twenty-two of the total were man-caused fires, slightly less than the five-year average.

Slash burning on National Forest timber sales was completed on 575 acres of clearcut logging operations, and 30 miles of piled slash along roads through partial-cut areas. There was virtually no carry-over of slash to be burned the following year.

RECREATION

Recreational use of the Forest increased about 15 percent, with visitors from every major section of the nation and Canada, estimated to number 115,000, with an additional 217,000 tourists traveling on the highways through the Forest.

Fishermen and hunters totaled about 30,000. The public shooting area on National Forest land along western Klamath Lake was heavily used by duck hunters during the fall.

The Forest Recreation Resource Plan was updated and revised in 1953 because of increased use of recreation areas and a realignment of recreation demands. The original plan had been prepared in 1930 by Forester Lee P. Brown and amended the same year by Recreation Examiner Fred W. Cleator. Plans for five recreation units were prepared prior to the original Forest plan and three unit plans were drawn up later.

The special-use permit for the Fish Lake Resort was transferred February 3 by Sid and Lydia Blood to Lloyd and Dorothy B. Morris who managed the resort until April 12, 1963, when they transferred the permit to George B. and Dorothy M. Dance.

WILDLIFE

Winter loss of deer was light due principally to favorable weather. The State Game Commission stocked all major lakes and streams.

GRAZING

Slightly more than 100 permits were issued to graze cattle and sheep on Forest range lands. Stock totaled 5,933 cattle and 2,548 sheep.

Range reseeding was limited largely to experimental plots and erosion control on logging areas, with about 400 acres seeded.

Grass came on late in the high country because of a cold spring but was maintained by summer rains well through the grazing season.

IMPROVEMENTS

Road and trail maintenance was delayed by late spring snows. Three permanent road bridges were built or rebuilt.

Work on a new road into the Fourmile Lake area was nearing completion.

Location surveys were completed on 42 miles of timber sale roads. Timber sale operators built 10.5 miles of timber access roads.

LANDS

Eighteen mining claims involving about 2,800 acres in the Union Creek area were invalidated as the result of public hearing conducted in Medford the previous spring. In every case it was held there was no evidence of mineral in commercial quantities. Approximately 50,000 acres, involving over three billion feet of timber, remained under claim in the Union Creek area.

Several bills aimed at revision of the mining laws were introduced in Congress to protect public interest.

OTHER

Following are interesting excerpts from the Rogue River National Forest Recreation Plan of this year:

Introduction

The original forest recreation plan (Crater National Forest) was prepared in 1930 by Forester Lee P. Brown, amended the same year by Recreational Examiner Fred W. Cleator, and approved by Supervisor Hugh B. Rankin. This plan established 18 "project" areas, including recreation units and community watersheds. Plans for five recreation units were prepared prior to the forest plan in 1930, and three unit plans later. All plans are now in need of revision due to increased use of the areas and a realignment of recreational demands.

Acreage and Alienated Land

Acreage figures for the Rogue River National Forest are as follows:

As noted, a total of 298,332 acres within the forest boundary carries a status of other than National Forest land. The greatest single ownership occurs in the Oregon and California revested lands grants administered by the Bureau of Land Management under the Department of the Interior. The alienations lie mainly in a marginal strip along the forest boundary outside the recreational areas and have as yet not complicated developments—with the notable exception of the Applegate District. There the ownership is checkerboarded and recreational developments have lagged accordingly. A sizeable acreage of controverted O&C lands is found on the forest but involves only one recreational development—that surrounding the shores of Lake of the Woods. Pending settlement of the controversy, the sections have been treated as National Forest lands and include, along with all types of recreational uses, the Forest Service administrative buildings at the lake.

There are very few private ownerships of recreation importance within the Forest.

Archeological Data

Items of archeological interest on the forest are as yet unknown. The Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, has had a special use permit for studies of this nature for several years, the permit covering the east portion of this forest along with adjoining east side forests and the Klamath forest in northern California. No recent findings have been made known.

General Recreation Conditions

  Principal Factors Influencing Recreation Use

This section of the country contains two outstanding tourist attractions of national significance. Crater Lake and the Rogue River valley attract visitors from many parts of the country, while other sections of the Forest are used more extensively by local residents.

The presence of outstanding recreation attractions in adjacent forests and Crater Lake National Park has a definite influence in the recreation enjoyment and use of the Rogue River forest.

   Mountain Lakes

There are two separate mountain lake districts on the forest, both becoming increasingly popular. The Sky Lakes area, along the Cascade Summit, now has limited area status and is regarded as worthy of Wild Area classification. The Mountain Lakes Wild Area, covering a complete township east of Lake of the Woods contains a number of small lakes nestled in a huge bowl with fairly rugged mountains surrounding it. Buck Lake, on privately owned lands, is now drained and the lake bed cultivated for pasture. Hyatt Lake is a man-made reservoir. Fish Lake, Fourmile Lake, and Lake of the Woods complete the inventory of forest lakes. The rest of the forest is peculiarly lacking in lake formations. Fish Lake and Fourmile Lake are combination irrigation and recreational projects. Lake of the Woods is highly developed as a recreational center and is the only readily accessible lake maintained in its natural setting.

   Annual Forest Recreation Visitors

Comparative recreation visitor data for the pre- and post-war years of 1941 and 1951 are shown to indicate the increase in use.

Correlation With Other Activities Timber Sales

Roadside Zones

All Class II and III highways are to have set-back lines for special treatment, of 200 feet on each side of the center line. Whenever the objective of preserving scenic attractions closely visible to the traveling public is not being sufficiently preserved by the 200-foot zone, a wider zone should be designated. Cutting or logging of any kind must have Regional Office approval—except District Rangers may make sales for snags or other dead material. Sanitation or salvage cuttings of green trees shall be done in accordance with Regional Office instructions.

Other forest roads, including logging roads of which public use will, or is apt to, become so predominately recreational in character so as to warrant preservation of natural scenic qualities should have reservation strip of, at least, 200 feet (100 feet either side of center line) ordinarily. However, where the 200-foot strip will not provide adequate screening, a wider strip should be considered. Except for the cutting and removal of dead material, which is authorized by the District Ranger, all cutting and removal is subject to approval by the Forest Supervisor. Authorized salvage cuttings of green timber should be based on taking out only those trees which are dying or apt to die within 5 years along roads of major importance in the above category.

   Waterfront Zones

For the main Rogue River, including South and Middle Forks, the minimum width of reservation zone should be 400 feet (200 feet on each side) and other fishing streams should receive a minimum of 200 feet (100 feet on each side). A strip sufficiently wide to screen any cutting or logging activity will be maintained around all existing lakes. All cutting other than that of dead material will require Forest Supervisor's approval in the above zone.

Mining

Mining activities very definitely are a matter of some concern with respect to utilizing and protecting recreational resource values. Three ranger districts are at present entirely free from mineral entries, but the Union Creek and Applegate districts are over-burdened in coping with the problem. The activity at Union Creek is fairly recent—a promotional scheme involving the filing of placer claims on the pumice flat in hopes of a stock selling ruse of otherwise gold-worthless lands. Close to 55,000 acres in some 664 claims have been recorded. While no actual operations beyond bulldozed test holes are in evidence, and no harm has been done to recreational resources, a real encumbrance does exist. At present, before national forest timber sales can be advertised involving lands under claim, permission must be secured from the claim holders for the cutting of timber. No sales of claims for timber rights or private use have been consummated, but several were attempted and fell through when wary prospective buyers inquired at forest offices. The Department of Interior is in the act of withdrawing lands from entry adjacent to the Rogue River and Crater Lake highway to protect the timber reservations already made there, and have included the larger recreational area in the vicinity of Union Creek. This will materially lessen the damage to recreational values if mining activities are begun, or, better yet, may remove this hazard entirely.

In the Applegate District, where mineral values have actually been realized, the problem is different. Here mining entries date back nearly 100 years and involve tested gold-bearing claims. The ownership pattern along the river bottom runs heavily to original homesteads and O&C grants. The intervening national forest lands are practically one hundred percent under claim. Within the past year the mining laws were revised to permit entry upon O&C lands and these areas were immediately taken up. Should they ever be transferred to national forest status, the existing mining claims would undoubtedly remain valid. Thus a considerable portion of the usable recreational lands in this district is unavailable for development, and as far as can now be foreseen, there is no remedy for the situation.

Municipal Watershed

The city of Ashland watershed is the only project of this nature on the forest requiring correlation. This area, approximately the acreage of a township, was of sufficient importance a number of years ago to cause a substantial change in the National Forest boundary and in the status of adjacent O&C lands which were turned over to the Forest Service for administration. The watershed is now closed to recreational use, and will probably be continued in this status permanently. A scenic road skirts the watershed divide and will undoubtedly continue as the only recreational use permitted near the watershed. No great loss is suffered due to this limited use as the area would have offered only small stream fishing if not developed as a water supply source and good fishing would have been difficult to maintain due to concentrated use. The outstanding city park development, just outside the watershed boundary, serves the close-in recreational needs of this community.

The city of Medford water source is a series of large springs within the forest boundary, but located on private lands. The city has carried out a land exchange project involving National Forest lands as well as other lands in the vicinity of the springs which has blocked out a city-owned protective area surrounding their water supply. This block was placed under Forest Service management through a cooperative agreement. No correlation of the recreational activity will be needed with this development.

Existing Dedications and Approved Areas:

Wild Areas — The Mountain Lakes area was originally classified as a primitive area in 1931 and contained 13,444 acres. In 1940 it was increased to a full township, 23,071 acres and re-classified as a wild area under regulation U-2. It is ideally fitted to its classification and is strategically located. To the north and east, the lands have been logged over and a large portion is under agricultural use. To the south, most lands have been logged and the remaining stands will be harvested within a few years. Close to the west boundary of the dedication area are the highly developed shores of Lake of the Woods. The classified township is an island of remoteness, accessible sufficiently for those interested in primitive conditions, yet off the beaten path enough to discourage the type of unappreciative recreationist with whom a certain amount of vandalism is generally associated.

Limited Areas — The section of the Cascade Summit, northerly from Fourmile Lake to the National Park boundary carries a Region Six limited area status pending further study to determine its most logical land use dedication. At present, its width ranges from four to six sections and its greatest length is slightly over twenty-three sections. Numerous alpine lakes are found within this area.

One group of lakes is called "Sky Lakes," from whence comes the name for the limited area. The lakes are concentrated in a distance of slightly over half of the summit range from Fourmile Lake northerly. The Oregon Skyline Trail route traverses the Summit throughout the entire length of the limited area and is the reason for extending the limited status to the park boundary. This extension, however, takes in some summit country of doubtful recreational attractiveness just south of the Park boundary, including a stretch known locally as the "Oregon Desert." Further study may confine the classified area to that containing the numerous lakes in the southern half of the present limited inclusion.

A portion of the Diamond Lakes Limited Area, involving mainly adjacent forests, is located on the northernmost tip of this forest. As far as can be foreseen, there is no recreational value in the portion in the Rogue River National Forest other than a buffer zone for the Diamond Lake-Mt. Thielsen attractions.

Natural Areas — The Abbott Creek Natural area was classified in 1946 and includes 2,660 acres. It is the single sugar pine natural area in Region Six. It is accessibly only by trail and probably will carry no recreational attraction until years to come when most virgin sugar pine stands here have been cut over.

Recreation Development on Private Land and by Other Agencies

The highly intensive recreational policies of the National Park Service and as applied in the Crater Lake unit are well known. The park has been mentioned throughout the resource plan as it has an undeniable influence on the over-all attractions and use of the adjacent forest lands. Additional national forest land has been turned over to national park status at the south entrance point on Annie Creek for the establishment of Park Service yearlong administrative quarters. Over-all recreational advantages will be furthered by this move.

The O&C does no recreational development or planning. On a few scattered areas, notably in the Applegate Unit, permission has been secured from this agency for the minor development of camp areas where it was agreed recreational use was the greater land use value. As in the case of other activities in lands in controverted status, the Forest Service has proceeded in recreational development as though the lands were non-controverted. This status involves several sections on the shores of Lake of the Woods and also lesser areas at Fish and Fourmile Lakes.

The matter of private ownership as it has or will promote recreational development is no concern on this Forest. A small outlay is found at Squaw Lake in the "Outside the Forest" block within the Applegate Unit. A small store and boat rental concession is operated near Hyatt Lake (reservoir) by the caretaker of the irrigation interests at this point. A presently inactive privately owned lodge at Point Comfort on Pelican Bay is apparently unattractive as a business venture and may never be reopened. A dude ranch, on a sideline basis, is maintained in this same vicinity for Skyline Trail and Mountain Lakes Wild Area trips, but serves a distinct purpose in the small amount of business they do, rather than to pose a problem. Two stores are located on privately owned lands on the Applegate River, one with a few auto camp cabins, the only development of this nature inside the Forest boundary. Another auto camp occurs at the boundary on the south entrance to Crater Lake Park. This is the total extent of private recreational enterprise on the Forest.

Plan of Recreation Management Character and Extent of Local Problems

The matter of recreational funds and personnel is not considered a local problem as it is known to be region-wide and probably nation-wide. It is being mentioned so that it is readily understood that it is as serious on this forest as on probably all others. Once-fine improvements have been patched up by in expert labor, and other pieces of campground structures have needed to be torn down because of safety hazard. They could not be replaced by the type of labor available nor were funds usable for this purpose. Under such conditions, the forest is totally unable to maintain the recreational improvement standards it has led users to be accustomed to, and expansion of facilities is entirely out of the question.

The matter of recreational planning is serious, but probably more so on the basis of time, funds and work planning than from a personnel standpoint. The enforced moratorium on recreational work during the war years has continued its effects through the postwar years, aided and abetted by the lack of funds. Other resource activities, notably timber management and, to a lesser degree, range management, have sidelined the one-time co-dominant recreation work. The present forest organizational set-up could handle the planning and development phases of a gradually increased recreational program, but if it is to be given an intensified short-term impetus, additional personnel would be required.

A problem of possibly more local nature is the need for trailer camps with the facilities trailer camping requires. The fine highway networks through the forest encourage trailer travel, but sites for this type of use are makeshift. This is particularly true in the Union Creek District, where preliminary plans have indicated several of these sites are available but this is the extent to which this work has been able to progress. Not all unsurfaced roads in the rest of the forest are negotiable by cars with trailers, so that the need for trailer camps is not forest-wide.

Should the master plan for the Rogue River Basin irrigation and power project be approved and development started, the entire recreational plan for the Upper Rogue area will need to be revised. This problem will be met when and if it occurs.

The shores of Fish and Fourmile Lakes are damaged scenically from the impounded excess waters stored for irrigation purposes. This has caused shore lines of dead standing and down trees. To remove the snags by felling does not materially improve the lake shores—stumps should also be removed. Fourmile Lake has a constant level after excess waters are drained off and some remedy could be effected. Fish Lake is drained as much as is required to supply irrigation needs, leaving, in addition to dead and down trees, an uninviting mud and silt shore. A major project is necessary to improve the scenic aspects of this lake.

The ownership pattern on the Applegate District presents another difficult problem. Should O&C lands revert to National Forest status, the problem will only be slightly lessened as mining claim involvements will persist. Privately owned holdings will be expected to continue as such. The need for recreational developments and the site possibilities will be thoroughly examined before any overtures will be made toward land exchanges and mining entry withdrawals.

1954

PERSONNEL

District Rangers

PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION CHANGES

District Ranger Charles M. Darling at Union Creek resigned in the early spring to enter private employment, and George W. Kansky was transferred from the Chelan National Forest to replace him.

Richard Henthorne, Timber Management Assistant at Union Creek, was transferred to the Toiyabe National Forest in Region 4.

John O'Connor, district assistant at Ashland, went to the Umpqua National Forest and Alvin Anderson was transferred from the junior forester position on the Butte Falls District to replace him.

With the discontinuance of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, Lyle Anderson was transferred to the Forest Service to supervise the blister rust control program. The Forest Service was assigned the functions previously performed by this old-line agency of the Department of Agriculture.

New junior foresters appointed during the summer were Randall F. Perkins for road location, Henry S. Ogden to Butte Falls District, and Ernest B. Wright, Jr., first to Klamath and later to Union Creek District. Project Timber Sale foresters, Doug Shaw and Bob Sorber started on the Forest this year.

Late fall transfers included Verus Dahlin, fire control staffman to the Mapleton District of the Siuslaw Forest, and District Ranger Robert Beeman from the Butte Falls District to Supervisor's staff on Wenatchee National Forest. Dahlin was replaced by Spencer T. Moore, and Beeman by Brittain H. Ash, both from the Willamette National Forest.

Wage board adjustments provided salary increases to unclassified personnel; unemployment insurance protection became effective for Federal employees, and group life insurance was provided for all appointees.

Promotion of R. Endicott Worthington, Union Creek District, to GS-9 created the first Forester position of that grade on a ranger district on the Forest.

TIMBER MANAGEMENT

Timber harvest totaled slightly more than 127 million board feet valued at $1,554,258. With an estimated allowable cut under sustained yield at 103 million board feet, the overcut in 1954 balanced an undercut which had accumulated on the Forest for several years. Logging activity was heavier than usual in the fall.

Open weather in the mountains and a firm market were favorable to logging. There were 71 individual timber tracts sold during the year, their value $2,480,782. In most cases the timber, sold under competitive bid, was purchased at or very near the appraised value. Christmas tree sales brought $515 for 451 trees.

The Forest continued cooperative management at cost of the 2,876-acre City of Medford Watershed. Four sales of over-mature and salvage timber on the watershed returned $16,981 to the City. The ponderosa pine seedlings planted the previous year showed good survival through the summer; 60,000 additional trees were planted in 1954. Tentative recreation plans were completed by the City for the shore area of Willow Reservoir.

REFORESTATION

Planting of 516,000 seedling trees on 738 acres was accomplished. Experimental direct seeding was continued with treatment by chemicals to control seed-eating rodents.

Cone collecting was growing to importance in order to keep nurseries supplied with enough tree seed to meet the demands for planting stock on logged off land. In the Rogue River area, 863 bushels of cones were collected.

FIRE CONTROL

An even better fire record was set in 1954 than in 1953, with total fires from all causes numbering only 26, and burned area held to five acres. Seventeen of the fires were man-caused, five less than in 1953.

Slash burning was completed on 845 acres of clearcut timber sales on National Forest land, and over 39 miles of piled slash along roads in partial cut areas was burned, leaving no carryover slash.

RECREATION

It was estimated that more than 5,000 people visited the Lake of the Woods on the Fourth of July.

Steadily increasing public use of recreation facilities during post-war years had made it difficult to keep up with campground maintenance and repair because of budget limitations. However, in 1954, a modest supplemental fund was made available for the purpose. Funds were used, in part, to rehabilitate and improve sanitary facilities at the most heavily used camps, with the remainder earmarked for similar improvements at Fourmile Lake where the completion of a new road had contributed toward greatly expanded use.

WILDLIFE

All game animals were reported to have wintered satisfactorily. Losses were light. The Rocky Point public shooting area on Klamath Lake was used extensively in the fall, especially during the first weeks of duck season.

The State Game Commission planted fish in all main lakes, streams, and tributaries. In the more heavily fished areas they followed a practice of staggering stocking through several planting dates to extend the period of better fishing.

GRAZING

Grazing permits were issued to 106 livestock operators to graze 6,733 cattle and 4,100 sheep on National Forest summer range.

Permanent study plots were being established on each grazing allotment to determine condition and trend of forage plants and to serve as a guide to stocking for proper utilization of the range. Stockmen were invited to participate in the establishment of the plots as well as in the follow-up gathering of data and interpretation of the project.

Range reseeding was confined to experimental plots in 1954.

IMPROVEMENTS

Four permanent bridges were built, including one major structure across the Rogue River near Woodruff Meadows. Timber sales financed one of the new bridges. Two major culverts were installed by Forest Service crews.

Maintenance was done on 426 miles of road, 596 miles of trail, and 300 miles of telephone line.

Loggers built 39.3 miles of access road financed by the timber sales. Location and construction surveys were completed on almost 80 miles of timber sales roads.

LANDS

Exchange of administrative jurisdiction of lands between the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management was authorized by Act of Congress in 1954. O&C lands, which were administered by the Bureau of Land Management, and Forest Service lands were intermingled over a large area of western Oregon. The purpose of the Congressional Act was to authorize exchange of these lands between the two agencies in order to eliminate the intermingled pattern, and to simplify administration.

By the end of 1954, agreement had been reached on general areas to be exchanged and methods of evaluation were being developed.

The Act provided that acreage exchanged should be approximately equal with in each county, and values exchanged should balance approximately in the overall exchange.

Patents were granted in January by the Secretary of Interior to Al Serena Mines, Inc., over Forest Service protest. Fifteen of the 23 mining claims, located on the Union Creek Ranger District (later Prospect), were contested. Controversy over the claims spread to nation-wide proportions, finally involving a Congressional investigation in 1956.

1955

PERSONNEL

District Rangers

COPY

NOTES ON RANGER MEETING

April 20-22, 1955

Present were Supervisor Wood, District Rangers B. Ash, L. Cooper, R. Cooper, Kansky and Thomas: District Assistants Anderson, L. Ash, Finch, Pierce and Webb; Timber Management Assistants Prigge, Sorber, Tracy and Worthington; and Tedrow, Moore, Langdon, J. Smith, Bryant, V. Smith, and Perkins, also Asst. Regional Forester Brugess on April 21 and 22.

INTRODUCTION:

Wood first gave a brief summary of Chief McArdle's speech "What is Ahead" at the observance of the Fiftieth Anniversary, in connection with the Supervisor's meeting. Old growth stands will be converted into appropriately-managed second Growth and lower class timber will be utilized. Throughout the country, installed mill capacity is greater than timber stands will support. A greatly expanded recreation load is expected. Water and water resources are rapidly becoming of number one importance; most water originates on the National Forests. The impact of greater demand will fall on all five resources and conflicts will arise, such as recreation versus timber and grazing vs. wildlife.

McArdle believes that the attitude of Congress is the best he has ever seen — they are friendly and anxious to help us get the job done. "Outside" agencies are making considerable progress in attaining sustained yield; if we are going to maintain our leadership in forestry we must take a "fresh look".

SUMMARY OF SUPERVISOR'S MEETING (Wood)

Regional Forester Stone emphasized the need to look at our overall job, not just the job of harvesting trees. A better transportation plan and system is needed - our lack in this respect has been partly due to shortage of money, but also in part to need of better planning. We need better plans to meet the conflicts in multiple use — for example, soil maps.

McArdle feels that in the case of local conflicts the Forest Service should be "in the middle" - some criticism from both sides indicates that we are not overlooking one interest for another.

In discussing timber management, the supervisors mentioned the severe pressures being brought by industry for overcutting. The Service must have reasonable arguments with which to meet these pressures; timber management plans are needed. Public information and public support will help to secure adequate timber management funds. Adequate working circle plans will cost an estimate of $130,000 per year regionally for 10 years.

In sale preparation and administration region wide, our first and biggest job is to reach allowable cut, then go for quality and better utilization.

Road Rights of Way: The Department of Agriculture does not condone right of way condemnation in Federal courts, except as a last resort, and each condemnation requires Secretary approval. (This does not apply to County Court condemnation.)

Timber Sale Administration: Better layout often results in better administration. Human relations are very important, and must be considered in training administrative officers on timber sales. It isn't enough to say "its in the contract", the officer must know what is behind the requirement and be able to explain the reason to the operator. Decentralization is a must; the district ranger must delegate authority along with responsibility, and the operator must do the same. Some Forests are using check lists for sale administration, looks like a good idea if they are used as tools only.

Wildlife Management: The Directors of Game for both Washington and Oregon spoke at the meeting. They felt that the relationship between the Forest Service and the Commissions is now excellent - problems are being worked out through mutual consideration on the ground. Both directors pointed out that wildlife habitat area will not increase to meet increased demand, so better management is the only solution. More information is needed regarding the effects of logging on wildlife.

Fire Control: It has been proposed that the two aerial smokejumper units be used to serve the whole Region. It costs $35,000 annually to maintain the twenty-four jumpers on the Siskiyou.

The number of overhead personnel in the Region trained for project fire work is inadequate - there has not been much opportunity to provide training on going fires in the past few years. All possible training should be provided.

Slash: It is the general feeling that the slash disposal job is not yet being satisfactorily covered.

Mining Claims: There are 16 bills in the current Congress relating to mining. The Mining Congress and the Forest Service have agreed on a bill which does not go as far as the Forest Service wants, but is a good compromise.

Land Withdrawals: Over 1 million acres in Region Six are under withdrawals - power and reclamation. Roads must not be built on these withdrawn areas without the approval of the responsible agency.

Watershed Management: Water is extremely important on this Forest and it must be given consideration in each type of our work. We have a very heavy responsibility in this regard, because of the dependence of our communities on the water furnished by this Forest.

Engineering: There is some possibility that we will be able to use funds other than P&M to provide housing. It is also proposed that G.S.A. will construct a number of dwellings in the region for Forest Service occupancy on a lease purchase basis. One of those proposed is at Union Creek.

Stone's Summary of the discussions again emphasized the need for long-range planning.

It is important to the GS-5 to 7 foresters that their experience be as wide as possible during their early years of employment. Opportunities for experience have been limited by the need to get specific jobs done and by the lack of funds.

In spite of these factors we must try to give wider training and experience to these men. One possibility is a streamlined ranger school to be conducted by the regional office. The district ranger can often arrange short term assignments for a half-day or more at a time to different activities.

Initial discussion by the Supervisor with these men will cover the need for securing wide experience without sacrificing production, and the probability that they will be moved from one job to another (timber management to road location, etc.) during their first few years.

TIMBER MANAGEMENT: Tedrow, Moderator

Insect damage survey and salvage program: All rangers agreed that the insect damage is not unusually heavy, many of the areas indicated on the pictures are the result of mistletoe damage. The salvage problem is the same in either case; we must make salvage sales for all damaged areas or be able to show why we cannot do so. Detailed cruises are not necessary — all that is required is just enough information on grade for price and enough on volume to advertise. The districts should not be concerned about allowable cut, it will be figured on a Forest basis; salvage takes priority. There will be another aerial survey this spring.

It was agreed that a combination planting-pruning session will be held at Union Creek this spring, other districts may participate if they desire.

The appraisal handbook will be coming out this summer, and an appraisal school is scheduled for this Forest for May or June. All agreed that it would be very desirable to have a standard legend for timber sale maps - road development, cutting boundaries, methods of cutting, etc. Tedrow will prepare.

As a result of the timber management re-planning, the Ashland and Butte Falls allowable cuts will be increased about twenty-five percent; for Union Creek possibly an even larger increase.

Small versus Large Sales: Tracy defined small commercial sales as under 10,000 M and large ones as over that amount. He mentioned the advantages of small sales as: Avoidance of delay in securing R.O. approval, do not require dual prices or reappraisals, greater freedom of movement in working circles is possible, more opportunity to make salvage sales, more likelihood of one forest officer administering during full life of sale. The disadvantages: Limited road development, higher cost of pre-sale administrative costs. Advantages of the larger sales include easier slash disposal where one area instead of several is involved, and possibility of greater investment in road system. Salvage sales win more favorable public reaction, better woods utilization, and help small operators, but result in poorer mill utilization at the smaller mills and higher administrative costs.

Wood asked which type best meets our obligation to the local economy. Tracy said that we need to keep a balance between the two. R. Cooper pointed out that the conditions affecting each sale must be considered - difference between east side and west side, and between different localities. Wood said that we must recognize limitations - the good and bad of both types. The important thing is to be acquainted with the local needs.

Clearcutting vs. Select-cutting: Brit Ash discussed guides for cutting in Douglas-fir; the larger clear-cut units often are easier to burn, and the cost per acre and risk are less. He believes that about 60 acres would be ideal, with the greatest proportion of cutting edge to be parallel to contour.

OUTSIDE SPEAKERS:

Mr. B. L. Nutting, Manager Medford Corporation: Stressed the importance of sawmill experience to Forest officers, mentioned the value to forestry students of summer employment in lumber manufacture, and said he would like to see our Butte Falls men spend a half day in his mill when they are cutting fir, again for pine and again for incense cedar.

He discussed type of sales — combination of clear cut and selective cut is good to a certain extent. He said he was not "enthusiastic" about the shape of some of the clearcuts — too small, too irregular, with very small buffer strips.

It is not logical to think that 50 to 100 years hence we can tell now whether we want sugar pine, or clear ponderosa — or any clears, and he therefore opposes attempts to establish stands of so-called high value species. The last 15 years has produced closer utilization. Plywood will produce two for one against sawmill log scale. In the future we will be somewhat in the position that foreign countries are now — look more to the cubic content per acre than to the board feet per acre. If Medford Corporation lands will come back to white fir he will be satisfied, by the time the next stand is ready to harvest he believes wood fibers will be widely used. We will be thinning out, we'll be after stems per acre.

Tedrow asked what size of sale is best suited to industry here. Mr. Nutting said that small operators would of course like to have small sales, and the bigger sales are better for the large companies. The plywood mills will make competition pretty rough for small operators: private timber will be cut out in the next five years at the present rate of cutting. A few operators can get on sustained yield but must get their fair share of Government timber, and all can't stay.

Mr. Allen Perry, Manager Medford Branch, U. S. National Bank: The Forest Service, like a bank, is looking after its assets. It is growing a crop and so is thus a part of agriculture. Agriculture is the one main factor of real income. Good forestry practice will stabilize economy. The tremendous increase in population in the west will mean an increasing demand for forestry products, and it is important to keep a sustained yield.

There should be serious consideration given to the development of small forest camps; the average person goes camping for privacy; fishing and hunting are just extra dividends. There will always be policing difficulties. Wilderness areas are good - he would like to see more. Roads into certain areas should have padlocked gates to protect the fishing in small mountain streams. There should be development of more winter recreation spots, such as Brown Mountain and McDonald Basin, roads should be kept open to these areas and shelters provided. To meet the cost, Congress should recognize the population increase and the revenues being secured from timber and should make larger appropriations. He prefers smaller camps, scattered out more, somewhat back from main roads, and is strongly against paid camps in the National Forests.

FIRE CONTROL

Summary of Wind River Fire Conference: (Moore) It was generally agreed that more attention should be given to law enforcement. The key points of fire trespass in law enforcement are: prompt and thorough investigation, use various techniques of interrogation, determine what effort was made toward control, collect the evidence, act on an impersonal basis.

Standard form R6F-32 should be used for brush disposal organization and plan. National Forest timber sale areas should be considered as critical risks. More judgment is needed in the application of strength of force plans - the district ranger or district assistant should decide upon manning.

Ted Maul: (State District Warden) The land classification act has been in effect for twenty years, but the increase in patrol tax last year brought it to attention. It is primarily for grazing land; requests go to county court. Cost is 5 cents per acre for protection with existing crews, additional suppression costs are charged to owners; cost in some instances may therefore exceed the tax on regular forest land. District formed this year covers Bear Creek, Lower Little Butte, Sams Valley-Blackwell Hill. The Dead Indian area is to be reconsidered. Small zones are not wanted.

Regarding operator inspection, the State's policy is to send a warning to operator preceding the first inspection, usually a letter. On first inspection if equipment isn't there the operator is closed down. Inspections are usually not made in wet weather - but are postponed until approach of fire danger. For lack of operator permits, operators are always cited into district court unless they are new to the State - this is a year-round requirement.

Question was asked regarding water supply at landings. Mr. Maul said that the maximum that can be required is 500 gallons, use that on heavily timbered areas, 150 gallons on low hazard areas or short operations. Moore said that any National Forest operator as a minimum will comply with State law.

Regarding stationary engines, the State inspector said a cat is considered stationary if it is used for two days time at one setting.

Regarding the requirement that a shovel be immediately available at a power saw, State requires that it be with the gas can, and this may be 150 to 200 feet from saw.

Mr. Maul: The man will usually have his lunch and gas can together, if the shovel is there also he will know where it is. If he is required to keep it right with him, he is likely to leave it unintentionally, and will not be able to find it quickly if a fire starts.

The State permits no smoking while working or traveling on operations during closed season April 1 to December 31. If a man is sitting down, not working, he is permitted to smoke. The Forest Service will follow the same practice.

Fire Prevention on Timber Sales: Thomas Problem is getting compliance, what can we do in sale administration to minimize misinterpretations and violations?

Worthington: One of the biggest things is to start out pre-season.

B. Ash: It will pay to spend a day with an operator and his gypos to discuss all problems and prepare fire plan. All agreed - don't make an inspection for fire tools until fire weather occurs. "When we have to shut down an operation, it usually means we have failed to sell fire prevention."

National Forest Slash Disposal: Kansky Need: more planning, adequate collections, personal interest, road construction disposal. We need organization and extra protection planning and financing. Objectives of strip burning in select areas; form place where crown fire may be brought to ground, or worked on.

B. Ash: In some instances we can pile clear cuts in center and burn cheaper after rain than we can build fire trails, etc., and eliminate risk. This would lengthen burning season.

Methods of slash disposal should be planned at time of layout, do the extra protection planning then. It is regional policy that cost of extra protection shouldn't be more than the cost of burning would be. Kansky pointed out that we need some constant upon which to base extra protection estimates.

Conclusion: We need better BD planning.

Is fire control receiving adequate attention in face of other pressures? Is a vital activity essential to management of all resources.

Moore discussed the "Willamette experiment" in which the total amount of funds needed for complete protection are to be furnished, to demonstrate savings that will result in suppression costs.

ENGINEERING (Langdon)

In determining road and bridge plans, consider needs of entire area. Timber sale requirements for roads and bridges cannot be more than a "prudent operator" would spend. If higher standard is desired, work must be done with Forest Service funds through cooperative agreements which are to be included in prospecti. There are two types of cooperative agreements for this purpose: (1) Operator does the work and F. S. contributes; (2) Forest Service does the work. If the Government's fair share exceeds 60% of cost, it is recommended that the Government do the work. Agreements are necessary only when standards are higher than those necessary in the sale. Single lane road with turnouts is minimum standard. Betterment can be required only when necessary to make road usable and safe for the sale.

Trail Betterment: Estimates for needed trail betterment are needed from the districts; they have been omitted in recent years from allotment estimates because we have inadequate data and plans.

Equipment Use: Demonstration was given by Taber and Langdon showing the results failures in equipment maintenance. Adequate lubrication, cleaning and inspection are the principal needs. Safety hazards were emphasized as well as cost.

RECREATION

Building Restrictions: Moore It was agreed that we need specifications for summer homes - information sheets to be distributed to permittees showing particularly type of foundation and type of flues that are acceptable.

Recreation Maintenance: R. Cooper Priority jobs were listed as:

Sanitation
Safety (booby traps)
Fireproofing
Cattle guards
Tables, stoves, etc.

usually in that order. It is essential that maintenance plans be made and jobs be specifically assigned. Job list should be prepared for the recreation guard. Contact work of a recreation guard should not be overlooked.

Experimental Concrete Toilet Slabs: Thomas Should be made smoother so that floors can be more easily cleaned. Pumice base - (set in pumice blocks, fill with cement, bolt building to it) are good for back country. Concrete pipe table legs set in rock and concrete. Willamette stoves can be built for about $8 each.

SAFETY: Moore, Moderator

Safe Practices in Motor Vehicle Operation: L. Cooper Cause of Accidents: Too much speed, mind wandering, improper practices, faulty equipment. Should give drivers real examinations. Practice defensive driving — be prepared to dodge the other driver if he is wrong. Suggests another driving school. What is defensive driving? Drive as if the next corner or the next vehicle or the next driver may be the next accident.

Wood: Get across to persons when giving examinations safe speed on mountain roads.

Road Safety Signs: Standards in handbook. Obligated to post any road where it is unsafe or may be an accident. For everybody's safety, particularly those who are not used to that kind of road. There are "caution, logging truck" signs on most roads. Roads will finance any signs deemed necessary. Post stop signs where two main logging roads meet. Signs must be standard as listed in sign handbook; can get operator installation in most cases. New type signs (sample shown at meeting) will cost $1.25 per square foot; letter sizes must be in full inches; not necessary to show size of board. State Highway will post caution signs at highway intersections at our request.

During fire season, fire closures usually cover operations so that there is no public traffic on roads heavily used by logging trucks. Outside fire season, the roads may be closed through "special service" designation, and usually this should be done on spurs which were built by and for the sale.

Safety Bulletin: Everyone agreed it is a good device to maintain interest in safety and the rangers will encourage contributions from their districts.

Aware: The group voted to adopt a Forest safety award, to be presented annually to the unit with the best safety record. Upon suggestions of Worthington, it was decided to use an axe as the trophy.

Loggers' Safety: Bryant asked about logger's compliance with State safety laws, saying that the State safety inspectors hesitate to act on government timber sales. Moore said it is Forest Service responsibility to call in these inspectors when violations are occurring because our own personnel are endangered and we have a moral responsibility for the safety of the operator's employees.

RANGE MANAGEMENT: Tedrow

It appears that we will continue to have demand for range in excess of the Forest's carrying capacity. The consolidation of O&C lands will help management. We have about 120 families who are deriving their livelihood from our range. While range administration is primarily the work of the District Rangers, the District assistants and timber management assistants should assist by noting and informing the Rangers of presence of cattle, unused feed and danger signals of overgrazing, and should also learn to recognize and talk with the grazing users. On timber sales, natural stock driftways should be kept open, and opportunities should be taken to develop water pools for cattle.

The need for early submission of the District range management plans was emphasized.

Arrangements should be made by the Rangers to take Cole Rivers of State Game Commission on sales in advance of layout to obtain his counsel on preservation of fish habitat.

Changes in Grazing Regulations were discussed by Kansky, who recommended particularly that the younger Forest Officers study the grazing manual, in which regulations are defined clearly.

FISCAL CONTROL: Smith

Subsistence Costs: Last year our meals averaged 75¢ for supplies plus 56¢ for cooks (without overtime) total $1.31. This year we must add fuel and other kitchen costs so total will be about $1.35. Charge of 80¢ means a loss of 55¢; we will serve about 20,000 meals so total loss in our appropriations will be $11,000. Wherever we can secure meals commercially this loss can be reduced.

Warehouse Requisitioning: The reasons for requiring approval of requisitions in the Supervisor's Office were explained, as well as the need for reducing the number of "emergency" orders.

/s/ J. V. Smith

"ODE TO A PORK CHOP"

'Twas about the 7th of September in '55
And nary a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year
And the historic event as retold here.
'Twas on Sterling Mount, in the Southern part
Where a fire raged and flew like a dart.
The men and equipment were hard at toil
Most everywhere was confusion, turmoil
Except in one camp, where all was serene -
The cook was preparing for the nightly bean.
The cook thought "The men are weary - tonight's a treat.
For our twenty men we'll get fresh meat."
So off to the radio he ran in a flurry.
"Please send us chops and send in a hurry.
Send us forty pork chops, individually cut,
And drive carefully please - don't get stuck in a rut."
The message flew to the Medford camp
Through several hams, mobiles - to the champ.
The champ, Janie Smith, was dispatching there.
You could depend on her and not lose your hair.
She took the message with precision and care
Said, "Rest assured, your chops will be there.
Forty pork chops, individually cut;
And never fear, we'll steer clear of the rut."
She grabbed up the phone and said, "Get me King
He does the buying, he'll take care of this thing.
The boys on Sterling are fresh out of meat.
Get off the desk and on to your feet.
We need pork chops, 400 pounds, individually cut,
And heaven knows why, but a case of wheat smut.
Wait - the men are hungry, dirty and beat
Add another 100 pounds to the ordered pork meat."
"We'll get it and send it as fast as we can
Fresh meat in the camp - some for every man."
But "Whoa!" he thought, "that's a mighty small camp...
We'd better check this order - we may need to revamp."
So back to the radio - through the mobiles and hams
Through the Tom's, the Richard's, the Harry's, the Sam's.
From Medford to Sterling the message did soar,
"Is four hundred pounds right, and could you use more?"
"The message was right, we'll take all we can get
And please hurry it up, the cook's having a fit."
So back on the air the message did fly
From Sterling to Medford, through the smokey sky.
"The order is right, 400 pounds of chops.
Get them the biggest, the best, the tops."
Pork chops, 500 pounds, were sent on their way.
You can't argue the order, that's what they all say.
Yes you've guessed it - the order was wrong.
For years after, pork chops weren't worth a song.
Truckloads went to Prospect, some went to Star.
Some went near, and some went far.
Pork chops were boiled, they were stewed, and they were fried.
Every known recipe was tried and tried.
But finally, after years, I'm happy to say,
The last of the chops are on the table today !

- Randy Perkins

The South Fork of Little Butte Creek swollen with flood waters. Notice the road washout.

A picture of the Mill Creek fire during August of 1955 on the Union Creek District.

1956

PERSONNEL

Lee C. Port died August 15.

District Rangers

TIMBER

Timber harvest totaled slightly less than 100 million board feet in 1956. The annual allowable cut under sustained yield has been set for a number of years at 103 million board feet. Earlier this season the allowable cut was raised to 117 million feet. The increase is based on a number of developments. Cruise and scale volumes made available from widely spread timber sales in recent years were used to adjust older inventory estimates. Weight was given tree species not considered merchantable previously. Better logging equipment and methods were a factor together with more efficient utilization both in the woods and at industrial plants.

A detailed timber inventory survey will be started in 1957. Aerial photography was completed last year. The pictures will be used to delineate timber types for survey crews to use in the field next summer in locating and measuring around plots for volume and growth data.

Total cut on the Forest was less than anticipated earlier in the year. Sufficient timber was sold to reach the newly set allowable cut of 117 million. However, a large volume of salvage timber necessarily was put on the market by the Klamath National Forest as a result of forest fires in Siskiyou County in 1955. It is estimated at least 50 million feet of fire damaged timber came into the Medford, Ashland and Klamath Falls areas from that source during the summer. Also, a general softening in the market has been experienced by the lumber industry for several months. These two factors had noticeable affect on local timber harvesting activity.

About one-fourth of the 1956 cut was salvage harvest of windthrown, diseased and insect infested timber. A total of 65 sales were made under competitive bid. Forty-two sales were in amounts less than $2,000 each.

A timber sale was awarded on August 22 to the Johns Mansville Corporation for 450,000 cords of lodgepole timber on the Fremont and Rogue River Forests. The sale contract provides that the purchaser build a plant in the vicinity for processing the lodgepole pine into pulp material. The sale area on the Rogue River was in the Panhandle area east of Crater Lake National Park.

REFORESTATION

More than 693,000 trees were planted on 1,210 acres of cut-over lands in 1956. During the last five years a total of 4,290 acres have been planted or seeded using 2,400,000 seedling trees and 200 pounds of tree seed. Planting by artificial methods is confined to areas on which adequate natural restocking is not expected.

WATER

Last year we reported special attention and study was to be afforded the Ashland Watershed. This 11,000-acre tract is the source of domestic water supply to the entire City of Ashland. Production of a sustained flow of pure, unpolluted water for domestic consumption is by far the most important use of this tract of forest land. A detailed land-use plan for the watershed is being prepared this year. The primary objective will be continued production of domestic water with intensified protection against all losses. The plan will include limited use of timber and other resources in a manner strictly compatible with full protection of soil and water.

Salvage logging is now completed on the City of Medford Watershed, comprising some 3,000 acres. Over a period of several years a planned salvage of scattered over-mature timber on the watershed has returned more than $100,000 to the City. A stand improvement program with emphasis on tree planting has been underway annually since 1952 when the Forest Service entered into agreement with the city to manage the Medford Watershed lands at cost. Tree planting has been aimed at restocking old burns and other areas that failed in past years to restock naturally. The projects have shown good survival in the main and some of the earlier plantings of 1952 are now several feet high.

Water production and the water resource in general are of singular importance on the National Forest. Much of the headwaters of both the Rogue and Applegate rivers lie within its boundaries. It is vitally important all forest resource uses be planned and developed in a manner to assure sustained, controlled flow of unpolluted water from its mountain source to the lands and people below.

Work is progressing cooperatively with the Reclamation Service on the Talent project. Timber is being cleared and sold from the tunnel and reservoir sites currently. Next summer the Forest Service will advertise to sell the right-of-way timber along the collection canals, prior to canal construction.

FIRE CONTROL

The 1956 fire season was less severe than 1955, but more severe than average. Fall rains were delayed, resulting in critical fire weather throughout September.

Lightning set an unusually large number of fires for a total of 81. Fifty of these were set by a series of lightning storms in mid-August. Full cooperation of forest industry and local citizens helped materially in realizing prompt control. Total number of fires from all causes was 93, with a burned area of only 14 acres.

Suppression action was aided greatly by use of smokejumpers, parachuting of supplies to ground crews, helicopter and aerial patrol.

RECREATION

Use of the forest by recreationists continues to increase. On peak weekends last season available facilities at forest camps and picnic areas were inadequate to handle the demand. An estimated 7,000 persons visited Lake of the Woods on the July Fourth holiday. Additional funds were made available by Congress this year and the timely allocation is being used to replace worn out and unserviceable campground facilities in the most heavily used areas. In addition, survey and plans will be made to determine additional facilities needed to accommodate the steadily increasing recreation use.

A winter sports special-use permit was issued to Tomahawk Ski Bowl, Inc., on May 28 (Klamath District). These facilities consisted of one Poma Lift and one rope tow, a modest building housing a ski shop and snack bar, and several good ski runs.

GRAZING AND WILDLIFE

Grazing on mountain ranges by domestic livestock and wildlife is one of the oldest uses of Rogue River Forest resources.

Range forage is an important resource. Utilization of the forage on a sustained basis in support of a portion of the livestock industry dependent on the Forest for summer range is the objective of management.

During 1956 summer range was furnished to 7,378 cattle and 4,100 sheep, representing 100 separate livestock operators.

A field survey of summer ranges was started last season and will continue through 1957. The purpose of the survey will be to provide current data on location, extent, condition and trend of forage areas. The data will be used in long term management plans for the resource.

Close cooperation is enjoyed with the State Game Commission. The Forest Service manages wildlife habitat within the National Forests, while the State Game Commission manages the wildlife resource itself.

Lake of the Woods was poisoned for trash fish by the Commission in 1955 and restocked with trout in 1956. Both operations are reported successful, furnishing an important addition to lake sport fishing in the area.

MINING CLAIMS

Public Law 167 passed by 84th Congress provides for reservation to the Government of rights to timber and other surface resources on unpatented mining claims located after the law was passed. Provision also is made for determination of surface rights on unpatented claims located before the law was passed by a process of field examination, notification, publication and public hearing. Examination for determination of surface rights was started last fall on a 6,000-acre tract in the upper Applegate. Addi [...text missing...]

ENGINEERING

A network of roads, trails and telephone lines must be maintained annually to protect and use the National Forest. Maintenance this year covered 520 miles of road, 555 miles of trail and 265 miles of telephone line.

Progress is being made to complete a transportation system adequate to serve protection and use of the several resources. Location survey was done on 82 miles of road and construction completed on 57 miles of new permanent routes. Federal access road funds provided for installation of a major bridge and connecting link across upper Rogue River. The route taps a large body of mature timber in the northeast corner of Jackson County. Through cooperative agreement with a private timber owner, 11.5 miles of permanent road was completed along the hitherto inaccessible Elliott Creek in upper Applegate.

O&C EXCHANGE

Last year we reported the passage of the Congressional O&C Exchange Act directing the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to exchange intermingled O&C and National Forest lands. The purpose was to simplify and improve administration for both agencies through elimination of intermingled jurisdiction.

The exchange was completed at the Target date last June. Approximately 67,000 acres of O&C land was transferred to the Forest Service and a like amount of National Forest land was exchanged to the Bureau of Land Management. New administrative boundaries have been established and there is every indication the adjustment is an important, progressive step forward.

FINANCIAL REPORT

(Fiscal Year 1956)