Ford, Paul Leicester

Paul Leicester (1865-1902), an American author. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. His best known novel is Janice Meredith, one of the most popular of the historical novels which in the latter years of the nineteenth century marked the reaction from realism. The Honorable Peter Stirling is a novel of New York society. Other writings are The True George Washington, The Story of an Untold Love. Mr. Ford was the author also of a number of short stories and of pamphlets relating to American history.

Forest Service, a bureau of the United States Department of Agriculture charged with the care of national forests. The chief of the bureau is called the national forester. His headquarters are in Washington, D. C., with district headquarters at Missoula, Montana; Denver, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Ogden, Utah; San Francisco, California; and Portland, Oregon. Each district is in charge of a district forester and an assistant district forester. The service includes traveling inspectors and assistant inspectors, resident supervisors and assistant supervisors, and forest assistants, planters, lumbermen, rangers, and guards. All of these positions are open to young men of active out-door habits, who are able to pass an examination in forestry. In addition, a large number of laborers are employed. Nearly all of the business is handled from the district headquarters.

During 1908, 3,400 miles of new trail and 100 miles of wagon roads were built in the national forests; telegraph lines were constructed to the extent of 3,200; over 550 cabins were built; about 7,000 trees were planted. In 1909 over 2,000,000 were planted. Sixteen million young trees have been started in nurseries to be transplanted later. Five tons of tree seeds were collected in 1908 to be sown broadcast by way of experiment. Private owners desiring advice on forestry may have the services of an expert free of charge. The policy of administration permits adjacent settlers the free use of timber and stone required to build houses and stables. Timber is sold when it has reached maturity and is in danger of fire. Ranges are leased to stock raisers, so far as the privilege may not destroy young timber. In 1908 the income from sales of timber and grazing privileges was $1,842,000.

The national forests October 1, 1908, were as follows:

The pathway of the national forester is not an easy one. Lumbermen dislike to see fine timber reserved. Stock raisers dislike to be barred from grazing privileges. Greedy corporations are eager to seize water privileges and waterpowers. Settlers complain if arable land is withdrawn from homesteading. President Roosevelt did loyal service in setting aside reservations. The Sixtieth Congress appropriated $3,896,200 for the forest service.