Handbook for rangers & woodsmen

Preface

(1) Object.—The object of this volume is to serve as a guide for inexperienced men in woods work. While in its preparation,

0 the author had primarily in mind the problems which confront a forest ranger, in Government, State, or private employ, and especially rangers on National Forests, yet the suggestions offered may be of use to others whose work or recreation takes them into rough and unsettled regions. The book is not intended and should not be considered in any way as an official or even a semi-official publication the use of which is obligatory upon National Forest Rangers. It has been prepared, however, by permission of the Secretary of Agriculture, whose criticisms have been carefully considered and at whose request certain revisions have been made, and is strictly in the nature of a private publication prepared after eight years of experience in field work of the United States Forest Service. _

It is not placed before the public with any intention or desire on the part of the author to insist that opinions of inexperienced persons must coincide with the ones expressed here before satisfactory results may be obtained. On the contrary, the absolute necessity for exercising ingenuity and originality of thought, in so far as this is practicable, is thoroughly appreciated and is suggested as the most effecttve means of extrication from all difficulties encountered, especially those the solution of which cannot be touched upon here.

(2) Brevity—Recognition of the fact that volume after volume might still fail to cover in detail any one of the subjects discussed here makes it at once apparent that only the most essential points can be covered in a book of this size. Consequently only such problems as have been found to be especially difficult for the inexperienced woodsman are considered.

(3) Technical Terms.—These have been avoided so far as such a course seemed practical, and all unusual trade or professional terms with which the beginner can not be expected to be familiar have been defined in the Glossary.

(4) Cost Data.—It is assumed as general knowledge that costs increase as western sections are reached and that tabu-

Iv PREFACE lated lists of costs covering each article and applicable to each section would require work and research of a nature not justified by or compatible with the nature of this book. ‘Therefore the costs given range from the minimum for the cheaper grades to the maximum for the better grades of articles mentioned. Finally, it is sincerely hoped that beginners will not be content to accept the following suggestions as the only possible or the most effective solutions of the problems involved, but that they will be continually on the alert to discover other and more effective solutions which they may transmit to their successors. Sincerest thanks are extended to the Secretary of Agriculture, — Chief Forester Graves, District Forester Ringland, and Forest . Supervisors Kiefer and Hinderer for assistance rendered; to Forest Ranger Russell, who spent some fourteen years as a soldier and Forest Officer in the Philippine Islands and who contributed the article on “‘ Field Work in the Philippine Islands ”’; to Forest Ranger Perry, Special Detail on Telephone Construction, Carson National Forest, for valuable suggestions offered | - on the subject of ‘Telephone Construction”; to Assistant Forest Ranger Warner, Prescott National Forest, for the timely suggestions he has offered on the subject of ‘‘ Identification of -Live Stock’”’; to ex-Forest Guard Highfill, Arkansas National Forest, for practical assistance extended in compiling the article on ‘‘ Care of Horses’; to R. C. Bryant, Professor of Lumbering, and S. J. Record, both of the Yale Forest School, for their.

continued assistance and interest in this work; to the Moline

Plow Company for illustrations and assistance furnished on the subject of ‘‘ Wagons ”’; to the Lufkin Rule Company for illustrations and for the Doyle log rule and the table showing comparisons of various log rules; to the Pratt Food Company for advice concerning “‘ Diseases of Live Stock’”’; to the Western Electric Company for their assistance and continued interest in the subject of ‘‘ Telephone Construction ”’?; to the Du Pont Powder Company for illustrations and data on “ Blasting”; to the Simmons Hardware Company for illustrations and information supplied; to the International Harvester Company for information contributed; to Swift & Company and Armour & Company for courtesies extended ; to the late N. H. C. Taylor, formerly of the Signal Corps, United States Army, for data supplied; to O. St. John, M. D., for assistance rendered in the : compilation of the subject ‘‘ Ailments”; to H. T. Southworth,

PREFACE Vv

M. D., City Health Officer of Prescott, Arizona, for valuable suggestions concerning the subject of ‘‘ Poisoning’”’; to the ‘Southwestern Portland Cement Company for advice on the subject of “‘ Concrete Work ”’; to C. C. Queen, practical blacksmith and shoer, for assistance rendered in the compilation of the subject relating to horseshoeing; to E. G. Bosserman, practical painter and paper-hanger for advice on the subject of “ Painting’; to J. A. Richards, sawmill operator, for advice on the subject of ‘‘ Woods Work”; to N. H. Getchell, mine operator, for suggestions concerning “ Blasting”; to J. E. Bacon, packer, for assistance in the work of compiling the article on ‘ Packing ’”’; and to Chas. B. Weil, whose practical suggestions, offered from the view-point of an experienced camper, have proven of inestimable value in the work of assembling and preparing the subjects covered here. . Sool Foctaa 5 amd Groom Creek, Arizona, December 1, 1916. -