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Show COMMI8BIONEB OF INDIAN AlWAIRS. 55 APPWSAL OF T ~ B E REE BOU&CE~.-'~'~~w ork of estimating the timber, clsssifying the land, and gathering data for a contour map of the Quinaielt Indian Reservation was completed in the summer of 1917. Several townships of the bath were covered by strip valuation surveys in accordance with a plan for the gradual examina-tion of the whole timbered area upon the reservation. A general reconnaieaance of the forested area of the Crow Indian Reservation indicated a stand of about 30,000,000 feet. Estimates on a com-paratively smd scale were made on a large number of reservations and allotments upon the public land to meet the requirements of small timber sales and of sales of laud bearing timber. As a basis for the administration of the Red Lake Indian Forest, created by the act of May 18, 1916 (39 Stat. L., 123, 137), an exami-nation was made of the lands south of hwer Red Lake. This examination showed that the greater part of the white and Norway pine was mature or decadent and should be immediately removed. The burning over of more than three-fourths of this area during the very severe drought in May, 1917, made an early timber operation imperative. Accordingly all mature timber on a large part of the area sonth of Lower Red Lake has been offered for sale. TIMFJERS ALE~.-TWOla rge sales of timber comprising approxi-mately 430,000,000 feet were made from the faamath Reservation in June, 1917. Upon the larger unit a price of $3.57 per thousand feet, board measure, was received for yellow pine, with a provision in the contract for increased prices at successive three-year periods in acoordance with future advances in lumber values. In addition to these large sales about 15,000,000 feet were sold from allotments. Two large sales of timber, comprising about 60,000,000 feet, board measure, were made from the southern portion of the Flathead Reservation in June, 1917. Under one of these sales western yellow pine brought $3.65 and under the other $4 per thousand feet. A unit of 57,000,000 feet in the Ronan district has been advertised for sale under sealed bids to be received September 11, 1917. About 18,000,000 feet of mixed species was sold from the L'Anse Indian Reservation in northern Michigan, and comparatively small sales were made from dotmenter on the Coeur d'Alene, Leech Lake, and Muckleshoot Reservations. Under sales previously m.ade extensive timber operations were conducted during the year on the Bad River, Fond du Lac, J i c d a , faamath, Lac Courte Oreille, Leech Lake, and Tulslip reservations, and minor operations on the Chehalia, Coeur d'Alene, Flathead, Mackinac, and Muckleahoot. The amount cut on each reservation is shown in the statistical Appendix accompanying this report. At the Menominee Indian mill, where 17,000,000 feet of lumber were manufactured under Quvernmental management, Indians earned |