University of Idaho School of Forestry - Forester Yearbook (Moscow, ID)

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44 THE IDAHO FORESTER ground control were not established perman- ently and there is no prospect of utilizing the topography in detail when the final location is made. The question at once arises as to how ex- tensive the ground control should be. The results obtained on the Lochsa would seem to indicate that they should either be more than was used or less. If the ground control had been placed in the form of a preliminary and have had the points well established, the projected line could have been located without the necessity of additional preliminary or topographic work. If less work had been placed upon the ground control by using existing maps and ele- vations and building up a map that would ad- mittedly contain some variations in course and elevation, the map in that case would have had about the same preliminary value and the field control would have cost nothing. As the matter stands now, there is no ready manner by which to place the paper projection on the ground as a located line. When the line is located, a preliminary line and a working strip of topography, as well as a new projec- tion of the line, will be required. The present work and map, therefore, is limited to pre- liminary and general purposes. Two PHASES OF TWORK This situation is no reflection upon the aerial surveys but the recitation of a result due to occupying an intermediate position. This develops the fact that aerial mapping and topography divides itself into two classes. One class for preliminary estimate purposes and one for final detail work. These two classes vary in value in proportion to the scale of the map, and the accuracy, class and permanency of the ground control. The cost varies in a similar ratio and their desirability in propor- tion to their cost as compared to that of the usual ground survey costs when supplemented by aerial photographs. SCALE or MAP VARIES WITH COUNTRY The Lochsa River aerial map was made on a scale of 500 feet to the inch and the contour interval was ten feet. For a country as difli- cult as that through which the river passes, that scale is too small to permit the projecting of a close final line. A final ground map to a scale of one hundred feet to the inch will be required over the strip that will be occupied by the highway, This aerial map then falls within the preliminary class and as such, the necessity for refinements in the quality of the ground control were not vitally essential, and could have been heavily curtailed without af- fecting the net value of the projection and estimate made upon the map. The quality of the ground control should Nora: Mr. G. E. McKelvey is Commissioner of Public Evorlisl zrncl Mr. J. H. Steuimer is Director of Highways or r a io. vary in proportion to the scale of the map. The scale of the map should vary in propor- tion to the roughness of the country. The price of the map can equal the price of a ground preliminary and topography on one line plus a reasonable amount for the increased scope of the information. The aerial map, however, has an outstand- ing advantage in utility over the ground map by reason of its greater scope and detail. In addition, increased width in the topography to include both sides and the slopes above a river does not increase the cost proportionally for the reason that no additional flying is re- quired and little more ground control. On ground surveys, additional preliminary and base lines would be required for expansion of the area and for alternate propositions. The ground map usually covers a limited strip. The suiiiciency of this strip is determined by the individual upon the ground and there is little opportunity to study alternatives and to guard against oversights. The flexibility and completeness of aerial survey information, its diversity of use and the ready expansion of topographic area, makes it a more positive and complete source of understanding than the usual ground methods. The enhanced value of the results and the safeguards in judgment that it affords makes it a better dollar for dollar investment and justifies a greater gross expenditure than ground work because it is very evident that the ultimate net economic cost will be less. Appreciation The editorial staff of The IDAHO FORESTER is grateful to the contributors for their part in the publication of this issue. The staff also acknowledges the co-operation of several agen- cies in supplying certain cuts. The University of Idaho Publicity Department supplied the cut appearing on page 41. The Caxton Printers, Ltd., Caldwell, Idaho, publishers of this year's edition, furnished the cuts on pages 1, 2, and 6, and supplied the art work for the hand lettered heading of The IDAHO FORESTER appearing on page 3. Time Flies A green fire fighter was aroused from his slumbers at 3:00 a. m. to begin the day's rou- tine. Getting ready for breakfast he was heard to say, It sure doesn't take long to spend a night in this country. During his youth he was a knotty problem, but his father was a lumberman, therefore he was a chip off the old block.

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THE IDAHO FORESTER 43 fortless minutes and conclusions are reached that are qualified by few mental reservations! The flights, both reconnaissance, photo- graphic and reflights for the Lewis and Clark Highway, were completed in twelve hours of fiying time and about 1,000 miles were flown. A ground party would occupy that period in traveling ten miles along the trail and mak- ing camp. The films were sent to Washing- ton, D. C. by airmail for development and printing. In ten days from the date of taking, the pictures were received and the stereoscopic study began. From the air, the alternate routes are con- sidered close together and no term of time or effort lies between the observations to dull the impression derived, as is the case when travel- ing laboriously along faint trails upon the ground. When observed information is sup- ported and supplemented by continuous photo- graphs, the aerial method far outstrips ground reconnaissance in every respect. In addition, the resulting record is of much greater value, due to its increased scope and versatility of use. It is, in fact, visual proof of the condi- tions, while that of ground reconnaissance is simply verbal and subject to the personal equation. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE After the photographs of the various routes have been studied under a stereoscope and a tentative route has been indicated upon the mosaics, the pictures are again studied and a preliminary cost estimate is made. This preliminary or reconnaissance estimate is made just as it would be by a man upon the ground. The ground conditions show clearly under the stereoscope. Some distortion occurs in the steepness of the slopes due to variation in the overlap of the pictures, but the same condition obtains on all the routes so the result balances suhiiciently for comparison purposes. Stream crossings are more readily determi- nate upon the pictures than upon the ground. Advantageous breaks in the slopes above the rivers are located at once and not passed by as when traveling below. The choice of ground along the main streams is readily made as the pictures show half a mile on each side. Cliffs and slopes are easily distinguishable, particu- larly in open country, and large boulders in the rivers are discernible. BEST ROUTE READILY ASCERTAINED When the line leaves the rivers and supports along the slope, the procedure does not con- tinue with as much confidence as along the river as there is no gauge of elevation except by estimating the height of the trees and step- ping off the ascent or descent accordingly. The character of the country shows, however, and the gross ascent is usually known, so the distance across each type of ground is de- terminate and the cost is estimated. The pur- pose at this time is to arrive at comparative costs and so know the relative value of alter- nate routes. With these figures are placed the physical values of rise and fall, curvature and distance, together with climatic, political, maintenance, and economic values, the most suitable route becomes evident. To the engineer making a ground recon- naissance in heavy country, the matter of dis- tance is usually approximated, but on the air pictures that difficulty does not appear, as they can be measured on the photograph and the mosaic. ' In making these approximate reconnaissance estimates, the ground method has the advan- tage in a more detailed classification of the material. It contains, however, the more seri- ous possibility of overlooking the opportuni- ties of more favorable ground that is plainly evident from the air. Estimates of this type are visual approximations based on previous knowledge of similar conditions and little variation in judgment should occur. GROUND CONTROL The completion of the reconnaissance Hights and the photography concludes one complete section of aerial work. The choice of routes has been made and the remainder of the work re- quired is the making of a topographic map of the accepted route and the actual staking of the located line upon the ground and final esti- mating of cost. From this point, then, two courses are open. The topographic map can be made from the photographs after a ground control has been placed, or it can be made from measure- ments taken on the ground after a staked preliminary line has been established. The desired end is to obtain topography and tie it into a base line. This is required in order that the center line when projected upon the topography may be transferred to the ground in the same relation to the base or preliminary line that it occupies upon the map. Ground control consists of elevations on certain dis- tinguishable points at random on the picture and also the length and bearings of the courses between the points. This information may be secured by stadia or otherwise as the condi- tions warrant. A preliminary line would be a precise staked line close to the position that the highway was expected to occupy and form the base from which the topography would be taken and from which the projected center line would be located upon the ground. GROUND CONTROL IMPORTANT In mountain country such as that under consideration the preparations for doing either would be similar. The size of the party for ground control was less on the Lochsa than would have been the case for a preliminary line and the time taken for the fifty miles of canyon was less. Survey points upon the

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AN ADDRESS TO THE ASSOCIATED FORESTERS GEORGE M. FISHER, '33 Delivered at the Bonfire Meeting at Price Green, October, 1932 Mr. President and Associated Foresters of the University of Idaho: NO DOUBT everyone here, with the possible exception of the freshmen, knows what an honorary fraternity or society is. Existence of such an organization in our School of Forestry is evident, but some of you know very little more than that. I have recollec- tions of reading in the catalog about such an honor society when I was a freshman in the University. But it was not until my sopho- more year that I fully realized what the or- ganization meant, what the functions of the group were, and how admission was possible. Xi Sigma Pi, National Forestry Honor Fra- ternity, stands for an honor society in every sense of the word. It is a distinct honor to our institution and is based upon the very highest of standards which are recognized in our For- estry School. It is an honor to the profession of forestry because its representation is select- ed with much care in regard to the active for- estry profession and is composed almost 100 per cent of men now engaged and holding high positions in this chosen field. It is an honor to the individual when he is recognized and chosen for membership. I think I am right in stating that no one ever received membership in Xi Sigma Pi who did not earnestly work for it and did not feel that after he had received this honor that it was indeed another victory won. MEMBERSHIP IMPORTANT The organization has grown up with the field of forestry. Established in 1908 at our neighboring institution, the University of Washington, it has now a membership of almost 1000 and has eight chapters represent- ed in the country's finest forestry schools. This membership figure means considerable as there are not very many thousands of men at the present engaged in forest activities. A further comparison is possible when it is known there are roughly 2500 members of the Society of American Foresters, the largest group of pro- fessional foresters in our country. The local chapter at Idaho has been in exist- ence 12 years, the charter having been granted in 1920. It has steadily grown in importance in our school, having one of the strongest alumnae chapters in the fraternity, as well as one of the best represented in the profession. At the end of last year the active resident membership of Idaho Epsilon Chapter was 19. This fall the group is represented by 16 actives. The objects of the fraternity are: 1. To se- cure and maintain a high standard of scholar- ship in forest education. 2. To work for the upbuilding of the profession of forestry. 3. To promote fraternal relations among earnest workers engaged in forest activities. SCHOLARSHIP ESSENTIAL You will see from this that recognition of membership by the group would be based on scholarship, activity in forestry work, and true professional interest. The eligibility re- quirements are high and stand among the top in relation to other existing societies. But they are high for a purpose. It is necessary to maintain forest school standards and pro- fessional forestry on par with the best of other professions. Also an honor difficult to attain and worth working hard for is much more valued and appreciated after such an honor is obtained. Three-fourths of all the grades a student makes during his college course must be B or better or in other words above 80 per cent. Second semester junior standing is necessary except in a few cases where a limited number of students of excep- tional ability may be pledged during their first semester of the junior year. A failure in any forestry subject completely rejects the student from membership. Faculty members and graduate students with the necessary high scholastic records coming from institutions that do not have a chapter of Xi Sigma Pi are eligible for membership. Now this leads up to one thought I wish to get across to the new students tonight. Start right now working toward a member- ship inthe fraternity. It may not seem urgent at this time but it is most important. When you get to be sophomores and juniors and re- alize that you would like to be a member of Xi Sigma Pi, and what it may mean to you, it might be too late. An eligiblity requirement of '75 per cent B and better is hard to make and it is mighty important that you start working for this in your first year of school. Let me give exact Hgures to explain what I mean. HIGH GRADES FIRST YEAR IMPORTANT The average student in the forestry school carries 18 credit hours each semester or 36 a year. If the student completes 20 hours of work B and better the Hrst year, which is above the average, this gives him 5516 per cent above C. But even then the following year this student must make all but two hours of this 36 earned his second year, B and better, to be eligible for Xi Sigma Pi with a '75 per cent. How many do this? The thing to do is work for good grades and get interested in scholarship your first year in school. It is lContinued on page 52l 45