OUR FOREST RESERVATIONS. 



119 



They contaiji a large part of the wiklest, grandest and most pic- 

 tiiresqne portions of the x\-merican continent, and many of them are 

 still the haimts of the rarest and largest game that the country 

 affords. 



The segregation of the forest reservations from the public lands, 

 without the establishment and execution of regulations for their 

 protection and management, would have but little effect in itself upon 

 the preservation of their forests as shown in the present condition of 

 the forests on our unreserved lands. Excessive, unrestricted and in- 

 discriminate grazing has invariably led to the destruction of the 

 young growth on the floor of the forest. 



Where such grazing is continued for a number of years, the forest 



Young Pine Seedlings— The Future Forest — Where Uninjured by Fire 

 AND Grazing. Olympic Reservation, Washington. 



rapidly deteriorates, for there are not a sufficient number of young 

 trees to form a proper leaf canopy when the old ones are removed or 

 when they mature and decay. We appear to lack a realizing sense 

 that it is the young growth and not the old trees that insure the 

 perpetuation of the forest. 



As the reservations could not be treated in similar manner as the 

 unreserved lands, with any expectation of preserving or improving 

 the forest growth, provision was made by the U. S. Land Office, u'hich 

 was responsible for the management of the reservations, for the appoint- 

 ment of certain forest officials, viz.: superintendents, supervisors and 

 forest rangers, these officers having immediate control of the reserved 

 lands as to management and protection. Largely from their lack of both 



