REPORT OF THE FORESTER. 165 



State of Utah were occupying and using reserved lands of the United 

 States without its permission and contrary to its hnvs was of the 

 utmost importance to National Forest administration, because it dis- 

 posed of contentions which denied not only the statutory authority 

 for the regulation of water-power development on National Forest 

 lands, but also the constitutionality of such regulation by the Federal 

 Government. That the regulations under which extensive develop- 

 ment of water power on the National Forests has actually taken place 

 are not onerous and do not tie up this important resource has been 

 fully demonstrated. With the jurisdiction of the Ciovernment over 

 its own lands clearly established, even though, as was said in the de- 

 cision of the court, this may involve the exercise in some measure of 

 what is commonly known as the police power, the desirability of a 

 good leasing law is reinforced. Such a law should stimulate further 

 development by affording investors a better guaranty of security for 

 their period of tenure. This is entirely compatible with full protec- 

 tion of the rights of the public and prevention of monopolistic con- 

 trol of the resource by private interests. 



CHANGES TO MEET WAR CONDITIONS. 



Upon the rupture of diplomatic relations with Germany the Forest 

 Service began to plan for meeting the responsibilities which, if war 

 followed, it should assume. These included the rendering of emer- 

 gency assistance in special patrol duties in the National Forest regions, 

 particularly in the protection of public works and transportation 

 lines ; the gathering of military reconnaissance information valuable 

 to the War Department ; the release for war service of such portion of 

 its personnel as might be needed because of qualifications for special 

 forms of activity or such as might have to be spared for military 

 service, either as volunteers or under draft; and the rendering of ad- 

 vice or assistance to the War and Navy Departments and to manufac- 

 turers in matters relating to the supply of materials derived from the 

 forests and required for war purposes. 



Wood and other forest products have almost innumerable uses in 

 modern warfare. Never before have requirements been so exacting 

 nor has the demand for exact knowledge of the properties of wood, 

 mechanical, physical, and chemical methods of conditioning, and the 

 best technique in construction, and for specifications based upon 

 scientific tests been so urgent. A very large part of all the technical 

 data secured during the research work on wood, initiated by the 

 Government approximately 25 years ago, finds immediate and impor- 

 tant application in some war problem. 



The first step taken was to ascertain the qualifications of all male 

 employees for various classes of service and to work out for each 

 National Forest and district office the possible readjustments of per- 

 sonnel and modification of activities which could be made in case of 

 necessity, whereby men and funds could be set free for war needs 

 without bringing to a halt work no less important in times of war 

 than in peace. Obviously, provision for the continued use of timber 

 and forage resources of the Forests and for their protection against 

 fire could not be abandoned, but on the contrary would be even more 

 essential (if that is possible) under war conditions than in ordinary 

 times. Through careful foresight the Forest Service made itself 



