218 



THE USE OF THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



The above publication has recently been issued by the De- 

 partment of Agriculture, and is a brief, clear manual for public 

 information as to the forest policy- of the National Govern- 

 ment. 



It is too true, as the short preface says, that "many people 

 do not know w^hat National Forests are. Others may have 

 heard much about them, but have no idea of their true purpose 

 and use." It is the object of this publication to explain just 

 what the National Forests mean, what they are for, and how 

 to use them. 



In the first place, it is explained how the Forests are created 

 and how their boundaries are drawn. Next, their direct use 

 and value are shown from the point of view of the homeseekcr, 

 the prospector and miner, the user of timber, the user of the 

 range, the user of water, and other users of Forest resources. 

 Third, it is shown how the Forests are intended for use, for the 

 production of usable products, and for the establishment and 

 maintenance of homes ; how on all of them the timber is pro- 

 tected from fire, the water flow is kept steady, the forage on 

 the range is increased and guarded from abuse ; and how, in 

 addition, they serve as great public playgrounds and as breed- 

 ing places and refuges for game. Finally, the management 

 of the N;ational Forests is described. 



Here it is that the great usefulness of the Forests is brought 

 out most clearly and strikingly ; for the Forests are managed 

 by the people in their own interests, and every means is used 

 to meet the desires and wants of all Forest users half way by 

 dealing with them in the main directly on the ground and in 

 all cases with the utmost practicable dispatch and freedom 

 from red tape. 



In a word, the special interest of this manual lies in its 

 showing that the Forest policy of the Government, both in prin- 

 ciple and in practice, is for the benefit of the ordinary man, for the 

 benefit of every citizen equally. There is still a tendency to think 

 of the National Forests as "preserves" closed to use, and to leave 

 the public lands exposed to unregulated individual exploita- 

 tion. Where these misapprehensions still prevail "The Use of 

 the National Forests" will go far to correct them. 



The book is written by Mr. Frederick E. Olmsted, w^hose 

 intimate knowledge of conditions in the West and the policy 

 under which the National Forests are managed especially fits 

 him to deal with the subject. 



HAWAIIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S PROCEEDINGS. 



Part 3 of Volume I of the proceedings of the above society 

 has just been issued- It contains much valuable data, chiefly 



