FORESTRY MOVEMENT OF THE SEVENTIES 397 



constructive lines, to the end that that domain might be dedicated to 

 and developed for the benefit of all the people. This was even more 

 clearly brought out a little later, when, seeing their purpose in a 

 fair way to be defeated, they both rose in wrath to vanquish and root 

 out the despoilers of the people's heritage, and at the same time to 

 urge again the enactment of a bill to inaugurate a national forest 

 policy. Nor did they stake their chances wholly upon mere general 

 recommendations. Concrete action took form in the shape of a bill, 

 drafted in the General Land Office, to embody substantially the 

 forestry legislation regarded as desirable by the Interior Department. 

 This bill, with slight amendments, was introduced on January 28, 

 1878, as Senate Bill 609. The following brief summary of its leading 

 features will sufficiently indicate both its purpose and the general 

 scope of its provisions : 



Senate Bill No. 609 (45th Cong., 2d Sess.) 



Summary of provisions. 



A. — Purpose. — All public lands chiefly valuable for timber are withdrawn 

 thereby from sale or other disposition, except as therein provided, and held, 

 with a view to: (a) Preventing waste and destruction by fire or other causes; 

 and (b) Providing for the gradual sale of such timber thereon as may be ad- 

 visable, in connection with the preservation of the young timber, and the con- 

 tinuous restoration and reproduction of the forests, under official regulation. 



B. — Administrative Features. — Office of Forester created; and provision made: 



1. For the appointment, under bond, of a sufficient number of foresters, qual- 

 ified for the office by both education and occupation ; and for their performance 

 of duties specified therein or in regulations thereunder. 



2. For the administration of the act by the Department of the Interior, 

 through the General Land Office. 



3. For the disposal, by private entry, of non-mineral, agricultural lands, 

 which are not chiefly valuable for timber except in the case of small isolated 

 tracts, after having been first offered at public sale. 



4. For appraisal of timbered lands, including both the soil and the timber. 



5. For appraisal, advertisement, and sale of timber, under conditions regu- 

 lating in express terms the matter of prices, and also prescribing a diameter 

 limit, with a view to insuring regulation of cut. 



6. For seizure and sale of timber unlawfully procured from public lands, and 

 for due recovery and accounting for, under regulations by the Secretary of the 

 Interior, of all penalties and forfeitures incurred for unlawful cutting and 

 taking timber from public lands. 



7. For the disposition of moneys accruing from sales of public timberlands 

 and public timber. 



