552 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



fessional men as are necessary, they will in the end be filled by profes- 

 sional politicians. The only safe insurance for continuity of forest 

 policy is unswerving adherence to employment of trained men in all 

 positions of authority. A quarter century of such a policy will render 

 the Forest Service fairly safe from the political spoilsman. 



Professor Toumey says, in his discussion of Mr. Kneipp's paper, that 

 judgment on so important a subject should not be made a matter of 

 mere opinion, but should be determined by careful study of past results 

 from employment of each class. It is therefore advisable to set forth 

 a few results as shown by careers of technical men who obtained their 

 early experience on a National Forest. Not all of these subsequent 

 careers have been with the Forest Service, but so long as good work 

 is being done that does not matter. The early attitude of the Service 

 in assisting its men into private positions for the sake of extending the 

 cause was far preferable to the present position of obstructing move- 

 ment to and from the Service in every way possible. Following are a 

 few subsequent careers of trained men who were employed at the be- 

 ginning of their careers on the forest administered by the writer : 



1. A technical man started on forest as day laborer, ended as ranger 

 in charge of trail crews, timber-survey parties, and the like. Now in 

 tropical forestry earning $4,000 to $5,000 annually. Attributes his 

 success in considerable part to his practical woods experience, com- 

 bined with technical training. 



2. Another technical man started as day laborer during his vacations, 

 gained varied experience in timber-survey work. Now in tropical for- 

 estry earning $3,000 per annum. 



3. Two other cases of technical men, started as field assistants, ended 

 as rangers. Went into private work and became logging engineers of 

 acknowledged skill. Now logging and mill superintendents at some 

 $3,000 per annum. 



4. Two other men obtained early woods experience in similar ways, 

 now university professors. 



5. Two other men of like field experience, which gave them intimate 

 knowledge of timber as it grows in the Pacific Northwest, went first to 

 a district ofiice and then to the Madison laboratory, where they have 

 been most successful in handling important war work. One of them is 

 now in charge of extremely important work in the Spruce Production 

 Division of the Signal Corps. 



6. Three other men who gained several years of experience on the 

 above forest have been trusted and essential employees of the district 

 ofiice, until one lately went into military service. 



