NATIONAL FOREST FINANCES 599 



1890; Prussia's forests netted $0.46, $0.87. and $1.30 at these dates. 

 In France the net returns in 1897 were $1.05 per acre per year. Even 

 Russia in 1896 netted $0.03 per acre in 1896 and Italy $0.33 in 1893. 

 During the period 1865-1867 British Indian forests returned $460,000, 

 and in the period 1892 to 1897 $2,580,000 per year above expenses. In 

 the Philippines the net revenue for the period 1901-1915 was 57.3 per 

 cent of the gross. JVith our National Forests the gross revenue has 

 been about half the cost. 



Before assuming too critical viewpoint on this poor showing 

 it is essential to look at the results of the public lands policy in the 

 past. Such a background will give a surer perspective. Before con- 

 servation was recognized as a national policy was the disposal of na- 

 tural resources a success? The answer is decidedly no! The history 

 of the disposal of our public lands shows unreservedly that the specula- 

 tion and waste attending the disposal of our Avestern resources dulled 

 the public conscience to such an extent that theft and speculation were 

 accepted as the necessary accompaniment of successful land acquire- 

 ment ; there was no other practical way the speculator argued. Such a 

 background of misuse makes commercial charges for a privilege (such 

 as grazing) all the harder for the West to bear. And let us not lose 

 sight of the fact that the greatest single contribution of the Forest 

 Service to the West has been its success in raising the standards of 

 western land administration. Think of the difference between the 

 standards on the public domain in the eighties and those evidenced 

 today by the usual minute and accurate appraisal of public stumpage. 

 But a proper balance in financial policy has not yet been reached. 

 Judging from the last Annual Report of the Forester, the Service 

 itself is not satisfied with present grazing fees; it is understood that 

 they are to be increased 25 per cent. This is a step in the right di- 

 rection. But the public should not overlook the fact that in the case 

 of grazing fees (increased even 25 per cent), private companies and 

 others through the present partial valuation of grazing rights, are still 

 profiting in the use of National Forest range at the expense of the 

 public. Suppose timber were sold at half its value would the public be 

 satisfied? The longer the Department of Agriculture waits before 

 putting the range resources on a fair financial basis the harder it 

 will be to make the needed increases in fees later on. The present in- 

 crease without provision for the future is not encouraging. 



According to H. H. Chapman: "Special subsidies or privileges of 

 considerable financial value must not be given any individual (or 



