212 Forestry Quarterly 



ministration of the Coconino and Tusayan Forests as separate 

 areas, for the communication faciHties are excellent, and 

 geography and topography are not influencing factors." 



The denser the population, the smaller the area that can be 

 administered. In any reorganization it is naturally advisable 

 to consider, somewhat less seriously to be sure, the homogeneity 

 of the climate as affecting work, the progress of the early devel- 

 opment activity on each unit and the relative expense. It is 

 argued that where factors permit, it is a mistake to place too 

 small an area under one man because of the danger of having to 

 fill the position with a mediocre man having the pay small and 

 the forest allotments meagre. Such an officer must concern 

 himself with petty details since the area under administration 

 cannot afford a regular clerical staff. On the other hand, the 

 writer wishes to call attention to the danger of overadministra- 

 tion. The goal should not be the highest possible efficiency, but 

 rather a reasonable efficiency coupled with a moderate and 

 reasonable expense. Moreover, it is well to consider what a 

 forest unit should constitute: 



"Under existing conditions, financial and other, and expected 

 conditions, a National Forest administrative unit is to be consid- 

 ered all that tract of National Forest land, so situated as to 

 geography, topography, climate, means of transportation and 

 communication and population, amount and character of forest 

 business (including forest protection), and public sentiment, 

 that the Forest Supervisor with adequate executive and clerical 

 assistance can keep in actual, close, personal, field supervisory 

 touch with his field officers, and in close field and office super- 

 visory touch with all activities, business, improvements and con- 

 structive policies of the Forest of which he is in charge as ad- 

 ministrative head, and for the welfare of which he is responsible." 



It is well to remember that in railroad reorganization, when- 

 ever you can replace a specialist with an all-round man your 

 business is the gainer. 



"Unnecessarily small forest units cause the ineffective expen- 

 ditures of large sums of money — in rent, salaries, travel and the 

 handling of the business with the District Office." 



The District proposes two classes of National Forest units. 

 One is defined by Don P. Johnson, as a unit 



"which produces enough administrative, protective and con- 

 structive work to warrant a specialized supervisor's staff of at 



