13Q A STUDY OF FOREST CONDITIONS 



State Forester. — Undoubtedly all the States whose for- 

 ests form a large part of their resources, which is the case 

 with Mississippi, should employ technically trained foresters 

 to care for these forests. The work of a State Forester is 

 most effective, where he is absolutely free from political 

 influence, thus making his tenure of office entirely dependent 

 on his fitness for the position and the quality of the results 

 obtained. He should be the State Forest Fire Warden, 

 directing the fire-fighting force of the State, and he should 

 manage and administer any State forest land that may be 

 acquired under the law, and conduct experiments in manage- 

 ment and reforestation. He shoiild make examinations of 

 private forest lands, if the owners so desire, and give sug- 

 gestions for their better care and management. He should 

 carry on an educational campaign throughout the State, 

 giving lectures at farmers' institutes and other public 

 meetings. By such lectures he would be brought into 

 close touch with the people of the State, who should be urged 

 to perpetuate by wise use the forests on all lands not needed 

 for agriculture. 



Fire Law. — The fire law as outlined in Circular 149 

 should be carried out and enforced by the county fire war- 

 dens, under the direction of the State Forester and the 

 Board of Forestry. These local officers should be appointed 

 by the County Board of Supervisors with the approval of 

 the State Forester and should be paid out of the county 

 funds. Their remuneration at $2.00 a day, for all days 

 actually engaged in extinguishing fires or prosecuting of- 

 fenders, should not exceed $200.00 per year, and the ex- 

 penses of extra help to fight fire might vary from $100.00 

 to $200.00 more. The counties themselves depend so 

 largely on the timber lands and timber interests for revenue, 

 that money spent for the protection of the forests will be 

 an excellent investment. 



State Forests. — Forest lands, properly managed, are 

 among the most profitable investments carried by many of 

 the European states. In this country several of the states 

 have adopted the policy of acquiring and administering 

 forest land. The chief value of State forests are: (1) to 



