FORESTRY PLAN AND COMMENTS. 325 



plish more results than if all is left to be done by au uupaid board. 



"The failure of g-overninent administration is due g^enerally to two 

 causes which would wreck any private enterprise, absence of 

 proper control and reliance upon unpaid, cheap and unskilled em- 

 ploj'es. Seek to avoid these two errors in this new state enterprise, 

 and you will be reasonably successful. 



"As for the division of the g-ross income, it appears to me somewhat 

 unfair, since it seems to be supposed that the cost of management 

 and loss of taxes will be covered by one-third of the income. This I 

 have good reasons to doubt. It would be fairer if the division were 

 made of the net income after cost of management is deducted, and 

 then to be only in two parts, namely, to the original owner and to 

 the state or, better, the town or county. There is one argument 

 which undoubtedly will arise against the proposed forest reserva- 

 tions, and not without some force by adjoining settlers, and which 

 should be met at the outset by taking olf its edge. If large contigu- 

 ous bodies are reserved, not onlj' extension of settlement is stopped, 

 which possibly the character of the reserved lands would forbid 

 anyhow, but the existing settlements become more isolated and the 

 burden of maintaining schoolhouses, churches and roads becomes 

 naturally greater ; and although finally the forest reservations if 

 placed under proper management become sources of advantage in 

 affording emplo3'ment in winter time, etc., the disadvantages men- 

 tioned will for a time at least be greater. Hence, it is but fair to 

 compensate the towns or counties by turning over to them a part of 

 the proceeds of the forest management. In this way the forest res- 

 ervations may become not only indirectly but directly desirable to 

 these settlers in reducing the burden of taxation and make them 

 favorably inclined to their establishment. 



"I suppose the proposition to have a designated educational insti- 

 tution l)enetited by jjarticipation in the proceeds was to give addi- 

 tional incentive to would-be donors. I believe, however, that the in- 

 centive would be just as great, the conditions less cumbersome, the 

 justice greater and the very desirable interest of the town or coun- 

 tj' authorities, in fact, of all the citizens, increased in the success 

 of the administration of these lands, if the latter have the disposal 

 of this fund. To retain the educational idea, it might be ordered 

 that the fund so acquired be only used for educational purposes. 



"Otherwise I am in full accord with the general spirit of the propo- 

 sition and would onl}' add regarding the management of the lands 

 after they have come into the control of the state, that confidence of 

 would-be donors in the probabilitj' of a wise administration will be 

 their greatest incentive, and such an administration can only be 

 had by applying business principles and technical knowledge. 

 Hence, besides the secretary with legal training, who would trans- 

 act the routine business of the boards in effecting the transfer of 

 lands to tliein and their administration, a technical manager of the 

 lands, a lumberman with more than ordinary knowleilge and skill, 

 must be employed to apply forestry j)rinciples and secure the pecu- 

 niary and other results expected from this forest management, He, 

 too, will have to be a well paid man. To carrj- on a business on 



