DIVISION OF FORESTRY. 173 



purchaser and for his own use and not for speculation, is permitted by the act of 

 June 3, 1875. 



' ' Instructions to the special timber agents require of them to ' use all possible means 

 to check the progress and extinguish forest fires in their respective districts,' and 

 ' to employ assistance and, if necessary, expend a reasonable sum for such purpose.' " 



For the purpose of preventing or bringing to notice such trespasses 

 as are possible under the foregoing privileges and otherwise, and of 

 preparing the evidence for legal prosecutions, attending courts as wit- 

 nesses, &c. , during the last year, a service in the aggregate equiva- 

 lent to that of twenty-one agents for twelve months, was employed,* 

 over areas amounting in the aggregate to more than 70,000,000 acres. 



Twelve hundred and nineteen cases of depredations or timber tres- 

 passes have been reported, involving a value of $9,339,679 recoverable 

 to the United States; the amount recovered by settlement, sale of lum- 

 ber, and through legal proceedings, as actually on record, amounted 

 to $101,085.44, with perhaps an equal amount recovered but not yet 

 reported. 



As the agents are not clothed with police powers, but simply act as 

 informers and legal attorneys, they moreover lack the desirable co- 

 operation of the resident population, which makes the arduous duties 

 of agents still more onerous and renders their services less efficient 

 than they otherwise might be. 



Of the individual States but few hold or control any lands, unless it 

 be school lands granted by the General Government. Some of the 

 States have taken decided action for the purpose of protecting their 

 remaining forest property. 



FOREST COMMISSIONS. 



The State of IN'ew York, holding 715,267 acres of forest land in the 

 Adirondacks, instituted in 1885 a Forest Commission with extensive 

 power, and appropriated $32,500 for the work of the same. The first 

 report of the Commission would indicate that this work has been begun 

 with good intent and encouraging results, at least so far as securing 

 the property against depredation by theft and fire; and the Commis- 

 sion is "'receiving a hearty and intelligent support from the lumber- 

 men and land owners of the Adirondacks and the Catskills." 



It being recognized that protection against fire is the first consid- 

 eration in any attempt at forest management, the Commission has 

 vigorously undertaken to secure this protection. 



The State of California has recently created a Forest Commission, 

 with a moderate appropriation ($15,000), its attention being primarily 

 directed to preventing forest fires, bringing depredators to justice, 

 aiding forest planters with seed and other material, and making a 

 forest map of the State, f 



Of the Forestry Bureau of the State of Ohio it cannot be said that it 

 was created with any definite policy in view, it having been appointed 

 and provided with a small appropriation for the purpose of gather- 

 ing information in regard to the forest condition of Ohio and making 

 recommendations for legislation calculated to develop a rational sys- 

 tem of forestry. 



From the report lately issued it appears that in the thirty years 

 from 1853 to 1884 the forest area of the State was reduced from 54. 19 

 to 17.39 per cent, of the total area; a decrease which cannot have been 



*Annual Report of the Commissioner of the Land Office for 1886. 

 f The first report, containing a very valuable account of the Redwood forests, has 

 just appeared. 



