14 TIIK NATIONAL I'OKKST MANUAL. 



In isTii. SL'.IIOO was appropriated 10 employ a competent man to investigate 

 timber conditions in the Fnited States, and on .lime :;o. ixxc,. an act was 

 approved creating a Division of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture. 

 On .Inly 1, 1901. this Division became the P.nrean of Forestry, which, in turn, 

 under the act of February 1. 19O5, became the Forest Service. 



With the increasing reali/ation that the Nation's forest resources must be 

 protected, and with the immense growth of irrigation interests in the West, the 

 necessity for retaining permanent Federal control over selected forest areas 

 was recognized by a brief section inserted in the act of .March .",. 1X91 1 12<; 

 Stat.. 10951, which authorized the President to establish forest reserves, now 

 called National Forests. The first exercise of this authority was in the crefl 

 (ion of the Yellowstone Park Timber Land Reserve, proclaimed by President 

 Harrison March 30, 1891. 



The mere creation and setting apart of forest reserves, however, without pro- 

 vision for their use, was both ineffectual and annoying to local interests de- 

 pendent upon their resources. Consequently the Secretary of the Interior, in 

 1X90. requested the National Academy of Sciences to recommend a national 

 forest policy. This resulted in the passage of the act of .June 4, 1x97 CJO Stat., 

 11). under which, with subsequent enactments, .National Forests are now ad- 

 ministered. 



On the theory that the management of land, not forests, was chiefly involved, 

 this law gave the Secretary of the Interior authority over the Forests, and 

 provided that they should be surveyed, mapped, and classified by the Tinted 

 States Geological Survey, and administered by the General Land Ollice. lint 

 the complex technical problems arising from the necessary use of forest and 

 range soon demanded the introduction of scientific methods and a trained force, 

 which could not be provided under the existing system. The advice and 

 services of the Bureau of Forestry were found necessary, but, under the law. 

 could be but imperfectly utilized. The necessity of consolidating the various 

 branches of Government forest work became apparent, and was urged upon 

 Congress by the President and by the executive officers concerned. Finally 

 the act of February 1, 1905. transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture entire 

 .jurisdiction over the National Forests, except in matters of surveying and 

 passage of title to land. 



The regulations* and instructions for the use of the National Forests here 

 published are in accordance with the organic acts and with the various sup- 

 plementary and amendatory laws passed since June 4, 1897. They are based 

 upon the general policy laid down for the Forest Service by the Secretary of 

 Agriculture in his letter to the Forester dated February 1, 1905: 



" In the administration of the forest reserves it must be clearly borne in 

 mind that all land is to be devoted to its most productive use for the permanent 

 good of the whole people, and not for the temporary benefit of individuals or 

 companies. All the resources of forest reserves are for use, and this use must 

 be brought about in a thoroughly prompt and businesslike manner, under such 

 restrictions only as will insure the permanence of these resources. The vital 

 importance of forest reserves to the great industries of the Western States 

 will be largely increased in the near future by the continued steady advance 

 in settlement and development. The permanence of the resources of the re- 

 serves is therefore indispensable to continued prosperity, and the policy of 

 this department for their protection and use will invariably be guided by 

 this fact, always bearing in mind that the conservative use of these resources 

 in no way conflicts with their permanent value. 



" You will see to it that the water, wood, and forage of the reserves are con- 

 served and wisely used for the benefit of the home builder first of all. upon 

 whom depends the best permanent use of lands and resources alike. The con- 

 tinued prosperity of the agricultural, lumbering, mining, and live-stock inter- 

 ests is directly dependent upon a permanent and accessible supply of water, 

 wood, and forage, as well as upon the present and future use of these resources 

 under businesslike regulations enforced with promptness, effectiveness, and 

 common sense. In the management of each reserve local questions will be de- 

 cided upon local grounds; the dominant industry will be considered first, but 

 with as little restriction to minor industries as may be possible: sudden changes 

 in industrial conditions will be avoided by gradual adjustment after due notice, 

 and where conflicting interests must be reconciled the question will always be 

 iVcided from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest nnml>er in the 

 long run." 





