GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND PROTECTION. 15 



THE FOREST SERVICE. 



ESTABLISHMENT. 



The Secretary of Agriculture is empowered by Congress to " make such rules 

 and regulations, and to establish such service as will insure the objects of such 

 reservations L National Forests], namely, to regulate their occupancy and use, 

 and to preserve the forests thereon from destruction." Under the provisions of 

 this act. the Secretary has made and published regulations relating to the pro- 

 tection and use of the National Forests, and has established the necessary serv- 

 ice to carry such regulations into effect. 



All permanent positions in the Forest Service are under the civil-service law. 

 Vacancies are filled through certification by the Civil Service Commission, and 

 information as to the times and places at which examinations will be held may 

 be obtained only from the United States Civil Service Commission, Washing- 

 ton, D. C. 



RELATION OF FOREST OFFICERS TO THE PUBLIC. 



Forest officers are agents of the people. They must answer all inquiries fully 

 and cheerfully, and be even more prompt and courteous in the conduct of Forest 

 business than in private business. They must, of course, obey instructions and 

 enforce regulations without fear or favor, they must not allow personal or other 

 interests to weigh against the permanent good of the Forests; but it is no less 

 their duty to encourage legitimate enterprises and to assist the public in making 

 use of the resources of the Forests. They must make every effort to prevent 

 misunderstanding and violation of Forest regulations, rather than to correct 

 mistakes after they have been made. Information should be given tactfully, by 

 advice and not by offensive warnings. 



Persons who wish to make any use of the resources of a National Forest for 

 which a permit is required should consult the nearest Forest officer, or, if more 

 convenient, should write to the supervisor of the Forest upon which the use is 

 desired. 



THE FIELD ORGANIZATION OF THE FOREST SERVICE. 



The administration of the National Forests and the conduct of all matters 

 relating to forestry which have been placed upon the Department of Agriculture 

 by Congress is, under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, in charge 

 of the Forester, who is the Chief of the Forest Service. The office of the For- 

 ester is in Washington, D. C. 



DISTRICTS. 



For the better administration of the National Forests six districts have been 

 established, with headquarters at the following places: District 1, Missoula, 

 Mont. ; District 2, Denver, Colo. ; District 3, Albuquerque, N. Mex. ; District 4, 

 Ogden, Utah; District 5, San Francisco, Cal. ; and District 6, Portland, Oreg. 

 Each National Forest district embraces a number of National Forests, and the 

 district officers are responsible for the general supervision and inspection of 

 the administrative and technical work on the Forests within their respective 

 districts. 



NATIONAL FORESTS. 



The forest areas are divided for the purposes of administration into conven- 

 ient units of management, each of which is called a National Forest and is in 

 charge of a forest supervisor. When the amount of business on a National 

 Forest warrants it the forest supervisor is assisted by a deputy supervisor, who 

 has such duties and authority as may be delegated' to him by the Supervisor. 

 The positions of forest supervisor and deputy forest supervisor are filled by 

 promotion or transfer from classified positions in the Forest Service. The 

 forest supervisor's headquarters are located at a place in or adjacent to the 

 Forest from which the business can be conducted most conveniently and effi- 

 ciently. 



FOREST OFFICERS. 



Field Officers. 



The field work involved in directing the use, protection, and improvement of 



a National Forest is, under the supervision of the forest supervisor, performed 



by rangers, forest assistants, lumbermen, sealers, and planting assistants, all 



<>f whom are in the classified civil service. Appointment to any of these posi- 



tious is made only from the eligible register resulting from competitive exami- 



