16 THE USE BOOK. 



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 all the executive officers concerned. 

 Finally, the act of February 1, 1905, transferred to the 

 Secretary of Agriculture entire jurisdiction over the 

 J^ationaTForests, except in matters^of-suryeying and 

 passage^oinit'le,. f Appendix, p. 217V) 



The regulations and instructions for the use of the 

 National Forests here published are in accordance with 

 the act last mentioned and the various supplementary 

 and amendatory laws passed since June 4, 1897. They 

 are based upon the following 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 

 tojtajaost productive use f oFthe permanent "goocTpf 

 the whole_^eorjle, and not for the temporary benefit of 

 *m3ividuals or companies. All the resources of forest 

 reserves are forj/j^jind 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 greatfindustries of the Western States will be 

 largely increased in the near future by the continued 

 jsteady advance in settlement and development. The 

 permanence of the resources of the reserves is therefore 

 indispensable to continued_prosperity, and the policy 

 of this Department for their protection and use will 



