64 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Finally, Federal gifts to States for State forests would probably 

 sooner or later lead to the political demand, as a flank attack on the 

 conservation movement, that the existing national forests be turned 

 over to the States. 



Loans to States are subject to much the same objections. The un- 

 certainty of repayment might well make nominal loans actual gifts. 



Federal acquisition and administration of national forests have 

 important aid aspects to State and local communities and private 

 owners despite the fact that they were established and are adminis- 

 tered primarily to meet national problems. It is estimated, for exam- 

 ple, that the net annual gain to the States and counties between 1923 

 and 1927 from the national forests was approximately $10,000,000. 



PUBLIC REGULATION 



Most European and some other countries restrict the handling of 

 privately owned forests. Nearly all provide at least for the classifi- 

 cation and preservation of forests necessary for watershed protection, 

 or for the protection of the public health, or for national defense. 

 For such purposes the owners are subject to more or less strict control. 

 Many countries provide that other forests at least be kept in a pro- 

 ductive condition. 



In the United States practically all the States have undertaken in 

 varying degrees to restrict the use of private forest land, chiefly to 

 prevent injury to other persons or property. The restrictions are 

 mainly in the prevention, suppression, and use of fire and in the 

 elimination of fire hazards. A few States have other restrictions. The 

 regulation of other activities, both State and Federal, is widespread, 

 including such things as the use of wild life, water resources, the use 

 of urban land, methods of business competition, and combinations in 

 restraint of trade. 



The public unquestionably has the right to compel private owners 

 to desist from practices which will directly injure others or the public 

 in general or will destroy or impair the efficiency of forests for water- 

 shed purposes. It also has the right to protect itself against waste 

 and social loss resulting from forest devastation even where water- 

 sheds are not involved. The right to compel the maintenance of high 

 productivity by means of desirable standards of silvicultural practice 

 is less well established. 



The need for higher standards than could probably be compelled 

 is unquestionable. 



But if the private owner is to be regulated, the public should pay 

 its f air share of the costs of measures intended largely or solely for the 

 benefit of others than the owners. 



ITS POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS 



Since private ownership has in the past largely failed in meeting 

 national requirements and offers little more promise for the future, 

 and since public aid in any form yet proposed apparently has very 

 definite limitations in its possibilities of accomplishment, something 

 more is called for. Public regulation is one of the remaining possi- 

 bilities. 



Nation-wide regulation in which the Federal Government and all 

 the forest-land States join forces for maximum effectiveness could 



