A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 645 



There are certain very definite advantages to continued public control of the 

 open grazing [and public domain timber] lands of the Western States under 

 systematic management and in conformity with the best determination of re- 

 search and experimentation. First, it will guarantee adequate conservation of 

 the natural resources, tne best practicable protection of watersheds and irrigation 

 projects, the most effective utilization of the forage resources, the best protection 

 of such timber resources as may be involved, the application of the principles of 

 range [and timberland] use and management through which the greatest per- 

 manency and productivity may be derived, the equitable distribution of the 

 resources * to promote maximum community development and growth. 



In general, the lands under discussion have inherent limitations of productivity. 

 Aside from their mineral values, they contain no great stored-up treasures of 

 natural wealth awaiting release through the agency of private initiative, which, as 

 a matter of fact, has pretty well exhausted the possibilities of exploitation. The 

 capacity of these lands to contribute to the support of county and State govern- 

 ments also is limited. No change in ownership will in the immediate future 

 markedly increase the contributions now made by these lands to local costs of 

 government. To a vast extent the lands present a problem of recreation of 

 actual or potential wealth creating power which will require long, patient, and 

 expensive regeneration, which only after many years and large outlays will lead 

 to a restoration of their capacity for broad social service. They are an economic 

 problem and responsibility rather than an economic opportunity. 



In its major aspect, that of water-resource conservation, the 

 problem in large part is essentially an interstate problem. 



Administration by whatever agency undertaken should be a constructive and 

 creative process employing and applying all of the facilities that science, research, 

 experimentation, executive action and direct supervision have to offer. It 

 should be instructive and educational rather than coercive, accomplishing its 

 objectives through direct field contacts and examples. It should be systematically 

 organized with clearly defined objectives and definite programs for their attain- 

 ment. It should not be passive and indifferent, or be based upon legalistic and 

 contractual control from central offices with only remote contact w r ith problems 

 and persons, or conducted along traditional lines without full realization of the 

 possibilities for progress. 



Proper solution of the stupendous problems inherent in the public-domain 

 States requires a technical organization within which permanent membership 

 may be maintained only by the possession- and development of the technical 

 abilities required in the solution of technical problems. It should be a widely 

 decentralized organization with its personnel so distributed as to bring them into 

 direct personal contact with the problems demanding solution. Authority 

 should be so delegated as to permit of immediate local action and decision upon 

 local problems without reference to remote headquarters. The conduct of 

 financial and contractual activities should be arranged so that delay is reduced 

 to the absolute minimum. Through the development of many cooperative asso- 

 ciations of users and the establishment of advisory boards representative thereof, 

 the principle of local regulation should be definitely and widely established * * *. 



The question of the proper type of administration reduces itself to one of 

 collective and cooperative action. The lands under consideration are a part of 

 the national estate and their preservation from destructive forms of use is there- 

 fore a general public responsibility. They constitute the watersheds of many 

 important reclamation projects, the maintenance of which under optimum 

 conditions is of vital community interest and of large concern to State and 

 Nation. Steps, therefore, are proposed to set up a machinery of public control 

 whereby the proper balance can be maintained. 



The report from which the above was quoted designated by specific 

 areas those parts of the public domain which should be included in 

 each of the three classes described in the foregoing. Table 3 sum- 

 marizes by States the area included in each classification. 



