Administration. 397 



woodlands by favoring the valuable species. It has 

 prepared for an increase of output for the future, and 

 at the same time has yielded the Government a 

 steadily growing revenue, which bids fair to rank be- 

 fore long among the important sources of income. 



In 1865 the net revenue was only $360,000, it had 

 about doubled by 1875, and more than trebled by 

 1885, and since then has more than quadrupled. 



While in the period of 1870 to 1874 the expense of 

 the administration was still 70 per cent, of the gross in- 

 come, it has gradually been reduced to near 45 per cent., 

 while the outturn in material has in the last five years 

 increased by 35% over the preceding quinquennium. 



At first, the department and its operations as well as 

 its finances were Imperial, the local governments hav- 

 ing no control over its officers or over the revenue de- 

 rived, but, in 1882, decentralization was effected, the 

 local governments obtaining a direct interest in the 

 revenues. As a result the financial interest over- 

 ruled the conservative policy, and over-cutting was 

 the consequence. In 1884, the general government 

 recognized the need of a change. After some struggle, 

 the Imperial department was placed at least in charge 

 of preparing the working plans, and pressure for their 

 execution if not direct enforcement can be brought 

 through appeal to the general government by the 

 Inspector-General, which, however, has never been 

 necessary to use. 



The organization of the forest service 'passed through 

 various stages, and the arrangement in the different 

 provinces is even now not quite uniform. 



The forest service, then, is peculiarly organized as 

 regards division of responsibilities and relationships 



