486 United States. 



Under this act the reserves were administered until 

 1904. 



If the interior history of this bit of legislation were 

 revealed, it would probably appear that, not con- 

 ception of the importance of the subject, but the need 

 for the employment of a certain organized survey 

 party in the Geological Survey was at the bottom 

 of it. 



While this law had set aside one year and a limited 

 sum to accomplish the survey, this could not, of 

 course, be done, and hence appropriations were con- 

 tinued, and the date for the segregation of the lands 

 was deferred sine die. For years this forest survey 

 continued, giving rise to magnificent volumes, issued 

 from the Geological Survey, describing the forest 

 reservations a very useful, educational piece of work, 

 not at all contemplated by the legislation for which 

 not less than $1.5 million have been expended. By 1905 

 some 110,000 square miles had been examined when 

 this work was handed over to the Forestry Bureau. 



Thus it happened, almost by accident, that finally 

 the aims of the reformers were realized, the appoint- 

 ment of forest superintendents, rangers, etc., to take 

 charge of the forest reservations was secured, and 

 rules and regulations for their administration were 

 formulated by the Commissioner of the General Land 

 Office, marking the beginning of a settled policy on the 

 part of the United States government to take care of 

 its long neglected forest lands. In this work of first 

 organization the name of Filibert Roth, a German- 

 born forester, deserves mention. 



Meanwhile, the Division of Forestry had continued 



