104 C. A. SCHENCK. 



In 1907 the Forest Service was re-organized, the name of 

 the "national forest reserves" being changed into that of "na- 

 tional forests." The re-organization had for its purpose the 

 decentralization of the management of the national forests, so 

 that local questions could be adjudged by forestry officials fully 

 in touch with local conditions. Six inspection districts were 

 established, with headquarters at Missoula, Denver, Albuquer- 

 que, Ogden, San Francisco, and Portland. Only matters of 

 exceptional importance touching the national forests are now 

 referred to the Forester in Washington. 



On June 11th. 1906 an Act was passed for the re-opening to 

 entry of any areas within the national forests chiefly valuable 

 for agriculture. The Act is known as the Forest Homestead Act, 

 or as the Agricultural Settlement Act. The Act authorizes the 

 Secretary of Agriculture to examine upon application or other- 

 wise what lands in national forests are chiefly valuable for 

 agriculture, and may be occupied for agricultural purposes with- 

 out injury to the national forests. Lists of such lands shall be 

 filed with the Secretary of the Interior, to be re-opened for 

 entry under the Homestead Laws. The lands thus restored 

 must be described by metes and bounds. 



On February 15th. 1911, the United States Senate passed the 

 so-called "Weeks Bill" introduced in the House of Represent- 

 atives by Congressman Weeks in summer 1909. This bill makes 

 possible the establishment of national forests, at the headwaters 

 of navigable streams in any state of the Union, by purchase 

 from private parties, and appropriates for such purchase, to 

 be available for a number of years, several million dollars. 



The national forests thus acquired are to be held by the 

 United States as if they had been proclaimed by the President 

 under the power given to him by the Act of March 3rd. 1891. 

 The Secretary of Agriculture must recommend the purchase. 

 The Geological Survey must endorse the recommendation, cer- 

 tifying that the purchase will be of value to the water regime 

 of the streams draining the forest. The state wherein the pur- 

 chase is to be made must consent by legislative act to the 

 acquisition of the land by the nation ; the legal title to the 

 land must be certified as being clear by the Attorney General 

 of the United States; and the purchase must be approved finally 



