265] An American Forest Administration. 81 



western mountain States in which the larger part is 

 still in the hands of the United States Government. 



What the present conditions % of this government 

 property are has been fully explained by Mr. Bow- 

 ers, who speaks from intimate knowledge, and may 

 be found more detailed in various reports of the 

 Departments of the Interior and of Agriculture. 



Considered merely as a piece of property, without 

 more than ordinary value, the manner in which it is 

 needlessly wasted without benefit to any one, would 

 stamp its present administration as the most imprac- 

 tical of which thinking man is capable, if "practi- 

 cal" means that which can be done with good rea- 

 son and to some useful end, that which a practical 

 man would do with his property. It is inconceiva- 

 ble how any management could be more puerile, 

 more devoid of good sense, more absolutely in defi- 

 ance of all reason and demands of statesmanship, 

 than the present management of the public timber 

 lands. 



For not only is this property not protected against 

 theft and fire, but by incongruous, shortsighted and 

 unjust regulations, these two destructive agencies 

 are especially invited and the resident population is 

 forced to resort to theft and fraud in order to supply 

 their present wants, at the same time endangering 

 their future needs and interests. 



Any practical and practicable administration of 

 these lands must keep in view not only the peculiar 

 natural condition of these forests, but also the pecu- 

 liar social conditions of the communities adjoining 

 them. The problem to be solved by such an admin- 

 istration is, while insuring protection against fire 

 and illegitimate use, to provide for the satisfaction 

 6 



