267] An American Forest Administration. 83 



The objections made against such legislation may 

 be divided into those which flow from private inter- 

 est, and those which concern themselves with the 

 principles involved and the practicability of the pro- 

 posed plan. 



The first class of objectors we may dismiss by 

 merely mentioning them; they are those who carry 

 on a nefarious trade without legal status, which 

 would be stopped by a proper surveillance. Un- 

 fortunately their cries " that the rights of the 

 pioneers would be curtailed and the development of 

 the country impeded by such a system as that pro- 

 posed, and that nothing practical could be done to 

 preserve the forest areas," are sufficiently boisterous 

 to influence legislators against change of existing 

 conditions; and while we may neglect them in this 

 discussion, they are an important factor not to be 

 underrated when the passage of such legislation is 

 attempted. 



All fair-minded citizens of the West will be found 

 of one opinion, namely, that existing conditions are 

 not desirable and ought to be remedied. 



The first objection, based upon principle, comes 

 from the believers in unrestricted individualism. 

 They object to the holding of the land by the gov-' 

 eminent. They contend that such timber lands are 

 in better hands, and will be taken care of more easily 

 and efficiently by private holders, and should be dis- 

 posed of to them. While this position may be cor- 

 rect as regards other classes of lands and under 

 stable conditions of society, experience has proven 

 it wrong under our conditions, and especially with 

 timber lands. 



