269] An American Forest Administration. 85 



of its holdings, as at present; but this is the very 

 thing to be remedied by the proposed legislation. 



It might still be asked what part of the community 

 had best be intrusted with the care of these lands, 

 whether it should be the county, the individual, State 

 or the general government. 



It may be argued that the community making up 

 the county has necessarily the most interest in the 

 preservation of favorable conditions and can best 

 guard its own interests. Yet there are often con- 

 flicts of interests arising which can be better ad- 

 justed under State ownership, and before a well 

 settled county administration exists State ownership 

 would be preferable. 



But even State ownership, while perhaps desirable 

 at a certain stage of development would not be expe- 

 dient now, and ownership by the general govern- 

 ment for the present is preferable. 



My reasons for this preference are: 



First. The general government does own the lands, 

 and the difficulties and complications attendant upon 

 wholesale transfer of the property can as well be 

 avoided. If such transfer were to be effected it 

 would necessitate almost a revolutionary change of 

 the existing land policy of the government, which 

 at present seems neither necessary nor advisable. 



Second. The States with a scanty population as 

 yet, and with all parts of their economy still to build 

 up, had better not burden themselves with this addi- 

 tional duty of forest conservation, except so far as 

 they can aid it without cost to them. 



Other political considerations, which need not be 

 elaborated here, lead to the same conclusions; so that 

 altogether the expediency of retaining the public 



