271] Au American Forest Administration. 87 



There is next to be provided: 



1. Protection against fire over a large mountainous 

 territory, with a scattered population, more difficult 

 because of the coniferous growth and dry climate. 



2. Means of supplying wood material for the 

 various needs of the population in a legal manner 

 and in such a way as not to destroy the forest cover. 



3. Reforestation, if possible, by natural seeding 

 and recuperation of the areas which have been de- 

 spoiled so far. 



Fire is the great bane of American forests. These 

 conflagrations are due largely to bad habits and loose 

 morals; hence it will not be possible to stop them 

 altogether and at once. But it is practicable to 

 reduce them in frequency and extent. This cannot, 

 however, be done by paper legislation, but only by 

 proper policing. For this it is necessary to divide 

 the territory into districts of suitable sizes, differing 

 according to local, social and topographical condi- 

 tions; to have officers each in charge of one district and 

 responsible for its protection; to have these officers 

 clothed with sheriffs' power, and in every way 

 capacitated to enforce regulations, apprehend and at 

 once bring to court offenders, and shorten the pro- 

 cesses of legal procedure in cases where prima facie 

 evidence is at hand. 



As we do not expect to have every thief prevented 

 or caught, we cannot expect to have every fire pre- 

 vented or incendiary apprehended. 



But with a responsible guard for a given district, 

 always on the alert, fires will be discovered early 

 after they are started, and be confined, and put out. 



To assist in confining fires, it is also proposed to 

 burn over safety strips at the proper season, so that 



