48 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



and under thoroughly trained officers, plans which must 

 often be followed during the lives of several generations 

 of men. This stability and continuity of management can 

 only be secured by a permanent government administra- 

 tion composed of officers of the highest character, entirely 

 devoted to duty." 



''Ultimate self-support of a government forest adminis- 

 tration is possible in the United States, and it may be 

 expected to yield a permanent income if the national 

 forests are managed with the intelligence, thrift and 

 honesty which characterize the forest administration in 

 Germany, France and other European countries. At 

 first, however, the cost of administration will exceed the 

 receipts, as is almost invariably the case in important 

 economic reforms, but outlays may be expected to dimin- 

 ish in proportion as the administration is faithful, intelli- 

 gent and honest." 



"The fundamental principle of any government system 

 of forest management should be the retention of the fee 

 of forest lands, and the sale of forest products from them 

 at reasonable prices, under regulations looking to the 

 perpetual reproduction of the forest. While it is not 

 desirable, perhaps, that the Government in the imme- 

 diate future should enter into competition with the private 

 owners of forest lands, it is evident that ultimately the 

 sale of forest supplies from the government timber lands 

 should not only cover all expenses of government forest 

 management, but produce a steadily increasing income. 



''Upon officers charged with the administration of the 

 government forests will devolve the care of immensely 

 valuable public property, its improvement under the best 

 established scientific methods, police responsibility of ex- 

 ceptional delicacy, surveys, the construction of roads and 

 engineering works for the protection of mountain slopes, 



