UNITED STATES FOREST SUPERVISORS AT DENVER 



The spirit of public service shown by such men in their work has brought about the active cooperation and marked confidence of the citizens with whom they 

 come in contact, which is a distinct aid in the Government's policy of forest conservation. The names of the Forest officers in the photograph are: A. L. 

 Sweitzer, James F. Conner, John W. Spencer, C. A. Neeper, Earl S. Peirce, Chas. Farr.Jay Higgins.Fred B. Agee, R. W. Allen, Ray Peck, James A. Blair, J. W. 

 Langworthy, C. L. Cecil, Lee E. Cooper, Geo. A. Duthie, Grover C. Hougham, M. T. Sweeney, Lynn H. Douglas, Arthur T. Upson, Alva A. Simpson, Peter 

 Keplinger, Steve Doering, John McLaren, H. H. French, 0- R- Craft, A. G. Hamel, Earl B. Tanner, C. M. Granger, John W. Lowell, John H. Hatton, Wm. 0. 

 Sauder, Fred R. Johnson, James Blackball. Leslie Brownell, T. V. Venemann, P. G. Redington, H. N. Wheeler, Arthur M. Cook, M. W. Thompson, Gordon 

 Parker. W. J. Barker, Wm. R. Kreutzer, R. E. Clark. H. L. Borden. A. F. C. Hoffman, H. C. Hilton, Paul D. Kelleter, Dwight S. Jeffers, C. G. Poole, P. J. 

 Paxton, Smith Riley, E. W. Tinker, Crosby A. Hoar, W. J. Pearce, F. H. Carroll, Fred W. Morrell, Theo. Shoemaker, J. B. Cammann, Ress Philips, G. E. 

 Marshall, Chas. Gosorn, H. Earl French, Sandford Mills, W. I. Hutchinson. 



THE NEW SPJRIT OF PUBLIC SERVICE 



BY C. J. STAHL 



IN the early-history days of the National Forests in the 

 West, the administration of the then so-called "Tim- 



berland Reserves" was carried on by a small force of 

 officers whose duties consisted largely of fire protection, 

 construction of improvements and timber sale recon- 

 naissance and inspection, and who were obliged to refer 

 practically all matters of importance to the Washington 

 headquarters for decision. In time, this system of central 

 control, which was found to result in delay and dis- 

 satisfaction to Forest users, was replaced by a scheme of 

 local management in which the business of the National 

 Forests was entirely handled by individual Supervisors 

 under the direction of District Foresters with head- 

 quarters conveniently located as regards the geographical 

 distribution of the Forests. 



Today, as a result of this new system of management, 

 a marked change has taken place in the West, both in the 

 understanding of the Government's conservation policies 

 and the feeling on the part of the public towards the Na- 

 tional Forests and the men of the Forest Service. 

 You find it everywhere this spirit of "pardnership," of 

 lending a helping hand to the "other fellow," and it may 

 be truly said that no body of Government officers in 

 234 



the country are now more looked up to and respected 

 than the men who carry the burdens of administration 

 of our National Forests. 



"What has brought about this change? " you may ask. 

 The answer is the new spirit of public service, which 

 carries with it a downright personal interest in all matters 

 of State, community and public welfare, and nowhere has 

 this new spirit ever shown to better advantage than at 

 the Forest Supervisors' convention held in Denver, Colo- 

 rado, recently. 



Organization, efficiency and progress were the keynotes 

 of the meetings. Not "what is the Government going to 

 do for us?" but "what can we do to make the National 

 Forests better known and more useful to the public?" 

 were questions oft repeated by the Supervisors. Many 

 men who in past conventions were able only to discuss 

 local Forest problems or minor points of official procedure, 

 were here to be found on their feet speaking fluently and 

 convincingly on subjects of general public interest. To 

 one who has watched the steady growth of the Forest 

 Service during the past fifteen years, this conference 

 marked the beginning of a new era which promises much 

 of achievement and success. 



