67 



FOREST RANGES FORBACH (I AND II) AND HERRENWIES. 



The three forest districts to which the present remarks specially relate are 

 the following-. Area and actual yield are for 1886 :- 



Of these, Herrenwies, which is entirely State forest, is situated on the head 

 waters of the Raumumzach, and occupies a portion of the range west of the 

 Murg. Forbach I comprises the communal forests of Forbach, Langenbach, 

 Gausbach, and a few other villages, as well as the Heiligenwald (Saints' Forest) 

 of 860 hectares (2,124 acres), which is the property of the Forbach parish church. 

 In these forests the Oberforster has the management in his hands in the same 

 manner as in State forests. In regard, however, to the disposal of the wood cut 

 by him, the communal authorities, and the trustees of the church are at liberty 

 to make their own arrangements. As a matter of fact, they gladly avail them- 

 selves of the Oberforster's services in this part of the business also. From the 

 proceeds of these communal forests roads, school-houses, and other public buildings 

 are built, and the income from these forests is sufficient to defray all other 

 expenses of the municipalities, so that the members of these communities not 

 only enjoy immunity from all local rates and taxes, but also pay no school fees 

 for their children. Part of the firewood which forms the yield of these forests 

 is distributed among the villagers, so that they have most of their fuel free. 

 For timber and other wood they pay like other people, but the money yield of 

 most of the communal forests in the range Forbach I is so considerable that a 

 certain surplus is divided annually among the villagers. Thus the people of 

 Gausbach and other villages have this year received a share of the surplus, 

 amounting to 70 mk. (3 10s.) each householder. 



The study of this and other communal forests in the Grand Duchy of 

 Baden, and in many other parts of Germany, will be found most instructive for 

 those who have to deal with forest matters in India, for there is no doubt that 

 the success of the endeavors which of late years have properly been made to 

 stimulate the development of local self-government in the different Provinces of 

 India will, to a great extent, depend upon the success which may attend the 

 efforts to place the self-government of towns and villages upon a stable footing, 

 by organizing a good management of such landed property as these communities 

 possess, or may hereafter be able to acquire. 



The income derived from the Heiligenwald has of late years been allowed 

 to accumulate, until the amount had become sufficient for the erection of a new 

 church, which has been completed at a cost of 350,000 mk. (17,500). 



Forbach II consists of the forests belonging to an ancient corporation (Murg 

 Schifferschaft). The State has of late years purchased a large portion, about 



