DANGER TO NATIONAL FOREST POLICY 805 



Virginia that have been cleared would lution of forestry problems that 



be worth more m its primitive condi- not be handled by the States and ind"- 



lon and every available acre of forest viduals, and by sending out Htliure 



land in the State, un ess it is very val- is creating an influence among all 



liable : for agricultural purposes, should classes that will aid in proteS an 



TnflTn VH S %T S \ reSerVe ' conserving these great gifts of nfture 

 United States forest service of- Many States have spent large sums 



ficials are doing a great work m edu- of money to build up their forests tha? 



eating the people to see the great good have been recklessly and needlessly de- 



to be accomplished by protecting the stroyed. We have in West Virginia 



forests. This is now regarded as one several millions of acres of forest lands 



of the most helpful branches of the and if properly cared for, either bv 



Department of Agriculture. This de- State or Government's aid, it will be of 



partment undertakes the study and so- untold benefit to future generations. 



DANGER TO THE NATIONAL FOREST POLICY 



BY HENRY S. GRAVES 

 Chief Forester 



has been during the past ernments. The property belongs to 



two or three years a steadily the Nation as a whole, and every citi- 



growing movement to turn over zen has an interest in it. The Govern- 



the National Forests to the individual ment has already made enormous 



States. During the past session of Con- grants to the individual States, but al- 



gress a rider to the Agricultural Ap- ways to further specific objects of 



propriation Bill was offered in the National importance. There should 



Senate providing for the grant of the not be a moment's consideration of the 



National Forests to the several States, proposal to turn the Forests over to 



together with all other public lands, the States unless it can be clearly shown 



including "all coal, mineral, timber, that the interests both of the States 



grazing, agricultural and other land.;, and of the Nation are consistent with 



and all water and power rights and such action. In the case of the Na- 



claims, and all rights upon lands of tional Forests, public interests both of 



any character whatsoever." While the the Nation and of the States require 



amendment was ruled out on a point of their continued retention and manage - 



order, it received a surprisingly large ment by the National Government. 



amount of support. The scope of this article does not 



The proposition so far as the Na- permit a full discussion of this problem. 



tional Forests are concerned is to turn It must suffice to mention a few rodent 



over to the individual States property reasons for Government owncr^liip. 



owned by the Nation covering a net 1. The property is now owned l>v 



area of over 160 million acres. This the Nation, and should be administered 



property has an actual measurable from the standpoint of National as wdl 



value of at least two billion dollars, as of local needs. 



while from the standpoint of its indi- 2. The problem of pn teetion from 



rect value to the public no estimate on fire and of timber prod 



a money basis could possibly be made. National Forests is one 



These are public resources which should scope and can be proper 



be handled in the interests of the public, by the Government; its 



Moreover, the problems involved are National duty. 



such that they should definitely remain 3. The problem on water control 



in the hands of the National rather no less a National duty 



than be turned over to the State Gov- of the National Forests he on head- 



