I 



THE PLACE OF A FOREST SUPERVISOR 

 IN THE COMMUNITY 



By PAUL G. REDINGTON 

 Forest Supervisor Sierra National Forest, California 



N the United States there are 150 the local school board. He should at- 



Supervisors in direct charge of the tend public school exercises and be 



work on the various National For- willing to give talks to students, when- 



sets. These men have administrative ever invited to do so. Incidentally, 



jurisdiction over approximately 160,- by getting into the school activities in 



000,000 acres of public property. They any of these ways he is helping out his 



are in responsible positions and are profession. 



chosen because of their fitness to handle A Supervisor should be willing to go 

 successfully the work on their Forests, before the county officials to aid school 

 and their ability to deal fairly with the work and development, if he thinks his 

 thousands of people who use the Forests, influence can assist. Western counties 

 Of these 150 Supervisors, 117 (by a are going farther each year in the placing 

 very conservative estimate) are located of branch libraries in the mountain 

 in towns or small cities where they towns and settlements, and a Super- 

 should be known to the large majority visor can find in this an additional 

 of the members of the communities, channel through which to direct his 

 Laying aside a consideration of their unofficial activities, 

 official relations with certain individuals A Supervisor should not fail to take a 

 in each community, their potential positive stand which will align him on 

 influence by active participation in the right side of all things which have to 

 movements looking towards "commun- do with raising the moral tone of the 

 ity up-building" is very large. community and he should not be back- 

 It is my conviction that every Super- ward about expressing an opinion if he 

 visor has a splendid chance to make his thinks good can be accomplished, 

 place as an individual just as prominent Without going into the pros and cons of 

 in his community as his official position the liquor question, it is my belief that 

 is prominent among other occupations every Supervisor who lives in a small 

 of the locality. isolated place where adequate regulation 

 The personality of every man in this of saloons is not possible, should actively 

 position, his ability to mix with his advocate their absolute abolishment in 

 fellows, and to take the leadership in order to keep out lawlessness and in 

 community development work, of course this way help in giving boys and young 

 will have a great deal to do in fixing his men the right start in life, 

 place in his home town. Assuming, The benefit of church influence in 

 however, that the average man is well any community is beyond question, 

 qualified in these particulars, what Whether a Supervisor is a religious 

 ought he to do to make his community man or not, I think he ought to appre- 

 the better for his being a member of it ? ciate the benefit accruing from the loca- 

 Education is at the bottom of com- tion of a church in his home town, and 

 munity progress, just as much as it is if one is lacking, he should, on general 

 the foundation stone of all progressive principles, give his aid, financial and 

 development. A Supervisor should not otherwise, towards its establishment, 

 hesitate to take an interest in all educa- Oftentimes, due to the comparatively 

 tional questions, particularly those hav- small number of residents in a town 

 ing to do with the betterment of the where a Supervisor is located, and to 

 grammar and high schools in his com- the consequent uncertain practice, there 

 munity. He should, when asked to do is no physician. A competent medical 

 so by the voters, accept a position on practitioner is one of the most needed 



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