THE UNITED STATES FOREST RESERVES. 459 



utmost importance to the development and welfare of the whole 

 country." 



The result of establishing the reserves more than met the antici- 

 pations of the commission that legislation would follow, owing to 

 the pressure of the people on their representatives in Congress. The 

 first storm of protest came mainly from South Dakota, Wyoming, 

 Montana, and Washington. Public meetings were held at which 

 vigorous speeches were made in opposition to the forest-reserve 

 policy, and soon a flood of petitions and letters reached the senators 

 and representatives from the States mentioned, and those from ad- 

 joining States in which reserves are situated or which are dependent 

 upon the reserves for their timber supply. Early in March an 

 amendment was incorporated in the Sundry Civil Bill in the Senate 

 revoking the forest-reserve proclamations of February 22, 1897. 

 This, however, was modified in conference with the House so as to 

 authorize the President to suspend or revoke the proclamations if he 

 thought fit to do so. The bill failed, and when the new Congress 

 assembled, on March 15, the agitation against the reserves was 

 resumed. 



A long debate in the Senate was followed by the final passage of 

 an extended amendment providing for the suspension of the reserves 

 established by the proclamations of February 22, 1897, until March 

 1, 1898, and providing further for the survey of the forest reserves, 

 under the supervision of the Director of the Geological Survey, and 

 appropriating one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the purpose. 

 Provision was made that " a copy of every topographic map and other 

 maps showing the distribution of the forests, together with such field 

 notes as may be taken relating thereto, shall be certified thereto by 

 the Director of the Geological Survey, and filed in the General Land 

 Office " ; the object of this being to place before the department 

 the data upon which to recommend the location of the boundaries 

 of the forest reserves, authority being given to the President in the 

 amendment " to revoke, modify, or suspend any or all of such execu- 

 tive orders and proclamations, or any part thereof, from time to time 

 as he shall deem best for the public interests." 



In addition to the provisions for the survey and modification of 

 the reserves, most important legislation for their future preservation, 

 control, and administration was embodied in the act. It is provided 

 that " the Secretary of the Interior shall make provision for protec- 

 tion against destruction by fire and depredations upon the public 

 forests and forest reservations, and that he may make such rules and 

 regulations, and establish such service as will insure the objects of 

 such reservations, namely, to regulate their occupancy and use, and 

 to preserve the forests thereon from destruction." 



