468 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



must be restrained in its tendency to destroy what is the common 

 heritage of the people at large in all areas to which the forests are 

 tributary. There is also a large class who believe that it is worth 

 while to protect the animal life of the forests, and to set aside areas 

 where in the future the crowded population of the nation may have 

 great public parks open to all for health and sport. 



There is a strong tendency among thoughtful citizens of the 

 States in which the reserves are situated, and in adjoining States, to 

 favor the protection and wise administration of the forests on the 

 public domain, and as soon as it is made manifest that this will be 

 accomplished by the reservation policy the sentiment in favor of the 

 reserves will be as great among the people directly affected as among 

 those who now advocate the existence of the reserves from sentiment. 

 In opposition to this is the relatively small but very active and in- 

 fluential class composed of those whose personal interests are directly 

 affected by the reservation policy. Their opposition is based on ex- 

 pectation of immediate gain, regardless of the future of mining or 

 agriculture, of property rights of the Government, or of the rights of 

 the future generations which may occupy the region affected by the 

 presence or absence of forests. From their point of view, opposi- 

 tion to any forest policy is reasonable, as it affects their capital and 

 income, but it can not be sustained as against the welfare of the 

 masses of the people of this and future generations. The policy 

 of forest reserves has evidently come to remain, provided the attempt 

 is not made to accomplish too much at once without regard to the 

 rights of those having homes or property within the limits of the 

 reserves. It is also essential that the reserves should not be kept as 

 idle parks a day longer than is absolutely necessary to .establish a 

 system of administration that will provide for the use of the timber, 

 protect the immature trees and undergrowth, and permit of the de- 

 velopment of the mineral resources. 



If the reserves are judiciously selected and honestly administered, 

 and thus made to commend the policy to the American people, the 

 difficulties to be met will be of little moment. That the reserves 

 will be of great benefit to the communities to which they are tribu- 

 tary is absolutely certain, and it is also certain that in time the policy 

 of forest reserves will develop into one of the most popular, bene- 

 ficial, and valuable institutions of the Government. It is based on 

 the experience and mature judgment of the most intelligent and pro- 

 gressive nations of the world, and if properly planned and adminis- 

 tered its future in the United States will be all that its strongest sup- 

 porters hope for. 



