ADMINISTRATION 55 



of communication is not satisfactory even under 

 favorable conditions. This system depends upon 

 direct sunlight; without it is useless. When there 

 is much smoke in the air it is also of uncertain 

 value. The heliograph system has perhaps reached 

 its greatest development upon the California Na- 

 tional Forest, but even here experience has shown 

 that it is only a temporary makeshift and the plan 

 is to replace it by a telephone system as soon as 

 possible. 



The Forest Supervisor, especially in his summer 

 headquarters, depends directly upon the mail serv- 

 ice for communication with the District Forester 

 and the outside world. In many cases the fact that 

 the Forest Supervisor has his headquarters in a 

 small mountain community in the summer has 

 made it possible for that community to receive a 

 daily mail service or mail at least three times a week. 

 When the Forest Supervisor becomes satisfied that 

 mail service is desirable in certain mountain com- 

 munities he investigates local settlers' needs for 

 mail facilities ; or he may cooperate with the people 

 in the nearest village who are petitioning for mail 

 service. Often his influence proves the deciding 

 factor in getting it. 



