142 UNITED STATES FOREST POLICY 



to restore agricultural lands and modify the boundaries of reserves in 

 any way made it possible for him to avoid stirring up so much local 

 antagonism.*" Incidentally, the discussion aroused by Cleveland's 

 proclamations, bitter as it was, awakened a public interest in forest 

 questions which was very favorable to the future development of the 

 forest policy. 



February, 1897, Congress passed an act providing a heavy penalty for setting 

 fires on the public domain. (Stat. 29, 594.) 



49 Intelligent administration of these provisions was made easier by an appro- 

 priation of $150,000 for the survey of the reserves. Fernow, however, suggests that 

 this appropriation was secured, not mainly because of the need of surveys, but 

 rather because a certain organized survey party in the Geological Survey was then 

 in need of employment. (Stat. 30, 34: Fernow, "History of Forestry," 419.) 



