302 UNITED STATES FOREST POLICY 



published in 1917, disclosed a point of view which was clearly sym- 

 pathetic and helpful. 



COOPERATION WITH STATES 



The Forest Service has developed a policy of assisting not only 

 private owners, but states as well, through cooperative agreements. 

 Under such agreements, the Forest Service has made a great many 

 studies, dealing with various problems related to forestry. Thus, in 

 1908, a study of forest taxation was undertaken in New Hampshire 

 and a comprehensive law was drafted and presented to the Legis- 

 lature. In 1910, a study was undertaken in cooperation with the 

 Pennsylvania Department of Forestry to ascertain how far soil 

 erosion and floods in certain districts of Pennsylvania are due to 

 forest destruction along the watersheds. In all cases, states are re- 

 quired to share in the expense of studies of this nature.^ 



The most important work done in cooperation with states has been 

 that of fire protection. One of the sections of the Weeks Law appro- 

 priated the sum of $200,000 for cooperation with the states in pro- 

 tecting the forested watersheds of navigable streams from fire. Such 

 cooperation has been extended only to states which have provided 

 by law for fire protection, and have appropriated for that purpose 

 funds at least equal to those provided by the Federal government. 

 The states have responded very liberally to this offer of assistance, 

 and in 1916 a total Federal expenditure of $90,000 was "supple- 

 mented" by over $400,000 of state funds, from twenty-two different 

 states.^ 



PROTECTION OF FISH AND GAME 



Another function of the Forest Service which has developed con- 

 siderably in the last few years, and is destined to develop much 

 further, is that of protection of fish and game. As early as 1906, the 

 appropriation bill had included the "protection of fish and game" 

 among the proper functions of the Forest Service, and since then 



2 See annual reports of the Forester. 



3 See annual reports of the Forester, particularly that of 1916, p. 179: Forest 

 Circ. 205: Stat. 37, 855. On general forest fire prevention see Forestry and Irriga- 

 tion, Jan., 1907, 23; Feb., 1907, 62: Am. Forestry, Nov., 1910, 681; Dec, 1910, 744; 

 May, 1912, 349; Aug., 1912, 541; Nov., 1913, 739: Conservation, Feb., 1909, 70, 71. 



