GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AXD PROTECTION. 85 



will show the total number of each article, number of each issued to subordi- 

 nates, and of those kept on hand for distribution. Each transaction which 

 affects the property on a Forest, whether by purchase, transfer, certificate of 

 loss or of sale will be immediately entered on the proper card or cards 

 (Form 331). 



The account with " stock " will include only those articles actually placed 

 in stock or transferred thence to or from an individual. In all respects the 

 account with stock should be handled in the same manner as those with indi- 

 vidual members. 



Property issued by a custodian to a Forest officer will require the prepa- 

 ration and signature by the custodian of two copies of notebook Form 874-16, 

 which will then be sent to the officer. The officer will, upon receipt of the 

 articles, sign both copies, and return one to the custodian and keep the other. 



Property returned to a custodian by a Forest officer will require the prepara- 

 tion and signature by the officer of two copies of notebook Form 874-16, which 

 will then be sent the custodian, who, upon receipt of the articles, will sign 

 both copies and return one to the officer. 



Property transferred between officers will require that the officer from whom 

 the property is received will prepare and sign three copies of notebook Form 

 874-16. He will send one of them to the recipient of the property and the other 

 two copies to the custodian. The recipient will, upon the receipt of the property, 

 sign the Form 874-16. which has been previously signed by the transferring 

 officer, and send it to the custodian. Upon receiving the Form 874-16, which 

 has been signed by both officers, the custodian will sign the two copies received 

 from the transferring officer and send one of them to each of the officers con- 

 cerned. The transfer will at the same time be entered upon the proper card 

 (Form 331), and the transfer receipt (Form 874-16), signed by both officers, 

 will be filed behind a guide card bearing the name of the officer to whom the 

 property was transferred. A notation of the transfer will also be made on the 

 original receipt of the officer who transferred the property. 



Property temporarily transferred between officers requires only that a receipt 

 be taken on Form 87^-16. The transaction will not be reported to the custodian 

 unless the recipient fails to return the property within the time agreed upon, 

 in which event a permanent transfer should be effected in the manner hereto- 

 fore prescribed. 



The same procedure will be followed when nonexpendable property is fur- 

 nished for temporary use by custodians to other members of the Service. 



Ranger's Record. 



The copy of the Form 874-16, signed by the custodian, will constitute the 

 basis for the ranger's record of the property in his custody. Not less than 

 once a year each ranger and all other subordinate Forest officers will, by direc- 

 tion of the supervisor, submit to him in duplicate on Form 874-16 a signed 

 list of the property in his custody. As soon as the correctness of the list is 

 established both copies will be signed by the custodian, who will keep one 

 and return the other to the ranger, when all previous Forms 874-16 relating 

 to the account can be destroyed. 



The custodian may, in his discretion, prepare the return and forward it to 

 the ranger for verification and signature. 



Loss of Property. 



Property lost or stolen must be promptly reported to the District Forester 

 on Form 858, in duplicate, when the member charged with it is satisfied it 

 can not be recovered. The member charged with responsibility will not be 

 relieved unless the statement made on Form 858 shows, beyond doubt, that 

 every reasonable precaution had been taken to prevent the loss or theft, and 

 that every reasonable effort toward recovery was made. When tools or equip- 

 ment are left for a time in unoccupied cabins, it is required that reasonable 

 precautions be taken to secure the articles against theft. When the property 

 for which the custodian is accountable is lost by any other member than the 

 one to whom it had been issued, the certificate^ on Form 858 must be signed 

 in duplicate by the member to whom the property was issued, and authenticated 

 by the supervisor or other officer in charge, in the space provided. 



The District Forester will, by indorsement in the space provided, on Form 

 858, either relieve the member from, or charge him with, responsibility for the 

 loss, and will send both copies of the Form 858 to the property auditor. 



When the member is relieved from responsibility for the^loss the property 

 auditor will credit him on the record and will certify on the Forms 858 re- 

 ceived from the District Forester that the decision of the reviewing officer has 



