I02 ALGERIA 



the Service are loaned to him, theoretically, by the Secretary 

 of Agriculture at Paris, but any action taken in regard to them, 

 or to their standing, such as promotion, demotion, etc., is taken 

 at the request and upon the recommendation of the governor. 

 This arrangement gives far better results and a more efficient 

 working corps than any other of the various schemes tried out 

 since the inception of the Service. 



And these changes have been sufficiently numerous. To 

 begin with, the Service was under military control for a time, 

 then, later on, it was transferred to the Department of the 

 Minister of Agriculture at Paris. On Sept. 27, 1873, it was 

 attached'*^ to the Governor General's office, but on Aug. 26, 

 1881, it was again placed under the home Minister of Agri- 

 culture. On Sept. 24, 1886, the power of the Governor General 

 in forestry matters was considerably increased, and on Dec. 31, 

 1896, the Forest Service was put in his charge, with employees 

 directly under him and officers loaned by the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture, as stated. This is the plan that maintains to the 

 present time and which has given more general satisfaction 

 than any of the other arrangements tried. 



The Directions. — Under the general government the admin- 

 istration is divided into seven "directions" (departments): In- 

 terior, Finances, Agriculture, Eaux et Forets, Public Works, 

 Railroads, and Native Affairs. The Forest Service is in charge 

 of a director (who also acts as conservator of the Algiers conser- 

 vation), assisted by an inspector and assistant inspector; the 

 necessary clerks for all officers are recruited from employees 

 who are not well suited for field service. There are three con- 

 servations or districts, with the following force: 



^^ Pp. 165-166, Recueil de la Legislation Forestiere Algerienne, V. Boutilly. 



