FORESTS OF ALSACE-LORRAINE 497 



are deficient, occupying only 14 per cent of the area. The 47,007 acres under conversion 

 are a most noteworthy achievement in economy and are really the feature of the German 

 forest administration, but, according to Lafosse, "The method used was not scientific 

 and was often brutal," there having been according to French technique, too abrupt 

 changes. 



Administrative Organization. — In 1871 the Germans placed oberforsters (cor- 

 responding to supervisors) in charge of definite units instead of continuing the French 

 system of forest organization which provided for inspectors supervising a considerable 

 area, subdivided and under the immediate charge of assistant inspectors. In addition 

 to the usual duties the oberforster had charge of logging because the product was sold in 

 the log instead of as standing timber as in France. In addition all road improvements 

 were directly under the oberforster as well as the building of ranger stations, and game 

 control. Under the oberforster were the rangers and guards. Over the oberforster was 

 the forstmeister, but in 1881 this position was abolished for political reasons.^ Instead, 

 two or three advisors (or general inspectors) were attached to the office of the ober- 

 forstmeister, who corresponded to the French conservateur or American district forester. 

 The entire service was under a director or landforstmeister. There were about 817 

 officers in the entire organization of whom 740 were local and 77 overhead. The ober- 

 forster and subordinate force were lodged or given an allowance for quarters. Just how 

 this organization will be modified by the new French administration it is too early to 

 predict but it is fairly certain that the number of officers and employees will be largely 

 reduced (and French officers entirely substituted) ; if sales of timber are again made on 

 the stumpage basis instead of as manufactured products the present organization wiU 

 be totally changed. 



Working Plans. — Working plans during the German administration were pre- 

 pared by a commission composed of the oberforstmeister (conservateur) and the ober- 

 forster of the forest concerned and were approved b}^ the landforstmeister (the ranking 

 forester of Alsace-Lorraine), on the advice of the technical working plan bureau. The 

 forests were divided into working groups, sub-working groups, sections, and compart- 

 ments. The timber was divided into age classes and the soil into quality classes, and the 

 periods were usually 20 years or less. The yield was given in cubic meters — never by 

 area or by number of trees. The local officer in charge was bound to the prescribed yield 

 with a leeway of 10 -per cent for overrun or underrun. It is of interest to read the critique 

 of these plans by Lafosse: 



" The working plans were very rich in many columned tables; the work Vv^as quite com- 

 plicated. At first glance, the French methods, because of their suppleness and simplicity 

 — where the last word has not yet been said — seem much better. However there is one 

 point in the former working plans which shows real progress over the French system. 

 It is the program of logging roads. The price of timber is closely linked with logging 

 facilities — an elementary truism which need not be further emphasized. The working 

 plan should not only prescribe the best rules for cultural treatment, but it must also dis- 

 close the means of assuring a handy and economical removal of the products. This 

 principle was applied by the foresters of the former organization." 



Even the detailed plan of road work was incorporated in the working plan, the de- 

 tails being drawn by ^specialists, so that when the working plan was finally approved the 

 supervisor could go ahead with his program. Automatically the necessary credits were 

 included in the budget. 



2 It is of historical interest to note that the difficult and troublesome questions of free- 

 use rights in the old "Comte de Dabo (Lorraine)" were not settled by the Germans. 

 From 1882 to 1908 the value of the free-use privileges nearly doubled. They attempted 

 settlements but for political reasons "withdrew the projects." No wonder they had 

 difficulties when it is recalled that there was a "veritable revolt" in 1848 when French 

 records were burned and foresters shot. 



