18 THE USE BOOK. 



to the counties in which the reserves are situated 

 (Appendix, p. 163), and the other 90 per cent toward 

 maintaining upon the reserves a force of men organ- 

 ized to serve the public interests. This force has two 

 chief duties: To protect the reserves against fire and 

 to assist the people in their use. 



Forest officers, therefore, are servants of the peo- 

 ple. They must answer all inquiries concerning reserve 

 methods fully and cheerfully, and be at least as prompt 

 and courteous in the conduct of reserve business as 

 they would in private business. They must obey 

 instructions and enforce the regulations for the protec- 

 tion of the reserves without fear or favor, and must 

 not allow personal or temporary interests to weigh 

 against the permanent good of the reserves; but it is 

 no less their duty to encourage and assist legitimate 

 enterprises. 



They must make every effort to prevent the misun- 

 derstanding and violation of reserve regulations by 

 giving information fully and freely. The object should 

 be to prevent mistakes rather than to have to punish 

 them. Information should be given tactfully, by 

 advice, and not by offensive warnings. 



Forest officers will be required to be thoroughly 

 familiar with every part of this book, and to assist the 

 public in making applications for the use of the reserves. 



SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UPON FOREST 

 RESERVES. 



It is the active policy of the Forest Service to man- 

 age the forest reserves upon a sound technical, as well 

 as business, basis. Improvement in the standard of 

 the technical management alone can secure steady and 



