WHAT THEY ARE FOR. 33 



ing it in good condition, especially when such control 

 does away with the old conflicts of all kinds and assures 

 each man of getting his rights. The men who use the 

 range are not the kind who think they ought to get some- 

 thing for nothing. 



National Forests, then, are not made for the special 

 purpose of controlling the live-stock business; they are 

 concerned with it incidentally, and help to regulate the 

 use of the range because the people want it regulated. 



TO USE WELL ALL THE LAND. 



There are many other incidental uses which National 

 Forests help to bring about and greatly assist. Of course 

 the land itself should be put to the best use. As already 

 mentioned, it is used as sites for all kinds of commercial 

 enterprises, and is open to improvements such as the 

 construction of railroads, wagon roads, trails, canals, 

 reservoirs, and telephone and power lines. All kinds of 

 development work are benefited by National Forests, 

 because they make sure, so far as can be, that tim- 

 ber and wood are kept on hand ready for use instead 

 of being burned up or shipped out of the country, and 

 that the flow of water is kept even and steady for power 

 and other purposes. The conservation (which means 

 simply the wise use) of all the various resources of the 

 Forests, especially of the water, means a great gain in 

 dollars and cents to many commercial enterprises, the 

 water-power companies in particular. The protection 

 of the forest at the heads of streams means a prosper- 

 ous life to such companies, for it assures them a steady 

 and clear flow of water. The destruction or misuse of 

 the Forest means failure, for it carries with it flood, silt, 



