CIHCtl^E OP IST JlTNfl ISffl. IGS 



" Of all the measures which: are prescribed fot the execution of the law of 

 the 28th July 1860, there are none to refer to which is more important than 

 the marking out of these. I call your special attention to this point. The 

 object of the law is the protection of the soil against the ravages of inunda- 

 tions, and the falling away of the slopes. In order that the work of rehoise- 

 ment may have any efficacy as "regards hydraulic results, and the retention 

 of the soil, it is indispensable that they should not be limited to scattered 

 points. The overflow of the water-courses during storms or heavy rains is 

 caused, as you know, by the sudden flowing in of the waters into the beds 

 of rivers and torrents. These water-courses are formed by the union of the 

 streams, more or less considerable, which rise in the bosom of the mountains. 

 If the surface of the inclines where the streams rise were properly clothed 

 with vegetation, the water, restrained on all sides in its progress, would flow 

 without violence into the bed of the river, which would only overflow in 

 those rare and exceptional circumstances, in which occur great meteorological 

 phenomena, against which all obstacles are powerless. 



" By an analogous operation the presence of vegetation on the surface of 

 an incline prevents its falling away, by dividing the lesser courses of water 

 and preventing their augmentation. According to these considerations, 

 which I cannot avoid mentioning here, but which your experience of moun- 

 tainous regions must enable you to appreciate, you will understand that the 

 consideration of the lands on which it is necessary to undertake such works, 

 ought, with a view to securing the important result desired, to be directed 

 to both of these aspects of the effects anticipated. 



" In every case the operation must be determined by circumstances 

 relating it may be to the water-courses, or relating it may be to the moun- 

 tain declivity ; and it will be for you to judge and decide at what point it 

 is most urgently required that a commencement should be made. 



"Article 6 bears that ' the Director General of Forests shall make known 

 to the prefect the forest agents designated to prepare the report on the 

 character and condition of the lands, the chart of the localities, and the 

 specification of the works proposed.' 



" The operations must be carried on in general by special agents, who 

 shall enjoy the same advantages as the agents composing the Commissioners 

 of the Cantonment, or of Management of Forests. 



" The forest agent shall have for associate the engineer of roads and 

 bridges, or of the mines, designated by the prefect. I do not require to 

 recommend to the agents of the Forest Administration to maintain in their 

 relations with the agents of the Administration of roads and bridges^ or of 

 mines, the spirit of cordial co-operation which ought to animate all the 

 functionaries of the State in their common efforts for the advancement of 

 the public interest. 



" Art. 7. The report of the inspector, the descriptive memoir, the plan of 

 the localities, and the scheme of projected works, form conjointly and exclu- 

 sively the basis of operations. In terms of article 5th of the law of 28th 

 July 1860, this work, first submitted for examination for a month, during 

 which period all parties interested may become acquainted with it, and then 

 presented for the discussion of the Municipal Councils, is to be examined in 

 succession by a special commission, by the Council of the Arrondissement, 

 and by the General Council. It is not until after the Ministry of Agricul- 

 ture, of Commerce, and of Public Works, and the Ministry of the Interior, 

 if such there be, have been consulted that the Ministry of Finances is to 



