318 LOOAL FEELING AND PUBLIC OPINION 



relatively to the state of ruin in wMch the greater part of the high moun- 

 tains find themselves, was somewhat restricted, ought from this time 

 forward to receive great extension, in order to the protection of almost aU. 

 the valleys menaced ; (3) That the department of the Lower Alps is, beyond 

 contradiction, one of those most devastated by torrents, the ravages of 

 which are increasing every year, in consequence of the denudation of the 

 unstable soil on the enormous slopes of the high mountain^ ; (4) that, 

 despite its public resources, the department has never ceased to take part 

 in the work undertaken, and has constantly supplied an important 

 subvention." 



The General Conseil, wishing to give anew a testimony of sympathetic 

 concurrence with the sei-vice de reboisement, granted for the operations of 

 1870 a sum of 2500 francs, and passed the following resolutions : — 



" 1. That the credits to be opened, in continuation or renewal of 

 those granted in accordance with Art. 14 of the law of 28th July 1860, and 

 6th June 1864, be voted for a new period of ten years. That these credits 

 be raised to a greater amount, and one more conformed to the importance 

 now established of the results to be obtained, and already obtained, from 

 those useful works. 



" 2. That indemnities to be granted for temporary deprivation of pasturage 

 be largely allowed to the communes which shall demand them, in such a 

 way as to give entire satisfaction to the interests injured. 



" 3. That the State purchase the wooded lands which may come to be 

 alienated by communes, wherever the acquisition of these may be made to 

 come in aid of the work of reboisement. 



" 4. That to the service de reboisement et gazonnement be granted credits 

 sufficient to ensure the prompt execution and large development of the 

 works pertaining to this useful service. 



" The Conseil, unanimously adopting the flattering words of the spokesman 

 for the agents of reboisement, and the resolution which he submits to the 

 assembly, carries those resolutions by acclamation." 



These recent testimonies, says M. C6zanne, writing in 1872, are of high 

 import; they demonstrate the true and deep interest attaching to this work, 

 since at a very recent day, after the terrible events which have sown our 

 soil with such ruias, the population calls instantly for the immediate 

 resumption of the fruitful works of the Forest Administration, and enable 

 us to form an opinion in regard to what were originally and what are now 

 the feelings of the population in the localities interested in these operations. 

 This signal conversion may be attributed, without doubt, to the character 

 of the work itself j but the prudent and judicious conduct of the Forest 

 Administration, its increasing regard to local interests, and the good wages 

 which it has caused to be paid in the villages, have contributed largely to 

 this success. And he remarks, that the Forest Administration has always 

 had the honour and the happiness to be directed by eminent men devoted 

 to the public good. 



After MM. Forcade de la Roquette and Vicaire, M. Far6, struck with the 

 importance of this question of reboisement, and the magnitude of the benefit 

 it might effect, devoted himself with zeal to the work ; and in the most 

 remote gorges of the Alps the peasants have seen him, as Director-General, 

 studying the sores of the mountain, and prescribing the remedy. 



M. Far6, in closing his report of operations in 1867 and 1868, remarks,— 

 " If the experience acquired by a practice of nearly ten years' continuance 



