Forest Administration. 337 



ing revenue, which bids fair to rank before long among 

 the important sources of income. 



In 1865 the net revenue was only $360,000, it had 

 about doubled by 1875, and more than trebled by 

 1885, and since then has nearly trebled again. 



While in the period of 1870 to 1874 the expense of the 

 administration was still 70 per cent of the gross income, 

 it has gradually been reduced to near 60 per cent. 



At first the department and its operations as well as 

 its finances were Imperial, the local governments having 

 no control over its officers or over the revenue derived, 

 but, in 1882, decentralization was effected, the local 

 governments obtaining a direct interest in the revenues. 

 As a result the financial interest overruled the con- 

 servative policy, and over-cutting was the consequence. 

 In 1884, the general government recognized the need 

 of a change. After some struggle the Imperial depart- 

 ment was placed at least in charge of preparing the 

 working plans, and pressure for their execution if not 

 direct enforcement can be brought through appeal to 

 the general government by the Inspector-General, 

 which, however, has never been necessary to use. 



The organization of the forest service passed through 

 various stages, and the arrangement in the different 

 provinces is even now not quite uniform. 



The forest service then is peculiarly organized as 

 regards division of responsibilities and relationships 

 between the imperial and the provincial governments, 

 the autonomy of the latter being jealously guarded. 

 It is divided into the Imperial and the Provincial 

 Service, the former consisting of the higher grade 

 officials entirely recruited from England, the latter, the 



