METHODS OF FOREST POLICY. 269 



about ten thousand acres of this hitherto barren 

 and almost useless part of the province became 

 productive. 



Finally, however, it will be found that control 

 and supervision of private property is an unsatis- 

 factory, expensive, and only partially effective 

 method of securing conservative forest manage- 

 ment, where the necessity of maintaining a forest 

 growth may exist and the financial margin that can 

 be had from it is but small. Experience in the 

 old countries has shown that, in spite of the much 

 more perfect machinery for enforcing laws, and in 

 spite of the much more ready disposition to sub- 

 mit to laws, than we are accustomed to see in 

 this country, the attempts to control private prop- 

 erty have been largely without the desired result. 

 It then becomes preferable for the community to 

 own and manage such forest areas. 



Such ownership may rest either in the state or 

 else in the county, the town, or other poUtical sub- 

 division which seems most nearly interested in the 

 maintenance of the protective cover. To obtain 

 possession, if it cannot be had by purchase, the 

 necessity of exercising eminent domain may arise. 

 Such eminent domain is now exercised in most 

 civilized states where public objects, public safety, 

 or public utility require it; usually, however, the 

 objects for which this power may be called into 

 requisition are definitely stated by law. 



If the question of protection of forests be once 



