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(XXXVII.) STATE OWNERSHIP OF FORESTS: 



A. Reasons against State ownership are: 



I- State^anaged industries have invariably proven faiUires, since 

 they produce at a high expense, the manager not having i finaacial 

 interest in the business. 



2. Changing legislatures handicap the continuity of action, which 

 forestry requires. 



3. The American principle, ever since the first settlement, has 

 been for the government to get rid of its holdings as soon as pi)';-lble. 



4. Underpaid officers, without pension rights, and often losing 

 positions after short terms, are apt to defraud. Dishonesty in the for- 

 est is hard to discover. 



5. Governmental forestry interferes, or may interfere, with pri- 

 vate enterprise by entering into competition with it. 



6. The commonwealth, under constitutional restrictons, is not 

 allowed to pay taxes on its own land. Thus, the counties containing 

 governmental reserves do not obtain taxes from such reserves. (New 

 York pays taxes on the Adirondack Park.) 



7. Dependence of all workmen and their votes on the ruling 

 party. 



B. Reasons for State ownership are: 



1. Only in the case of forests owned by the commonwealth all 

 production of the forest (health, water supply, stability of navigation 

 and tangible products) is derived by the real owner. 



2. Longevity of the commonwealth allows of a small rate of in- 

 terest. 



3. Large areas are required for conservative forestry. 



4. Far sighted management cannot be expected from private 

 owners. 



5. Constitutional prohibition of entailed property. 



6. The State pays no taxes; hence. State forestry is more renum- 

 erative. 



7. The private individual never sacrifices direct forestal revenue 

 for indirect revenue. 



8. The commojiwealth employs a police force (sheriffs, marshals, 

 etc.) anyhow, and may secure, through the army and the militia, in- 

 creased protection for its forests. 



9. Possibility of special laws relative to trespass, firing, pastur- 

 ing, squatting, and timber-stealing on State lands. 



10. Where the government owns large tracts, there is no need to 

 induce private individuals to manage their forests conservatively 

 either by force or by premia. 



11. Realties owned by the commonwealth increase the State's 

 crfedit at exchange. 



