American Forest Congress 221 



rather than protect and encourage such work in arid 

 regions. To assure this the field inspector must be a 

 man of experience and exceptional ability, and the 

 office force at Washington must not only be good men, 

 as they are, but they must be given an opportunity 

 to learn these conditions and to study in the field the 

 methods of handling stock, lest in overcoming one 

 difficulty they create others they know not of. The 

 people interested must be fully advised and consulted 

 as to such regulations, then the facts and results will 

 be understood and mistakes avoided. It must be re- 

 membered that the mass of the people familiar with the 

 range conditions can see no excuse for such mistakes, 

 and believe them to be the result of a reckless disregard 

 of their interests and rights. There must be closer 

 relations between the stockmen and home-builders, 

 and the forest officials. Their representations must be 

 frank and open; they must know one another. If 

 there are conflicting interests the parties must be 

 brought together and no contest settled on an ex-parte 

 hearing. Before any radical change is made, the in- 

 terests affected should have a hearing, and candor, 

 honesty and frankness should be recognized and due 

 appreciation shown, while selfish misrepresentations 

 and willful disregard of regulations and the rights 

 of others should be sufficient cause for ridding the 

 reserves of this irresponsible class of men. We spend 

 millions annually educating the children. We should 

 give some time and attention to the conservative edu- 

 cation of citizens in and about forest reserves, likewise 

 to the training of rangers and administrative officers 

 in the interest of harmony, of intelligent appreciation, 

 and of the necessities of the requirements and changed 

 conditions. 

 The general principles recommended by the Bureau 



