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MISC. PUBLICATION 249, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Job Corps youth gets instruction in operation of bulldozer from a Forest Service 

 training supervisor in a National Forest. 



west of the Mississippi River, chiefly in the mountains of the Far 

 West. About 21 million acres are in Alaska, and 21 million acres in 

 the Eastern States and Puerto Rico. 



The protection, administration, and development of this vast area 

 constitute one of the principal tasks of the Forest Service and occupy 

 the time and energies of a large number of its men. The management 

 of these forest properties distinguishes the work of the Forest Service 

 from that of most Government bureaus. Its practical requirements 

 have been met by a highly decentralized form of administration 

 whereby the responsibility for handling local problems has been placed 

 with the forest officers on the ground. 



Administration of the National Forests necessarily centers in the 

 Washington office, to which are attached certain higher officers en- 

 gaged in general direction and inspection; but for promptness and 

 convenience of field administration 9 National Forest regions have 

 been established. Each region is under the direct charge of a Re- 

 gional Forester; associated with him are such technical assistants as 

 may be necessary for the conduct of the work. 



There are now 154 National Forests, averaging more than a million 

 acres each. A Supervisor is in charge of each forest, and his staff 

 may include an Assistant Supervisor and a number of technicians. 

 The forests are also divided into districts, each in charge of a District 

 Ranger, who is responsible for the protection of this area and for the 

 conduct of its business. During the field season, fire control assistants 

 and other aides are employed to supplement the regular force. 



