and centers of influence 

 for forest protection, 

 production, and 

 utilization. Their 

 influence in these 

 directions is already 

 beginning. Although 

 small in area as 

 compared with the 

 region in which they 

 are situated, their 

 influence will be 

 far-reaching in leading 

 private owners to 

 protect their timberlands 

 from fire and to practice 

 forestry. 



In addition, the 1915 report 

 stated: 



It is not enough that 

 these forests serve 

 simply to protect the 

 watersheds of the 

 navigable streams. 

 Their usefulness 

 extends in other 

 directions which are of 

 such importance as to 

 make the forests as 

 their development goes 

 on an asset of greater 

 and greater value to 

 the Nation. They should 

 be constantly 

 developed. Their stands 

 of timber should be 

 improved, their soils 

 made more productive, 

 their remote resources 

 made accessible, the 

 water supplies kept 

 pure and at maximum 



volume, and they ought 

 to be so managed as 

 to serve the public 

 advantageously for 

 recreation and health 

 purposes. 



The Commission 

 emphasized that "at the 

 bottom of all increase of 

 the resources is protection 

 from fire." As quickly as 

 they were acquired, lands 

 were placed under a forest 

 officer and "protection 

 force," and efforts were 

 undertaken to rally the local 

 citizens against fire, "this 

 worst of all enemies to the 

 forest" (U.S. Congress, 

 House of Representatives 

 1915). 



Early in the game, the 

 National Forest Reservation 

 Commission was 

 continuously requested to 

 exercise the right of eminent 

 domain in acquiring lands. 

 However, the Commission 

 believed that condemnation 

 would result in a great deal 

 of litigation and fail to 

 accomplish the desired 

 goal of educating the public 

 to the necessity of 

 conserving the forests. 

 They decided to employ 

 condemnation only when 

 necessary to perfect title or 

 when, in the face of great 

 public need, it would be 

 impractical to obtain lands 

 by purchase. 



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