GOVERNMENT FOREST WORK. 7 



Secretary of the Interior. The American National 

 Forest system really dates from the passage of that 

 act. 



Government administration of the reserves soon 

 made apparent the necessity for scientific forestry, 

 to make their use general. It was the duty of the 

 Secretary of the Interior to prescribe regulations 

 which would insure the fulfillment of the objects 

 aimed at in creating the reserves. Timber cutting 

 must not destroy the forests, but must provide for the 

 growing of a new timber crop. Grazing had grossly 

 abused the range ; it was necessary to devise methods 

 for increasing the forage crop. Both timber use and 

 grazing use must be so managed that water supplies 

 would be maintained and bettered. All the resources 

 of the Forests needed to be given careful considera- 

 tion and plans devised for their best development. 

 Without such plans little of the value of the Forests 

 to the public could be secured. Technical problems 

 were involved which the officials of the Interior De- 

 partment felt to be outside their province. They 

 therefore at first requested the aid of the experts of 

 the Department of Agriculture as advisers, and soon 

 recommended the transfer of administration of the 

 reserves to the latter department. 



This transfer took place in 1905. In 1907 the name 

 " forest reserves ? ' was changed to " National Forests," 

 by act of Congress, to indicate that their resources 

 are not locked up as " reserves " for a distant future. 

 National Forests are under Government management 

 for the purpose of securing sound economic and in- 

 dustrial development of large areas of timberland in 

 the best interests of all, which experience has shown 

 can not be equally attained under private ownership. 

 In administering the National Forests, therefore, the 



