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National Forest is created or any change is made in the boundary of 
an existing Forest a member of the Forest Service familiar with the 
work and with western conditions makes a careful investigation, not 
only of the lands but also of the interests involved. The claims of 
all industries and classes of residents are weighed, in order that no 
injustice shall be done. 
The region is carefully mapped and described, and the boundary of 
the Forest is drawn to include only lands suitable for forest purposes. 
Possible agricultural areas are always excluded unless they are small 
and isolated. The temporary withdrawal! of lands unsuitable for forest 
purposes is sometimes necessary pending the examination of the area 
for a proposed Forest. In all cases, however, such lands are released 
as a matter of course when the boundaries have been drawn. 
The section of settlement deals with agricultural settlement in the 
National Forests. When the boundary lines of Forests are established 
every effort is made to embrace no land that is more valuable for agri- 
culture than for forest purposes, but a number of small agricultural 
tracts are unavoidably included within their limits. In order to per- 
mit all the land in the Forests to be brought to its highest development 
the Forest Service advocated the passage of the act of June 11, 1906. 
In the year following the approval of the law three thousand five hun- 
dred applications were received for the examination arid listing of 
lands under this act. Forest officers were sent to determine the char- 
acter of the lands, and reports upon tracts for which there were 900 
applicants have been received and acted upon. For a great many of 
these areas conflicting applications were received. More than 48,000 
acres of land, listed with the Secretary of the Interior will be declared 
open to settlement and entry. 
The Forest officers making these examinations are especially trained 
for this work and are familiar with the needs and value of the lands 
for timber and agriculture. They are of the force which makes 
boundary examinations. 
Although these applications are still being received, and it is esti- 
mated that 2,000 more persons will apply, it is believed that a large 
majority of the tracts applied for will be reported upon during the 
present field season. | 
The establishment of a National Forest does not affect or place at a 
disadvantage persons already having valid claims under the public land 
laws or legal title to lands within the Forest. Such persons are free © 
to occupy and enjoy their holdings and perfect their claims, provided 
only that they do not interfere with National Forest interests. After 
a National Forest is established mining claims can be initiated as 
elsewhere. 
The Forest Service endeavors to protect valid claims in National 
Forestsand make the Forest contribute to their development, but it is 
12839—No. 36—07——3 
