GOVERNMENT FOREST WORK 53 
The branch of research has supervision over the 
investigative work of the service. including silvicul- 
tural studies, studies of State forest conditions, in- 
vestigations of the lumber and wood using industries 
and lumber prices, grazing studies, and the investi- 
gative work carried on at the Forest Products Lab- 
ora‘ory and the forest and range experiment stations. 
The branch of engineering administers water-power 
permits and easements granied prior to the passage 
of the Federal water power act, and makes such 
power investigations and reports as are requested by 
the Federal Power Commission. It is also charged 
with the making of such surveys and maps as are 
necessary to the national-forest work. It adminis- 
ters for the Forest Service the provisions of the na- 
ticnal-forest read appropriation acts and supervises 
the construction of such roads and trails as are 
handled by the Forest Service. All civil-engineering 
work in the service is now handled by this branch. 
The branch of finance and accounts has charge of 
the fiscal records and accounts of the service. 
The branch of public relations exercises leadership 
in the analysis and interpretation of current thought 
.,and practice in forestry and strives to direct public 
-’ attention toward sound forest policies. The branch 
also directs cooperation with the States in the pro- 
tection and reforestation of State and privately owned 
,forests lands under the Clarke-McNary law and de- 
’ Vises and develops means of contact with the public, 
to the end that the services which the Forest Service 
is prepared to render may be better known and more 
generally made use of. These means inciude official 
publications, information for the press, information 
and material for use in schools, and forestry exhibits, 
lantern slides, and motion pictures. The branch gives 
particular attention to enlisting the cooperaticn of the 
public in the prevention and contro! of forest fires. 
NATIONAL FOREST REGIONS 
In order to prevent delay and red tape in the 
administration of the national forests, nine field 
