GERMAN FOREST MANAGEMENT — ADMINISTRATION. 255 



FORESTERS, FORESTRY EDUCATION, AND FORESTRY LITERATURE. 



To be sure, the highly elaborate system of forest administration and forest management here 

 outlined could not be developed or maintained without a special high-grade education of those 

 who direct the work. This education is provided for in the most ample manner, and consists not 

 only in theoretical studies at schools, academies, and universities, but also in practical studies in 

 the forest itself under the guidance of competent and experienced forest managers. 



The course which applicants for positions in the higher administrative forestry service are 

 expected to follow, with more or less modification in the different states, may be briefly outlined 

 here: 



After promotion from college the student goes into the woods for a short period (one-half to 

 one year) to acquaint himself, under the guidance of a district manager, with the general features 

 of the business he proposes to engage in, and thereby tests his probable fitness for it. He then 

 visits for two and one-half or three years a forestry school (called academy when by itself, when 

 at a university it is connected with the " faculty" for national economy), where theoretical studies 

 with demonstrations in the forest are pursued. 



After examination and promotion the applicant is bound at his own expense to occupy himself 

 for two years at least in studying the practice in various districts, changing from place to place. 

 If occupation can be found for him he is employed at small daily wages on some scientific or 

 administrative work, always keeping an official diary of his doings and observations, certified to 

 by the district manager with whom he stays, and which forms part of his final examination. For 

 niue months during this time he must continuously perform all the duties of a lower official — a 

 ranger — for a whole or part of a range, and sometimes also for a given time certain functions 

 of a district manager. Then, after two years of law studies at a university, he enters into a 

 close and difficult examination for a position as district manager, lasting eight to ten days. By 

 passing this he is placed on the list of eligibles, and has thereby secured a right, enforcible in 

 the courts if need be, to a position when a vacancy arises and his name is reached in the order 

 of the list. This, in Prussia, may now be within ei&ht or ten years after listing. During the 

 interval he may be, and mostly is, employed on daily wages in various sorts of scientific and 

 administrative work, such as revising and making new valuations, laying out roads, acting as 

 tutor at the academies or as assistant to district managers, or else taking the place of a manager 

 temporarily, etc. 



The higher administrative offices are filled by selections from the managers, length of service" 

 counting only when special fitness for the kind of work required accompanies it; so that, as in the 

 army, the highest officer has been through all the grades below, and is conversant with every 

 detail of the service. The pay is small, graded in each kind of position according to length of 

 service and somewhat according to the cost of living in different places. The honor of the position, 

 to which usually other honors are added, its permanency, and the assurance of a pension, graded 

 according to length of service, in case of disability or age, make up for small salaries. The 

 salaries, subject to change from time to time, without adding the value of perquisites like houses, 

 farm lands, etc., range about as follows in Prussia: 



1 dnector (Obeilandforstnieister) $3, 600 



4 forest councilors (Landforstmeister) $1,800 to 2, 400 



33 chief inspectors (Oberforstmeister) (with additions for house and traveling up to $1,100) 1, 050 1, 500 



89 inspectors (Forstmeister) (with additions for house and traveling up to $1,100) 900 1, 500 



679 district manager (Oberfoerster) ( with additions up to $825 and house and field) 500 900 



3, 390 rangers (Foerster) (with house and additions up to $110) 260 360 



349 guards (Waldwaeitei ) 100 200 



The rangers (Foerster) follow different courses of instruction, part of which they receive in 

 subordinate positions under district managers; while serving in the army in special battalions 

 (chasseurs) they receive also theoretical instruction, which is supplemented in special schools. 

 When finally promoted to the responsible position of rangers, in which much discretion and 

 latitude are given them, their pay amounts to from $260 to $360, with a house and field, with the 

 assurance of pension on withdrawal. 



