136 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



land, except, as Congress clearly intended, areas so small that 

 they could be handled more acceptably under the Act of June 11, 

 1906. We want all the land put to its best use, whatever that 

 use may be. A good deal of time and money has been spent 

 by the Service in this most important work. I beHeve, however, 

 that there is still land which would serve the public interests 

 best outside of National forests and which could therefore be 

 excluded to the public advantage. 1 believe, too, that adjoining 

 many of the forests are areas which, because of the value of the 

 timber they support, their importance under a proper forest cover 

 for watershed protection, or because the best public use of the 

 existing forest can be brought about only through their inclusion, 

 should be added to the National forests. 



"In considering changes of boundary the character of the land 

 and its future usefulness for forest or agricultural purposes, the 

 protection that it may give to watersheds at the bead of streams 

 from which towns, cities, and irrigation projects draw their 

 supply, areas which need reforestation, and areas which should 

 be included from the standpoint of the public welfare generally, 

 should all be carefully considered. Whenever a change of 

 boundary is recommended the reason for it should be plainly 

 shown. When the proper boundary of the forest does not con- 

 form to the exterior limits of the timbered areas the reason 

 should be given plainly. 



"In accordance with the usual practice, every effort should be 

 made to learn the wishes of citizens as to what lands should 

 be excluded or included. If areas are proposed for addition or 

 elimination at the request of citizens, their petitions should form 

 part of the reasons for the change in boundaries. Petitions which 

 have contributed to the establishment of the present boundaries 

 should, when practicable, be submitted as part of the record. 



"For this work you will need to use your very best available 

 help. The organization of the work is, of course, in your hands. 



"Existing and proposed boundaries, and all land and cover 

 classifications should always be shown on maps, supported by 

 reports. So far as possible, the Forest Service atlas folios should 

 be used as the base maps. The publication of these folios is being 

 pushed forward as rapidly as possible. By the first of August 

 nearly all of them will be in your hands. Where it is possible to 

 get them to you at a considerably earlier date by leaving out 

 the classification and simply sending you the blank copies this 

 will be done. 



"In addition to having every boundary line carefully gone over, 

 I want you to consider v/hether you have any considerable areas 

 of agricultural land in the interior of the forests or other land 

 which would serve the public best by being excluded. 



