worked out in the National Forests of the West. An elastic 

 protective force is expanded to its maximum in the danger 

 season, when a vigilant watch is kept by lookouts and patrol- 

 men. The protective force of the State forester assists in the 

 work. Trails and telephone lines have been built where 

 existing means of communication were most inadequate to 

 the need; in the White Mountains, however, there is less 

 urgent necessity for the Government to equip the Forest with 

 such improvements than there is in the National Forests of 

 the West and South. Sales of timber are being made for the 

 primary purpose of cleaning up the forest and securing a better 

 growth of timber. Incidentally, the returns from such sales 

 are already reimbursing a large part of the cost of administra- 

 tion and protection, and are likely soon to equal the entire 

 operating cost. 



All in all, though the work is so lately begun it is already 

 effecting a very considerable change in the conditions. Not 

 only has the progress of the forces of destruction been halted; 

 there is in evidence a marked gain. The protection given for 

 the past four years has prevented any considerable damage 

 from fire, and some of the slopes which five years ago showed 

 bald rock are now green with on-coming forest growth. 



Perhaps even more important in the long run than these 

 tangible and material benefits of public ownership has been the 

 stimulus to a larger and clearer realization of the value of the 

 region which Government leadership in its protection and 

 development is bringing about. The mere fact that a per- 

 manent public enterprise has been entered upon through the 

 creation of the White Mountain National Forest has increased 

 the number of visitors, and has reacted upon local sentiment 

 regarding the responsibility of private landowners to the 

 public for a certain measure of co-operation as a part of good 

 citizenship. Fire protection is now general and heartily aided 

 by all classes of local residents. It is easier to secure lands 

 needed by the Government on terms not dictated solely by a 

 spirit of narrow self-interest. The organizations which are 

 actively working for improved conditions and better facilities 



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