* Act of February 1, 1905 (P.L. 58-33, Ch. 288, 33 Stat. 628; 16 U.S.C. 472, 554)

Laws Affecting National Forest Land

Sec. 1. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall execute or cause to be executed all laws affecting public lands reserved under the provisions of section twenty-four of the Act entitled "An Act to repeal the timber-culture laws, and for other purposes," ap-proved March third, eighteen hun-dred and ninety-one, and sup-ple-mental to and amendatory there-of, after such lands have been so re-served, excepting such laws as af-fect the surveying, prospecting, locating, appropriating, entering, relinquishing, reconveying, certify-ing, or patenting of any such lands. (16 U.S.C. 472)

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Forest Supervisors and Rangers

Sec. 3. Forest supervisors and rangers shall be selected, when practicable, from qualified citizens of the States or Territories in which the national forests respectively, are situated. (16 U.S.C. 554)

Note-Laws relating to surveying, prospecting, locating, appropriating, entering, relinquishing, reconveying, certifying, or patenting are administered by the Secretary of the Interior.

Note-The following is quoted from a letter sent to the Chief of the Forest Service by Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson on February 1, 1905, the date the above Transfer Act was approved by the President:

"In the administration of the forest reserves it must be clearly borne in mind that all land is to be devoted to its most productive use for the permanent good of the whole people and not for the temporary benefit of individuals or companies. All the resources of forest reserves are for use, and this use must be brought about in a thoroughly prompt and businesslike manner, under such restrictions only as will insure the permanence of these resources.

"The vital importance of forest reserves to the great industries of the western states will be largely increased in the near future by the continued steady advance in settlement and development. The permanence of the resources of the reserves is therefore indispensable to continue prosperity, and the policy of this Department for their protection and use will invariably be guided by this fact, always bearing in mind that the conservative use of these resources in no way conflicts with their permanent value.

"You will see to it that the water, wood, and forage of the reserves are conserved and wisely used for the benefit of the home-builder first of all; upon whom depends the best permanent use of the lands and resources alike. The continued prosperity of the agricultural, lumbering, mining, and livestock interests is directly dependent upon a permanent and accessible supply of water, wood, and forage, as well as upon the present and future use of these resources under businesslike regulations, enforced with promptness, effectiveness and common sense.

"In the management of each reserve local questions will bedecided upon local grounds; the dominant industry will be considered first, but with as little restriction to minor industries as may be possible; sudden changes in industrial conditions will be avoided by gradual adjustment after due notice; and where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question will always be decided from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run."