Prohibition of grazing 218 Protection of grazing interests 219 Special Uses 220 Claims and Settlement 223 The National Forest Homestead Act 224 The mining laws 229 Coal-land laws 230 Administrative Use of National Forest Lands 230 Water Power, Telephone, Telegraph, and Power Transmission Lines 230 APPENDIX 233 ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. An observation point for finding forest fires. Vigilance is the watchword on the National Forests. During During 1916 forest officers extinguished 5,655 forest fires. Photo by the author _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE Figure 2. A typical National Forest landscape in the high mountains. Potosi Peak, 13,763 feet, from Yankee Boy Basin, Uncompahgre National Forest, Ouray County, Colorado xviii Figure 3. The climate of most of the National Forests is severe. This view was taken in the early summer and shows the high mountains still covered with snow. Most of the National Forest lands are therefore of small value for agriculture. Photo by Abbey xxviii Figure 4. On many high mountains on the National Forests snow banks persist throughout the summer. This view was taken in the latter part of August. Lassen National Forest, California. Photo by the author xxviii Figure 5. The Big Trees. "Mother of the Forest" in the background. North Calaveras Grove, California xxxii Figure 6. A scene on one of the famous National Parks. Upper Lake, Glacier National Park, Northern Rockies, Montana xxxvi Figure 7. The remains of the old boiler house. The town once had a sawmill, planing mill, lath mill, besides modern conveniences. All these are now gone after the forests have been cut. Lemiston, Montmorency County, Michigan xlii Figure 8. Deserted houses, abandoned after the sawmill left. These are the remains of what was once a prosperous town. Lemiston, Montmorency County, Michigan xlii