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Show 455. Cleveland's Executive Order of February, 1897, which accepted the report of the Forestry Commission, and set aside thirteen more Reservations, totalling an additional 21,000,000 acres. As an Executive Order, the establishment of Forest Reserves was under constant attack, particularly in the West. Muir's own role would not be that of creator, but of defender, in the battles which ensued. Since he thought that federal governmental control was the only way to preserve the remaining forests of America, he felt obligated to help give direction to these pioneering actions. On the other hand, he felt his best efforts could be made as a private citizen and an independent writer. Johnson, who remained in the midst of the fray in the East, continued to push Muir into the public eye. This was assured when Charles Sprague Sargent, head of the Forestry Commission, invited Muir to travel as an ex-officio member of the party during the summer of 1896. Muir could not refuse. The Forestry Commission seemed to presage a giant step in American policy-making. A group made up of scientists rather than politicians, commissioned under the National Academy of Sciences, would embark on a thorough and comprehensive study of the forests of the West, and then present its recommendations to Congress. Johnson and Muir immediately recognized the possible significance of this event. If the Forestry Commission was successful, it would set a precedent and lead the way toward rational, scientific management of the nation's resources. Men of intellect and good sense might gain a voice in government. |