But it is his second duty, and a close second, to do everything the law will let him do for the public good, and not merely what the law directs or compels him to do.

Unless the public service is alive enough to serve the people with enthusiasm, there is very little to be said for it.
Another, and unusually plausible, form of attack, is to demand that all land not now bearing trees shall be thrown out of the National Forests.
For centuries forest fires have burned through the Western mountains, and much land thus deforested is scattered throughout the National Forests awaiting reforestation.

This land is not valuable for agriculture, and will contribute more to the general welfare under forest than in any other way.

To exclude it from the National Forests would be no more reasonable than it would be in a city to remove from taxation and municipal control every building lot not now covered by a house.

It would be no more reasonable than to condemn and take away from our farmers every acre of land that did not bear a crop last year, or to confiscate a man's winter overcoat because he was not wearing it in July.