United States Forest Service 



FOREST AREAS IN COLONIAL TIMES AND TODAY 



It is estimated that in 1620 the forest area was more than 800 million acres. By the 

 beginning of the present century we had less than 500 million acres. This has 

 gradually been increased to over 600 million, nearly a third under public administra- 

 tion or control. And increasingly our forests are being operated for continuous yield 



Stations investigations are constantly being made to find the best methods of 

 utiUzing wood and other forest products for various purposes, as well as of 

 getting optimum yield. 



Forest Dangers The person who cuts recklessly and destroys for im- 

 mediate profit what ought to last practically fore\^er menaces our forests. 

 This enemy can be regulated either by enforcing strict rules as to the private 

 management of forests or by making it impossible for individuals or corpora- 

 tions to profit from the exploitation of forests. 



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