NATIONAL FORESTRY LEGISLATION 27 



NATIONAL FORESTRY LEGISLATION 



The year 1926 will mark the close of a half century during which 

 the forest policy of the United States has been in process of devel- 

 opment. While there were occasional and ineffectual attempts on 

 the part of the National Government to encourage forest conser- 

 vation and growth, usually for purposes of national defense, during 

 the early days of the Republic, the year 1876 saw the first definite 

 action. In that year Congress appropriated $2000 for the employment 

 of a competent man to investigate the timber conditions of the country, 

 getting the appropriation through as a rider to a bill for the distribution 

 of seed. 



This piece of legislation created the office of agent with investi- 

 gatory and informational duties. Dr. Franklin B. Hough was ap- 

 pointed to this office, serving until 1883, when he was succeeded by 

 N. H. Eggleston. Funds were provided annually by Congress, but 

 only to the extent that the office might give data of general and 

 restricted character. 



This first decade of national recognition of the forest problem 

 was closed with the creation of the Division of Forestry in the 

 Department of Agriculture by an act of June 30, 1886. For several 

 years the work of the division was held down to informational 

 activity by small appropriations. By an act of March 3, 1891, how- 

 ever, the President was authorized to establish Forest Reserves, 

 and on March 30,1891, the Yellowstone Park Timberland Reserve 

 was proclaimed by President Harrison. Six years later, on June 4, 

 1897, the present National Forest Act was passed, providing for 

 the acquisition and administration of these areas under a workable law. 



The chief activity during the next few years was the development 

 of the forestry work of the government. It was expanded in scope 

 and importance as a reflection of the growing national sentiment. 

 On July i, 1901, the Division of Forestry became the Bureau of 

 Forestry, and on February I, 1905, it took its present name of the 

 Forest Service. 



The passage of the Weeks Law on March i, 1911, was perhaps 

 the first piece of national legislation enunciating a basis of forest 

 policy. It provided for the acquisition of National Forest areas in 

 the East, creating the National Forest Reservation Commission 



