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EMERGENCY CONSERVATION WORK 



had little if any opportunity to obtain positions. The potentialities, 

 therefore, for good or bad were enormous. The program has very 

 materially benefited the morale, the sense of responsibility, initiative, 

 and enterprise of large numbers of future American citizens. 



The program has also advanced forest conservation from 20 to 

 50 years ahead of the normal progress. The work of the boys in the 

 camps and the accomplishments may be summarized briefly as fol- 

 lows: 



1. Probably the most important work was the improvement of the 

 existing stands of timber by cultural thinning and the removal of over- 



FIG. 122. Play time at one of the Civilian Conservation Corps camps in western 

 Wyoming. The forestry work hardened the muscles of city boys, who were un- 

 trained and unskilled in the ways and work of the woods. They generally 

 gained several pounds in weight apiece. The improved morale and training for 

 better citizenship were outstanding features of these camps. The men have 

 advanced the cause of forestry several years ahead of its past normal progress. 



mature, diseased and insect-infested trees. Over 4,000,000 acres have 

 been treated in this fashion, chiefly in the southern states, the Lake 

 States, and the Northwest. 



2. The renewal of forest cover by planting many millions of trees 

 and the establishment of many tree nurseries have been other notable 

 features. Over 3,000,000 acres have been planted to young trees, and 

 over 560,000 pounds of tree seeds have been collected for reforesta- 

 tion projects. 



