A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1591 



avowed any further responsibility by abandoning their lands to the 

 public as a liability. The Nation is faced with a situation that de- 

 mands realization and acceptance of responsibility for remedial 

 action. 



A NEW ERA BEGINS 



While America was still in the expansion stage of development, 

 with abundant resources at every hand, the dangers into which its land 

 policies were leading were obscured by national optimism. We were 

 a free people, with plenty for all. It was easier, and apparently bet- 

 ter economy, to cultivate new soils after the fertility of the used areas 

 became exhausted than to maintain soil productivity by more con- 

 servative and somewhat costly methods of cultivation. Apparently 

 there was no need to worry about a second crop of timber from cut- 

 over lands, with a cheap and presumably inexhaustible supply of vir- 

 gin timber at hand. The extensive measures of expansion had noth- 

 ing in common with the intensive measures of conservation. 



Gradually, toward the end of the nineteenth century, a perception 

 of the inevitable outcome of these policies began to develop. In some 

 regions the depletion or exhaustion of resources caused certain indi- 

 viduals to think of the future, and the idea of conservation was born. 

 With the twentieth-century development of transportation and com- 

 munication, world trade as well as increased local consumption of 

 products speeded up the processes of exploitation, and at the same 

 time better opportunities were provided for observing and appreciat- 

 ing the extent to which these processes had been carried. As a result 

 the demand for conservation became stronger and constructive action 

 began. The creation of national forests, by withdrawals from the 

 public domain, and the establishment of Federal and State forestry 

 organizations were among the first steps taken. Other conservation 

 agencies came into being and gradually extended their influence. 

 However, the progress made by the pioneer foresters was accom- 

 plished against difficult odds, and despite public indifference or even 

 antipathy. 



Experiences of the World War period and the years immediately 

 following emphasized the national importance of basic resources, and 

 the necessity for conserving and restoring them. As a result forestry 

 programs were strengthened, although during the years of inflated 

 prosperity which followed the war the average citizen was too much 

 engrossed with making and spending money to give much atten- 

 tion to public-welfare enterprises such as conservation. The progress 

 that was made can be credited chiefly to organized minorities of 

 conservationists. 



Within our Nation, astonishing contrasts of organization and dis- 

 organization have always existed; splendid technical proficiency in 

 some incredible skyscraper is found side by side with distressing 

 backwardness in some equally incredible city slum, a marvelous 

 bridge spans a river of uncontrolled waters, and a modern concrete 

 highway leads through the desolate ruins of a once-productive forest. 

 That such contrasts exist is evidence of the precarious status of our 

 national development. 



In 1929 came the depression. Faced with its serious consequences, 

 we have started with characteristic energy to determine the social 



168342 33 vol. 2 35 



