FORESTRY INVESTIGATIONS U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



Appropriation, IXrision of Forestry, 1,177 to 1897. 



a Not especially appropriated, lint disbursed from other funds for forestry investigations. 

 . b Increase for experiment* in the production of rainfall. 

 c Increase for investigations in timber physics, although not specially so expressed in appropriation clause until following yearn. 



These appropriations represent not much over 1 per cent of the appropriations for the entire 

 Department of Agriculture during the same years, a ridiculously small and disproportionate 

 amount when the relative magnitude of the, agricultural and the forestry interests are considered. 



REASONS FOR CREATING A DIVISION OF FORESTRY. 



The reason for establishing a Government agency where one of the largest interests in the 

 country, the forestry interest, should find consideration and at least partial representation seems 

 obvious if we acknowledge merely the educational function of government. This we have 

 practically acknowledged as legitimate in the maintenance of the Department of Agriculture 

 itself and of schools of various descriptions, experimental stations, etc. There would seem to be 

 no need for other reasons than the fact that the absence of the art of forestry, which is practiced 

 by other civilized nations, calls for the exercise of this educational function. But this interest 

 has more need for governmental consideration than many others for reasons which may need 

 fuller discussion. 



They are (1) the magnitude of the manufacturing interests which rely upon the exploitation 

 and on the continuance of the forest resources; (2) the widespread influence which forest areas, 

 their presence or absence, and their condition have upon water llow, upon soil and climate, hence 

 influencing navigation, damage by floods, and changes in agricultural conditions, thereby impart- 

 ing to the forest cover a particular communal interest; (3) the peculiar technical and economic 

 aspects of the art of forestry which, dealing with long time periods, does not readily recommend 

 itself to private enterprise and needs the fostering care of the government to guard the communal 

 interest in the forest cover. 



The magnitude of the mere industrial and commercial interests which are subserved by forest 

 growth is best expressed by a comparison with other industries, as is done in the subjoined table, 

 from which it appears that the aggregate value of products of the industries relying for their 

 existence on wood as raw material amounts to at least two billion dollars, second only in value to 

 that of agricultural products. In capital and labor employed and in wages paid and value of 

 product the forest industries and wood-manufacturing establishments outrank by far any other 

 group of industries which may rationally be considered together. Even if the entire group of 

 industries relying upon mineral products is considered together, it falls in value of product at 

 least 25 per cent below that of the wood products of the country. 



