Revolutionary Influences. 219 



posing soil which would not everywhere be found 

 adapted to farm use, wastes naturally existing were 

 greatly increased. 



The revolution brought with it sudden and dis- 

 astrous changes. The law of 1791 abolished not 

 only the jurisdiction of the maitrises, but removed 

 all restraint, and thereby inaugurated widespread des- 

 struction and devastation of forest property against 

 which legislative attempts of the republican govern- 

 ment were entirely powerless Not only did the 

 peasants take advantage of the disorder, and the 

 municipalities cut their reserves without hindrance 

 but extraordinary fellings in the state forests were 

 necessitated by the needs of the navy and the ex- 

 chequer. In 1801, after various previous attempts 

 at organization, Napoleon reorganized the service, 

 with five administrators, 30 conservators, 200 in- 

 spectors and 8,600 inferior officers. At that time, it 

 appears that the revenue from the public forest domain 

 amounted to $6,000,000, a sum justifying such elabo- 

 rate organization. But otherwise the methods of 

 Colbert's ordinance were revived. Devastation, how- 

 ever, continued. 



Incompetence in the service, was again introduced 

 when in 1811 half the number of officials was recruited 

 from superannuated army officers. In 1817, the whole 

 forest service was abolished, and the properties placed 

 in the hands of the fiscal agents of the government 

 without any technical knowledge. The old order of 

 things was, however, re-established in 1820, and soon 

 after the final organization which has lasted to date 

 was effected. 



