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PARAGRAPH XXXII. 



HISTORY OF FOREIGN FOREST POLICY. 



Forest economy and forest management, like the economic use 

 of any commodity, are required only at a time when forest pro- 

 ducts attain a value. 



In Central Europe, this time fell in the period of strong, 

 singlehanded, aristocratic forms of government; and in the period 

 of undeveloped means of freightage. 



This fortunate coincidence of facts has allowed Germany and 

 France to develop, in governmental and municipal forests, a 

 conservative system of forest utilization imitated but not equalled 

 in other European countries. 



When at the approach and in the beginning of the 19th 

 century, democratic ideas, mercantilism and improved facilities 

 of transportation made their appearance, the principles of con- 

 servative forestry had impressed the public mind, for decades of 

 years, so forcibly that they withstood the sway of altered con- 

 ditions. Still, extreme financial stringency has forced European 

 governments, repeatedly, to reduce the area of state forests. 



In America, the increasing value of timber and lumber allows 

 forestry to gradually dawn upon us. Will our form of govern- 

 ment show strength, counteracting the influence of a splendid 

 system of railroads joining the timbered region with the prairies 

 as well as the seaports, sufficient to allow the sun of forestry 

 to rise and shine forever? 



FRANCE. 



1669 Colbert's forest ordinance places all forests under govern- 

 mental control and forces private owners to adopt a man- 

 agement similar to that prevailing in crown forests. 



17911795 Almost 1/2 of State forests sold and spoiled; sales 

 continue irregularly during 19th century, reducing state 



