Introductory. 3 



lation of the United States, in spite of the natural forest 

 wealth which is still supplying us, and with good reason, 

 for at that time wood was the only fuel and rivers the 

 only means of transportation; hence local scarcity. was 

 to be feared and was not unf requently experienced when 

 accessible forest areas had been exploited. Eailroad and 

 canal development and the use of coal for fuel changed 

 this condition in both continents. Now, with improved 

 means of transportation by land and by sea the questions 

 of wood supply and of forestry development, which at 

 one time were of very local concern, have become world 

 questions and he who proposes to discuss intelligently 

 forest conditions and forestry movement in one country 

 must understand what is going on in other countries. 



As will appear from the study of the following pages, 

 with the exception of some parts of central Europe or of 

 some sporadic attempts elsewhere to regulate forest use, 

 the development of the forestry idea belongs essentially 

 to the 19th century, and more especially to the second 

 half, when the rapid development of railroads had nar- 

 rowed the^world, and the remarkable development of in- 

 dustries and material civilization called for increased 

 draft on forest resources. 



Yet we are still largely ignorant of the extent of avail- 

 ble forest area, not only in this country but elsewhere; 

 whether it is sufficient in extent and yield to furnish a 

 continuous supply for the needs of our civilization, and 

 if not, for how long a time it will suffice. We can only 

 make very broad statements and very broad inferences 

 from them as to questions of wood supply as an argu- 

 ment for the need of a closer study of forest conditions 

 and forestry : 



