Development of Forest Policy. 301 



ander government supervision, but in 1812 the Cortes 

 of Cadiz, under the influence of the spirit of the French 

 Revolution, rescinded these orders, and abolished all 

 restrictions. 



An awakening to the absolute necessity of action 

 seems not to have arrived until about 1833, when a 

 law was enacted and an ordinance issued, at great 

 length defining the meaning of "montes," and institu- 

 ting in the Corps of Civil Engineers a forest inspection. 

 At the same time, a special school was to be established 

 in Madrid. This last proposition does not seem to have 

 materialized, for, in 1840, we find that several young 

 men were sent to the forest school at Tharand (Grer- 

 many). 



No doubt, imder the influence of these men on their 

 return, backed by La Sociedad Economica of Madrid, a 

 commission to formulate a forest law was instituted in 

 1846, and in the same year, carrying out ordinances of 

 1835 and 1843, a forest school was established at Yil- 

 laviciosa de Odon, later (1869) transferred to the 

 Escurial near Madrid. This school, imder semi-mili- 

 tary organization, first with a three-year, later a four- 

 year, course, and continually improved and enlarged in 

 its curriculum (one Director and 13 professors in 1900), 

 is the pride of the Spanish foresters, to all appearances 

 deservedly. It was organized after German models by 

 Bernardo della Torre Eoyas as first Director. 



The creation of a forest department, Cuerpo de 

 Monies, had to wait until 1853. This department, 

 under the Minister of Public Works, is a close corpo- 

 ration, made up of the graduates of the school as 

 Ingenieros de Mantes, acceptance into which is based 



90 



