402 United States. 



peared in some parts of the country, just as in Germany 

 at that time and for the same reasons, the wood having 

 been cut along the rivers, which were the only means of 

 transportation, and hence, the distance to which wood 

 had to be hauled increasing the cost. 



This was probably the reason why the Society of Agri- 

 culture, Arts and Manufactures of New York, after an 

 inquiry by circular letter, issued in 1791, published, in 

 1795, a report on the '^best mode of preserving and in- 

 creasing the growth of timber". This condition prob- 

 ably also led the wise Governor of New York, DeWitt 

 Clinton, of Erie Canal fame, in a message in 1822, to 

 forecast an evil day, because "no system of economy" for 

 the reproduction of forest supplies was being adopted; 

 and he added : "Probably none will be, until severe pri- 

 vations are experienced." *' 



Like Great Britain at that time, the federal govern- 

 ment became concerned as regards supplies for naval 

 construction, and, by an act approved in 1799, appro- 

 priated $200,000 for the purchase of timber fit for the 

 Navy, and for its preservation for future use. Small 

 purchases were made on the Georgia coast, but nothing 

 of importance was done until, in 1817, another act re- 

 newed the proposition of the first, and directed the re- 

 servation of public lands bearing live-oak or cedar tim- 

 ber suitable for the Navy, as might be selected by the 

 President. Under this act, a reservation of 19,000 

 acres was made, in 1828, on Commissioners, C3npress 

 and Six Islands, in Louisiana. Another appropriation 

 of $10,000 was made in 1828, and some lands were pur- 

 chased on Santa Rosa Sound, where, during a few years, 

 an attempt at cultivation even was made, including sow- 



