Forests and What They Give Us 



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the very great value of our forests was realized, the government 

 took hold of the matter, and we now have a well-organized Forest 

 Service, as a division of the Department of Agriculture. 



Our National Forests. Few people realize the size and 

 extent of our national forests. In 1891 laws were enacted per- 

 mitting the President to set aside forest lands as public reserva- 

 tions. Accordingly, President Harrison established such reserva- 

 tions covering more than 18,000,000 acres. President Cleveland 

 added 22,000,000 acres. Under Theodore Roosevelt millions of 

 acres more were set aside. Under the Weeks law 16,000,000 acres 

 were added, most of which are in the southern states and New 

 England. It is now estimated that our national forests cover 

 about 185,000,000 acres. They are located largely in the western 

 and southern states, in New England, Alaska and Porto Rico. 



All these forests are protected by the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, whose purpose is to allow their use but not their abuse by 



Wide World Photos. 



A FOREST RANGER 



Ready to fight the flames. 



