4 LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL. 



property Leld by private owners, ami in so far as they illustrate the 

 application of those fandaineutal principles which may justify a govern- 

 ment in the exercise of its right of eminent domain. If our general and 

 State governments cannot own and rear up forest phmtations, as is 

 done in Europe, where governments, communes, and public institutions 

 own lar^e tracts of land, they have a duty no less important in doing 

 what cannot be done by individuals, in the collection of facts, and in the 

 wide diffusion of information which may prompt the self-interest of our 

 citizens to do that personally which cannot well be done by government 

 in the settled States of the Union under our present system of widely 

 distributed power. 



The question of timber culture upon the great plains and timber 

 preservation upon lands yet in possession and ownership of the general 

 government is a problem of a different character, and one of the most 

 interesting that can occupy the attention of statesmen. Successful for- 

 estry, in its very nature, necessitates an entire change in our careless 

 methods and shifting, changeful habits, and compels us to do whatever 

 is done thoroughly well, and to persevere in the well-doing ; to select 

 men fitted by nature for the occupation of foresters, and to secure them 

 a life estate or a good-behavior estate in these occupations, is the lesson 

 taught by our European contemporaries. 



The growth of trees fit for civil and naval architecture is a work of 

 generations, and, while not difficult under ordinary circumstances, re- 

 quires a steadiness and constancy of purpose, application, and culture 

 which has not as yet received any promiBent illustration in our unsteady 

 politics and legislation. 



The author of this report has compiled, with wonderful industry and 

 apparent accuracy, statistics of the most valuable character, embracing 

 statements of the exportation of every class of forest products from each 

 part of the United States to each foreign country from the organiza- 

 tion of our government to the present time, and has summarized these 

 tables by coasts and grand divisions, and in this particular the report 

 may be regarded as entirely exhaustive.* 



Other statistical tables of great interest are presented, which from 

 the nature of the subjects are interesting, but from the want of time 

 are incomplete, although valuable. 



The report is also accompanied with illustrations of various kinds, 

 and especially such as apply to the graphic method of presenting sta- 

 tistical facts and scientific comparisons when numerically expressed. 

 Besides the chapters which deal with statistical and strictly scientific 

 facts, the author has a wealth of matter, historical and instructive, which 

 will be of interest not only to every agriculturist and laud owner, but 

 also to every thoughtful person whose views of life and its duties are 

 not bounded by the narrow limits of his own existence, or whose national 

 pride and patriotism hope for a prosperous future for his country. 



In conformity with the law above recited, I herewith transmit the re- 

 port, and respectfully recommend that it be stereotyped and printed 

 in two volumes — the more strictly scientific and tabular portion in one, 

 and that which is of common and universal interest in the other. By 

 this method, editions of the work may be ordered from time to time, 

 according to the demand, and as those persons desiring the tabular and 

 scientific part will be fewer in number than those wishing for the more 

 discussive and more generally interesting part, a large saving of money 

 may thus be made. 



* The printing of the statistical part of this report (here referred to by the Cora- 

 missioner of Agriculture) has been deferred, by decisiou of the House Committeo on 

 Printing.— H. 



