CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I: OUR FORESTS PRIOR TO 1878: THE PERIOD 



OF BEGINNINGS 19 



The Early Settlers and the Forests: The United States Naval Reserves: Gen- 

 eral Indifference in the Early National Period: Early Conservation Sentiment?* 

 Interest Shown by Government OflBcials: State Action: Action of the Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Science: Early Interest in Timber Culture: State 

 Timber Culture Laws: Tree Planting by the Railroads: Congressional Action; 

 Factors at Work: Conservation Activity in Congress: The Timber Culture Act: 

 The First Forest Reserve Bill: Unfavorable Legislation not Applying Spe- 

 cifically to Timber: Swamp Land Grants: Other State Grants: The Preemption, 

 Commutation Homestead, and Desert Land Laws: Public Sale: Railroad Land 

 Grants: Unfavorable Legislation Applying Specifically to Timber: The Free 

 Timber and Timber and Stone Acts: Conclusion. 



CHAPTER II: THE PERIOD FROM 1878 TO 1891: FROM 

 THE PASSAGE OF THE TWO TIMBER ACTS TO THE 

 FOREST RESERVE ACT: WHOLESALE TIMBER STEAL- 

 ING 62 



The Free Timber Act, Provisions and Interpretation: Evil Effects: Extension of 

 Free Timber Privileges: The Timber and Stone Act; Provisions: Frauds under 

 the Timber and Stone Act: Extension of the Provisions of the Act: Extensive 

 Timber Stealing: Trespass by Railroads: Efforts to Protect the Public Timber: 

 The "Bill to License Timber Thieves": Difficulties in the Way of Timber Pro- 

 tection : Growth of Conservation Sentiment : Forestry Associations : State Action : 

 Other Indications of Conservation Interest: Congressional Action not Specifi- 

 cally Relating to Timber Lands; the Public Lands Commission and the General 

 Revision Act of 1891: Failure of the Timber Culture Act: Appropriations to 

 Prevent Fraudulent Entries: Abolition of Private Sale in the South: Indirect 

 Encouragement to Timber Stealing: The Failure to Forfeit the Railroad Grants: 

 The Railroad Attorney Bill: Timber on Indian Reservations: Appropriations for 

 Timber Protection: Efforts to Secure Land Grants for Forestry Schools: Appro- 

 priations for Forestry Investigations: The Forest Reserve Act: Early Advo- 

 cates of Forest Reserves: Congress and the Question of Forest Reserves: The 

 Passage of the Forest Reserve Act. 



CHAPTER III: THE FOREST RESERVES FROM 1891 TO 

 1897: NEED OF PROTECTION AND ADMINISTRATION 119 



The Situation in 1891: The Creation of New Reserves: The Need for Pro- 

 tection of the Reserved Lands: Efforts in Congress to Secure Better Protec- 



