4 FORESTRY IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 



In connection with this register maps are prepared and kept open for in- 

 spection at the offices of the district captains upon which the condition and 

 extent of the several forests in the district are shown. 



At the close of each year a report about the progress of forest culture, &c., 

 is to be made to the Ministry of Agriculture, which report is to be published 

 in the Lafides Zeitung. 



The total number of forest officers of all grades, public and private, em- 

 ployed in Austria reaches the respectable figure of 31,826. 



REVENUES FROM GOVERNMENT FORESTS— COST OF MAINTAINING OR MAN- 

 AGING FORESTS PROFITS OF FOREST CULTIVATION. 



On the point of the profits of government forests there are absolutely no 

 statistics published in the Empire^ as far as I have been able to ascertain, ex- 

 cept those given in the budget under the head of forest revenues and expend- 

 itures. 



The last budget published places : 



The forest revenues, p. a florins... 3,951,650 



The forest expenditures do... 3,546,240 



Profit of state forests 405.41° 



These net proceeds of an area of government forest land, containing 

 952,689.96 hectares, certainly seems very inconsiderable, but in order to esti- 

 mate the true value of these forests to the Empire, their influence upon the 

 climate, the rainfalls and the consequent benefit to agricultural, land as well 

 as to the health of the population, should be taken into consideration. 



A direct benefit also results to the population from the employment of 

 numerous officers attending to the cultivation and preservation of these for- 

 ests, all of whom are paid and supported by the profits derived from the 

 culture. 



It cannot be contended, therefore, that the people are taxed in order to 

 support a small army of forest officers, who are actually producers, earning 

 more than they expend. 



The private forests of the Emperor are estimated at 58,545 joch (i joch = 

 1.42 acres) and those of the imperial family at 43,296 joch. But I have not 

 succeeded in obtaining any information as to the net proceeds of these forests. 



Archduke Albrecht owns 195,605 jochs* of forests, which undoubtedly 

 yield a large revenue, as they are famed for their model cultivation. 



Prince Johann Lichtenstein is .the owner of immense tracts of forests in 

 all, 136,103 hectares.* 



This prince forms an exception to the general rule observed by the noble 

 owners of large domains who have abstained from acquainting the public 

 with the sum of profits derived from their possessions. 



*i hectare = 1.74 joch, i joch= 1.42 acres. 



