Property Condiiions. 347 



it amoimted to over 54 millioii dollars (of which 13 mil- 

 lion for woodenware), being the leading export article 

 and representing over one-half of all exports. 



In addition to this export which may represent at 

 least round 300 million cubic feet of wood, there are 

 about 50 million cubic feet of pnlpwood and 150 million 

 feet used for charcoal, besides the domestic fuel con- 

 sumption. The total draft on the forest may be esti- 

 mated to come near to 1,000 million cubic feet which is 

 believed far in excess of the annual growth, much of the 

 nearly 50 million acres of forest area having been de- 

 vastated or deteriorated by axe and fire and being located 

 in a northern zone where the growth is slow (1 inch in 

 13 to 15 years.). 



1. Property Conditions. 



It was Gustav Vasa who in 1543 declared all unculti- 

 vated lands the property of the Crown. Parts of them 

 were given to colonists and these as well as the resident 

 population had the right to use the neighboring forest 

 to supply their needs for wood and pasture. By the 

 continued exercise of this right the forest became to be 

 considered commons, proprietary rights remaining long 

 in doubt. Finally a division came about, some of the 

 lands becoming the property of the parishes, others of 

 smaller districts (the hundreds), others again imen- 

 eumbered property of the State. 



The State now owns somewhat over 13 million acres, 

 not including nearly the same amount of waste land, and 

 controls more or less 4 million more, of which about 

 900,000 acres are ecclesiastical benefices and forests 

 belonging to public institutions, and 3.7 million acres in 

 State farms, which are rented. 



