Forest Conditions. 299 



acres or 20 per cent, of the land area (196,000 square 

 miles) ; in 1885 the acreage had been reduced to about 

 17.5 million acres; and, in 1900, to about 16 million, 

 or 13 per cent, of the land area remained as public for- 

 est, and the total was estimated at somewhat over 30 

 million acres 



The following peculiar classification, published in 

 1874, gives (in roimd figures) at once an insight into 

 the meaning of monies, and the probable condition of 

 the "public forest" area: 



Total 17,600,000 



An estimate of the actual forest (timber and 

 coppice), does not exceed 13 million acres for a popu- 

 lation of 17.5 million, or .7 acres per capita. Yet in 

 spite of this evident lack of wood material, except for 

 firewood or charcoal, the importations in 1903 did not 

 exceed 13.5 million dollars, accentuating the absence of 

 industrial development. The official statement of im- 

 ports reports 6.5 million dollars more than the above 

 figure, but this includes horses and cattle enumerated 

 as forest products. These also figure in the exporta- 

 tions of 15 million dollars, which to the extent of one- 

 half consists of cork (some 5 inillion dollars from 

 630,000 acres) and tanbark, while chestnuts, filberts 

 and esparto furnish the balance. 



