UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



The great and exuberant republic of the United 

 States, vast in extent and rich in natural resources gen- 

 erally, excelled and still excels in extent, im- 

 portance and value of her timber resources; and, 

 having only lately begun to inaugurate rational forest 

 policies, promises to become of all-absorbing interest to 

 foresters. 



The marvelous growth of the nation, which from three 

 million in 1780 had attained to a population of 76 mil- 

 lion in 1900, and, by the next Census will number 

 around 100 million people, has been the wonder of the 

 world by reason of its rapid expansion ; and yet the limit 

 is far from being reached. Annually some three-quar- 

 ters of a million or more immigrants from all parts of 

 the world arrive, and there is still room and comforta- 

 ble living for at least another 100 million, if the re- 

 sources arfe properly treated. 



The large land area of nearly two billion acres (over 

 three million square miles) is undoubtedly the richest 

 contiguous domain of such size in the world, located 



Report upon Forestry^ 1878-9. by I)r, F. B. Hough; contains references to 

 the earlier history of forest development. 



History of the Lumber Industry^ by J. E. Defebaugh, 1906-7; is valuable as 

 a reference to statistical matter. 



Report upon Forestry Investigations of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture^ 1877-1898, by B, E. Fernow. House Document No. x8i, 55th 

 Congress; contains amplifications of the matter contained in this chapter. 



Annual and other reports issued by the Department of Agricalture, by the 

 various State Forest Commissions, and Forestry Associations. 



For latest developments, consult Conservation and Forestry Quarterly. 



