Population Conditions. 391 



most favorably with reference to trade by virtue of a 

 coast line of over 30,000 miles, and diversified in climate 

 so as to permit the widest range of production. 



While a simple mathematical relation would make the 

 population at present about 38 to the square mile, such 

 a statement would give an erroneous conception of eco- 

 nomic conditions, for the distribution of the population 

 is most uneven, a condition which must eventually di- 

 versify the application of forestry methods in different 

 parts of the country. In Massachusetts and Ehode Island 

 combined, for instance, the density of population Is 380 

 to the square mile, exceeding that of the similar-sized 

 State of Wurtemberg in Germany, while in the neigh- 

 boring State of Maine it is not 33 ; the Atlantic Coast 

 States south to South Carolina, a territory slightly larger 

 than Germany, show about half, and the Central agri- 

 cultural States about one^third the density of that 

 densely populated country; on the other hand, some of 

 the Western States, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Ari- 

 zona and New Mexico have less than two to the square 

 mUe. 



Similar unevenness is found in the distribution of 

 resources, especially of timber wealth; and, to some ex- 

 tent at least, the pr^ent populational distribution is 

 explained by the uneven distribution of farm soils and 

 timber. 



Outside of the unorganized territory of Alaska and the 

 disfranchised District of Columbia, the country is di- 

 vided into 46 States and five Territories which will 

 eventually acquire statehood. In addition, there are a 

 number of insular possessions under the direct control 

 of the federal government. Each State being under 



