xxvi INTRODUCTION 



New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, 

 Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 

 vania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West 

 Virginia ( see map ) . This area is also one fifth 

 larger than the entire area of France. We marvel 

 sometimes at the ability of a ruler to rule a country 

 as large as France or Germany; why should we 

 Americans not marvel at the ability of the man 

 who practically rules over our National Forests, 

 who keeps in perfect working order the great or- 

 ganization which protects and administrates the 

 Forests ? 



The Topography and Climate of the National 

 Forest Region. The difficulty of the work of this 

 organization is at once apparent when we find that 

 these Forests are located in wild, rugged, moun- 

 tainous country, in most cases many miles from the 

 railroad and human habitations, such as towns and 

 cities. This country is usually far above sea level 

 - — the average being between 3,000 and 8,000 feet 

 in altitude. But there are large areas in the Na- 

 tional Forests of Colorado that lie above 10,000 feet 

 elevation. Such country as this has a very severe 

 climate. The climate is usually too cold and the 



