Development of Forest Policy. 301 
under government supervision, but in 1812 the Cortes 
of Cadiz, under the influence of the spirit of the French 
Revolution, rescinded these orders, and abolished fc 
restrictions. 
An awakening to the absolute necessity of action 
seems not to have arrived until about 1833, when a 
law was enacted and an ordinance issued, at great 
length defining the meaning of “montes,” and’ institu- 
ting in the Corps of Civil Engineers a forest inspection. 
At the same time, a special school was to be established 
in Madrid. This last proposition does not seem to have 
materialized, for, in 1840, we find that several young 
men were sent to the forest school at Tharand (Ger- 
many). 
No doubt, under the influence of these men on their 
return, backed by La Sociedad Economica of Madrid, a 
commission to formulate a forest law was instituted in 
1846, and in the same year, carrying out ordinances of 
1835 and 1843, a forest school was established at Vil- 
laviciosa de Odon, later (1869) transferred to the 
Escurial near Madrid. This school, under semi-mili- 
tary organization, first with a three-year, later a four- 
year, course, and continually improved and enlarged in 
its curriculum (one Director and 13 professors in 1900), 
is the pride of the Spanish foresters, to all appearances 
deservedly. It was organized after German models by 
Bernardo della Torre Royas as first Director. 
The creation of a forest department, Cuerpo de 
Montes, had to wait until 1853. This department, 
under the Minister of Public Works, is a close corpo- 
ration, made up of the graduates of the school as 
Ingenieros de Montes, acceptance into which is based 
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