soil-protective values represented by a forest in a healthy growing condition 

 are thus permanently maintained. 



Forestry, as applied on the national forests managed by the Forest 

 Service, is concerned with the perpetuation and development of forest crops 

 in order that they may continue to yield their many benefits to mankind. 

 Timber, water, forage, wildlife, recreational features, and other resources 

 of the national forests are for the use of the people. The timber contributes 

 to our industrial enterprises and furnishes steady employment in the woods 

 and in wood-using plants. The vegetative cover protects against erosion 

 watersheds that are the source of much of our water for irrigation and 

 hydroelectric power and helps to minimize floods and insure pure and 

 abundant water supplies for many hundreds of towns and cities. The 

 forage furnishes seasonal grazing for about 10 million head of livestock of 

 all ages. Fish in thousands of miles of mountain streams, and big-game 

 animals, along with numerous small fur bearers and game birds, provide 

 sport and enjoyment to the angler and hunter. Roads, trails, and other 

 improvements have made superb vacation places accessible and have created 

 in the forests a vast playground for millions of recreation seekers. 



^: ; l^&r\v^^;L.;S^.a'^:'---S : ?:'^ 



386657 



Figure i, 



-Forested mountain slopes conserve water and help to prevent floods and 

 soil erosion. 



There is a vast amount of forestry work to be done. Timber growth is 

 still far less than the drain on our forests. Thus, in 1943 it was estimated 

 that total drain on the forests of the United States, including timber cut or 

 destroyed by fire, insects, disease, etc., was nearly 1 7 billion cubic feet, while 

 total annual growth probably amounted to only 1 1.2 billion feet. In stands 

 of saw-timber size, the drain was nearly twice the annual growth. 



Recent studies indicate that in addition to the present public forests about 

 150 million acres of privately owned timberland are so depleted, poorly 

 located, of such low value, or watershed or other public values are so high 

 that private management cannot reasonably be expected to meet the require- 

 ments of public interest, at least not without undue subsidy. Acquisition of 

 these lands by the public, and their management as Federal, State, or local 

 forests, appears to be the most feasible course. 



Moreover, it becomes increasingly clear that orderly control of timber 



