^8 



establishments for carrying out protective measures are also re- 

 quired where large areas are to be protected. On July 1, 1914, there 

 were employed in Pennsylvania 56 Foresters and 91 Forest Kangers 

 to look after the 998,773 acres of forest land which the State owns. 

 Most of the foresters employed by the State received their training 

 at the State Forest Academy. By developing the forest fire organiza- 

 tion in Pennsylvania, forest fires will be rare events, as in the man- 

 aged forests of Europe, and if they do break out will cause relatively 

 little damage. 



THE VALUE OP FORESTS. 



Prior to the time that the conquest of Constantinople closed the 

 route to the Orient, the Atlantic was regarded the world's back 

 door. Columbus, a mere sea captain, to his own surprise, discovered 

 a land which, as the old voyagers related, no one approached without 

 appreciating the beauty of the forest. Those old voyagers appreciated 

 the beauty of the forests but not their prospective value. The forests 

 at first had a negative value. They were something which must be 

 conquered. Their removal was necessary for the establishment of 

 homes and the opening of agricultural lands. Thousands of acres of 

 the best forests were simply burned to get rid of them. They were 

 obstacles in the way of development. 



Gradually as our forest acreage decreased, as our, population in- 

 creased, and as the demand for wood goods multiplied, the forests be- 

 came not only objects of interest and beauty, but also of value. 

 After four centuries of rapid development we are just beginning to 

 comprehend the real importance of our forests. They supply us 

 with wood which is the most indispensable and universally used 

 product of nature. Wood as a necessity or a luxury is used in our 

 various activities from the cradle to the coffin. Many of our houses 

 are built, finished, and heated with wood. Most of the paper upon 

 which we write and upon which our books are printed is made of 

 wood. 



The forests supply us not only with wood but with many minor 

 products like maple sugar, tanning materials, naval stores, charcoal, 

 wood alcohol, etc. Artificial silk and even whole suits of clothing 

 have been made from wood. In addition, the forests furnish leaves 

 for stable litter, pasturage for cattle, pannage for swine, and great 

 quantities of nuts which are used as food by man. Pasturage was 

 formerly carried on more extensively than at present. It may be a 

 legitimate industry if it pays and if it is so directed that the young 

 seedlings in the forest, which will produce our future forests, are 

 not eaten or injured. As a rule, grazing should not be permitted in 



