IV. Financial Resources obtainable from Natural Forests.

Besides climatic and other advantages which State Forests can afford, they present also a financial aspect, as yielding a regular annual revenue when systematically treated.

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State Forests, even where no systematic treatment had ever existed, have likewise proved to be an important financial resource to Governments when proper measures were taken to prove their actual value, as will be seen in the following case:—

When the Ottoman Government, some twenty-two years ago, felt the necessity of improving their finance department, they were told they had immense wealth and resources in the shape of forests, which until then had been given up to waste and depredation without any profit to the State. Then the Turkish Administration thought of applying to the French Forest Department, for the purpose of obtaining the assistance of some of their best officers, which was granted.

The eminent French forester, Monsieur Tassy (Conservator) was appointed Director-General of the French Mission in Turkey. He was assisted by M. Simon (Inspector) and two other officers.

The first steps taken by the French foresters were the organization, or rather the framing, of a Forest Department, and at the same time the establishment of a School of Forestry at constantinople., The pupils attended the lectures of the French foresters during the winter, and followed them in forest explorations in the fine season, when then special education was practically continued.

Two years had not elapsed before the reports and estimates of the French foresters, relating to several forests of the Turkish empire, were ready, and served as a basis for page 12 sales and important leases granted to foreign companies, all those transactions being thus carried out with great success.