Forest History Society Photograph Collection Images from the "Views From the National Forests" Auxiliary Photo Collection / Views4th.jpg

Image ID:   Views4 Image Date:   Oct. 23, 1933 Image Title:   Sub-Marginal Lands Image Caption:   [Caption 1:] Hundreds of millions of acres once in forest have been cleared for crop production. This was a natural process in the settlement of the United States. Since these original clearings, many areas have proven unsuited to permanent agriculture. Some have become what is now called "sub-marginal" lands. It is estimated [by Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 1933] that today there are more than 50,000,000 acres of cleared lands which, abandoned or idle, are now available (and chiefly valuable) for reforestation. And present trends indicate an abandonment of 25 to 30 million additional acres of potential forest lands during the next 20 years. Silt deposited behind erosion-control dam built by the CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps]. When completely filled this delta will be ready for planting. Gila National Forest, New Mexico. (4-282,637) [Caption 2:] 10/23/1933. Delta view: this basin has about 3 ft. of deposited silt. It is still about 1 ft. from the top. A delta of splendid size will soon be filled and ready for planting. [This image is from an album produced in the mid-1930s by the U.S. Forest Service for placement on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's California Limited in an attempt to introduce passengers to the National Forests. Includes 36 black-and-white photographs, dating 1914-1933, from National Forests across the country with accompanying captions addressing such topics as recreation, wildlife, reforestation, timber management and use, fire control, forage, and the activities of the Civilian Conservation Corps.] Photographer:   Koogler, W. G., for the U.S. Forest Service Use Restrictions:   Permission from the Forest History Society required for any use of this image. Repository Contact Information:   Forest History Society, Inc.; 701 William Vickers Ave., Durham, NC 27701; Tel.: (919) 682-9319; Fax: (919) 682-2349.