The Utilization of Our Lands for Crops, Pasture, and Forests

Excerpts: The dominant characteristic of American economic life has been abundance of land resources. The assumption of this abundance has colored our habits of thought and become the essential foundation for our economic policy, both individual and public. This national tradition was first seriously challenged by the conservation movement, which caused our people to pause and consider whether our amazing population growth and two centuries of exploitation of natural resources might have altered the outlook. However, that movement directed attention principally to the forests, mineral resources, and water powers, whereas the object of this article is to consider our present situation and future outlook in regard to our resources available for growing the food and raw materials that must be supplied by our crop lands, pastures, and forests. This will involve (1) a summary of our present land resources and of the extent and character of present uses, and (2) an estimate of future requirements—particularly those of the next few decades—and the relation of these requirements to the potential area available for the various uses.