Transfer Act of 1905

The Transfer Act of 1905 (33 Stat. 628) transferred the forest reserves of the United States from the Department of the Interior, United States General Land Office to the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Forestry.

Transfer Act of 1905

Long title	An Act providing for the transfer of forest reserves from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture.
Nicknames	Forest Transfer Act of 1905
Enacted by	the 58th United States Congress
Effective	February 1, 1905
Citations
Public law	Pub. L. 58–34
Statutes at Large	33 Stat. 628
Codification
Titles amended	16 U.S.C.: Conservation
U.S.C. sections amended	16 U.S.C. ch. 2, subch. I §§ 472, 476, 478, 495 16 U.S.C. ch. 3, subch. I §§ 524, 551, 554, 554a 16 U.S.C. ch. 4 § 615b
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as H.R. 8460 Signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on February 1, 1905

General information

On February 1, 1905, under the leadership of Gifford Pinchot, the National Forest Reserves were transferred from the Department of Interior to the Department of Agriculture. Gifford Pinchot was the head of the Division of Forestry which was part of the Department of Agriculture. This transfer included over 63 million acres (250,000 km²) of forest reserves and over 500 employees. This legislation was the first forestry law to be passed. This act was significant because it caused the National Forest Reserves to shift roles from a recreational role to a more economic role using science-based management. In March 1905, the Division of Forestry was renamed the United States Forest Service.

References

• The Forest Service in 1905, by David D. Roth, PHD and Gerald W. Williams, PHD(Rich Text Document)
• Documentary Chronology of Selected Events in the Development of the American Conservation Movement
• Bridges Within the National Forest System—A Historic Context