In 1905, the administration of the forest reserves was transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture, and their name changed to National Forests.

No great additions to the government timberlands have been made since that time.

Small, valuable areas have been added.

Other undesirable tracts have been cut off from the original reserves.
The growth of the Division of Forestry, now the United States Forest Service, has been very remarkable since 1898, when it consisted of only a few scientific workers and clerks.

At present it employs more than 2,600 workers, which number is increased during the dangerous fire season to from 4,000 to 5,000 employees.