Government implemented many reforms to ensure that the supply of trees would not be depleted in the future, and it preserved some forested areas from further development. This period of time was also characterized by the increasing involvement of government and labor in the lumber industry. The expansion of the railroad to the Northwest fueled this process. The third era, from 1883 to 1940, produced technological developments and large capital investments, which allowed lumber companies to intensively log areas they could not reach before. At this time several outside investors, most from San Francisco, built mills along Puget Sound, propelling the lumber industry into the dominant role in the area's economy The beginning of the California Gold Rush in 1848 brought the second phase. During this first period the lumber industry was still in its infancy, with the Hudson Bay Company erecting the first mill in the Pacific Northwest at Fort Vancouver in 1828. Until 1848 the vast forests sustained several Indian tribes and fascinated Anglo explorers. The history of Washington's forests can be divided into four broad periods. Washington's forests have been-and continue to be-contested and coveted by many competing groups and individuals. Attitudes toward and uses of the trees have changed dramatically over time. Nonetheless, the long history of Washington's forests demonstrates that there has never been a simple, singular vision for this resource. The forests have helped define the identities of many Washingtonians and have served as a symbol for the Evergreen State. The presence of these trees has shaped Washington's economic development for decades. Ponderosa pines were prevalent in areas east of the summit of the Cascades. Until the past 120 years, tall and dense stands of Douglas fir, hemlock, spruce, and cedar blanketed most of the area from the crest of the Cascade Range to the water's edge. Washington's forests have always been a prominent element of its history. Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Placing Washington's Forests in Historical Context
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