As the son of an Soil Scientist who mapped soils in forest lands all over federal lands in the State of Oregon, I can tell you that NW forests have notoriously thin and poor soils. Give our 19th Century land managers a little credit. They knew that these lands were not suitable for agriculture. Homesteading, if it had taken place, would have harmed the land, not improved it. Drive in Eastern Oregon sometime, and take note of all the abandoned homesteads in range country.Different ecosystem, but again a mismatch of uses. In the late 19th century homesteaders tried to dry farm country that is only suitable for grazing.