Little is known about the history of administration during the "revolutionary" period and it is often perfunctory and controversial. The emphasis on rejection of the past and administrative rationalism, which was repeatedly asserted to be capable of meeting the challenges of the modern State, led to sweeping changes. The Ponts et Chaussées and Eaux et Forêts administrations are no exception; they too were called into question and reformed but their history during that period shows more continuity in the policies undertaken as well as the personnel in charge of implementing them than one might initially expect. This is because of their fundamental attributions. In the first case, its mission as formulated by Lebrun is "to link up all parts of the kingdom and establish continuity of communication", while for the second, it to manage and "protect the property of the Nation". Continuity is more apparent at the Ponts et Chaussées. Proper operation of this recent administration was necessary to reassert the unity of the State. The older and different Eaux et Forêts department was extensively reformed. An essential difference between these two administrations concerns recruitment and training. Personnel from the Domaines and Enregistrement administrations replaced office holders, but the question of technical forestry training was not contemplated. The Restoration completed the forest reforms initiated by the Constituent Assembly and set up higher education in forestry.