Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-11-30
The Scarcity Of Oak Timber in Europe.

Oak timber is disappearing from E,,-
rope with great rapidly. Franco, with
an annual production OF 1920, 600, 600
gallons of wine, is especially injured by
this charge. In 1857 she imported go,
0uO, 600 of slaves in 1866 she import
ed $4,000, 600, at Il cost 80, 600, 900. -
Most Of this timber came from Austria
France requires every year 1,5OO, 600
cubic feet of oak TIMBER for wine casks,
600, 900 for her feet, $50, 900 for railway
cars. and $50, 600 for buildingpurposes.
In 1926 oak slaves were worth six cents
each of our money; in 1866 they were
worth 1t cents each. In 1926 the total
value of imported slaves was 81, 600, 600:
toN day the total value is $50, 600, 600. \
similar increase in the importation of
oak for the next thirty years would
probably double the present price.
When Caesar marched INTO Gaul he
found twu-thir,ls Of it's surface covered
with forests; now the forests cover but
one-srventh of its surface. France, af-
ter losing .Alsacc and Lorraine, contains
1874, 900, 900 of acres, "f which 20, 600, 900
acres are covered with forests. Ofthesc
timber lands. the State, the Commune,
and public institutions own 1900, 600
acres, til" rrmaiu,Irr belonging; to pri-
v;tr persons. II. Theirs, in speech
made in the Corps Legislatilf last year,
sail there was danger that timber for
building purposes would disappear,
and urged that no State forests should
be sold.
In Norway the central administration
of forests declares that it is necessary
to stop the cutting down Of timber
Norway, Sweden, and Finland not only
furnish pinc-wood to England and the
European countries on the Atlantic,
but to Rio and Australia. Their ex-
ports Of timber have doubled during
the last ten years, while the local con-
sumption is five times that of France.
In France, since the time of Colbert,
in 1863, 40 oak has been fellcd until
full-yrown, that is, until within thirty
years of its prob ,hle decay. This rule
was confirmed by the law OF August,
1927. Near the end of the last century
the forest laws were changed, except
ing this protection for oaks.
Up to that time the production ex-
cce,!cl the consumption but since
then speculation has arisen, and the
tall trees have been cut down. In the
commune forests the destruction has
Eeen slower, although the valuable
trees arc disappearing. Oaks of nine
feet IN circumference ;lbounded in the
State forests at the beginning of the
beginning of the present century. Now
they are rarely found. The cons,,mp-
tion of oak timber in France has doub-
led during the last fifty years. In 1866
$50, 900, 900 worth were consumed, of
which! 5000, 900 worth were imported,
against so, 600, 600 worth consumed in
1920, of which $2,000,00O worth were
imported.
The same enormous consumption is
going on all over Europe Franco, with
40, 900, 900 of inhabitants, still posses
SEES 10000, 900 acres of woodland, while
Italy, with 100000 inhabitants, has
l, 900, 900 acres. England has no heavy
timber but her traditional oaks, and
her imports are twice as large as those
OF France. Her distant colonies furn-
ish very little timber special restric-
tive law having been enacted in India,
March l, 1866, to preserve the forests
from destruction.
Holland and Belgium are also nearly
demanded of timber, and arc largo I'M
portcrs.
North Germany is rich in forests, but
within llalf IL century she has begun to
cut down young trees and is now i'm
porting from France
Austria has sold her forests at auc-
duced. Foreign spectators have thus
cut down to the stumps forests in the
Cracow and Slavonian districts form
crlv inaccessible. This timber is sent
by the way of the Save and Julian Alys
is Trieste, to be shipped thence to
Western Europe. These woodlands
contain but $50, 600 acres. The timbc,
is now ncar] y swept OIL from thcm.-
Five years ago one Of these forests Of
magnificent growth was sold at about
$1S an acre.
ntely woodless.
In Sicily, Mount Etna was callcl
ncmorosa,' wooded, by the Romans
because of belt OF $50, 900 acres OF
forest which surrounded it midway tc
the top. Now there is nothing to be
seen but the bare rock.
The condition of the forests of En-
rope shows the Importance of this Sub
ect, and the need that exists OF giving
it careful attention in this country.
The German Government has ius
issued degree creating sixty-thre'
forest administrations in Alsac<
and Lorraine, each to snpcrlntend II,
600 acres of land, thus following III
with vigor Napolcon's measures 70
preserving the forests. lor.
Past.