Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-10-02
THE EXHAUSTION OF THE LUMBER
SUPPLY.

The EAHAOSIlON OF
SUPPLY.
The National Lumber Dealers Asso-
citation, during their session in Chicago
participated in discussing questions of
interest not only to the trade, but to the
country at large. Among the questions
so discussed was the exhaustion of the
lumber supply, some Of the speakers
maintaining that unless some check is
given to the manufacture of lumber the
vast supply of the immense forests of the
lake region of the northwest will be eX
hausted within the next two decades.
This undoubtedly would be a great mis-
fortune. 1t would not only destroy the
value of millions of dollars invested in
machinery, water improvements and
other property in connection with the
manufacture of lumber, but would revo
lutionize the building trade throughout
the entire country, deteri0rate the COM
merce upon our great inland seas and
seriously effect the railroad traffic of the
whole country. Are they not needlessly
alarmed? Will it all follow as conse-
quence? We think not. The fact that
the trade itself anticipates such state of
things, and are agitating and discussing
the question in their general conventions,
seeking to devise some remedy to avert
it, indicates that such will not be the
case.
There is no question but that of late
years the vast forests of pine have been
greatly depleted. Is there any necessity
for this depletion to continue? There
are many reasons why it should not,
among the greatest of which is the fact
that the lumber manufacturers them
selves have become satisfied that the
manufacturing has been greatly over
done, and that it is necessary that some
action should be taken 10 prevent such
occurrence in the future. Another
reason is, as lumber grows scarce, the
price must necessarily advance; the rise
will check the consumption--other and
less valuable material will be called into
requisition, and from being tie cheapest
as from the present glut of the market il
now is, it will become the dearest, SO that
it will only be used where it cannot be
avoided, and for uses that can afford 10
pay the enhanced price. Even now,
when the inflamable and destructible
nature Of pine, in comparison with the
more indestructible materials, such as
stone, brick, slate and metal, al Of which
can be more or less used instead OF wood,
is taken into consideration, It's use is be-
coming question of economy, and where
buildings are erected with regard to
permanancy, the use OF wood is almost
entirely discarded, and certainly when
the scarcity of pine causes an increase in
the cost of the same, it will be still less
used, consequently decreasing the de-
mand. The Detroit Post says in this
connection.
THAT it is true, probably; that this
country is near the end of its pioneer
era of cheap wooden buildings; ard
that we are rapidly approaching the con-
dition of the old countries of Europe,
where the primitive wooden buildings of
the early ages have long since given
place to substantial buildings of brick,
stone, and concrete. This change need
not be viewed with alarm. On the con-
trary, it is matter tor cOngratulation.
1t will be the beginning of q more SUBJ
stantial, permanent, and better civiliza-
ton. Nor will cheap houses disappear
with the use Of pine lumber for building.
Already building in brick has become, in
many American cities. as cheap as build
ing in wood"
1t is well known that in our large
cities there are fire limits in which wood
en- buildings are not allowed to be erect
ed, thus adding the advantages of per-
manancy and security from fire to those
cities.
As the demand for indestructible ma
terial increases, the production will in
crease and as the increased production
of lumber has lessened its value, so will
it reduce the value of these materials,
and thus building be eheapened; and the
consequence will be more permanancy
in building throughout the whole coun-
try, great lessening of taxes in the way
of insurance, maintaining fire depart
ments, losses by fire, etc.
But should pine cease to be used for
building purposes, it does not follow that
there would be no demand for it, as the
population of our vast domain increases
the demand for lumber, for other purposes
will increase, thereby keeping steady
market for the production of our mills.
What is needed is a little more judicious
action among our lumber manufacturers
in their operations, so long as they con-
tinue to cut and manufacture in excess
Of the demand so long may they expect
a depression in the lumber market,
and the sooner they curtail the manufac-
ture within the limits OF the demands the
better it will be for them, and when this
is done, and the needless waste of pine
stopped the question OF exhaustion at
least for long time to come will be set
tied. so that the present generation need
borrow no trouble or agitate themselves
about it,
SPEAKING of the fall trade the New
York Tribune says: In all departments
there is fair activity, with better prom