The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-05-20
The pes,,mc,ion Of Pine Forcsts

An exchange publishes letter upon
the destruction of our pine forests
which contains some very significant
figures. II asserts that during the sea-
son Just closed more than six billions
&c 219,950, COO OF feet of lumber have
been fcllcd in Michigan, Wisconsin, and
Minnesota II Is estimated that the
LOGGING this summer will swell this
amount to seven and II half billions of
q, 9.950,000D feet. As the census
agents report that the whole quantity of
pine timber standing in those thrc"
States j. but eighty one and a half bill
ions Isl $50, 000,0 G0D of feet, simple
sum in division will show that the sup
ply will only last twelve years, if the
present rate Of destruction Is kept up.
and there is no way of supplying the
loss, since tn" pine is cut OLA growth
of hard wood follows, which is not only
slow of growth and of the scrub variety,
Int is practically useless for building
purposes. The main prairics are also
comparatively exhausted, numbering op-
cratinns now heinz confined to spruce.
/ Michigan lumber has even been ship
ped Ia Bangor, indicating that the home
supply is "ivin" out. In considering"
I the subject, the New York TribuRc
/ thinks thu; the danger of Il lumber fam
/ inc IL not 81 serious rs might AZ first he
( Thought, since the extensive pner!rs in
/ southern Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and
/ Northern Fl"rida, have hardly been
/ touched. nor of Oregon and Washing
| ton. |, also adds that "some allowance
must br made, too. for the growth OF
Young trees in the Northwestern piner.
ic- from wIricl, the large timber has been
removed and where the sol is too poor
tn he converted into farms. On this
point, however. :hc TIjbaHe is in error.
~ we have already shown, fnI the land
once cleared of pine does not grow pine
again, bu. hard wood and worthless
shrubs, so that no allowance can be
made for reproduction. Nor do We
imagine that much reliance is to be
placed upon Southern pincries beyond
the demands of home consumption
The principal saving will rather he
found in this: that when lumber be
comes 50 scarce that prices run up very
high. lumber will largely cease TO he
used, and stone, brick, and iron will
take its place for building purposes
Indeed, they are doing SO already
Our farmers, especially those who art
forclunicd, are using brick in building
and iron enters into construction, in cit
les especially, very largely, not only in
ornamcntation, but in the more useful
and substantial details of structures
Immense quantities of pine have also
been used hitherto in the construction
of fencing, which lasts but little time,
but now barbcd wire is rapidly taking
its place in fencing, with the exception
of posts, and this will immensely relieve
the present destruction Of pine. Apart
from this saving, farmers will derive
great benefit from the Substitution OF
other material because they will have
more substantial and permanent homes
than the present tlimsy structures which
are so common all over our Western
prairics. The decadence of our forests
therefore is not an unmiXed calamity il
it will induce the Use of other and more
lasting material. Just as soon rs lum
Der becomes so dear that it is impossi
bic to use it, there will he plenty of ma,
terIal that is cheaper and better and
more lasting to usc-Chicdg0 Tribune