The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-25
FORESTS DISAPPEARING.
Wanfon and Reckless Destruction Dan
ger OF Failure of Timber Supply.
New Yofk Tribune.

Wanton and Reckless Destruction Dam
ger OF Failure of Timber Supply.
New Yofk Tribune
copy OF business clfcu ar has been
sent TO the Tribune as a good text for an
article on the wanton and reckless destruc-
ton of American forests. 1t csntains
brief announcement that 1.-THE Grand
Rapids Bending Works have discontinued
their business on account of the scarcity of
timber in that locality" and that their
plant has been purchased by another CON-
pany and removed to Hillsboro, Mich
This is practical evidence of the disappear
ance of white oak and hickory from what
was once the center OF the incompatible
Michigan forests. The removal of the plant
to another district will be speedily followed
by similar exhaustion of timber there.
The same process of destruction which lev
eled the magnificent pine forests of New
England, New York and PENNSYLVANIA has
swept over the timber lands of Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minnesota, once the finest
and most valuable on this continent The
supply is now rapidly running out in that
highly favored region, and the country in
the course of few years will inevitably be
dependent upon Canada for lumber.
The disappearance of white oak and
hickory from the heart of Michigan ought
not to excite surprise when the energy
with which the policy of destruction has
been pursued is borne in mind. These
splendid forests of the Northwest have
been gridironed with railways laid for the
express purpose of carrying timber TO mar
ket from every accessible point. A lumber
marine of enormous carrying capacity has
been created on the great lakes for the sole
object of facilitating the work of the timber
cutters n getting rid of the forests. Amer
lean energy is giant force when il is once
nfraf od fall ~ OH ~ hos
not taken long to despoil and ravage tim.
Der lands which were considered
few years ago inexhaustible.
From statistics produced in q
valuable pamphlet by William Little.
it appears that the amount of timber con-
yerted in lumber in Michigan. Wisconsin
and Minnesota last year reached the enor-
nous aggregate of s,305. 1873, 277 superficial
feet. exclusive of white pine shingles,
which, If added. would bring the total con-
sumption up to 00o, 900. 600 feet. Ruthless
slaughter of that order not even the match
less and unlimited forests discovered by
Mr.. Stanley in Africa could long survive.
As a matter of fact the timber lands of the
Northwest are already practically ex-
hausted. OF % coo 600 900 feet reported BY
the census of 1880 as then standing in Lower
Michigan only one-tenth now remains; and
in the three states there is estimated to be
less than l0, 000. 600. 600 feet.
The time Is close az hand wnen Amerl-
cans will be forced to think of these things.
Whenever the impending dangers of fail
ure OF timber supply have been pointed out
no impression has been made upon the
public mind. Americans have grown so
accustomed to the idea that their country
possesses inexhaustible resources in TIM
Der that i. has been impossible to convince
them that measures for protecting the few
remaining forests and for planting trees on
q large scale for another generation are of
supreme national interest With the clos
ing OF the Northwest as q source of timber
supply, which cannot be deferred very
long. these great questions will inevitably
be forced upon public attention. 1t will be
TOO late to restore the forests for the bene-
fit OF Americans now living, for white oaks
and great pines do not grow like corn
stalks; but another age will profit by the
folly and imbecIlity of this generation.