The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-10-06
TIMELY TIMBER ECONOMY.

The Atlanta Constitution seems to |
be startled with a realization that
"the demand for timber is greater
than the supply, and that the end
must come unless we take steps TO
re-forest the country" that I'VE need
the annual growth of 400, 1000, 900 acres
Of timber to supply the home demand
for one. and our timber area is only
500,000,00 acres. One third of this
area Is or no value, thousands of acres
are destroyed by fire, and the ship
ments of lumber to foreign countries
cutour supply Short There is not
any doubt about the fact that mer-
merchantable lumber is growing
scarccr, The great white pine region
Of the Northwest, though not ex-
hausted, has much less Of available
timber than it had, and it is but a
matter Of time-pehaps not long
time either-When the scarcity and
consequent high cost of 1t will place
it out Of reach for ordinary cOnstruc-
tive purposes. Black walnut has
been pretty well used up. What is
cut is almost as costly as mahogany,
and what is left in the tree is remote
| ly inaccessible to transportation
lines. Poplar, too, is growing scarcer
every day, and substitutes are being
sought for. Here are three leading
tlmbers viii "A used to be plentiful
enough an, common enough to us for
Ire wood anl fencing, that are now
rare and costly. 1t is plain that all
or valu .Gle hardwOods must expert
ence the same law Of supply and de-
m nd.
Thesuggestcd remedy Of re-foresta-
tion we would not disCourage-but K
takes the lifetime of generation tC
grow a new forest. Yet it would pay
to establish nurseries and plant and
cultivate the more valuable woods
! especially walnut. Meantime, the i'm
: mediate remedial measure should bt
, a wiser economy in the cutting, ant
( more discrimination in the selection
: Of trees for the saw TO limit tn,
, production Of lumber ought to in
c crease the price. There should b
5 less timber cut and better prices dc
h mandcd for the manufactured lun
Der, and closer economy exercised !
j. the utilization of the waste. Coco
a practical legislation for the preserva
o tion Of forests from fires and wanto
: destruction is needed, on the maxir
n that prevention is better than curt
ri But prices for lumber are too low
n Manufacturers do not seem TO appr'
T. ciate its value, themselves, and I'll
l. combination to limit production
e inconsiderately condemned in son
o quarters as trusts, are really wis
y measures of forest preservation. I'll
lie Southern States now possess, by lGrf
is odds, the greatest supply and yarlet
Of hardwoods, and are the sole pr
Is duccrs of the valuable yellow pin
~ and cypress which are furnishing I'll
lc roofs and floors of many buildings
c. the Northern States. But the Sout
or is not getting full value for these us
d. full woods, and it Is due to wild ar
Il reckless competition and the rush
n the financially weak mill compar'
of to get into market.
or But to arrest the reckless defOres
&c alton, it is first necessary TO cal
m halt on wasteful methods of loggi
and lumber manufacture to demal
;" the full worth of the manufacture
ap product; take care OF the forests til
Il are left to us, and TO set to ,wO
os growing new trees.