The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-05-19

The scarcity of forest trees which is
becoming more and more apparent in
the United States, because of the ex
tensive use of timber, and the ultimate
result, is the subject of an article in a
recent Washington Star. The Depart
ment of Agriculture is taking deep in
terest in the subject and is endeavoring
to impress upon builders the need of
substituting some other building ma
terial for wood. The Star says:
Special attention is now being given
by the Department of Agriculture to
the subject of forestry. Secretary Will
son proposes to do all in his power dur
ing his administration to inaugurate
system of tree-planting and care for the
forests, which will prevent the pres
ent tendency to destroy the timber of
the country and to leave it fifty years
hence practically without material of
this kind.
1t is not generally realized although
scientists who have studied the ques-
ton are well aware of the fact, that the
carniferouS woods now available for
timber in the United States, and this
is about the only timber that is useful
for building purposes, will not last at
the present rate of consumption more
than forty years. 1t has taken from 100
to 200 years to grow this wood and it
may we'll be seen why specialists are
very much concerned over having the
country adopt the policy which will
give future generations building ma
terial.
Secretary Wilson, speaking to a Star
reporter, said that he had already in
structed an agent of the department to
the character of trees that
grow successfully in the arid portions
of Australia and Russia, and to for
ward to this country seed for planting
the same. There are millions of acres
now lying waste in the United States
that Mr.. Wilson hopes can be utilized
for growing wood. and he proposes to
endeavor to introduce upon this land
trees that are shown to thrive under
exactly similar conditions in foreign
countries. He has not had time to look
into the subject very thoroughly yet,
but he has made a beginning and soon
proposes to devote the energies of the
forestry division of his department to
preserving and increasing the wood
supply of the country.
Bernard E. Fernow. chief of the di-
vision of forestry in the Department of
Agriculture, has made a life study of
his work, and it will be through him
that Secretary Wilson will operate in
the rehabilitation of the forests of the
Speaking of the great con-
of timber in this country,
Mr.. Fernow said to Star reporter:
MR.. FERNOW'S STATEMENT.
"The United States consumes about
400 feet of board measure per capita of
timber, which includes
pine, spruce. hemlock, cypress, cedar,
and tamarac. This consumption is
against about 120 feet of board measure
per capita in Great Britain,
and $50 feet in Germany, the latter fig
Tres including all classes of woods. In
he United States about $50 feet per
capita of all kinds of woods are con-
sumed.
1--WE must depend upon the carnifer- |
1us woods for our timber, and at the |
present rate of consumption the supply |
IN sight in this country will not last |
more than forty years. At present the |
Kind under about $50 years old. and |
when we take into consideration that |
t requires at least 100 years to grow |
such timber TO a size suitable for cut |
ing. we can see readily that the stu |
alton that faces the country is a more |
yrave one than is generally supposed. |
When this subject is preached it is |
common for people TO say: oh, but |
when our timber is gone other timber |
will have grown in its place The facts |
n the case show how greatly mistaken
ire people who take this view of the |
subject. The Southern pine that we
ire now using is, as a rule over 200 |
ears old. AS we come to cut smaller
rees we experience a greater waste
han occurs when large ones are hewn.
low one-half of the contents of the
arge logs are lost in waste by the !
ime they are put on the market in the
orrn of manufactured articles. and as
mailer trees are used this waste in
reases.
at is one thing TO grow trees and
Iuite another to grow trees that will
,e good for timber. There are weeds
mong trees. just as there are weeds
n the garden. Very frequently people
efer TO planting trees in some parts
f the West as a basis for their belief
hat we can grow timber as we want il.
t is we'll enough to plant shade trees.
nd they will some time be available
or firewood. but we must grow our
imber Il speak of carniferouS timber,
which is the bulk of all timber used)
nIy where nature has shown that Such