The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-02-18
rlaine's Valuable Forests.
Third Annual Report by Forest Commissioner O

ihira annual report by Forest Commissioner Oak
The third annual report of Charles E..
Oak, forest commissioner, has been issued.
portion of which is devoted to investi-
cations made by Austin Carey, who made
three months trip last summer through
the region drained by the Kennebec and
Androscoggin rivers, W hich he examined
IN regard to spruce in reference to the
present and future supply. He sets the
amount of spruce standing on the Kenne-
bee drainage at 1000, 900, 900, made up
one half of valuable saw logs and one
half of timber which cannot be so con
sidered. He says that the conversion
OF ZOO, 600 feet of spruce into paper is
worth more to the labor of the State than
., 600, 900 converted into long lumber.
He makes the following summary of the
kennebec forest growth: Area in square
miles, $3.50; area spruce producing. 1854:
not yet cut for spruce, 400: available saw
logs, 1,26O, 900, 600; yearly growth as de-
fined, 50, 900, 600; yearly average of cut
the last 10 years, 143, 900, 900; estimated
spruce cut, 80 per cent. of the last Ia
100000.
VI the Androscoggin basin about 2, 200
square miles are considered in relation to
spruce. The area in Maine comprises 1900
square miles. 1t is only within 40 years
that spruce has been cut on the Andro-
scoggin. The length and difficulty of the
drive has saved the supply and kept the
river much behind the Kennebec in utili-
eaton OF the timber resources. Much
cutting up to the present time has been
on the New Hampshire side of the line.
That part of Androscoggin drainage has
been comparatively severely used. 1t APP
pears that about half the Androscoggin
spruce country is il it's original condition,
with a considerable portion of the re-
mainder very lightly used. In proportion
to its area, the Androscoggin drainage is
the most valuable spruce land in the
State
An estimate from Mr.. j. A. Pike of
Berlin, N. H., Of the spruce standing in
the Androscoggin basin is made an es-
innate of the supply including pulp stock
at and above Berlin, n. II: In Maine, g.
600, 600, 600; below Berlin, 600. 600. 900; at
and above Berlin, in New Hampshire.
7OO, 600, 600; gross area of the Androscog-
gin spruce lands in Maine, 1.24O square
miles: waste burned within 80 years, 234
settled, %; water areas, IS; unproductive
mountain land, Is; net spruce producing
area, $50; net cut, above 420.
| The consumption of spruce on the An
droscoggin in 1895 was 10. 900, 900 sawed
123, 600, 600 used for pulp and paper.
Mr. Carey says that of the total area of
800 square miles in the State, y, 900
may be cassed as spruce bearing. TAX
ing the State as whole, MI Carey doubts
if the yearly production of spruce is ever
cut. The State can long maintain its
present volume of spruce cut There
seems to be an overstocking of the trade
in pulp and paper. Another resource for
pulp is pine.
1t seems certain that railway numbering
is likely to increase in the State.
Mr. Oak asks for further means to con-
tinue Mr. Carey's valuable Investigations.
He says the idea is wrong that Maine S
lumber supply is inexhaustble. The
loss from waste is enormous, not only in
leaving to rot large portions of trees
! actually taken, but in destruction of young
growth. To correct this waste he would
change the method of scaling, and would
have Typographical and lumber survey
of the State made. A knowledge of the
topography and growing power of Maine
land must be had Without it, indivi-
duals cannot manage to the best of adj
vantage their own possessions.