Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-09

are more lavish in the use of wood in
these structures than any other people.
This arises from two causeS-flrst be-
cause we believe that our supply of
timber Is inexhaustible, and second, be-
cause we are ignorant in regard to the
true properties of wood, and therefore
use 1t wastefully.
Another sad element of waste with
respect to our forest resources is fire
destruction. 1t is estimated by the di-
vision of forestry at Washington that
timber TO the value of at least $50, 0O0. 900
is destroyed by forest fires every year.
Some states are taking strong meas
urcs to prevent this waste by fire
notably Minnesota, which is said to
have the best forest fire law i'm the
world. Our supply OF lumber. however,
is far from being ineXhaustible. Our
forest area stu untouched is estimated
at about 7oo.ooo.ooo acres, which is 3sis
per cent. of the total area of the United
States. exclusive OF Alaska But
great portion OF this area does not pro-
duce understandable timber. and from
large portions OF the area the best tim
Der has alrcady been taken off. EXclu-
sive OF fuel our consumption of lum-
her and timber. as will be seen from
the foregoing table. IS about 10000 00O.-
900 feet. board measure. annually. To
meet this consumption there Is not more
than 1900. 600 COO. 900 feet OF timber. "in
log and bolt size" standing. That is to
supply standing. And this cstlmp te
does not take into account the fac; that
much of this standing timber is sure TO
he cut down and burned as fuel. and
much OF it also is sure to he burned
in the annual destructive conflagra-
tons that take place.
Another consideration to be borne in
mind is that at least threc-quartcrs OF
our present demand for lumber is FOR
the product of coniferous trees (pincs,
frs. etc). Yet it Is these trees that
have already suffered most at the
hands OF the lumberman. In April.
1897. it was estimated by the division Of
forestry at Washington that in the At
lantic and middle states not more than
sixteen years supply of conferous tim
Der was then left standing. and that
even IL the supply of the Pacific coast
were included. the total amount of con
ferrous timber standinS-that is to say
the total amount in the whole of the
United StateS-would not be more than
enough for thirty years consumption
And this. it must be remembered. was
exclusive of the contingency OF dcstruc-
ton by fire.
The fact is that already our white
pine timber. which Is the most vaiua-
bic of all our forest resources. and of
which at one time we had The finest
and the largest supply in the world is
almost wholly exhausted. We have.
however. very large supplies OF other
varieties OF pine. especially in the
southeastern states. And on the Pa
ciiic coast our frs and our scQuoias VIII.
with careful husbanCTy, afford occupa-
ton for the lumbcrman for many years..
The understandable timber produced in
the lake group" of states is Of great
range. It includes white pine. "NOr-
way or red pine. oak. hemlock. elm,
cedar. beech, birch. maple and ash. 1t
is. however. in the manufactures OF
white pine that the principal lumber
industry of these states consist The
pines are chiefly found in the northern
limits OF the group. Indend-iha bulk
OF the white pine now standing in the
whole of the United states is found
within these limits. especially in north
eastern Minnesota. The hard woods of
the group are obtained principally in
the southern portion of Michigan. Here
tofore n considerable business in the
manufacture Of white pine lumber in
these states mas been done in the cut
ting up of white pine logs obtained
from the province of Ontario in Can
ada. But this manufacture has lately
10 great extent ceased; owing to re-
strctive laws regarding the cutting OF
white pine passed by the legislature OF
Ontario.
In the eastern states the distribution
Of timber bearing trees is very varied.
In Maine are found spruce, pine, hem
lock. poplar. birch and cedar. But the
white pine. for which this state-as
were also New Hampshire and Vermont
was once so noted, has almost all been
removed. Stumps are remembered.
whose diameters were from six TO eight
feet through. a very considerable for
est industry in Maine is the production
IF l,4 z-l,f g,.1-
canoe" birch. for the making of spools.
shoes lasts and shoe pegs. Another
very important forest industry of Maine
is the production of spruce blocks for
making paper stock. In the remaining
states of New England, although at one
time timber trees were numerous
enough, now with the exception Of
spruce, hemlock and some hard woods.
and some pine of second growth. there
is but little merchantable timber and
consequently but little forest industry.
Northern New York. like Maine. is n
principal seat for the production of
spruce blocks or pulpwood. lii Pennsyl-
vania there is q large variety of mer-
charitable timbcrs. These range from
hemlock, low-priced. and worth on the
stump only n dollar or two 1000 feet.
to cherry, worth eight or ten times that
amount, including between these OK
tremes. beech. chestnut maple. oak.
pine and birch. In New jersey and Deia
ware the timber growth is not of com
mercal Importance.
Both New York and PENNSYLVANIA
have strong commissions for looking
after the forestry interests OF the coun-
try, as have also Maine and New
Hampshire and also Wisconsin in the
lake group" Both New York and
Pennsylvania have large forest re-
serves" established for the purpose OF
exemplifying improved methods in the
care of forests.