The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-25

according to the United States geologi-
cal survey. is 1854 s6 square miles, or 81
per cent Of the land area. From this
standing supply of timber it Is. estina
ted that from !, $50 billions to $500 bill
lions Of board measure feet of lumber
are available. The annual lumber cut
has been estimated for the year 1898 at
40 billions OF board measure feet; that is,
we cut approximately 2 per cent Of our
national timber resources annually. OF
this cut ID billions are credited to the
Lake region, 10 billions to the southern
states, 6 billions to the northwest and
North Atlantic states, billions TO the
central states, to the Pacific states
and 2 billions to the mountain states
according to the New Orleans Lumber
trade Journal These figures are how
ever, only an approximation on the part
of those familiar with the industry ~
a whole: yet they indicate that our
timber supply is not disappearing at an
alarming rate, provided the destructive
waste of forest fires can be prevented.
The timber territory of the country
covers five different sections. from
which commercial distribution is made.
Beginning with New England. the out
put of Maine is still the leading feature
of this section; and the middle states,
from the Adirondacks and northwestern
Pennsylvania still supply a considera-
Bile market Of more or less local charac-
ter. The greatest areas Of standing tim
Der are found in the southern states
where the long leaf and the short leaf
pine and the cypress are the leading
features. In the Lake region Of the
Northwest, including Michigan. WILSON,
sin and Minnesota, we have the largest
output, where the white pine and hem
lock are the leading features. The Pa
ciic coast section includes the pine and
FIR forests of Washington and Oregon
and the red wood Of California as the
leading kinds of timber. The Rocky
Mountain states are as yet of subordi-
nate commercial Importance compared
with the southern, northwestern ard
Pacific states. A comparison of south
ern exports of timber, lumber and man
ufactures thereof with the total from
the United States shows that southern
ports furnish IS per cent of the sawn
timber exported; 81 Of the hewn timber.
"A per cent of the logs. etc; So per ceat
of the boards. deals and planks; u PEI
cent Of the joists and scantlings; 81 per
cent OF the shingles; ~ per cent Of the
slaves: rs per cent of all other lumber
lumber remarkable exhibit of the
progress which southern lumber prod
ucts have made in our foreign trade.
On the Pacific coast numbering on
large scale has been carried to a high
degree Of perfection. especially in the
State OF Washington IN the Puget
Sound country, in Oregon on the Col
umbia river, and in northern California
in the Eureka red wood district. In the
distribution of lumber by water Taco
ma is the chief outlet on the Puget
Sound. The red wood Of California is
marketed very largely through San
Francisco and Eureka. Portland. Ore
gon shows the heaviest shipments by
rail of any point on the Pacific coast
In the central states Minneapolis is
the principal center of lumber produc-
ton and distribution for the white pine
region In point Of production AIicht
gan. Wisconsin and Minnesota are about
equal. and are still the leading lumber
producing states of the Union From
them the eastward movement by way OF
the Great Lakes amounted to 1888. O57,-
900 feet by way Of St Nary's Falls ca
nal in 1899 Within these states the
most extensively developed wood indus
tries have arisen. Nearness Of raw ma
terial has given furniture making. the
manufacture OF vehicles and various
other wood industries an advantage
which no other portion Of the world en-
joys
This report does not share the view
that the country is In danger Of a tim
Der famine. 1t takes the view that as
soon as the level Of timber land values
rises to the level of lumber prices indis-
eliminate cutting win be largely aban-
doned; the more far-sighted policy of
scientific forestry will prevail and for
est fires will be systematically prevent
ed or controlled