The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-06
CONSUMPTION OF LUMBER
STATISTICS COMPLIED BY FORESTRY
BOARD SECRETARY.
The Figures Pertain to the Use of
Lumber in Indiana-vast-
ness of Trade.

Secretary Freeman. OF the State Board
Of Forestry. has compiled statistics showing
the use Of lumber in this State. He Sc
cured his data from the official reports OF
the Indiana Retail Lumbermen's Associa-
ton. Secretary Freeman says: THAT the
past year was one Of great activity in the
lumber traffic is the general opinion Of lum-
bermen freely expressed. That the extent
Of this m as pertained to Indiana
might be ascertained the State Board Of
Forestry began an investigation for data.
The work was detailed to B. C.. Carson,
Michigan City. Ind. who represents the
Retail Lumber Dealers Association on the
forestry board. Mr.. Carson, at the time
OF the annual gathering in this city last
January, prepared a combined letter and
statistical blank appealing to the dealers
Of the State to forward to thu Office OF the
secretary Of the Board Of Forestry an ao-
curate statement of the amount OF lumber
handled by them he past year.
These letters were Endorsed by W. H
Winnie, president, and r. K. Whitman, sec
rotary Of the Retail Lumbermen's Asso-
citation. and the letters were mailed to
every dealer in the State. The returns show
the following amount OF traffic:
Total annual number OF feet OF
Indiana product handled ......... II ,62o, e7
Total annual number of feet OF
Pacific product handled........... Ia. e2a.5 IS,
Total annual number Of feet OF
Northern product handled. $500. PA ee,14f
Southern product handled. -. 162, $50, s1s
Total annual number Of feet for
the State handied.. .4sa. sos. $50
Total annual number Of fence posts
nanuleQ...-........ ......-.......... 0llp6oU
These statistics show the vastness Of
the lumber trade in the State and are the
best indicators Of the stableness OF lum-
Der in demand. It Will be seen that the
bulk of the lumber is imported. This lat
ter fact is undoubtedly due TO the scarcity
of timber In Indiana, and. also, II accounts
for the great advance Of timber In price
in the State and the spirited competition
'9These facts, carefully considered. are
evidences that q more rational method for
cutting and handling timber in the forest
should be observed. a glance at a forest
tract where timber is being cut for mills
or otherwise shows that no effort Is made
toward conserving the young growing trees
and TO continue the area in forest. The
young timber Is cut and slashed in every
conceivable manner for the convenience of
handling the harvested crop. An Mustra-
ton Of more absolute waste would be diff
cult to find. Added to this the tract is
burned off and put into agriculture as
| SOOn as inc tlIuDeT DclhS udFNcSlcu Is Oil
the ground. In many Instances the part
destroyed is more valuable than what was
harvested, and a few years Of cultivation
would have produced another good harvest
of valuable timber. The bulk of the In
diana product is now taken from forests
that were sawed over not more than
twenty or thirty years ago, and this fact
is known by every pioneer who has a
knowledge of the fact TO be true.
The thing for lumbermen and timber
land owners to do is 60 retain the areas IN
forest as against clearing them off when
a crop is harvested. The perricious habit
of lumbermen in buying large tracts. and.
after all the timber is cut that has present
value. disposing of the land as cheap prop
erty is bound to eXterminate the timber in
the State. At the present prices. when
a good poplar or walnut or a couple of
good oaks hickory or ash will pay for an
acre of the best improved land In the State.
does it not seem consistent to perpetuate
the forest areas? If. when the crop is har-
vested. the rubbish is piled and the area
fenced in and allowed to grow and re-
stock II will not be long before another
crop may be sold. A trial will convince
that IL will be a wise action. There Is an
elevating principle in growing trees"