The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-07-12
How Lono WIN Our Timber Lss,g
Portland Journal

Portland Journal.
The Commercial Review, In It's am
nual number, recently issued gives
some figures from the pen OF George
NJ. Cornwall editor Of the Columbia
River and Oregon Timberrnan, that
furnishes an interesting study Of the
question propounded In the caption
OF this article--How long will our tim
ber last2 Were the lumber industry
to develop to no greater proportions
than those OF the present, the stand.
ing timber Of oregon would last 26O
years.
The article referred TO does not 20
into the future, but the data furnished
thus by the Commercial Review
prompts the inquiry and moves to
some figuring. Oregon has Of standing
timber S23l.653OOO.OOO feet board
measure. Washington, by the way,
prone to boast OF its wonderful tim
Der resources, has about half as much,
SII4,77s.oOOOOO feet.
During 1901. the mills Of Oregon cut
900 900. 900 feet. Let II be presumed
that the lumber milling industry stood
az lts present stage Of development,
and Il Is easy 10 hgure that the tim
ber standing would last for 26O years
This however, would be an illogical
presumption. inasmuch as the lumber
men are planning gigantic enterprises
and taking hold OF the situation with
an energy born Of commercial neceasi-
ties. aud the prospects for profitable
operations here in Oregon. During
the past year, Eastern tlmbermen
bought more than 100000 acres OF
standing timber IN this state, and at
this time scores OF men with ample
capital are looking over the ground
with Wow 20 making heavy pur-
chases.
As matter OF fact, the lumber in
dustry Of Oregon Is 10 only the infant
stage OF development During the
coming two or three years there VIII
be- enormous increase In the quantity
cut. and the present 9O00OOO OOoo feet
will appear small. indeed. when some
OF the already.formed plans are ear
riod into effect
The experience OF oregon viii be
the experience Of Minnesota and Wis
consln aud Michigan. where but few
years ago lumbermen figured that
there was enough timber standing 10
supply the demand Of the Middle West
for half a century or more. To-day,
the lumbermen Of these states are
cutting on old stumps for sh'ngle
butts and there Is practically no Tim
her left
That same Middle West Is drawing
upou the Pacific coast for lumher. and
foreign markets formerly supplied by
those states are coming here 10 SET
thoir lumber The truth 10 that the
lumbermen, an Interested party. Is
scarcely a safe guide as 10 the man
ner OF handling the forests tie wants
the timber and he wants Il nov, and
he therefore makes the Wish the faith
or Of the Thought. ana proceeds 20 de-
stroy the forests. the while quieiins
the alarm Of the people BY speeions
arguments and iuusory figures.
No one can say Just how Iona the
timber OF Oregon win last. but that it
viii not last 200 years goes without
saving. and II 10 probably true that
Il win last not longer than one or two
generations. Al any rate the present
trend In the lumber Industry lnsurea
that the day Is not very far Ia ihe e.
ture when the mountains of ofeton
Will be bare OF trees. and then VIA
have come great climatic changes apd
alterations Of the conditions sogerpin&
water dlslglbutlon.