The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-14
THE FORESTS


the annual statistics now publishing is
the review of the lumber resources of
the middle west, published by the Amer
lean Lumberman, covering the output of
pine and hemlock lumber and possibfli-
lies of future productivity in Michigan,
Minnesota and Wisconsin and lumber
manufacturing points in Iowa and Illi-
nois on the Mississippi river. The white
and Norway pine lumber output in 1901
was 5,372, 1886, 900 feet; of shingles, 2,476,-
684, 900 pieces; of lath, 300, 1893, 900 pieces.
The pine product showed decrease of
113,00O,000 feet. The higher prices last
year stimulated production and selling
and stocks were brought down so that
with a continued demand prices are ex-
pected to keep up.
The production of pine lumber last year,
5,972, $50, 900 feet, as compared with $685.
623,000 feet produced in 1890, would sug.
gest that the time is really approaching
when this great lumber interest will de-
cline and northern white pine will dis
appear as lumber material in the market,
unless steps are taken by scientific treat
ment to renew the growth, and the south
ern and Pacific coast forests will have to
supply the lumber demand. The Ameri
can Lumberman says that the decline in
output was checked last year only by the
like such an output can be looked for in
1902.
OF course, we have all heard for years
that our white pine forests are rapidly
falling beneath the blows Of the incisive
American ak, and such large output as
that of last year would seem to give dis
credit to the exhaustion theory, but there
is reason to believe that the American
Lumberman is right, and that the decline
in the output since 1890 will continue.
In Maine there is still considerable
output of pine lumber because there has
been Intervention and there is some at
tention paid to the protection of the
| younger growth Of timber. The plan
which obtains generally in this country
is to convert all the available CONNER
cial timber into money without the slight
est consideration of the future supply.
Congress is just beginning to take an
Intelligent view of the subject and to
realize to some extent, at least, that sue
cessful timber culture must be classed
with all other successful agriculture, re-
quiring special treatment. The govern
| ment forest reservations should each be
school of practical forestry and object
lessons as to the advantage Of scientific
forestry to the nation. Many owners Of
| large private forest lands like Seward
Webb, w. c. Whitney, George Wander
| bilt are demonstrating the benefcent
possibilities of scientific forestry, and,
considering the interest the government
is taking in the subject, and the intelli
gent action Of New ork and other states,
there is justification in the belief that
we are on the verge of a new and whole
some development in our national, prog
! ress.,, There is need, however, for the
government to keep its eyes open in the
matter of forest reservations, for it is
demonstrate that there are settlers mean
enough to get UP petitions for reserva-
| tions simply because they find it more
profitable to secure damages from their
! improvements and scrip for their land
! than to stay on their claims, and, in not
| a few instances, it has been found that
they have stripped all the timber from
! the land.