The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-07-15
EXPERT FEARS DEPLETION.
Dr.. kanai, of Tokyo University, Re-
turns From Germany.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer says:
The condition 10 which the Wash
ington timber area will inevitably be
reduced if the present methods OF
logging are carried on, was the SUD
iect of an interview granted at the
Butler hotel by Dr. Shitaro kanai,
professor in the university at Tokyo,
Japan, who, after an examination Oh
the Washington forests two years
ago, went to Germany, where he has
been devoting his time to the study
of reforesting of timber lands with
the view OF applying German methods
to the timber lands of Japan.
DR.. Kanai is an expert on the tim
Der questions and has devoted much
time within the past ten years to
studying the conditions in this and
some of the old world countries. He
gives it as his opinion that, within
the next five decades, the world Will
be depending for it's supply of lumber
on the reforested lands OF the old
world This opinion he has reached
only after the most careful study OF
the conditions in all countries, and he
adds that while there is no want felt
in the United States now, nor will
there probably be for half century,
if there is not something done to
again cover the logged-off lands, this
country will be buying timber from
Europe.
II feel that there will be many in
the state of Washington engaged In
the lumber business who will not
agree with what | have to say" said
the professor. In fact, know there
will be, for the reason that two
years ago when | spent several
months on the coast looking into the
timber conditions, | minated the
same thing and was told that | was
not right.
Fear of Depletion.
UNLESS the government of the
United States or the timber men who
own logged-off lands see to it at
once that new growth is provided
for, within fifty years there Will not
be a foot of lumber to be had IN
this state or in the south. Take these
two districts away from the lumber
industry, which is one of the very
largest ones in the United States,
and mills by the hundreds will be
forced 10 close down.
During the past two years | have
been in Germany studying, for the
japanese government, the refOreSting
of timber lands There the work is
being carried on on a large scale, I'M
der the supervision of the govern
ment, and it is a success. AT the
present time there is, practically
speaking, no lumber in Germany eX-
cept what is imported. This condl-
ton was brought about by the very
same methods that are being employ
ed in the United States-Waste and
fire There was no attention paid
to the rejuvenating of the forests.
Lumber manufacturers of Germany.
like those of the United States, were
impressed with the belief that the
forests of the Fatherland would never
be cut away. but the end came all
too quickly. 1t was before they rea-
lized it, and Germany was forced to
20 OUT into the worlds market for a
supply.
1T was about fifteen years ago
that the government took the matter
in hand. Reserves were set aside and
the timber on them protected. The
land was used for other purposes. but
it was a crime to modest tree be
vond a certain thickness. The result
is that within this short time Germany
is rearing many young forests. Il
will be thirty years or more before
these trees will be fit to cut, and
when they are the price of lumber
will still be high. fOrthe supply or
| logs will be limited.
Demand is Enormous.
Here in the United States there
has been a tremendous development
| within the past few years-greater
than there has ever been in any OF the
oil world countries, within so short
a time. This has required a very
large amount of lumber. The depleted
| foreign markets have called for large
amounts and the mills have been
springing up like mushrooms. The
product of these mills has laid waste
many thousands of miles OF the TIM
Der, and yet the work goes on. me
waste in this country is greater than
it was in Germany at its widest
times. Timber here that has been
scorched with fire is allowed to rot
when it might be used, or a greater
portion of it might. Slabs that the
Germans would only be too glad TO
get and work up into lumber are
consigned to the wood pile and the
wanton destruction goes on.
"Japan has had taste OF the over
sight of reforesting. For a thousand
years we have been cutting out TIM
Der, of course not to anything IKE
the extent you have been here IN the
/ United States, but now we are get
ting short and annually have to send
10 the United States to supply our de
mands. Now it is the intention or
the government to create a forestry
! department and begin the same work
| The Germans are engaged in. 1t Will
take fifty years perhaps, and by that
time we will be entirely out of tim
Der to supply our own wants, and
we are not engaged in the export
trade.
The government OF the United
| nrtt to 10 %