Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-22
tn. Timber Shortage.

The growing ScdrCieJ Va
emphasized in the endeavor OF the
railroads to find some practical way OF
eunplvine the 1lO,oOO.o 900 ties, which they
annually consume-at a fairly reason
able figure. Cedar and southern pine
have heretofore, been largely used FOR
+b,. nurpose-and both are annually
Growing more difficult to secure in requi-
site ouantities-and higherin price. Few
neople realize the extent to which the
tie industry has been stimulated IN the
northern section of our own State, or
the havoc that has been wrought in
our cedar supply-due largely to care
less and profiigate methods of cutting.
The writer was over an AroostooK
township last year, where probably a
million feet Of good sound cedar hao
been left to rot upon the ground by Tie
makers, who had used only that por-
tion Of the tree that fitted easily into
their purposes. What a wealth OF
beautiful shingles could have peeh
made from the timber so ruthlessly dis
carded by them!
or late years land owners have be-
come aroused to the evils OF sucn
wasteful cutting, and permits are now
being drawn with a view of insuring
better utilization of forest resources.
II is 80 common to look upon build
ing operations, and the pulp industry
az the two great sources of forest de-
nletion. that many have almost
lost sight of the thousands OF
other industries, that levy, to a
greater or less extent, upon the
country's timber supply. AS we
have already shown the railroads are
enormous consumers of lumber-and
the multiplication of electric roads all
over the country has so largely IN
creased the demand for ties, that the
question Of an adequate supply mas
become one Of the serious and present
problems of railroad management. the
furniture industry, the shoe industry
the matchmaking industry, telegraph
and telephone companies, and in fact
practically all forms of industrial en-
terprise are users of wood to say
nothing of the vast amount annually
consumed for fuel. Even the large iror
foundries must first have their patterns
T.. hot
be reproduced In metal.
There are those who have contende(
that the natural growth of our forest:
is and has been sufficient to keep pac'
with all the varied and increasing de
mands for timber supply-but their as
sertions do not appear to be borne GU
by the facts of industrial experience
The lumber market is now ruled b,
high prices and while they may per
haps be lower, there is good reason t.
believe that they will never again
touch their former low level. TIL
tendency of the times, the whole tren'
of modern industry, is in the opposit
direction. In many places building TO
investment has practically ceased
with q consequent scarcity Of rents
and corresponding increase in thei
cost. This is notably the case in GU
own city. 1t is evident that capital il
this section is not, at the present time
seeking real estate investments. Not
withstanding this fact the prosperit
of the country has been so great, tn
building of new homes and summe
cottages, and the remodelling of oil
ones so general, that the building
trades are today in the midst of an ex
ceedingly prosperous year Never il
our remembrance has there been
greater demand for labor-both skille
and unskilled-than exists at the pres
ent time, and never in the history o
this country has the wage scale rule
SO high dn comparison with the pric
Of commodities.
Free traders once told us that w
could never have continued prosper
ity with the protective system, be
cause under it we could not comman
1.-The markets of the world" and thai
in consequence, any congestion of tn
home market arising from over-pro
duction, must necessarily be followe
by a period of business depression an
industrial stagnation.
Events have demonstrated the fallac
of such reasoning. The theories of tn
doctrinaires dwindle to the vanishing
point when confronted with the de
cisive facts of current history. TIL
United States is leading the procession
of the nations in the volume of it's ex
ports; our surplus products are findin
a market in the uttermost parts of tn
earth, and our people are enjoying
prosperity stupendous in its proper
lions, and unrivalled in the history G
the republic.
The demand upon our timber sun