The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-07-17
Texas has more than twice as many
cattle as any other state, having
S,OO7,9l head, exclusive of milk cows
Iowa comes next with 2,574, Ol2.
Forestry Wastes

SSAJ VuSSVS
In no civilized country has there
been such a needless destruction and
waste of the forestry resources as
there has been in this country. Un-
Til very recently practically nothing
has been done to preserve American
forests. AS a result, all that vast
country east of the Mississippi river,
which was once heavily timbered with
nearly all varieties of merchantable
timber, is now practically denuded of
its forests; 1t has less timber in pro-
portion to area than either England
or France. In European countries,
the forests have for several centuries
been the subject of government sup
ervision and protection. The time
has come when something must be
done In this country, and done speed
lily, or else the United States will be
practically destitute of timber resour-
ces.
The bureau of forestry of the U. S.
department of agriculture has pub
lished warning statement regarding
the rapid disappearance OF the great
forests Of this country. This state
ment poiats out that the forests OF
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota
originally contained a stand Of $780,
900, 900. 900 feet and very little was
cut or destroyed by fire prior to 1873.
| Altogether, it is estimated that about
265, 900, 900, 900 feet have been cut,
about 60, 900. 900, 900 feet have been
destroyed by fire, and by careful esti-
nlgte, not more than 35, 900, 900
feet of merchantable timber now
stands in these states, which estimate
also includes considerable quantity
Of second growth. This means tha,
the once immensely valuable forests
OF these three states has been depict
ed to the extent Of 80 per cent. Thu
end OF the white pine is near, and thu
statement of the bureau Of forestr!
says that another ten years will SCI
its disappearance as an important
factor in the lumber trade, The vel
low pine forests of the southern states
are going the same way.
| A singular interest attaches to the
J fact that men who have been grea'
factors in the lumber business Of tn,
lake states have transferred, and ar
. transferring, the scene of their opcr
ations to Washington and the othe
Pacific coast states. They are doini
, this because their old field has beef
denuded; the forests have disappeared
So they come to region where hun
dreds of miles of forests stand virgin
Some Of them think they will hav
} timber here for forty years to come
For the most part, lumbermen trca
! the timber as though the supply wer
eternal. Much has been said abou
the "inexhausta BILE" forests of Wash
! ippton and other Pacific coast state
but data recently compiled make
clear that there is great danger, tina
, these forests will be largely cut ava
within the next 25 or 80 years. Th
, total stand of timber in this state, az
cording to a recent and fair estimate
is 1876, ,68s, 900, 900 feet, or consider
ably less than has been cut in 30 yeal
IN Michigan, Minnesota and Wiscon
sin. Unless speedy and ample mea'
> ures are taken to protect this timbt
and to cultivate second growth, or
Of the great resources Of this stat
| will be exhausted within few d.
9 cades. There is no way to stay TT
. process of destruction, i. e., so far
!. the cut is concerned-that is a legit
!, mate use of this resource-but
should be followed by the process
renewal and accompanied by syste
of protection from fires. The timb
;, annually destroyed in this state reac
- es an appalling total-several millio
of dollars in fact-lnany times. VIII
II would cost to effectively patti
!, these forests and reduce these loss
tpa minimum.-New West Trade.
~ Statistics show that it cost Uut
Sam $3.50, 900, 900 to run his COVER
u ment last year. or this amount,