Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-07-10

of lumber, as well as for the firewood
which will result from the saving OF
the understandable lumber.
There are many species of furniture
and veneer woods, of which may be
mentioned ebano (ebony), nara (Phil-
ippine mahogany, tindals, camagon
and guijo. There are also II varieties
of oak, cedar in abundance, teak and
many new varieties awaiting investi-
CATION to bring out their value. The
annual growth of the Philippine for
ests is estimated at 1,500,000,OOO feet
Or nearly three times the yearly cut of
lumber in the United States. At the
present time more than SO per cent of
this annual growth is going to waste
from lack of systematic exploitation
In Luzon, where the population
averages 70 to the square mile, there
is no timber near the centers of popu-
lation. In the northern end of the
island, in the provinces of Cagayan
and Isabella, there remain at least
100000 acres OF valuable forests.
The entire eastern coast Of Luzon is
practically a virgin forest. In north
western Luzon but little understandable
timber is left, except upon the noun
tain sides above 5000 feet, where a
species of pine (Pinus insularis) -four
ishes, all ages being mingled together.
The maximum growth is nearly four
feet in diameter and more than 100
feet high. In the southwestern islands.
ovion}ipU from NFiudorO tbro,,0b Dow
aqua, more sparsley-settled region
is found where the forest has been I'M
touched In this group are more than
100000 acres of timber land, extend
ing from the waters edge to the sum
mits Of the mountains
The island of Mindanao, with an
area Of more than 23,00O,000 acres. is
almost entirely covered by forest.
Very little timber has been cut, owing
10 the scarcity of labor and the dis
lance to market The vast majority
OF the population of this island is
found in coast towns, although a large
population of Moros inhabit the Lake
Lanao region. At least 100000 900
acres of forest are on this one island.
Valuable forests are found in Leyte
and Samar The timber on the island
Of Negroes has been cut rather thor
oughly for many years, but now care
I'LL attention is given to the protection
of this and other remaining forest
areas.
Logging methods hitherto employed
nave been very crude, and wasteful
methods of cutting are still evident.
The Telling of timber has been done
by natives. These primitive loggers
pick out the trees which nearest an
proach the required specifications
chop or burn them down. take as long
log as their teams OF carabaos can
maui and leave the remainder Gotten
rs much as 60 per cent? to rot in the
woods. AS a result of this system the
forests on many Of the islands have
been culled back for a distance of two
to three miles from the coast line and
IN the vicinity of the large inland
towns, the more distant forests being
practically untouched. One fine tract
OF timber near Manila has been pro
tected up to the present time by a
small obstruction in a stream that an
American logging company would
have removed in short time and at
slight expense. The average haul to |
tldeWater is short, and a combination
or the logging railroad and the wire
cable system will be found the most
practical and profitable method of
handling the timber of these immense
forests.