Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-04-30
ErHETlMRER SUPPLY.

Il -
THE TIMBER SUPPLY. 81
/ Every person in the United States is
/ using over six times as much wood as
he would use if he were in Europe.
| The country as whole consumes ev-
cry year between three and four times
more wood than all the forests of the
United States grow in the meantime.
The average acre of forests lays up 4
sore of only 10 cubic feet annually,
whereas it ought to be laying up at
least 80 cubic feet in order to furnish
the products taken out of. it. Since
1880 more than 100000, 100000 feet Of
timber have been cut for lumber alone
including so,oOo,000 900 feet Of conf
erous timber in excess Of the total
coniferous stumpage estimate of the
Census of 1880. 81 500 e 81 n. ~
| These are some of the remarkable
statements made in Circular 81 of the
Forest Service, which deals with the
timber supply of the United States and
reviews the stumpage estimates made
by all the important authorities. A
study of the circular must lead direct
ly to the conclusion that the rate at
which forest products in the United
States have been and are being con-
sumed is far too lavish, and that only
one result can follow unless steps are
promptly taken to prevent waste in
use and to increase the growth rate
Of every acre Of forest in the United
States This result is a timber fam
inc. This country is today in the
same position with regard to forest
resources as was Germany $50 years
ago. During this period of 1850 years
such German states as Saxony and
Prussia, particularly the latter, have
applied policy Of government control
and regulation, which has Immensely.
increased the productivity Of their
forests. The same policy will achieve
even better results in the United
States, because we have the advantage
of all the lessons which Europe has
learned and paid for In the course Of
q century Of theory and practice.
Lest it might be assumed that, the
rapid and gaining depletion of Amer
lean forest resources is sufficiently
accounted for by the increase of popu.
lation, it is pointed out in the circular
that the increase in population since
1880 is barely more than half the in
crease in lumber cut in the same per,
iod. Two areas supplying timber have
already reached and passed their max
imum production-the Northeastern
States in 1870 and the. Lake States in
1890. Today the Southern States,
which cut yellow pine amounting to
one-third of the total annual lumber
cut Of the country, are undoubtedly
near their maximum. The Pacific
States will soon take the ascendency
The State of Washington within a few
years has come to the front and now
ranks first Of all individual states in
/ volume of cut
/ At present but one-fifth of the total
forest area of the United States is EN-
braced in National Forests. The re
manning four-ffths have already pass
ed or are most likely to pass into pr
vate hands. The average age of the
trees felled for lumber this year is
not less than $50 years. In othel'
1 words, If he is to secure a second croT
of trees of the same size, the lumber
man or private forest owner must wait
say, at least one hundred years for the
3second crop to grow. As q rule, siicf
longtime investments as this waiting
would involve do not commend sIel1
selves to business men who are accus
toned to quick returns. But thu
States and the Nation can look much
farther ahead. The larger, then, the
I area Of National and State contro
over woodlands, the greater is the
likelihood that the forests Of the coun
try viii be kept permanently product
i've.
----z---z--- 8 III
President Hill Of the Great Northern
sees signs of what he terms !
healthy reaction" in the business
world. He does not look for a hard
times Or panicky condition. but |
gradual slowing down Of the grea
j speed at which the entire country hal
been working, and two jobs for three
men where there were formerly three
jobs for two men, He says signs d
the slowing down are seen ii man,
lines Of Industry, where manufactur