Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-05-30
The Timber supply.


az be would use if he were in Europe.
The country as whole consumes ev-
cry year between three and four times
more wood than all of the forests OF
the United States grow in the mean
time. The average acre of forests
lays up a store of only 10 cubic feet
annually, whereas it ought to be lay
ING up at least 80 cubic feet in or
der TO furnish the products taken out
of il. Since 1880 more than 7OO,-
600, 600 600 feet of timber have been
cut for lumber alone, including 3D.
600, 100000 feet of couiferous timber
in excess of the total coniferous stump
aye estimate of the Census in 1880.
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 stumpa,e estimates
made by all the important authorities.
A study of the circular must lead d.
rectly to the conclusion that the rate
at which forest products in the Unit
ed States have been and are being
consumed 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 to-day In the
same position with regard to forest
resources as was Germany $50 years
ago. During this period of $50 years
such German States as Saxony and
Prussia, particularly the latter, have
applied q policy of government con-
troll and regulation which has i'm
mensely 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 century of theory and
practice.
Lest it might be assumed that the
rapid and gaining depletion OF Ameri'
can forest resources is sufficiently &C
counted for by the increase OF popu-
latlon. it is pointed out in the circu'
lar that the increase in population
since 1880 ia barely more than hall
the increase in lumber cut In the
same period. Two areas supplying
timber have already reached and
passed their maximum production
the Northeastern States in 1870 and
the Lake States in 1890. To-day the
Southern States, which cut yellow
pine amounting to one-third the tota
annual lumber cut Of the country, are
undoubtedly near their maximum
The Pacific States will soon take TIT
ascendency. The State Of Washington
within few years has come to thu
front and now ranks first of all indi
vidual States 10 volume Of cut.
At present but one-6fth of the tota
forest area of the United States il
embraced in National Forests. Thu
remaining four-6fths have already
passed or are most likely to pass int
private hands. The average age o
the trees felled for lumber this year Il
not less than $50 years. In othe'
words, if he is to secure second crol
| of trees of the same size, the lumber
man or private forest owner must wait
say, at least one hundred years fo'
the second crop to grow. AS rule
such longtime investments as thi
waiting would involve do not com
mend themselves to business men wht
are accustomed to quick returns
| But the States and the Nation CAL
look much farther ahead. The larger
then, the area of National and Stat'
control over woodlands, the greater il
the likelihood that the forests Of thu
country will be kept permanently
| nrodnctiue