Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-05-10
The Nation's Timber Supply.

thS N&AA~A AMApNA 9MRPAYs
Every person In the rnltcl States
IL using over ain times as much
wood ~ hc would use II he we're In
Europe. The country as whole
consumes every year between lhrcr /
and four times morn wood than all |
of the forests Of the United States
grow IN the meantime. The average
acre Of forest lays up store Of only
10 euhic feet annually. whereas IL
ought to he laying up at least ~
cnbic feet Ia order To furnish the
products taken out OF Il. Since 1880
more than 700. 900, 900. 900 feet 1T
timbor have been cut foe lumber
alone, including so. 900. 900. 600 feet
Of coniferoua timber In excess of the
total conileFoua stamPage estimate
OF the Census Ia 1880.
These are some of the remarkable
statements made IN Circular p7 of
the Forest Service. which dcala with
the timber supply of the United
States and reviews the stumpagr
estimates made by all the important
authorities. A study of the circular
must lead directly 10 tho conclusion
that the rate 81 which forest pro
duets In the United States have bccn
aud are heing consumed arr far lan
lavish, aud that only one result can
follow unless steps are promptly
taken 10 prevent wAmta Ia use and -
increase the growth rate Of every
acre Of foreat In the United States.
This result 10 timber famine
This country - today In the samr
position with regard Ia forest Re.
sources - waa Germany $50 yrars
ago. DURING this period nf lao
years such German States A. Satony
aad Prussia. particularly the latter.
have applied policy of government
control and regulation which haA
immensely increased The ptodnrlis.
| ity Of their forests. The same
policy will achieve even heiter ~.
suits 10 tho niled states, because
We have the advantage OF all the
leaaona winch karope has learned
and paid for 10 the course Of cen
tury Of lhsory aud practice.
lest IN might be assumed thai the
rapid and gaming depletion ~
American forest resources is ani.
iieiently aes ounted for ~ The III.
crease of population. IL - pointed
out in The circular that The inerea-s
! 70 population since 1850 j. barely
more than bali the tnersaae ~ lum
. her cat in ihe aame period Twn
arras supplying timber have already
reached and paased their ~ lsimunl
, production the Northeastern States
> IN 1870 and the Lake states Ia IssO
ss1lay the Soulhern states, shici
, cut yellow pine amounting 10 one
third the total annual lamler eat oi
the country. are undoubtedly heai
l their maximum. The Pacific State.
: wih aoon take the aacendency. III.
, State Of Washington within . frv
/. years has come TO the front and nov
ranks fret ~ All individual State
IN volume Of cut.
: ~ presenl bat one fifth of hi
] total forest AREA 81 the Enltss
4 states ~ embraced in Natt0na
/. FORESTS The remaining four.hflh
have already passed or are mos
likely 20 pAas into private hands
! The average age VI the trees fells'
= for lumber this rear is not lesa thai
= $50 years. II other words. II b. i
!. ~ secure > second crop Of trees O
he same size. the lambeTman o
private forest owner must wais. SAY
u ~ least one hundred years Tor ~
o second crop % grow. - : falF
II such long.iims Investments - mi
), waiting woald involve DO not con
mead themselves 20 business me
" ubo are accustomed 70 quick ?
81 taTns.