The Greeley tribune., 1907-05-02
Much
sLAUGHTER1NG OF TIMBER
STILL GOING ON
Renewal of Forests Only One
Third of What It Should
Be in the United
States


is using over six times as much
wood as he would use II he were In
Europe. The country as whole
consumes every year between three
and four times more wood than all of
the forests Of the United States grow
in the meantime. The average acre
of forest lays up store of only ten
cubic feet annually, whereas it ought
to he laying up at least thirty cubic
feet in order to furnish the products
taken out of it. Since 1880 more
than 100, 900, 900, 600 feet of timber
have been cut for lumber alone, in
Guiding $4,000, 900, 900 feet of conf.
ferrous timber in excess of the total
coniferous stumpage 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 stumpage
estimates made by all the Important
authorities. A study of the circular
must lead directly to the conclusion
that the rate at which forest prod
ucts in the United 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 usa and
to increase the growth rate of every
acre of forest in the United States.
This result Is timber famine.
This country is today In the same
position with regard to forest re-
sources as was Germany $50 years ago.
During this period of $50 years such
German states as Saxony and Prussia,
particularly the latter, have applied
a policy of government control and
regulation which has immensely in
creased the productivity of their for
ests. The same policy will achieve
States, because we have the adyan-
tage of all the lessons which Europe
has learned and paid for in the
course of century Of theory and
practice.
Lest 1t might be assumed that the
rapid and gaining depletion OF
American forest resources is suffi-
ciently accounted for by the increase
of population, 1t is pointed out in
the circular that the increase in
population since 1880 is barely more
than half the increase in lumber cut
in the same period. Two areas sup
plying timber have already reached
and passed their maximum produc-
tion-the northeastern states in 1870
and the lake states in 1890. Today
the southern states, which cut yell
low pine amounting to one-third 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 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 embraced in national forests
The remaining four.hfths have al
ready passed or are most likely to
pass into private hands. The average
age of the trees felled for lumber
this year is not less than $50 years.
In other words, if he Is to secure a
second crop of trees Of the same size,
the lumberman or private forest
owner must wait, say, at least one
hundred years for the second crop to
grow. AS a rule, such longtime in
vestments as this waiting would in
volve do not commend themselves to
business men who are accustomed to
quick returns. But the states and
the nations can look much farther
ahead. The larger, then, the area
of national and state control over
woodlands, the greater is the likeli-
hood that the forests Of the country
viii be kept permanently productive