Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-10-19
NAHUM SHUKI
ON HARDWOOD
Grave Problem to Supply
Needs of Pressing De-
maDd of Trade.

| WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 19.-Al-
though the demand for hardwood lum-
Der is greater than ever before, the an
nual cut today is a billion feet less
than it was seven years ago. In this
time the wholesale price of the differ
ent classes of hardwood lumber ad-
vanced from rs to IS per cent. The
cut of oak, which in 1899 was more
than half the total cut of hardwoods,
has fallen off SO per cent yellow pop
lar, which was formerly second in
point OF output, has fallen off SO per
cent, ard elm has fallen off one-half.
The cut of soft woods is over four
times that of hardwoods, yet it Is
| doubtful if a shortage in the former
would cause dismay in so many indus
| tries. The cooperage, furniture and
vehicle industries depend upon hard
wood timber, and the railroads, tele-
| phone and telegraph companies, agri-
cultural implement manufacturers and
builders use it extensively.
| This leads to the question, Where is
the future supply of hardwoods to be
found? The cut in Ohio and Indiana,
| which seven years ago led all other
states, has fallen off one-half. Illinois,
Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri New Jersey, Tennessee, Tex
as, West Virginia and Wisconsin have
also declined in hardwood production.
The chief centers Of production now
| lie in the lake states, the lower Missis-
sippi valley and the Appalachian
mountains. Yet in the lake states the
presence of hardwoods is an almost
certain Indication of rich agricultural
land, and when the hardwoods are cut
the land is turned permanently to agri-
cultural use. In Arkansas, Louisiana
and Mississippi the production of hard
woods is clearly at Its extreme height,
and in Missouri and Texas 1t has al
ready begun to decline.
The answer to the question, there
fore, would seem to lie in the Appa-
lachian mountains. They contain the
largest body of hardwood timber left
in the United States. On them grow
the greatest variety of tree species
anywhere to be found. Protected from
fire and reckless cutting, they produce
the best kinds of timber, since their
soil and climate combine to make
heavy stands and rapid growth. Yet
in the lake states the presence of hard
woods is an almost certain indication
of rich agricultural land, and when
the hardwoods are cut the land is turn
| Cd Iry 70 Tn,
Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi
the production of hardwoods is clearly
at it's extreme height, and in Missouri
and Texas it has already begun to de-
cline.
The answer to the question, there
fore, would seem to lie in the Appa-
lachian mountains. They contain the
largest body of hardwood timber left
in the United States. On them grow
the greatest variety of tree species
anywhere to be found. Protected from
fire and reckless cutting they produce
the best kinds of timber, since their
soil and climate combine to make
heavy stands and rapid growth. Yet
much of the Appalachian forest has
been so damaged in the past that it
will be years before it will again reach
a high state of productiveness. Twen-
~ billion feet of hardwoods would be a
conservative estimate of the annual
productive capacity of the 100000
acres of forest lands in the Appalach-
ians if they were rightly managed. I'm
til they are we can expect a shortage
! in hardwood timber.
| Circular 116. of the forest service,
entitled 1.-THE Waning Hardwood Sup
ply" discusses this situation. 1t may
| be had upon application to the Forest
| err, Forest Service, Washington, D. c.