The Penn's Grove record., 1907-02-01
Take to the Woods!

The American forest wilds are no
longer to be looked upon as a refuge
for unconventionality and therefore
under the ban. They yield gold, and
the supply need never be exhausted.
Practically the whole world is asking
for American wood and Its products,
and wood and manufactures Of wood
form a constantly and rapidly increas-
ing share Of the exports of the United
States. The total value Of wood and
its manufactures exported In the nine
months ending with September, 1905,
exceeded by 33 per cent those Of the
corresponding period Of last year and
aggregated for the nine months no less
than $685. 100000. If to this are added
the shipments of this character to the
noncontiguous territory Of the United
States not now included in our foreign
trade figures, the total value Of wood
and its manufactures leaving our ports
in the nine months in question will ag-
gregate $61, 100000, or at the rate Of
$81.O00,0O0 a year. A decade ago, In
the fiscal year 1896, the total value of
wood and its manufactures exported
was practically $32,OOO,OOO and in the
fiscal year 1905 was in round terms
$69,000,0O0, and If to this are added the
shipments to noncontiguous territory
the total in round terms would be ST.
100000. The increase in the single
year 1905 over 1905 was $11,OOO,OOO in
the shipments to foreign territory.
These expectations include manufac-
lures the production of which demands
immense capital, but the largest item
in the total of our exports is classed as
logs and timber. Even Of logs and
sawed and hewn timber" the total ex-
ports for the fiscal year 1906 were $15,-
$4,000 against $7,333,OOO in 1895, and
the shipments Of the material In this
crude form went to not only all Of the
principal European countries, but to
most Of the countries of South and
Central America, Australia, Philippine
Islands, Japan and even Africa.
An examination of the export record
Of wood and wood products for a long
term of years indicates that the most
rapid growth has occurred during the
last decade. AS far back as 1876 the
value of wood and wood manufactures
exported was but $17,25O,OOO; in 1886,
$20,500,0O0; in 1896, practically $780,
100000, and in 1905, $69,OOO,0OO, ex-
elusive of the shipments to our non-
contiguous territory, most Of which
was Included in the figures Of 1896,
and If added to those Of 1905 would
bring the total up to $71,O 600. Thus
the growth from 1875 to 1886 was but
about 100000, from 1886 to 1896
about $12,OOO,OOO and from 1896 to
1905 37,OO0,O 900.
Appeals for the preservation and per-
petuation of forests in this country
have usually been based upon the
'oAuo u SeunuAA6 timDSI dS d Wduer-
shed. But this is only a part Of 1t.
While doing this service to the whole
country, the forests can at the same
time produce wealth. They should not
be destroyed wholesale simply for
their immediate yield, and the science
of forestry teaches how they may be
made continuous producers of wealth
without losing their value in other re-
spects. The French government not
only regulates the cutting of timber
for commercial purposes, but under
takes to reforest immense tracts that
were recklessly denuded of growth
under the reign Of the nobility.