Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-05-03
THE TIMBER SUPPLY.
Three Times rs Much Timber Used
Each Year as the Forest Grows.

hNtIN person III lnt Onlteu SUITES
is using over six times as much wool
as he would use IL he were in Eur
ope. The country as a whole con-
sumes 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 10
cubic feet. where as Il ought to be
laying up at least 80 cubic feet In
order 20 furnish the products taken
out of Il. Since 1850 more than
200, 900 900. 900 feet of timber have
been cut for lumber alone, including |
$1,000, 100000 feet of coniferous
timber In excess of the total confer
sus in 1850.
These are some of the remarkable |
statements made in clrclar 81 of the |
statements made In circular 81 of
the forest service, which deals with
the timber supply OF the United !
States and reviews the stumpage es-
Inmates made by all the important
authoritias. A study OF the clrculap
must lead directly to the conclusion
that the rate at which forest sroducts
in the United states have been and
are consumed Is far too lavish, and
that only one result can follow un-
less steps are promptly taken to pre-
vent waste In use and 20 increase
the growth rate OF every acre of for
est in the United States. This re-
suit in a timber famine. This coun-
try is today in the same position with
regard TO forest resources as was
Germany 150 years ago. During this
period of 150 years such German
states as Saxony and Prussia. partic-
ularly the latter, have applied a poi
Icy of government control and regu-
lation which has immensely increas-
ed 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 learn
ed and paid for In the couse OF a
century of theory and practice.
Lest II might be assumed that the
e rapid and gaining depletion OF
= American forest resources is sufflci-
I emily accounted for by the lncreas
j OF population, II is pointed out In
G the circular that the increase In
population since 1880 is barely more
= than half the increase In lumber cut
G In the same period. Two areas sup
II plying timber have already reached
/, and passed their maximum produc-
n tion-the northeastern states In 1870
J. and the lake states I'm 1890. Today
n the southern states. which cut vel.
= low pine, amounting TO one-third the
d total annual lumber cut OF the coun
10 try are undoubtedly near their maxi
II mum. The Pacific States will soon
r take the ascendency. The state oi
y Washington within a few years has
n come TO the front and now ranks FIRST
o OF all individual states In volume OF
= cut.
= Al present hut one-tfth OF the to-
e tai forest area OF the United States
j. Is embraced In national forests
The remdining four-hfths have al
ready passed or are mostly likely "a
pass into private hands. The aver
age age OF the trees felled for lum.
ber this year is not less than 15O
J. Years. In other words. II he is 90
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 10 grow. As rule. such long
time investments as this waiting
would Involve do not commend them
selves TO business men who are ac-
oustomed TO quick returns. but the
states and the nation can look much
: farther ahead. The larger. then. thy
area OF national and state control
over woodlands. the greater Is the
!, likelihood that the forests OF the
country will be kept permanently
productive.