The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1908-10-06

il so happens, has been chosen by the
president to compile all the informa-
tion gathered for the commission. and
with his previous acquaintance with
the subject of forestry, he is at work
now charging the knowledge of forest
areas at present available.
The Importance of this census lies
largely in the fact that it will give an
~aeeurate basis for computing how long
our timber supplies viii last Through
the cooperation of the forest service
and the census bureau the country s
annual consumption of wood is known
with tolerable accuracy, although even
here there are some discrepancies, be-
cause a large amount of wood is used
for pasts, fuel and domestic purposes,
tor which no satisfactory data have
vet been collected. But the coneensus
OF opinion among those equipped to
Judge is that the present annual con-
sumption is about loo billion board
feet. or something more than that.
One leading authority has placed it as
high as $50 billion board feet.
Assuming a stumpage of l,4o0 billion
feet, an annual use of loo billion feet,
and neglecting growth in the caleuia
ton. the exhaustion of our timber sup
ply is indicated in IA years. Assuming
the same use and stand. with an annual
growth of 40 billion feet. we have a
supply for % years. Assuming an
annual use of $50 billion feet, the first
superstition becomes nine years and the
second thirteen years. Assuming a
stand of 1000 billion feet, a use of loo
billion feet. and negleeting growth, we
have 20 years supply. Assuming the
same conditions, with an annual
growth of 40 billion feet, we have 80
years supply. With an annual use Of
l50 billion feet. these estimates be-
come, respectively, Is and Is years.
1t is apparent from these eomputa-
why the National Conservation
commission considers the census of
So essential to the preparation
of its inventory.
The chief difference between the
methods now being employed by the
Conservation commission and those the
bureau of the census would use are,
while the bureau would send ont
snumerators to make personal visits 10
al parts of the country, the commits
sion Is aiming at the same results
through a tremendous amoun of cor
respoEdenee. For instance, 3.l00 let
have gone out 20 county clerks,
fer statements Of forest areas
N their counties. Seven thousand ium-
and timberland owners have
been asked to supply similar iuforma
ton. Ia all nearly 15o.O00 letters have
been sent. Those letters also ask for
4 wide variety of information besides
the area and capacity of forests. They
upon all phases not only of the
umbering and milling industries, but
# all others which are even indirectly
DEPENDENT upon the use of wood. The
purpose of the commission Is not mere
V To learn how much wood is growing
.ow. but how long it may be expected
0 last and how the supply may be
rnlnuoa1 hv a4auamH
All government departments and
bureaus which have any information
bout forests. as well as many large
Operations, such as land grant rad
Dads which hold bag forest tracts II
4ome states and have cruised them
arefuliy. have turned il over TO Mr..
The forest service naturally has the
fuEd II iafor nation. and it is
'atherir more e~oasta-siy, ether inde-
'endently or 18th he help of the cen
bureau. TIE 3f~1rt-aeut of war.
he interior, and and labor
AN turn over the amounts Of timber
on military, lighthouse, aud
reservations. The bureau Of cur