Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-09-09
LUMBER INDUSTRY
MOVING SOUTH
RETURNS FOR 1907 SHOW LARe-
EST CUT IN THE HISTORY
OF THE COUNTRY.
SOUTHERN PINE VET ABUNDANT
FROM THE cARoLlkks TO
TEXAS.

Washington, Aug. 9O.-Figures OF
the lumber cut in 1907 compiled by
the Bureau OF the Census and the
Forest Service showed the largest to
tai ever reported in the United
States, exceeding by over seven per
cent the cut reported for 1906, until
then the record year. This does not
necessarily show larger actual cut
than in 1906, for the returns obtained
last year were more complete than
ever before. The figures themselves
disclose some interesting facts.
In 1907. 2S,S5O mills made returns.
and their production was over 40 bill
lion feet of lumber. This is believed
to include IS per cent of the actual
cut. In 1906. 22,SsS mills reported
about S75O0,000,OO0 feet. Since ac-
cording to these figures nearly 20
per cent more mills reported last
year than the year before, while the
increase in production was only a lit
tie over seven per cent, it might be
thought that the amount actually
manufactured must have been greater
in The earlier year. This, however.
would be too hasty inference. for it
is almost wholly among mills of
small individual output that the gain
in the number of establishments re-
porting has been made.
A classification of the returns by
states and regions throws additional
light on the situation. Individual
changes, as for example the remark
able rise of Texas from eighth to
to third place among the lumber-pro-
duclng states, are doubtless accounted
for primarily by the greater accuracy
OF the 1907 figures; but in the ma
jority of cases the advances and de-
clines can be traced to specific in
fiuences.
Before the year closed the general
business depression was severely felt
in the lumber industry. 1t was not,
however the most important cause of
a falling off in the production of the
year where a falling off occurred.
For decline in production took place
only in certain regions. The south
is the region of greatest activity in
lumber production, and yellow pine
the most important wood, forming 80
per cent of the entire cut of the
country. The cut of yellow pine re-
ported shows II increase of IS per
cent over Ii # 1906. In the early
part of the year many of the south
ern mills cut so heavily that, in spite
of the curtailed output which fol-
loved the business disturbance later,
the total was greater than ever be-
fore But in both the lake states and
the northwest a smaller cut was re-
ported than for 1906, though the
number of mills reporting increased
IL the lake states the failing off evil
denced the waning supply of white
pine. Michigan, which for many
years led all the states in lumber pro-
duction, and then gave way to Wis
consin, sank in 1907 from fourth to
seventh place, while Wisconsin went
from third to fifth. Minnesota as late
as 1905 held fourth place. Last year
it went from seventh to- ninth 1t was
not until the latter COS that the
south displaced this group of states as
the most important source of lum-
hn, &c
abundant in all the Atlantic coast
states from the Carolinas TO Texas,
the region as a whole will doubtless
maintain its leading position for
some years, in spite of the fact that at
the present rate the bulk of the tim
Der will be gone in another decade;
but in totals of production by individ
ual states the leadership has since
1905 been held by Washington.
The figures OF production show that
during 1907 Washington fell off very
decidedly from its huge cut of 1906,
while its sister state Oregon, is cred
tied with a slight increase in it's to-
tai. In the early part of the year
" tAoA4h ENVh ShAtACQ AlQAI a StsA
shortage, and at the end the COM
bined effects of business disturbance
and higher freight rates had brought
the industry almost to paralysis. Ore
gon kept up its cut because Of its
larger proportion of coastwlse aid
foreign trade. These tw3 states to-
gether produced more lumber than
any other two states IN the Union.
1t is a striking fact that though
lumber prices haze been steadily go
ing up during the last half century,
the per capita consumption of lumber
has also beeh going up. In 1850, &C
corlius 10 the best figures obtain
aJle, the average consumption to each
person in the country was 250 feet, in
1900, 400 feet, and in 1907, $50 feet.
This illustrates what has been found
true the world over-that with in
dustrial progress the demand for
wood becomes greater and greater.
ASFEALT IN UNITED STATES.