Milford chronicle., 1908-01-24
THE DRAIN UPON THE FORESTS.
They Are Being Cut Three Times
as Fast as They Fall.


Since 1880 the sources of lumbe.
supply have undergone remarkable
changes. The first change was il
the regions from which the princi
pal kinds of lumber were procured,
and this was followed by the sub
stitution of other kinds of wood il
their places. Neither the centers Of
the lumber industry nor the leading
classes of woods are the same as they
were twenty-five years ago. In 1880
nine States-Michigan, Pennsylva-
mia, Wisconsin, New York, Texas,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Washington-produced 81 S
per cent, or more than half of the
total lumber production of the
United States. In 1906 these States
produced 51.5 per cent, practically
the same proportion, but the changes
which have taken place in the out
put of individual States are very
striking. Michigan, for instance,
cut % per cent of the total in 1880
and but 5 6 per cent in 1906; Louis
lana cut " per cent of the total in
1880 and rs per cent in 1906
Washington furnished but 90 per
cent of the lumber production of
1880 and 11.5 per cent of that of
1906. The cutting out Of the virgin
timber in the North and East has
been followed by increased drains
upon the forests resources Of the
South and West.
Despite these conditions the
amount of timber required has in
creased year by year. The increase
in consumption of timber since 1880
has been more rapid than the in
crease Of the population, and greater
than in any similar period in the
history of the country. This shows
in a striking manner how much the
nation depends upon forest products
and indicates how greatly all inter-
Pests must suffer as lumber becomes
scarcer and dearer.
Statistics gathered by the Bureau
of the Census and the Forest Service
show that the quantities of timber
used last year for lumber, shingles,
ties, pulpwood, cooperage stock,
mine timbers, lath, distillation,
veneer, poles, tanning and rosin, ex-
pressed in board feet, reach total
of approximately so billion board
feet.
While these drains upon the for
ests are known with reasonable GER
tainty, there are others of which
there is no record. These are the
demand for posts, fuel, and domestic
purposes, regarding which it is more
difficult to obtain information, be-
cause the products often pass
through no market, but are consum-
ed on the farm where they were pro-
duced. Careful estimates, however,
place the total of wood used for fuel
alone at an equivalent of so billion
board feet year.
1t will be seen then, that the pre-
sent consumption of wood in all |
forms is above 100 billion board feet |
annually. Estimating the forest |
area OF the United States at from 500 |
to 700 millions acres, and the an
nual growth at 60 board feet per
acre, the yearly increase is from 80 |
to AZ billion feet. At this rate, the
annual growth barely equals the
amount consumed for lumber alone.
Considering all the drains, the an
nual consumption of wood is prob
ably three times the annual growth.
Detailed estimates of standing tim
ber range from 1,4O0 to 1000 bill
lion feet Using the larger figure,
and considering the annual growth
Of 40 billion feet, it appears that
there is not more than a thirty-three
years supply of timber in this coun-
try at the present rate Of consump-
ton.
At present only about % per cent
of our total forest area is in State or
National Forests, the remainder
being unreserved public lands or in
private hands. The forest area is
amply sufficient, if rightly managed
to produce eventually Y enough tim
Der to supply all our needs. Yet
private owners, as well as the State
and National Governments. must use
their forest lands in right way if
we are to MAINTAIN our timbersupply.
Circular 129, just issued by the
Forest Service, contains discussion
Of the drains upon the forests and
the sources and the duration of the
timber supply. This publication
will be sent free upon application to
the Forester, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington, D. c.
RuSineSS ImnrOVed Last Year.