The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-11-27
TIMBER SUPPLY OF U. S.
Something Must be Done Quickly
to Check Waste.

Something Must be Done Quickly
to Check Waste.
'We are now cutting timber from
the forests OF the United States at
the rate OF 500 feet board measure
year for every man, woman and child.
In Europe they use only go board
feet"
Few statements could be made
which would better convince the
average man that this county leads
the world in the demand for timber.
1t is made by Treadwell Cleveland.
Jr., 10 a circular whichtreats Of the
conservation of the forests. soil, wa
/ ter, and all the other great natural
resources, which has just been pub
lished by the United States forest
service. In speaking further Of The
consumption OF timber in this coun-
t:y, Mr.. Cleveland says:
"At this rate, 10 less than 30 years
all our remaining virgin timber will
be cut. Meantime, the forests which
have been cut over are generally in a
bad way for want OF care; they will
produce only inferior second growth.
We are clearly over the verge OF
timber famine.
This is not due to necessity. for
the forests are one Of the renewable
resources. Rightly used, they 40 on
producing crop after crop indefinitely.
The countries OF Europe know this,
and Japan knows it; and their forests
are becoming with time not less, but
more. productive. We probably still
possess sufficient forest land to grow
wood enough at home 10 supply our
own needs. Ii we are not blind, or
willfuliy wasteful, we may yet pre-
serve our forests Independence snd,
with 1t, the fourth Of our great in
dustries.
s.Present wastes 10 lumber prodnc-
tion are enormous. Take the case Of
yellow pine, which now heads the
list 10 the volume Of annual cut.
In 1907 1t is estimated that only one
!, half of all the yellow pine cut during
the season was used, and that the
other half, amounting to 5000, 900
cords. was wasted. Such waste Is
typical. Mr.. r. A. Long, 10 his ad-
dress on .Forest Conservation" at
the conference of governors last
spring, pointed out that 20 per cent
Of the yellow pine was simply left In
: the wouds-a waste which represents
! the timber growing on 300, 900 acres.
, ''The rest of the waste takes place
, at the mill. OF course, 1t would
!, never do to speak Of the material
!. rejected dt the Iuill as waste unless
this material could be turned to ust
= by some better aud more thorough
form OF utilization. But in nanl
cases we know, and in many othe
cases we have excellent reason to be
lieve, that most, II not all, Of thf
material could be used with profit
es 1t is simply question Of intelligen
1e investigation aud, more than all, .
having the will to e:0nomize.
ne ..But there are other ways to con
4. nntttnu
ed half the present waste OF forest. .prt
m ducts. The forests can be made
produce three or four times as raplt
nd ly as they do at present. This
true Of both the virgin foresl
a. and the cut over lands. Virgi
OF forests are often fully stocked vii
first class timber, but this stock ri
nd been laid 10 very slowly. on accoui
la, OF the wasteful competition which
carried on constantly between u
or rival trees. Then, too, 10 tie yirg
forests there are very many Ire
,ch which have reached maturity a.
stopped growing, and these occul
space which, if held by younger Tree
would be laying IN new stock co
stantly. AS regards the cut ov
land. severe cutting, followed by ~
ol- has checked growth SD seriously In
A. 10 most cases reproduction Is ho
to poor and Slow. while in many 9th
vas cases there is 20 true forest repr"sl.
ind tion at all at present, aud there
for but little hope for the future"
Aoh .
an - - !.