Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-09-18
INCREASE IN LUMBER
CUT AND THE REASON

compiled by the Bureau of Census and
the Forest service showed the largest
total ever reported in the United
States. exceeding by over per cent
the cut reported for 1906, until then
the record year. This does not neces.
ssrily show a 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, $50, mills made returns,
aud their production was over forty
billion feet of lHmber. This is be-
lieved TO include rs per cent OF the
actual cut.
In 1905, 22, S9S mills reported about
81, 800, coo. 900 feet. Since according
to these figures nearly 90 per cnt more
mills reported last year than the year
before, while the increase in produc.
tion was only little over per cent,
il might be thought the amount act.
ually manufactured must have been
greater in the earlier year. This
however. would be a too hasty in
ference, it is almost wholly among
mills Of small individual output 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 individ-
ual output that the gain the number
Of establishments reporting has been
made.
A classification of the returns by
states. and regions throws additional
light on the situation. Individual
changes, as for example the remakble
rise OF Texas from eighth to third
place among the lumber producing
states, are doubtless accounted for
primarily by the greater accuracy of
the 1907 figures but in the majority
Of cases the advances and declines
can be traced to specific influences.
Before the year closed the general
business depression was severely felt
in the lumber industry. 1t was not,
however, the most important cause of
falling off in the production Of the
year where 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 SS per cent
OF the entire cut Of tbs country. The
cut Of yellow pine reported shows an
increase of IL per cent over that Of
1876. In the early part Of the year
many of the southern mills cut so
heavily that, in spite of the curtailed
output which followed the business
Disturbance later, the total was greater
than ever before. But in both the
Lake states and the Northwest a
smaller cut was reported than the
number of mills reporting increased.
In the Lake states the falling OFF
evidenced 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
oonsin. sank in 1907 from forth 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 90's that the
South displaced this group of states as
the most important source Of lumber
supply. Since Southern pine is
abundant in all the Atlantic states
from the Csrolinas to Texas. the re-.
gion az q whole will doubtless main.
tain its. leading position for. some
years. in spite Of the fact that at the
present rate the bulk of the timber
will be gone in another decade; but
in totals Of production by individual
states the leadership has since 1908
been held by Washington.
The figures Of production show that
during 1907 Washington fell OF very
decidedly from its huge cut Of 1906,
while Oregon Is credited with a
slight increase In It's total. In the
early part of the year Washington
suffered from a car shortage and at
the end the combined effects of bust.
ness disturbance and higher freight
rates had brought .the industry TO
paralysis. Oregon kept up its cut be-
cause Of its larger proportion Of
coastwise and foreign trade. These
two states together Iproduced more
lumber than amy other two states in
the Union. 1t is striking fact that
though lumber prices have been
steadily going up during the last half
century. the per capita consumption
Of lumber has also been going up. In
1850, according to the best figures OBJ.
talnable, the averge consumption to