The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-01
QUITTING DOWN THE FORESTS.
Increase in Last Years Lumber Cut
 and the Why of It.

Washington, Aug. 30.--(Special) )--- Figures of the lumber cut in 1907 compiled by the Bureau of the Census and the Forest Service showed the largest total ever reported in the Unit ed States. exceeding by over seven per cent. the cut reported for 1906, until then the record year. This does not necessarily 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,850 mills made returns, and their production was over forty billion feet of lumber. This is be- lieyed to include ninety-five per cent. of the actu& cut. In 1906. 22,39s mills reported about thirty-seven and half billion feet. Since according to these figures nearly twenty-nina per cent. more mills reported last year than the year, before. while the in- crease In production was only a little over seven per cent 1t might be tn ought that the amount actually man ufacture3 must have been greater In the earlier year. This, however would be a too nasty inference for 1t is al- most wholly among mills of small la- dividual output that the gain in the number of establishments reporting has been made
 
 States and regions throws additional light on the situation. Individual changes, as for example the remark able rise of Texas from eighth to third place among the lumber -produc- ing 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. It was not, however, the most important cause of falling off in the production of the year wh ere falling off occurred For decline in production took place only In certain regions. Tho south is the region of greatest activity in lumber production. and yellow pine the most important wood, forming thIrty-three per cent. of the entire ,cut of the country. The cut of yellow pine re- ported shows an increase of thirteen per cent. over that of 1908. In the early part of the year many of the Southern mills cut so heavily that, in spite of the eurtailed output which followed 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 reported than for 1906. though the number of mills reporting increased.
 In the Lake States the falling of evidenced the waning supply of white pine. Michigan, which for many years led all the States in lumber produc- ton, and then gave way to Wisconsin. 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 1t went from seventh to ninth. It was mt nnfil fha St,o displaced his group of States as the most important source of lumber sun. ply. Since Southern pine Is 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 timber will be gone In another decade; but in totals of production by individual 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 credited with slight increase In its total. In the early part of the year Washington suffered from car shortage, and at the end the combined efforts of business disturbance and higher rates had brought the industry almost to paralysis. Oregon kept up its cut because of It's larger propor- ton of coastwise and foreign trade. 1 These two States together produced more lumber than any other two States in the Union.
 It is a striking fact that though lumber prices have been steadily Eo- | ing up during the last half century. the per capita consumption of lumber has also been going up. In 1850. ac- cording to the best figures obtain able the average consumption to each | person in the country was 250 feet | in 1900. 460 feet, and in 1907. 4s0 feet. 1 This Illustrates what has been found | true the world over-that with indus | trial progress the demand for wood | becomes greater and greater