The Republican journal., 1908-09-17
THE LUMBER CUT OF 1907.

WASHINGTON, Sept. A. 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 United States, exceed
ing 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 billion
feet of lumber. This is believed to in
cIude 95 per cent of the actual cut. In
| 1906, %. 1913 mills reported about 81 12
billion feet. Since according to these
| figures nearly 20 per cent more mills
reported last year than the year before,
while the increase in production was
| only little over seven per cent, it
might be thought that the amount &C
tually manufactured must have been
greater in the earlier year. This, how
| ever, 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.
of No I'm hyy
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 producing
States, are doubtless accounted for pri-
marily 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
a 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, yellow pine, the most i'm
portant wood, forming SO per cent. of
the entire cut, of the country. The
cut of yellow pine reported shows an
increase of 10 per cent. over that of
1906. In the early part of the year
many of the southern mills cut so
heavily that, in spite of the curtalled
output which followed the business
disturbance later, the total was greater
than ever before. But in both the Lake
States and the Northwest smaller cut
was reported than for 1906, though 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 production,
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 1908 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 lumber supply. Since south
ern pine is abundant in all the Atlantic
coast States from the Carolinas to Tex
as, the region as whole will doubtless
maintain it's 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 decided
ly 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 a Car shortage, and at the end
the combined effects of business dis
7 turbance and higher freight rates had
brought the industry almost to paraly-
sis. Oregon kept up its cut because of its
, larger proportion of coastwise and for
eign trade. These two States together
produced more lumber than any Other
,, two States in the Union.
, 1t is striking fact that though lum
Der prices have been steadily going W
during the last half century, the pei
capita consumption of lumber has also
been going up. In 1850, according tt
r the best figures obtainable, the average
y consumption to each person in thu
= country was $50 feet, in 1900, 400 feet
: and in 1907, $50 feet. This illustrates
: what has been found true the worlG
/ over-that with industrial progress the
!. demand for wood becomes greater ano
greater.
I When Trifes Become Troubles
!. If any person suspects that their kidney!
| arc faranped thew should take FOley'S Kid