Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1908-01-31
OUR LUMBER SUPPLY
Our Forests rie Being Cut Much
Faster Than They Grow.
SOURCE OF SUPPLY CHANGING
The Centers Of Lumber Industry and
Classes of Wood Have Changed in
Twenty-Five Years.

Cl0CC ICOO Ju6 eOuiSO6 VI 4iAihOS
supply have undergone remarkable
changes. The first change was IN
the regions from which the principal
kinds OF lumber were procured, and
this was followed by the substitu-
t,ono Of other kind Of wood in 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, Pennsyl-
yania, Wisconsin, New York, Texas,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Washington-produced 1913
per cent, or more than half the total
lumber paod uction of the United
States. In 1905 these states pro-
duced 5l.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 per cent In 1905; Louis
lana cut or per cent of the total IN
1880 and rs per cent IN 1905;
Washington furnished but o.9 per
cent of the lumber production III
ISsOsand ll.5 per cent of that OF
1905. The cutting out OF the virgin
timber in the North and East has
been followed by increased drains
upon the forest resources OF the
South and West.
Despite these condition" the
amoupt of timber required has IN
epeaaed year by year. Inc increase
in consumption of tim her since 1880
has been more rapid than the in
creasf Of the population, and great
cit than in any similar period in the
history Of the country. This shows
ina Striklng manner how much th'
nation depends upon foreatproducts
and Indicates how greatly all in
terests must suffer as lumber be
comes; seatcer and dearer.
Statistics gathered by the Bureau
Of The Census and the Forest Service
chow Ahat the quantities OF timber
Ilsedslast year for lumber, shingles
ties, pulpwood, oooperage stock
mine tim bers, lath, poles, veneer
dlaeiIlatlon, tanning, and turpentin'
and rDsin, expressed in board feet
geaeha total Of approximately 81
bilIioh board feet.
While these drains upon the for
est are known with reasonable Ger
taintE there are others of which
there lis no record. Estimating tn
{. forest area of the United States a
from 500 to 700 million acres, AM
the annual growth at go board fee
per acre, the yearly increase is from
80 tos42 billion feet. AT this rate
The annual growth barely equals tn
arnaati4t consumed for lumber alone
Considering all the drains, the an
nnal consumption Of wood is prot
ably three times the annual growth
Detailed estimates of standing tim
Der range from 1,400 to 1000 bil
lion feet. Using the larger figure
and considering the annual growt
of 40 billion feet, II appears tina
there is not more than thirty thre
years supply of timber in this eour
try at the present rate Of consuml
tion.
At present only about % per Ger
of our total forest area is in Stat
or National Forests, the remalnde
being unreserved public lands or !
private hands. The forest area
amply sufficient, if rightly managet
to produce eventually enough timbt
to supply all our needs Yet priya,
owners, as well as the State an
National Governments, must nj
their forest lands in right way
we are to maintain our timber gu
ply.
Circular 1879, just issued by IL