The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-06-24
Lumber Production Of Lake States.

u
est forest regions that ever contri-
buted to the numbering activities of
any country, are rapidly falling be
hind in timber production. accord
ing to preliminary statement just
issued by the Bureau of Census.
Statistics concerning the annual
output of forest products, collected
by the Bureau Of Census in cooper
alton with the United States Forest
Service, from more than 2,l00 saw
mill operators in Michigan Wiscon-
sin and Minnesota big three
have shown that the cut last year
was only five and a half billion feet
of lumber. a big pile, yet IL per cent
less than the cut the preceding
year.
The heavy inroads made in the ex-
ploitation of the timber resources of
| the large lumber states on the great
lakes have been too much for the
forests and the amount available for
cutting is getting lower each year.
The decadence of the numbering
industry in this region is forcefully
illustrated in the drop in the white
pine cut during the past ten years.
Michigan's forests of this valuable
tree were the richest in the world
and were often said to be inexhaust-
ible. The follyof such statement
is shown by the report that the cut
of white pine in Michigan last year
was only one-fourth of what it was
in 1909. only eight years before.
In numbering the forests no
thought was given to anything but
immediate money returns. and con-
sequently the countless fires running
over the land, after the timber was
stripped. have killed young growth
over wide areas and greatly impov-
erished the soil. Now 100000
acres, or nearly one-sixth of the
state of Michigan, known as "pine
barren" have been thrown on the
delinquent tax list and are burden
to the people. Under proper forest
management this land would have
been producing timber today. Be-
tween 1899 and last year the white
pine production fell off nearly as
much IN Wisconsin as In Michigan.
In Minnesota, the state which now
contains the largest amount Of viz
gin white pine, the decrease in the
same period was nearly one-third.
Taking the three states together.
pine constituted nearly 46 per cent
Of the total lumber production In
1907, hemlock littless more than u
per cent and maple 10 per cent. the
balance being made up mostly of
Eastwood, birch, tamarack, elm,
beech, oak, spruce, ash and cedar,
In the order given. The pine Is
mostly white and Norway, which
are grouped together under the gen.
eral trade term of northern pine. "
Pine made up over nlne-tenths of
the lumber produced in Minnesota,
one-third of that produced In Wis
consfn and less than two-fifths of the
total cut of Michigan.
, Along with this great decrease in
pine, there have been relatively as
heavy decreases In the most valuable
of the hardwoods, oak. elm, and
ash. Little more than one-ffth as
much oak was cut in the lake states
last year, for instance, as in 1899,
while the cut Of elm and ash was
but half of that of eight years ear.
lier. AS is always the case, the de.
creasfng supplies of the more vafu.
able woods have caused those once
considered Of little or no value te
be drawn upon heavily. This has
been particularly true with hemlock
so that now more hemlock and pine
lumber is manufactured In Wiscon
SIN, and twice as much pine as hem
lock as pine cut In Michigan. There
have been heavy increases in the ust
of maple, birch and beech within
, the past few years, but the maxi
mum cut of these species Is probably
near at hand; and taking all thu
hardwoods together, there has beer
a slight falling off since 1899.
l