Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-01
Annual Cut in United
States Exceeds Growth.
How Germany Faced the Same
Timber Supply Problem.
Uncle Sam to Establish New Forest
Products laboratory.

nually consumed in the United States
al the present time is 23,00V,0o0,00O
cubic feet, while the growth Of the
forest is only 1000, 100000 feet. In
other words, Americans all over the
coantry are using more than three
times as much wood as the forests are
producing. The figures are based upon
a large number of state and local re-
ports collected by the government and
upon actual measurements The state
forester of Connecticut, in a recent re-
port, has given figures on growth and
use for New Haven county. which give
many more valuable details than are
generally to be obtained, and we'll H.
ustrate how the forest is being re-
duced by over-cutting. In this county
a very careful study was made on each
township of the amount of forest, the
rate OF grow tn, and the amount of tim
Der used. For the year 1907 the timber
used was 10000 cords, m the form OF
cOrdW0od, lumber, ties, poles and piles
The annual growth on all types of for
est land including the trees standing
on abandoned fields. for the year
reached "A total of $4,000 cords. Thus
INV 'tiiiotiiN 'd' SfhIIy tM 't''tls lIlt
growth by j0,J0a cords Cor uecticut'
ease illustrates what is meant IS hen the
exhaustion of the timber supply is spo-
ken of 1t does not mean that every
Tree viii be cut and that the grCunt
will BE- bare 1t means, on the Other
hand, that year by year the people o
thu country are cutting more timber
than the forest grows, and that within
a comparatively short time the con
tlnued loss will have so reduced tn,
forest that it will be difficult and ex
pensive to obtain timber of useful size
in sufficient quantity.
Germany faced the same grea tl'tim-
Der supply problem early in the nine
etnth century that the United State.
faces today, ard in solving it developed
heavy producing and well-adniA istere,
forests which are models for the rest %
the world. A study of the systems o
forest management offers many inter.
estng comparisons. The Un 4 State.
take 2to cubic feet per capi," annually
from the forests: Germany u ;es hu
q. In other words, this ountry
IS already using seven tines as
much timb'r per capita rs is Germany.
American forests are now producing
not more than II cubic feet per
acre: German forests are producing
~ cubic feet per acre annual
ly. Germany has reduced waste and
consumption and Increased production.
The nitcd states has as rap Nv grow
ing trees and as good soil as Germany.
and foresters say it is reasonable to
hat IA.
successful as the European cnuntry in
high per acre prud1'rtion Whtn every
owner of timhcrlani gets down TO prop
er conservation and development of his
forest property
1t is known that the United States
must continue in the future h. rely up
on its own fore SITS for the great bulk OF
wood which is used Despto the in
,ro:uctIon Of many substitute. / is not
possible TO conceive the tim, when II
viii be practicable to do without wood
tor many uses. The ultimate aim
therefore. must be to cut no more from
forests than they rroduc" ctch year
and to make their yearly growth equa
to the needs OF tin" people. rs in Ger
many, forest cons ervation in This coun,
fullest possible utilization OF The pres.
"nt supply Of timber. which V IN made ii
last longer: and second. thu handling
OF forest lands in such a way nat sue
cteding crops of timber will l." secured
At present only about one ilth of our
standing timber is in publ forests-
the national forests. state fort,sts. the
timber on Indian and military raserva-
TONS and rational parks. These for
ests are being managed &C t,ding to
the principles of scientific estry ST
IA rs funds available for tn admin
lstration permit The rest O. our for
"Sts are now owned by vdualS,
companies or corporations. IL lum-
ber industry in the United tes is to
i've. it means that large m factur-
erS Will have to protect al levclOp
their forest property. The | must
be numbered with care. fir, It be
kept ont. young growth pro ID and
every principle of forestry did to
the management of the lane that it
viii continue permanently In tive.
The governments new f. prod
nets laboratory will be loo; at the
University of Wisconsin. a allison.
Tie establishment of this Ia ~ ltory
means the concentration of III es of
the experimental investigat ~ { the
government looking to clost n' bet
ter utilization of timber and III ,neck-
ing of wood waste Forest SER C lab
oratorics for timber test WORK a Yale
and Purdue Universities an IL gov
ernmcnts wood pulp and nd chemis-
try laboratory in Washing "a II be
consolidated and transferre u Madi-
son. as soon as practicable. force of
IL to - timber test gineerS
experts in wood preserv: Il. wood
pulp manufacture and wo distilla-
ton, will have charge of the work car
lied on. The laboratory will have an
equipment valued at not less that SIS
600. The university will furnish the
Building. light. heat. and power. and in
return advanced students will have the
use of the laboratory for special work
In related lines.