The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-04-30
FACTS AND FIGURES
ON IDAHO FORESTRY
(From Idaho Country Life)
c. H. SHATTUCK, Forester.

lie FORESTS OF lUd1lO constitute ar
enormous resource. Few of our citi
zens realize what they mean to the
state. Men engaged in other indus
tries than those concerned with wooc
products are otter inclined to feel that
they have no interest in forestry. Yet
the prosperity of those engaged in any
industry is largely dependent on the
magnitude and success of other in
dustries If, for instance, the entire
population were, engaged in farming,
there would be little market for farm
products. The farmer wants factories
where large numbers of wage-earners
who are not producers but consumers
of his products, may secure the means
to purchase what he has to sell. So
it is also with the stock raiser or the
fruit-grower, each must have a de-
h,and fcr his products in order to
prosper. In every case the closer to
market the better, and the manufac-
turer has learned that it is a great
advantage to be close to large guam
titles of the raw material out of which
he manufactures his products.
The amount of raw material (for-
ests) available in Idaho for the manu-
facture of wood products is estimated
to be, at least, 1O0,OOO,OOO,OOO feet.
At the present time Idaho cuts about
700O0O,OOO feet per annum. but the
wood-using industries are only in their
infancy. We have hardly made a be-
ginning either in the amount of CAPT
tai invested, wood products manu-
featured or men employed. Yet at the
present time $17,872,478 are invested
in lumber manufacturing plants in
the state, or ffty-6ve per cent. of
the total capital INFESTED in manufac-
lures.
The total value of the lumber pro-
ducts has already reached the ten mil
lion mark per annum ($1O,68o, 31O)
and represents At per cent of the to-
tai value of all the manufactures of
the state; while of the 1920 men en-
ployed in our factories, SIP or 63.4
per cent. are dependent on wood man
ufacturing establishments for employ |
ment
In the matter of added wealth due |
to manufacture the wood manufacture
ing industry of Idaho excels all others
having contributed in 1910, 1884,
532 of the total of $12, AIS, 843, or
58.S per cent.
In 1910, $8O8,OOO were spent by
the United States government. alone
in protecting the forests of Idaho
from destruction by fire, and four
other protective associations expend
ed over 100000 in protecting their
own timber and that of private indivi-
duals in Idaho.
We protect our forests in order that
we may have the largest possible wood
harvest, for we have learned that for
every thousand feet of lumber and
wood goods manufactured, $500 is
paid to wage earners who must be
clothed and fed, thereby stimulating
other industries or vacations.
We should consider the fact that
at the present rate of cutting Idaho
has, neglecting the annual growth, a
resource in her timber which cannot
be exhausted in the next 14O years.
We can thus see that Our forests will
constitute a great stimulus to other
industries during the activity Of the
present generation and if the present
policies are carried out the time will
never come when our annual til;ber !
cut will exceed the annual growth Of
wood in the state.
The. present annual growth of tim
Der in Idaho is estimated to be more
than six times the present lumber cut.
1t is thus seen that the present wood
industries of the state
may be increased six times and the
still perpetuated.
If we multiply the figures given for
Idaho's wood manufactures for 1910
by six the results will reveal the actual
possibilities of this industry in the
state as it will be developed in a few
years. The figures are large but they
are conservative. and should stimulate
every citizen in the state to use his
influence in protecting this enormous