The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-07-29
RECEIPTS
SHOW GREAT GAINS

WASHINGTON, July 2s.-The ma
tional forest business done during the
fiscal year which ended June 30 sur
passed all previous records. The re-
$2,50O,O 900, of which about one-half
was for timber, while contracts enter
ed into for the sale of timber to be cut
either at once or in later years total
ed about $4,000,000. These sale con-
tracts permit the cutting period to ex-
tend over a number of years when
large bodies o. timber are involved.
Under existing laws 35 per cent of
the gross receipts, or between $780,
900 and 100000, will go to the bene-
fit of the states in which the forests
are situated, for schools and roads.
The records show that the volume
of sales contracted for in different
years fluctuates widely, with ups and
downs according to general business
conditions, while the actual cut has
shown fairly steady tendency TO
advance In the fiscal year 1906
July l, 1905, to June 30, 1906), the
first full year after the forest service
was put in charge of the forests, the
timber receipts were about $3.50, 900,
in the fiscal year 1907 something less
than 100000. and in 1908 about
$850,000. In 1909 timber receipts
dropped back to less than $750,000, but
in 1910 and again in 1911 were over
81 100000 and in 1912 were nearly
$L100,000, as against about $780,
900 for the year just closed.
of oil fhof fho trin-
cipal factor in determining how much
is the general lumber market, which
in turn depends largely on general
business conditions. Thus, when in
dications are that period of brisk
demand is ahead, with increased
building activity, railroad construc-
tion, mining development and other
forms of business expansion that call
for lumber or timber, operators are
seeking contracts. When business
halts lumbermen naturally go solwly
in the matter of committing themselves
by new purchases on large scale.
But cutting under earlier purchases
and small sales continues even in
periods of depression. The gradual
diminution of outside sources of sup
ply and the steady development of
the country, which create increased
local demands, tend to Offset the eff
feets of such periods.
As an illustration of this the figures
for 1907 and the Immediately follow
ing years are cited. In the fiscal year
1907 the forest service sold more tim
ber than has been sold in any later
year prior to that just closed. Con-
tracts were made covering over a
billion feet, board measure. But in
the fall of 1907 came business panic,
followed by inactivity. Sales in
1908 disposed of less than 400 million
feet, and in 1909 of less than 300 mil
lion. In both these years more timber
was cut under sales than was dispos-
ed of through new sales. The differ
ence was the result of cutting under
the contracts of earlier years.
Last years sales of over $4,000,O00
worth of timber does not neces-
sarily mean a prospective income from
timber of this large amount in the i'm
mediate future. To bring this about
there would have to be series of big
sale years. The present year may not
see sales equal to those of the last.
While general market conditions are
at present less favorable to large
commitments than they were six
months ago, the aggressive sales
policy now in force, with its oppor-
tunities for long-term purchases on
fair terms where sales are possible in
no other way, will probably counter
balance to greater or less degree in
fluences that -~~-- tend to check sales.
The need of the country for national
forest timber is growing and every
year brings normally more Oh this tim
Der within the radius of effective de-
mand. The yearly cut and the income
from the forests can reasonably be
expected to rise in the future as it has
been rising, however the number of
sales contracts may fluctuate.