The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-24
LUMBER LUMBER INDUSTRY CONDITIONS
IN THE MIDDLE WEST STATES

competitive. as q rule keenly !.
Competition becomes still more W.
orous in Its struggle between ~
ferent regions in selling lumbar
the main consuming markets Of m.
country.
Lumber retailing was studied IN an
OF the middle western states only !,
that region the service found II tn i.
competitive for the most part ~
though its competition is less rim,
Gus than in tie case OF lumber mar,
ufacturers. The restraints uno,
trade in lumber distribution. howers,
in the central states studied A.,
judged to be local rather than per'
eral; and developments in recer,
petition.
The rising cost OF lumber to CO.,
sumers. which held generally I'D h
1907, Is attributed by the forss
service primarily to the exhausttm
of the supplies of timber nearest {,
the bulk of eastern consumers. ana
the necessity OF transporting lumbp,
from greater and greater distance
Railroad freights now take a fifth \
more Of the consumers price, n
tatleTs about the same. amount, aD,
manufacturers, On the average, Iitul
more than one-half. The high cod
of lumber is thus due In large part h
local timber shortage, resulting ss:o1
the rapid using up of forests withou
provision for their renewal. Oths
causes, according to the service,
In the greater demands for specialize
service made upon the retailer by Ii
purchasing public, in higher labu
costs, and In the decreasing ptlrcha
ing power of money. Since 1870;
however, the effects of overprodus
ton have been felt, and the prices
common structural woods have mad
no sustained increase.
The report lays special emphas!
upon the fact that such waste in u
use Of our natural forest wealth
is now taking place will tell d
evitably in the future cost OF lumba
paper and other products manufad
ured from timber, as 1t has told
ready In many "cut out" states. Furta
ermore, under present condition
little is being done to restock ID
forest lands logged for their virE
timber. The total use of wood
the United States exceeds by a goo
deal the aggregate growth of its %
ests; and unless the enormous ara
OF cutover land, to which millions
acres are added every year, are
to growing new forests, the folt
service thinks that the danger o.
nationwide shortage OF timber
high prices for all wood produd
will become acute. The uns1s
condition OF the lumber industry,
report says. makes it unable TO
much toward renewal OF the fofss
which u has destroyed
The experts in the forest seri
believe that a more stable kind
forest ownership. divorced from mas
ufacture to 4 larger degree than noxy
must come about before sst& As o1
the lumber business can be cured
permanently.
The forest service advocates suci
forms OF cooperation as trade assu
Citations and selling agencies, sac
guarded by public supervision an
regulation. But changes In the con
petitiye status OF the industry. Iii
Joint control Of production or pria
can, In the view Of the service, CON
about only with an entirely differs
national conception of the COUNT!
basic resources. The adjustment
public and private interests In
tionai policy which seeks the wise
use Of forest resources and contrc
the industries which exploit tne
nay become possible. including
principle of regulating output
In any developments OF this natul
the public should have a direct and
ruling voice.