The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-01
Germ any and the Great Russian
Forests.

A source Of supply that will help
meet the urgent after war demand
for lumber and wood products, ac-
cording to EDWARD PERCY STEERING,
one of the foremost British authori-
ties on forestry, Is the vast, practi-
cally unknown forest region of north
eastern Russia. He was sent to these
forests to determine their economic
value, and the report Of his mission
is published in the current Geographi-
cal journal. At the same time he
lays stress on the danger Of permit
ting such wealth Of resources to fall
into German hands.
Every student Of industrial condi-
tions in Europe recognizes that as
great as the demand for timber was
before the war. it will be still greater
on the restoration of peace. The care
fully preserved, centuries old forests
of western Europe are being destroyed.
Not only have the wooded areas Of the
war zone been devastated, but the
forest lands of every belligerent ma
ton are being denuded to furnish
timber for military roads and rail-
ways, trench work and other battle
line defences. The axe has fallen
heavily upon the Black Forest and
Odenwald of Germany, and upon the
woods of Surrey. the historic Wind
sor and New Forests of England.
The United States will be called
upon to help rebuild the war devas-
tated lands and to supply Europe for
many years until reforestation has
restored the normal production. Mr..
SrEBBING believes that the vast forest
region of northeastern Russia can be
made another great contributor to
the lumber markets Of the world. The
area covered by these forests is that
almost unknown region comprising
the governments Of Archangel and
Vologda. 1t Is practically covered
with virgin forests. chiefly Of pine,
spruce and birch. about 80 per cent
of the country being afforested. The
extent of the forest may be appreci-
ated by the fact that lone district
alone in the Vologda government,
that of Ust Sisolsk, is as large as
Germany"
In travelling up the Dvina, Mr..
STERLING says, the forest belt is al
most continuous, NOW approaching
the river bank, ut other times reced-
ing to a distance of five or ten miles,
the intervening space being culti-
waited" He saw many examples of
the old type primeval forest, magnifi-
cent Scotch pines Of great girth rum
ming up to forty-five feet without a
branch, and hills extending as far as
the eye could carry, their SUBMITS
covered with thick old forests. OF
one wooded region, in which there are
80, 900, 900 acres, he says, 1.-The whole
countryside is clothed with one great,
almost painless virgin forest Of pine,
spruce and birch"
The development of this region is
imperative. or the area which for
merly supplied Russia's export trade,
100000 acres were in the fighting
zone. The forests not in ruins will
be needed by Russia to rebuild her
own devastated territory along the
erstwhile eastern war front
The world will make great demands
upon the forests of northeastern Rus
sia, and Of oil Russia's great eco
nomic resources timber will be the
easiest to convert into cash. Ger
many Is making strenuous effort to
gain the mastery in this region and
to control its production and output.
1t thus becomes a matter of grave i'm
portnnce to the industrial world II
Russia will be permitted to realize on
this resource or II Germany will grab
1t and exploit 1t for her own profit.