The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-12-18

rsckless rate. evsA with Z big supply
in sisht. But there b greater drain
upon our wood resources. Fire tAke0
more than the mills. The eastern
slope Of the Rockies - 70 Per cent
burnt land, and the timber map II
splotched with great black patches all
the way from Puget sound to the
Penobscot. In some parts Of Maine
the burnt area greatly exceeds the
green. In the South the pine and the
cypress are being cut away at an
alarming rate. and In the Pacific states
the Douglas fr and other growths are
being turned into money a. rapidly
a. possible.
To make up for all the cutting. lit
tie 10 being done. Scientific forestry
IL making some progress. but as yet
efforts In that direction are as nothing
compared with tree slaughter. Re
forestation Is being carried ON in some
but a tree doesn't grow in a day. A
big spruce may be felled in I'VE min
utes. but its reproduction will re-
quire 40 years.
It is not altogether a question Of
wood supply. either. As the forests go
the floods will come. waterpowers
will fail and all industry will suf-
fer. Therefore, there must be = lot
of tree planting In this country. else
pretty much everything will 20 BY the
board.
Advance In Pulp Weed Values.
The advance in pulp wood values
within so months has been remark
able, even for the times. Before the
peeled wood delivered in the mill yard
In Maine was worth % a cord.
Now the price II $1S in Maine and in
New York state $28 q cord. This ad-
vance is due in part to higher wages
and in part to 4 little pronteering or
turn % thrift by the land owners.
Wages before the war. that Ii, up to
the spring Of 1917, were $50 to $S6
month and board. In 1918 and 1919 the
rate jumped to $50 to $65 month. and
in some instances as high ds $75 or
$S5 has been paid. Just now, because
Maine IL pretty well stocked. the de-
mand for labor and the price show q
declining tendency. But In the United
States ~ q whole the supply Of wood
IL short Of the demand, and there
seems to be NO prospect Of lower
prices either Of labor or product.
One operator in Maine. q Aassa-
chusetts man. who got into the lum-
Der business through his love Of ma
ture. cut last year on Nolunceus and
the east branch Of the Penobscot
$1,000 cords, or 100000 feet, Of pulp
wood and 100000 feet Of long logs.
and will cut this year 40.000 cords. or
100000 feet Of pulp wood, employ
ing 600 men at e62 4 month and
board or for piece work. $3.50 to 1915
a'cord. l4fI
The common impression ia that all
wood pulp IL made into paper and
that the increased demand for news
print alone IL responsible for the 10
nudation, Of our forest lands. It II
true that most Of the pulp goes to
satisfy the appetite Of the printing
presses. but there have been devea-
oped in recent years many and vari-
ous other uses for the fiber Of the
spruce and poplar. Innumefable
articles are now made Of wood pulp
doors, dishes. buttons. boards. boxes.
pie plates BY the million, trunks and
car wheels, and milady who peradss
tAs avenue. proud Of her gown of
6ieolette, may be surprised to learn
that in that silksn labfic 10 woven
tAs abef of the spruce she owss
something Of the lustef and durable
texture Of her Ansfy 10 tAs fragrant
forests Of Maine.