The state herald., 1919-08-08

Inc Onlteu Stdtes, stunning second among -n0
countries Of the world in forest area and prOduc-
Ing more than half OF the sawed lumber should
play more important part in the export trade
OF the world than II does now. With proper safe
guards In the way Of maintaining the raw ma
terials, strong export trade should be encOur-
aged But the gains which may make In the
markets Of the world can be kept only In 40 far
as they are based on permanent supply OF tim
Der. II they are to be based merely on cut
which. as In the casr uf old-growth southern pine.
Will not supply even domestic needs for more
than the next ten fifteen years, shall soon
be crowded ont Of the foreign markets by coun-
tries which base their export trade continu-
Gus self-perpetuating resource"
Europe's emergency need for lumber, above its
consumption In normal times, is put at about
7O00.000O00 feet Of lumber n year for the nenr
future. a conservative estimate: and her own for
ests hare been depleted by the wnr.
Europe however, needs cheap lumber above nll.
and our product will not be attractive for the
principal needs Of reconstruction according to
Colonel Graves. Nevertheless. the world stua.
tion In lumber he says offers "an undoubted op-
portunity for permanent export trade from this
country Of proportions that would seem to be
limited only by our own powers to sustain the
production OF saw material"
Senator Sherman presented to the senate the
other day n memorial from the Illinois lcgisla-
ture which wns In part follows:
"whereas the woodusing Industries not de-
pcndIng upon uncertain local forest supplies have
become centered to a very large extent In the
thicky populated districts east Of the Mississippi
river and nre drawing their supplies from the
remaining forests In the eastern states. the gulf
states and the states adjacent TO the Great Lakes.
A large number OF such Industries are located In
the state Of Illinois, with the city OF Chicago the
center Of q very lnrge and important group. Chi
cngo has for many years been the chief lumber
distribution point Of the United Stntcs md tho
grcatcst point OF lumber distribution In the world
These important industries. including the manu-
fnc,ure of railway cnrs boxes, sashes and doors.
farm machinery. furniture. pianos vehicles. and
many other articles. are now threatened by the
exhaustion Of the forests from which their sup
niles hnve been drawn. They now fnce the neces-
sity Of bringing timber from tho Pacific const
with heavy freight charges added to the cost. To
the same Pacific const supply the country must
look for lumber for general construction purposes
The transportation system Of the country must
ndd 10 its present burdens the transcontincntni
shipment Of very large quantities. Of lumber n
bulky product upon which n high freight rnte
greatly Increases the cost IN the consumer.
"RcsoIved, That the Fifty yHrst general assembly
Of the state Of Illinois urges the attention OF the
president and the congress Of the United Stntes
10 the present timber situation and recommends
that. without delay. there he Formulated such a
na,iopn, program Of forestry ns will insure the
future timber supplies required by the industries
Of the country. A. mn example Of whni should he
done, this general assembly points TO the wise
course of the republic Of France In no managing
its forests for more thnn century Tint they con
tribn,cd substantially 10 the winning Of the great
war.
81, Ia further urged TINT the federal govern
mcnt netting independently or In cooperation
with the stntcs innugurntc ncfion looking townrd
such measure of public control Of the remaining
bodies OF originnl timber ns will mike sure ihni
their supplies win he available M needed by the
industries
at In furthermore urged TINT comprehensive
plnns be pu, into cfrcct FOR restoring the forcs,
on cut.ovcr lands which nrc nonngrlcunrai In
character IN the cnstern states. IN the stntcs
bordering the Grcnt Lakcs. md In the South. In
order TINT timber supplies from these regions
may be available TO the established industries cl
the ccnsrn md enstcrn states"