The Tomahawk., 1919-08-14


countries of the world in forest area and produc'
ing more than half Of the sawed lumber; should
play q more important part In the export trade
of the world than 1t does now. With proper safe
guards in the way of maintaining the raw ma
terials, a strong export trade should be encour'
aged. But the gains which we may make In tho
markets Of the world can be kept only in so far
as they are based on a permanent supply of TIM
Der. II they are to be based merely on cut
which. as in the case Of oldgrowth southern pine'
will not supply even our domestic needs for more
than the next ten or fifteen years, we shall soon
be crowded out Of the foreign markets by coun-
tries which base their export trade on contnu'
Gus selfperpetuating resource"
Europe's emergency need for lumber, above its
consumption in normal times, 10 put at about
1000 900 900 feet of lumber a year for the near
future conservative estimate; and her own for
ests have been depleted by the war.
Europe however, needs cheap lumber above all.
and our product will not be attractive Tor inc
principal needs of reconstruction. according to
Colonel Graves. Nevertheless, the world stua'
tion in lumber he says offers 'an undoubted op-
portunity for a permanent export trade from tnlS
country OF proportions that would seem to De
limited only by our own powers TO sustain inc
production of saw material"
Senator Sherman presented to the senate the
other day q memorial from the Illinois leS'sa'
ture which was in part as follows:
"1xhereas the wood-using industries not de-
nandne upon uncertain local forest supplies have
hecome centered to a very large extent In the
thicklv populated districts east of the Mississippi
river and are drawing their supplies from the
remaining forests in the eastern states. the gulf
s+.tes 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 a very large and important group Chi
ceoo has for many years been the chief lumber
distribution point Of the United States and the
urentest point of lumber distribution In the world
These important industries, including the manu-
fscture of railway cars 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 have been drawn. They now face the neces-
satv of bringing timber from the Pacific coast
with heavy freight charges added to the cost. TO
the same Pacific coast supply the country must
Iool for lumber for general construction purposes
The transportation system Of the country must
add to its present burdens the transcontinental
shinment of very large quantities Of lumber
bulky product upon which high freight rate
greatly increases the cost to the consumer.
"Resolved, That the Fffty-first general assembly
Of the state Of Illinois urges the attention of the
nresident and the congress Of the United States
to the present timber situation and recommends
that without delay, there be formulated such q
national program Of forestry ~ will insure the
future timber supplies required BY the Industries
Of the country. As an example OF what snouid %
done. this general assembly points to the wise
course Of the republic Of France In 30 managing
its forests for more than century that they con-
tributed Substantially to the winning OF the grese
war. .. --
1T is further urged that the federal govern
ment acting independently or In eo-operation
vitA the states inaugurate action looking toward
such measure of public control Of the remaining
bodies Of original timber as win make sure that
their supplies will be available ~ needed BY the
industries. r.. 49,
"It IL furthermore urged that comprehensive
plans be put into effect for restoring the forest
on cut-over lands which are no1agricultuf11 In
character In the eastern states, In the states
bordering the Great Lakes, and IN the South. in
order that timber supplies from these regions
may be available to the established industries a
the central and eastern stateA"