Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-15
CONGRESS TOBEUR GED TOADOPT
REMEDY FOR TIMBER SHORTAGE
Secretary Meredith Will Show Alarming
Conditions That Menace Agriculture
and Other Great Industries.

the world, the scarcity of high-grade
oak, poplar, ash. hickory, walnut and
| other standard woods is now placing
American industries in a critical con-
dition.
For the last ten years the United
States has been dependent upon other
countries. principally Canada. for
approximately two-thirds of the pulp,
pulp wood or news print required.
The production of rosin and tur-
pentine in the United States fell off
so per cent in 1919 and within ten
years the United States will lose it's
commanding position in the world
markets for these products. and may
be unable to supply domestic require
ments.
Direct Effect on FARMING.
But great as is the concern over
other important industries thus af-
fected the worry of federal officials
and of Congress is chiefly over the
effect upon the farms which yield the
nations food supply.
What the direct effect Of farming
is was shown in reports to Secretary
Meredith from $50 county agents in
thirty-two states where agriculture
is an important industry. Eighty per
cent of these report that the extreme
ly high prices of lumber are placing
a handicap on farm development and
the production of crops, and live
stock. The most serious effect report
ed appears to prevail throughout the
sparsely timbered regions, where, in
cases of emergency, the farmer is not
able to obtain supplies from the farm
woodland.
Live stock raising and dairying seem
to be the hardest hit, because of the
large barn equipment and shelter
necessary. 1t is reported that heavy
losses of implements and crops are
resulting from lack of proper storage
facilities In some of the newer sec
lions it is even reported that farmers
who have not yet reached a stable
financial basis are leaving the land
because of the costs of new construc-
ton. It is reported from all over the
country that present conditions are
tending to lower the standards of
living and to make it more diff
cult to hold on the farm the farmers
own children and desirable classes of
labor.
ImpIement Industry Menaced.
Indirectly also food production is
menaced through the scarcity of hick
CT, nd a a re
needed for vehicle and agricultural
implement industries. These are To-
Gated principally in Ohio, Illinois and
Indiana and are really key industries.
hecause the United States cannot af
ford to lose these lines of manufac-
ture They are essential for our eco
nomic life. While the exhaustion of
woods of beautiful texture is regret
table it does not mean that we will
he without furniture, because some
thing else will be made the fashion
gums. birch. maple. etc. But these
kew Industries must have wood OF
neculiar tensile strength and re-
.;,iency-steel or iron cannot be sub
stituted.
These key industries were located
in those states when there were splen-
did supplies of these woods. They
have been. cutting down into Ken
tucky and Tennessee, and then far
Their back into the Appalachian noun
tains. Now the main dependence is
upon the hardwood forests Of the
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