The Washington times., 1920-05-15
timber SUPPLY|S
NEARLYEXHAUSTED
Chief Forester Graves Warns
,u Of Danger Confronting
81 Building Industry,

- The nations timber resources in the
South and Middle West are rapidly
being depleted, according TO Chief
Forester Henry S. Graves. OF the De-
nArtment of Agriculture. The condi-
ffon is becoming a serious menace to
the future OF the building Industry
according to Mr.. Graves. and demands
. Immediate conservation or lumber In
AL, lines OF activity.
commenting on the situation. Mr..
Graves says:
tft.sThe experience of the war called
sharp attention to the condition OF
oInf remaining timber supplies. The
bulll of the material for general con-
struction was obtained from rev
large centers OF original forest, often
involving long rail hauls and high
cost. Extreme difficulties were en-
eonntered In obtaining promptly an
adequate supply of specialized prod
ucte Ike some of the high-grade
h&rdNyoods. If the emergency had
come fifteen years from now we would
have had very great embarrassment
IN obtaining even the lumber needed
for general construction, except at
great sacrifice in time, cost ana
-cpQwding of the railroads. Most or
thb lumber would have come from the
Pacific coast.
:, awe may not expect n repetition OF
such a grave emergency as we have
lust passed through, but we would be
unwise indeed IL we failed to recog-
pi1e that the sources Of timber sup
MY upon which we have relied are
being greatly depleted, with far-
reaching economic and industrial con
sequences.
:. People Under Dels~ion.
R'"Many people are deluding them
selves with the idea that we DO not
need to concern ourselves with regard
: To forests because OF large virgin
supplies which still exist in the Pa
cffic Northwest, the Inland Empire
and California. have even heard 1T
suggested that IL we should use up or
destroy all of the forests in the United
states, there are very considerable
quantities of wood supplies in the
great river valleys of Brazil and other
South American countries.
Leaders of the southern pine man
ufacturers state that the bulk of the
original supplies OF yellow pine in
the South will be exhausted in ten
years and that within the next five
to seven years more than 5000 man
ufacturing plants will go out OF ex-
istence. This is an exceedingly sig
nificant statement. because it means
that the center of lumber production
OF the United States will within no
long time meve to the Pacific Coast.
While it does not mean that there
will be an actual exhaustion Of all
of the timber in the South, 1t does
mean that the competitive influence
of southern pine in many markets
Will be withdrawn and that there will
be the increase of prices that in
evitably must follow such an import
ant economic occurrence as the shift
Of the center of supply of a raw ma
terial one to three thousand miles.
Fir Coming FrsA Pacific Coast.
Douglas fir. from the Pacific
coast is already coming into the New
England market. This means that
because of the diminishing supplies
in the East the prices have risen to
\ point where it is possible to ship
lumber 5000 miles in competition
with that produced locally. With the
further reduction of home spruce
supplies, the approaching exhaustion
or white pine, in the Lake States, and
the withdrawal within a few years
Of Southern pine as a competitive
factor, the East will be turning more
and more to the Pacific coast. 1t is
estimated that the Lake States, which
a few years ago were the greatest
producers of timber. are today pay
ing freight bill of about $6.O00.0O0