The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-12-29
FUTURE OF PULP PAPER.
A Somewhat Pessimistic View OF Sit
uation Presented by Timber Expert.

uation Presented by Timber Expert.
"No one should be deceived by the
present hull in business in so lar as
pulp and paper are concerned, as th,s
ma rtic,ilar line Is in class by itself
and any decline in price VIII be very
transitory, as this industry diners
from any other, owing to the short
supply of wood, its raw material, when
will be the price controlling factor TOT
the future" says Frank ). y. barn
ium, who is wen known to the timber
interest of the east and Canada, IN
a letter to the Fourth Estate.
"rhere are so many paper companies
who own either no lands at all or very
small holdings who win be forced out
of business on that account, that there
will be a continued shortage OF pup
and paper from the time business
once takes on its normal stride, when
in all probability will be not later
than next March.
"The foresight statements apply
with equal force to the lumber situa-
ton. and as soon az building begins
next spring prices for lumber viii be
higher than have yet obtained.
"Within two years timber lands will
be selling in the state Of Maine, Tor
instance, for $50 per acre. | am willing
to stake my reputation ON TINS, ana
| shall leave it to my friends TO state
whether or not my predictions IN the
past in connection with timber lands
have been correct.
"When one considers that land IN
Maine has already sold for $50 and
more per acre. and stumpage contracts
have already been made at prices run
ming up to $3.50 per cord, it is not
very far cry to $50 land and Sl3
stumpage. -
"Within two years there will be mt
tie, if any, wood going out OF Canada,
and shall leave the reader TO imagine
what will happen when this annual
supply of million and half cords
IS no longer available to the AmerI-
can mills. .
This will be simply case of self
preservation on the part OF Canada, as
her own mills have absolutely no wood
to spare. The province Of Quebec has
already been forced to notify her larg-
or timber holders that they must re-
duce the cut on their crown lands one
half
"This will necessitate the purchas
ing bv the Canadian mills of all free
land wood which has been going across
the line: otherwise they will be pre-
maturely forced out of business them
selves.
sThe facts above stated are all in
dicative of our only too short timber
supply. and further emphasize the
necessity of practicing greater eonser-
walton.
"a word further to the paper mills,
Don't be deceived bv present supply
of wood in the mill yard and at the
railroad sidings, as every cord OF extra
wood cut this year means q cord less
standing.
s'In the wood we are now cutting we
are simply robbing our children
Cause of Conditions.
sThe present accumulation Of cut
pulp wood has been brought about by
the four following causes:
81. A temporary recession in bust
ness during the readjustment period,
which was bound to come.
"2. The increase in price of wood,
which helped TO pay for the longer
haul. as much of the wood that has
been cut recently is from the very
back end of many Of our timber lots.
"3. An attempt on the part of land
owners in the bud worm killed area to
salvage at least a small portion of the
bug killed timber.
{. The fact that lumber has tenn
porarily dropped in price, owing TO the
DELAY in building. causing a diversion
of logs from lumber to pulp wood.
''The great trouble with the paper
companies is that they are always
living in the present, forgetting che
past when at times they have hardly
known where the next carload OF wood
was to come from, and disregardipg
the larger and more permanent shor-
age Of the future.
"The latest reports which ! have Just
received from cruisers in New Bruins
wick now raise the amount Of loss in
the standing wood supply Of that prov
ince from the recent attack of the bud
worm 10 approximately 30 per cent, so
when YOU look at the present wood pile
don't lose sight Of any of the above
facts
1T is far better to look this situa-
ton squarely in the face and endeavor
bv every means at our command to
prepare for the future.
Therefore. ANYTHING that can be
said or done which viii tend 20 arouse
the public to realization Of the dan
ger that is confronting Us with regard
70 our future timber supply i pub
lie work Of the first Importance