The diamond drill., 1921-04-30
HAS TWO BILLION TIMBER
State Tax Commission Estimates Iron
Cos. Stand at That Figure

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Rollln Payne, timber estimator for
the state tax commission says that
the aggregate timber stand in the
upper peninsula is 26.207. 100000 feet
and OF that amount Iron county has
2,067,00 feet. being fifth in order OF
holdings among Is counties OF the
peninsula.
Mr.. Payne estimates there are 10.-
6S2.S50 cords OF pulpwood and 25.-
100000 cords OF cordwood and chemi-
cal wood available in the peninsula.
Houghton county's standing timber
aggregates 1868. .125.0O0 board feet.
Mr.. Payne says, ranking II as the
sixth county in the peninsula. Goge-
bic county comes first with 3,900.O00.-
600. Ontonagon is a close second with
3.l63.500,000, Marquette ranks third
with 0O.OO00.O00 feet; Chippewa is
fourth with 2.72O. O.O00.O00 and Iron is
fifth with 2.062, 100000.
The largest part OF the pulpwood
is hemlock, which aggregates $780,
900 cords. Balsam and white pine
are a close second. however. with 81
$4,000 cords. Spruce poplar and
jack pine make up the rest
"The timber i'm the northern penin-
sula is largely held and owned by the
large mill operators and corporate
interests" Mr.. Fayne said in an
nouncing his estimates. which are the
result OF a two-year survey and study
of timber lands. However, there
are numerous tracts of small mill OPP
orators and individuals. Many own
ers OF large tracts are continuously
buying and selling stumpage so there
is no attempt at controlling the vis
ible supply.
How long will the forests last?
This cannot be answered with exact
ness by anyone. If the present method
present number OF mills were to cut
this timber at the present rate per
year, IL would be a simple mathema-
tical problem But an increased de-
mand for forest products would de-
plete the forests much faster, while
itWtT anu
would greatly extend their life.
"The copper mines and the iron
mines each require a vast amount of
timber in their operations and they
undoubtedly will or have provided
themselves with sufficient timber TO
supply their necessary wants for so
years. Suffice IL TO say that the for
ests will last 30 to 35 years as a
source OF supply for a prominent In
dustry.
LAUNDERING destroys the forests but
there are other destroyers OF the tim
ber that are difficult to control and II
is impossible TO anticipate and com
pute their destruction, | refer to dis
ease, insects and fire.
II firmly believe that everyone
should do all in his power to prevent
the destruction OF the forests by Are.
When so destroyed no one Is benefit
ted and all share in the loss for every
one has an inherent interest in the
forests. In fact, 80 per cent OF their
ultimate value goes for labor, trans
portation and into the channels of
trade.
IF the present connscatory law and
method OF taxing reforested lands in
Michigan were repealed and law e.
nacted whereby corporations and in
dividuals, who realize and know the
economic necessity of a continuous
and ample supply OF timber for paper
and for general use and who desired
TO reforest lands not adapted TO agri-
cultural purposes, could be given aid.
believe we could make more real
progress. Such persons should be al
for an appraisal OF such lands. This
appraisal would be the basis for their
taxation for a period OF 25 years. or
some term sufficiently long to prove
beyond doubt that the new forest had
a commercial and marketable value
II cut before any change in It's taxing
value could be made / would furth-
er suggest that such individuals or
corporations could receive subsidy
from the state not To exceed 500 OF
the cost of reforestation This sum
could be returned 10 the state with
out interest when the forest Is cut
and in case OF destruction by fire or
otherwise. the state would share in
the loss.
IF such plan OF private reforesta-
tioh can be devised. | believe II will
be more successful and better pro-
vide an ample supply OF timber for
the future generations than state re-
forestatiou Before the forests are
entirelys depleted IL Is safe TO say
real practical method of reforesta-
ton will be adopted in Michigan and
throughout the United States.
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