The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-12-26
TWO PROBLEMS
IN FORESTRY
(By 4. y. Forest scr,icc)

GrcolcN'S statement, mas TWO mait
features Tho first feature Is the
rising cost OF timber products
which Is due primarily TO heavier
transportation charges from more
and more distant sources Of supply
Tho cut of lumber Is decreasing in
all the Eastern states; In rractic'
ally evcry state west OF tho great
plains u Is increasing. The large
sawmills of the country arc In full
migration westward to the last
great virgin timber supply OF tho
Pacific coast During the past so
years the pinerlcs OF the South have
been the mainstay OF the densely
populated Central and Eastern
states for the soft wood lumber
used In building, In general con-
structlon and In many manufae-
tuTers. Their cut Is dwlndling. Ev-
cry year scores OF sawmills are dis
mantled.
The rapid increase In lumber
shipments through the Panama ca
nal forcshadows the time In the
near future. when the principal
source Of soft wood lumber for the
entire nation will have shifted TO
the ives; coast and the average
freight cost paid By the home build
or or manufacturer will have ad-
vanced to new aud higher level.
When the coniferous virgin tim
Der OF the far west Is exhausted In
its turn. II the principal source OF
supply shifts TO Siberia or South
America the transportation condl-
,ions which control the present lum-
Der market viii become different
only In degree. Further, as the
sources OF supply become more re-
strictcd and more distant from the
principal eenters OF consumption.
opportunities for competition are
lessened; and temporary shortages
due to bad seasons. labor troubles
or congestion OF transportation ia
cili,ies are more probable and more
severe.
Thus the conditions OF the trade
become more favorable to monopo-
l!stlc control to violent market
fluctuations. and TO high prices.
And we are dealing with basic
raw material. as widely used and as
necessary to, national existence as
coal.
The second feature OF our forest
problem is the unproductIye condl-
tion OF immense areas of land which
are not adapted TO agriculture.
The amount Of unproductiye land
left in the wake OF sawmills or
abandoned by the farmer has as
sumed enormous proportions. Our
merchantable timber Is being cut
at the rate OF 100000 or 5,000.-
900 acres annually. and enormous
areas OF logged-off land have ac-
cumulated which are not tit for
cultivation. button which little or
no new timber is being grown. The
extent TO which these millions OF
acres OF idle land have been swelled
by the ebbing tide OF cultivation In
many states Is not generally real
lied. In IS OF the Eastern and East
Central states the improved farm
land shrank at the rate OF 100000 .
acres a year.
Thore can be no question as 10
the steady shrinkage in the cultI-
yated area OF a considerable num-
Der OF the oldest and most popu-
luos states ard tho consequent
lapse OF large areas OF land into
partial or complete idleness. What
to do with unused and unproductiye
land Is one OF the most fundament-
al economic and social problems OF
the United States.
Including burned and cut over
areas and abandoned fields which
once grew timber. one-third OF the
soil OF the Union is forest land.
And three-fourths OF II lies In the
Mississippi Valley and eastward 10
the Atlantic coast, in the very
states having the densest popula-
tion and the largest consumption OF
timber products. Over 40 per cent
OF New York and Pennsylvania is
forest land. Seyenty-five per cent
OF Maine and New Hampshire IS
forest land. From As to 20 per
cent OF the area OF each OF the
South Atlantic and. Gulf states is |
forest land.
The use OF these vast areas OF ,
non-tillable land for growing sue
cessive crops of timber would kill :
two birds with one stone. II would
insure ultimately supply OF for
est products adequate for all ma