Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-02-17
CREST RESERVES ARE RAPID
LY BEING DEPLETED
,hief Forester Greeley Says That
Strictest Economy Is Necessary
to Save Present Supply.

As never before the world is taking
stock of what it needs, Chief Forest.
er William B Greenly says in his
annual report. Not the least import.
ant of these things is wood, he says
aud to take stock of how much wood
we have and what We shall need. is
an important step in determining our
future attitude towards our forests
AS a background to this broad
inquiry" Col. Greedy continues
I forest service Investigators have
completed an exhaustive compilation
OF the forest resources of the world
One startling revelation is that so far
as our great structural and all
purpose woods-the soft woods
concerned, we must become self-suf-
ficient or go without. Siberia has
forested areas, yet if all the
Siberian timber were at the undisput
ed call of the United States, the guam
tity available for annual export would
hardly amount TO one fourth our dem
ands Further, great part of the
forests of Siberia lie within the inter
Tor of the continent aud never viii be
available.
There is an immense reservoir OF
hardwood IN the tropics, which can
be used for limited and special pur-
poses and secured at mahogany price.
But the struggle for the world Is
supply of softwoods will become more
and more tense and those nations
will fare best that prudently use
their suitable waste lands for grow.
ing coniferous woods. This study
skaters the dream of those who rely
on importing the timber we need
when our own is gone.
The situation is not hopeful
when we turn to our own forests.
There has been marked and fairly
steady decline in our national output
of lnmber from about 40 ZOO, O00, 600
board feet in 1905 to less than "a 600
900, 900 board feet in 1920. This down
ward trend, which seems unlikely to
turn upward again at any time that
can DOW be fOrseen, has taken place
in spite of large increase in popula-
ton, with its increasing demand for
housing, furniture and wood in many
other forms. The decline in the pro-
duction of lumber, and the increase
in population have resulted in a strik-
ing drop in the per capita consump
ton of lumber-from over 500
board feet per person in 1906 to about
800 board feet In 1920. This decline
in the consumption of wood inquest
iOnably means decline in the stand
ards of living. OF this declining
standard the shortage of housing is
an impressive example.
"The shortage of lumber, with it's
cOrrolary of high prices, has follow
ed the westward sweep of numbering
Whlte the Dulk or our population and
the greatest demand for lumber re-
main in the central and eastern states
The nations lumber shipment in
1920 was no less than 1910, 900
carloads and the average haul for
each carload was 4s5 miles. Accord.
ing to the best estimate the forest
service is able to make, the freight
/ bill on lumber for that year was s275
90O 600 This sum merely gives one
measure of the cost Of treating oui
+ forests as mines intead of timber
/ farms. A fraction of this sum
wisely invested each year in forest
protection and rehabilitation would
grow wood where it is needed, red
uce the nations freight bill, cheaper
/ lumber and release vast amounts Of
railroad equipment and labor FOL
unavoidable transport. Coal ana
iron cannot be grown, but timber can