The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-06-13
IDAHO and HER
TIMBER HOLDINGS
BEN e. BUSH TELLS In ADDRESS
OF STATES WORK In TIMBER
CONSERVATION.

The States Interest in Timber
was the subject of an able paper read
before the North Idaho chamber of
commerce at the meeting last week
at st. Maries, by Ben E. Bush of
this city, deputy state land commits
sioner. Because of the vast timber
acreage in Idaho, the information con-
tanned in the address is of especial
interest.
Mr.. Bush said in part:
"For over a hundred years the
lumber industry has been in the pro-
gress of migration from one forested
region to another. The eastern for
ests, centering in Pennsylvania,
passed their maximum production in
1890, five years later the lake states
were on the decline, and the south
at the present time is gradually los
ing her lead in timber production,
and will soon cease to be factor in
heavy timber cutting. Lumber pro-
duction is increasing in all western
states, while all eastern states are
showing marked decline. The
significant fact is that the burden of
the lumber industry is centering in
the west, and must remain here for
ever. 1t means not only that the
great consuming centers of the east
must haul the most of their timber
twice as far as before, but also by
far most important, that we are tap
ping our last reserves of virgin soft
wood forests 1t is in this regard
that the west must center it's interest,
to save it's mammoth industry from
the exploitation that eastern forests
have received Idaho is taking lead
ing part in the production Of lumber,
and in this, it's greatest industry at
the present time, the state is taking
an active participation in the admins
tration and sale of it's lands.
State Owns Timber.
"The state owns 100000 acres Of
the 100000 acres of forested land
in the state Much of this has been
donated by the federal government as
grants for public institutions, and
ownership is divided between the
common schools, the university, agri-
cultural and science schools, insane
asylum, penitentiary, public buildings
and charitable institutions.
The state of Idaho's 100000 acres
of timber land carries a stand Of
about q,O00,000,000) one billion feet
of merchantable timber, worth ap-
proximately s25,00O,000O0. The
money received from the sale OF TIM
Der is held by the state as nom
reducible fund, and only the interest
is being distributed each year. The
total sales Of timber by the state now
amounts to $2,919,970.00. The COM
mon schools get the greater proper
tion of this income, consequently,
every citizen is interested in the
states timber ownership. But even
if the state did not own an acre, every
citizen must become vitality interested
in the proper management OF all tim
her lands in the state, regardless OF
ownership, for the stability OF the
lumber industry, if they are to con-
tinue for ever the huge income which
is annually poured into Idaho by the
lumber industry
"There are 100 billion feet OF
standing saw timber in the state OF
Idaho and the business accompanying
it is mammoth one. The annual
cut is now practically one billion feet
in Idaho, while the annual cut of the
nation is 40 billion feet, and employs
more labor than any other industry
It costs $500 per thousand board
feet TO get this lumber on board cars
at shipping point, that is, total or
s25 900 100000 the greatest part OF
which is actually distributed IN the
state This does not include freight I
of lumber to point of use, approx
mately $4,000, 100000, a part Of which
is distributed here.
To Make Industry Permanent
"The state is making every effort,
and is sure that it is entirely pos
sible. to make this industry perman-
ant one at it's present magnitude, as
the forested area that is entirely un-
fit for farming or any other purpose
is actually capable Of growing one
billion feet a year To do this 1t Will
he necessary to keep fire loss down
to minimum, and to revise methods
If logging so that the immature tim
her will not be destroyed at the time
of harvesting the mature crop II
the constructive program tnat the
state is following in the admln1stra-
tion Of its own lands would be fol-
lowed in all lumber operations, the
desired results could be obtained. IN
sales the state is making in its white
nine areas. the purchaser is not al
lowed to cut any white pine under
fourteen inches in diameter, and de-
bris caused by logging must be piled
and burned, in such manner that
it will not iniure the immature trees
remaining. These definite instruc-
tions are included in the contract OF
sale.
Destruction of Industry
"a good illustration OF the de-
struction Of a great industry can be
had from the history Of the forest
lands of the state of Pennsylvania.
It is estimated that she had over 5O0
billion board feet Of standing saw
timber originally, and in 1850 she
had $40 billion, while now she has
the pitiable amount of 11,60O,O00 board
feet. since 1890 her consumption has
been more than her production, until
now, with her consumption at It's
greatest point, 23-4 billion feet, she
is only producing one half billion
feet, importing over "a per cent
Pennsylvania is today paying freight
bill Of around $4,000 100000 on 2@
,n,11,or hoard fnet Of lumber pro-