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FOREST RESOURCES of the 


Douglas- Fir 
Region 


@ FOREST SERVICE 


Historic, archived document 


Do not assume content reflects current 
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. 


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FOREST SURVEY STAFF 
Pacific Northwest Forest Expervment Station 


H. J. ANDREws, zn charge 1930-38 
R. W. Cow in, zn charge 1938— 


W. H. BoLes D. N. MatTHEws 
P. A. BRIEGLEB W. H. MEYER 

E. D. BUELL F. L. Moravets 
H. M. JoHnson P. N. PRATT 

P. D. Kemp W. J. WAKEMAN 
C. W. KLINE 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT 


In publishing the results of the Forest Survey in the Douglas-fir region 
credit must be given to the efficient service of temporary and assigned 
field personnel both of the experiment station and of the North Pacific 
Region of the Forest Service. Valuable cooperation of numerous other 
individuals and agencies included assistance and advice from the State 
forestry departments and agricultural experiment stations of Oregon and 
Washington, and the helpful cooperation of the forest protective organiza- 
tions, commercial cruising firms, and the West Coast Lumbermen’s 
Association. F. P. Keen, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, 
contributed data on depletion by insects. J. W. Girard, Forest Service, 
Washington, D. C., developed the procedure used in adjusting timber 
cruises. As station director, ‘Thornton T. Munger gave leadership through- 
out the history of the project and directed the preparation of the report. 


UsNe aise D SAEs (DE RPARTEMENT-OF AGRICULTURE 


MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATION NO. 389 WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 1940 


Forest Resources 
of the Douglas-Fir Region 


by H. J. ANDREWS and 
R. W. COWLIN, senior forest economists 


PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOREST AND RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION 


FOREST SERVICE 


UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE - WASHINGTON =: 1940 


FOR SALE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, WASHINGTON, D. C., PRICE 50 CENTS 


The Forest Survey 


FFECTIVE rehabilitation and constructive management of this country’s forest 
resources require not only protection against neglect and destruction but, with 
equal urgency, provision for permanent and wise use. Intelligent forest land use 

planning must be based upon reliable facts as to location, area, and condition of existing 
and prospective forest land, supply of timber and other forest products, forest depletion 
and forest growth, and production and consumption of forest products. ‘This necessity for 
dependable and comprehensive data is now being translated into action through the pro- 
visions of the McSweeney-McNary Forest Research Act of 1928, authorizing a Nation- 
wide forest survey. ‘The Forest Service was directed by the Secretary of Agriculture 
to conduct the survey. 


The fivefold purpose of the Forest Survey is: (1) To make an inventory of the extent 
and condition of forest lands and of the present supply of timber and other forest products 
on these lands; (2) to ascertain the rate at which this supply is being increased through 
growth, and the potential growth on forest areas; (3) to determine the extent of depletion 
of the forests through cutting and through loss from fire, insects, disease, wind throw, and 
other causes; (4) to determine the present consumption and the probable future trend in 
requirements for timber and other forest products; and (5) to analyze and correlate these 
findings with other economic data, as an aid in the formulation of private and public 
policies for most effective and rational use of land suitable for forest production. 


These investigations are conducted in each forest region of the United States by the 
regional forest experiment station of the Forest Service. In Oregon and Washington 
they are conducted by the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, with 
headquarters at Portland, Oreg. 


It is planned to publish the results of this investigation, as they become available, in a 
series of reports applying to large forest areas such as districts, regions, and States. It is 
expected that the information presented in these reports for large geographic units will 
facilitate more intensive studies of small areas. 


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Contents 


2 


Survey findings in brief . 
The Douglas-fir region 
Major phases of survey 
Methods and specifications 
Standards of measurement . 
Species and size classification 
Type definitions and type mapping 
Nonforest types 
Woodland types . 
Timberland types 
Miscellaneous types . 
Classifications 
Ownership classes 
Other classifications . 
Forest inventory . 
Types and areas . 
Nonforest land 
Conifer sawlog types . 
Conifer types less than eriloe sze . 
Deforested lands . 
Woodland = and 
forests 
Hardwood Fores 
Forest site quality 
Timber volume ; 
Saw-timber volume . 
Economic availability 
Cubic volume 4 
Ownership of forest resources 
Private ownership 
National-forest ownership 
State ownership . 
County ownership 
Municipal ownership 
Indian ownership 
Revested grant lands. 
Other Federal lands . 
Depletion . 
Cutting deniciont 
Sawlog production 


noncommercial 


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Depletion—Continued. 

Cutting depletion—Continued. 

Forest fuel wood . 
‘Forest pulpwood . 
Other minor timber products 

Fire depletion . ne ie 

Depletion from other causes. 

Assumed future depletion 

Forest growth . : : 

Kinds of growth eAculanen made 

Current annual growth . 

Realizable mean annual growth. 
Results of computation . 
Interpretation of results . 

Potential annual growth . 

Comparison of current, realizable, ana 

potential growth 

Trends in future forest increment 
If present forest practice continues. 


If forest practice becomes more 
intensive 3 he 
If selective cutting is wadely em- 
ployed . 
Summary . 


Forest protection . 
Protection on Peteea tangles : 
Protection on State, county, and private 
lands : 
Future hazard conditions 
Land use 
Agriculture 
Present use of lana ‘es aenieale 
TURE s. 
Trends in Aoriculearall linda use 
Relation of agricuiture to forests 
Forest land use 
Status of cut-over land 
Timber production . 
Production of sounodice: 
than timber 


other 


eh Teaver RP hetC.e le @ ie vN| 


Land use—Continued. 

Status of cut-over land—Continued. 
Soil and watershed protection . 
Recreation : 
Wildlife production andl use. 
Grazing ets 
Forest problem areas 

Forest industries . : 

Conditions in the mcluemies: 

Development. 
Integration 
Investments . 
Labor . 
Production 

Markets 

Logging ge 
Types of organization 
Methods 
‘Transportation 

Lumber manufacture 
Sawmills . 

Transportation and rene 
Sawmill byproducts . 

Other wood-using industries. 

Pulp and paper manufacture 
Shingle manufacture. it 
Veneer and plywood manufacture . 
Wood preserving. ‘ 
Secondary wood-using RGR ies 

Future timber supplies in relation to indus- 

trial development . 
Major forest districts . 

Puget Sound district . 
Grays Harbor—Willapa Bay age ict. 
Columbia River district 
Willamette River district 
Oregon coast district 
South Oregon district 

Future depletion and inventories 
Sawlogs 
Pulpwood 
Plywood 3 
Poles and piling . 

Fuel 
Hardwoods 


Forest-land management problem 


Uses of forest land other than for timber 


‘production 

Future agricultural expansion 
Forage production 
Recreation 


Page 


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76 
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81 
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OF 
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104 
109 
ile 
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115 


AS 
GS 
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(IV) 


Forest-land management problems—Con. 
Uses of forest land—Continued. 
Wildlife : 
Sustained-yield forest Manaeenent 
Forest-land ownership 
Stable ownership essential to contin- 
uous-production management 
Factors influencing liquidation of 
private ownership . : 
Areas favorable for private owner- 
ship : 
Current trend to eee SSN - 
Integration of public lands and pol- 
icies desirable 
Public-acquisition programs 
A regional forest program 
Future situation if present crendeme con- 
tinue 
Stabilizing forest- lana Ganership 
Public acquisition of forest land 
Public regulation of forest-land use 
Methods of cutting 
Slash disposal 
Sustained yield 
Restriction of cutting 
Forest protection : 
Reforestation of aenuded ees 
Forest research. : 
Forestry extension and foreste edie 
tion. 
The public Peony 
Management of public forest eral 
Improvements 
Legislation : 
The private owners’ perpen ‘ 
Control of overproduction 
Logging practice . 
Utilization of minor species . 
Manufacturing practice . 
Industrial expansion. 
Road development 
Sustained-yield management 
Conclusions. 
Literature cited 
Appendix . 
Inventory Pretods anche sources. 
Depletion-study methods and sources . 
Periodic saw-timber growth . 
Method of computing realizable mean 
annual growth. 
Supplemental tables . 


Page 


( 


PE OBReES Sea RAESSIO,URREGeEis( OOF Tf HE, DO U GLAS =-FITR REGION 


: Survey Findings in Brief 


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HE highest service that forests of the Douglas-fir region can render is in support and stabilization of 

communities dependent on them. Included are, not only the people and investments in forest 

industries, but also those in farms, stores, banks, garages, schools, transportation, and various industries. 
Forests support in one way or another about half the population of the region. ‘To redeem this enormous 
responsibility for service, forests must furnish a permanent annual harvest of material equal at least to 
present production. ‘This will require sustained-yield forest practice, including acceptance of the responsi- 
bilities of permanent ownership. 

The major problem therefore is to bring about promptly the adoption of a system of managing old- 
growth and second-growth forests for the continuous production of high-quality material while there is yet 
sufficient growing stock to do so without calamitous dislocation of people and industry. 

A factual resume of the findings of the Forest Survey, as presented in detail in subsequent pages of this 
publication, is as follows: ' 

1. The forest is an integral part of the farm economy of the Douglas-fir region. Forests furnish fuel, 
fence posts, and other products essential to farm management and rural life. Forest products are important 
crops to many farmers. Forest industries afford part-time employment to many farmers and support, 
directly and indirectly, approximately half the population of the region. 

2. The Douglas-fir region produces 30 percent of the lumber, 90 percent of the shingles, and 23 percent 
of the wood pulp produced in the United States, depending chiefly upon outside markets. 

3. The major forest problem in the Douglas-fir region is the necessity for instituting a system of managing 
old-growth forests for continuous production. ‘This means that clear cutting over vast areas, which has 
resulted in large areas of nonstocked cut-over land, must be halted. 

4. The Douglas-fir region has 29 million acres of forest land, amounting to 82.6 percent of its total land 
area. Of this, 26.1 million acres, or 90 percent, was classified in the forest survey as commercial conifer. 

5. Conifer types of saw-timber size occupy more than 14.5 million acres, of which 11.6 million is old 
growth and 2.9 million second growth. Second-growth conifer types less than saw-timber size occupy 7 
million acres. Deforested burns, old nonrestocked cut-overs, and recent cut-overs total 4.4 million acres. 

1 Forest survey progress releases on the Douglas-fir region issued by the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment 
Station previous to the publication of this major report are: (1) Forest statistics in separate form for Clallam, Clark, 
Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, 
Thurston, Wahkiakum, and Whatcom Counties, Wash., and for Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, 
Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Coun- 
ties, Oregon. 1934. [Mimeographed.] (2) Forest Resources of the Douglas-Fir Region. Forest Res. Notes No. 13. 1934. 
[Mimeographed.] (3) Pulpwood Resources of Western Oregon and Western Washington. Forest Res. Notes No. 17. 
1935. [Mimeographed.] (4) Forest Growth in the Douglas-Fir Region. Forest Res. Notes No. 20. 1936. [Mimeographed. | 
(5) Timber Volume and Type Acreage on the National Forests of the North Pacific Region. Forest Res. Notes No. 22. 
1937. [Mimeographed.] (6) Detailed forest type maps of each of the above listed 38 counties. Scale 1inch equals1 mile. Blue 
line print form. 1934. (7) State type maps—Douglas-fir region covered by four sheets, NW Washington, SW Washing- 
ton, NW Oregon, SW Oregon. Scale 4% inch=1 mile. 1936. [Lithographed.] The Pacific Northwest Station has also 
cooperated with the State of Washington in the following recent publication: Cow in, R. M., and Morets, F. L., FoREsT 
RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON. Wash. Dept. of Conserv. and Development, Olympia. 44 pp., illus. 


(1) 


6. More than 3 million acres of forest land in the Douglas-fir region was cut over prior to 1920 and in 
1933 had not been put to other use; of this total, in 1933, 28 percent was well stocked with second-growth 
trees, 36 percent was medium stocked, 15 percent was poorly stocked, and 21 percent was nonstocked. In 
the period 1920-33 more than 2 million acres was cut over, of which at the end of the period 12 percent 
was well stocked with reproduction, 17 percent was medium stocked, 29 percent was poorly stocked, and 
42 percent was nonstocked. Of the total area of cut-over land in the region, 50 percent is satisfactorily 
restocked and 50 percent is either nonstocked or only poorly stocked. 

7. The region’s saw-timber stand totals 546 billion board feet, log scale, all but 4 billion of which is 
conifers. Douglas-fir, the leading species, totals 331 billion feet, and is followed by western hemlock with 
105 billion board. feet. Other important species are western redcedar, Sitka spruce, and silver fir. 

8. It was estimated that only a little more than half the saw-timber volume could profitably be logged 
under the conditions that prevailed during the period 1925-29. 

9. The regional total of cubic volume in trees 6 inches and larger in breast-height diameter is 129 
billion cubic feet; species eminently suitable for pulp manufacture make up 39 billion cubic feet, or 30 percent, 

10. More than 53 percent of the commercial forest land and approximately 48 percent of the saw-timber 
volume in the Douglas-fir region are privately owned, and 30 percent of the commercial forest land and 37 
percent of the saw-timber volume are within the national forests. The remaining 17 percent of the land 
and 15 percent of the volume are in other forms of pubiic ownership or owned by Indians. 

11. Current annual depletion of saw timber from all causes is estimated to total about 8.3 billion board 
feet, of which 7.9 billion board feet is cutting depletion. 

12. Sawlog production in the Douglas-fir region during 1925-33 averaged 7.4 billion board feet, of 
which 5.4 billion feet was Douglas-fir, 1 billion feet western hemlock, 0.6 billion feet western redcedar, 0.3 
Sitka spruce, and 0.1 billion other species. 

13. Current losses of saw timber by fire, excluding catastrophes such as the Tillamook fire of 1933, 
amount to a quarter of a billion board feet annually. The area burned over annually averages more than 
250,000 acres, including large areas of second growth. Killing of second growth seriously endangers future 
saw-timber supplies. 

14. Current annual growth in the Douglas-fir region totals approximately 2.4 billion board feet. Poten- 
tial annual growth under intensive forest practice is approximately 8.2 billion board feet. 

15. The supply of old-growth Douglas-fir within economically feasible transportation distance of the 
Puget Sound and Grays Harbor districts will be practicaily exhausted within two decades if the present 
rate of depletion continues. 

16. The supply of pulp timber is sufficient to maintain the existing rate of wood-pulp production indefi- 
nitely if reasonable forest practice is observed and if the volume of pulp species used in lumber manufacture 
is not increased. 

17. In order to stabilize economic life in this region sustained-yield forest management should be 
instituted as soon as possible. The ultimate sustained-yield capacity of the region under reasonably in- 
tensive forest management is estimated at 8 billion board feet per year; during the transition period, under 
optimum conditions, a cut of about 614 billion per year is allowable. 

18. In the Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River districts the annual cuts allowable under 
a sustained-yield budget were exceeded during 1933, a year of comparatively low production. Progressive 
overcutting of the southern districts will bring about conditions similar to those in the north. 

19. Most of the forest land that should be used for continuous production could, through concerted 
action by industry and government, be put under sustained-yield management within 25 to 50 years. 

20. With an enlarging acreage of cut-over land and a growing use of the forests by the public for recrea- 
tion, the Douglas-fir region is facing an increasingly difficult problem of forest-fire protection. 


Se) 


ERORR Ee LR OMmUsRaC mrs Ord Her Dir@ UW G LAS > RF 1 oR’ RE. G TO N 


The Douglas-Fir Region 


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33 


HE Douglas-fir region, which includes those 

parts of Oregon and Washington west of the 
summit of the Cascade Range, was selected 

as the place to begin the Nation-wide forest survey 
(fig. 2). Extending 480 miles from north to south 
and varying in width from 100 to about 150 miles, 
this region has an area of more than 35 million 
acres, of which 29 million acres, or 83 percent, is 
forest land. Its long littoral exposure subjects most 
of it to humid westerly winds; its climate is charac- 
terized by equable temperatures, except in the 
high mountains, and moderate to heavy precipita- 
tion. Climatic conditions are particularly favor- 
able to conifer forest growth, and the region is noted 
for the luxuriance and density of its forest vegetation 
The forests of this region are almost exclusively 
conifer, and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) is the. 
predominating tree, forming 60 percent or more of 
the stand on more than half the forest land (fig. 1). 
Important species commonly associated with 
Douglas-fir are western hemlock (Tsuga_hetero- 
phylla), western redcedar (Thwa plicata), Sitka 
spruce (Picea sitchensis), Pacific silver fir (Abzes 
amabilis), and noble fir (A. nobilis). Exceptions to 
the predominance of Douglas-fir are found in the 
forests on the cool, humid western slopes of the 
Coast Ranges and the Olympic Mountains known 
as the fog belt, where western hemlock and Sitka 
spruce are the outstanding species and Douglas-fir 
is occasionally entirely lacking. Again, on the 
higher slopes of the Cascade Range and _ the 
Olympic Mountains and occasionally on those of 
the Coast Ranges, the stands are made up prin- 
cipally of western hemlock, Pacific silver fir, noble 
fir, mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), and 
western white pine (Pinus monticola). Latitudinally 
also, toward the cooler, northern extreme of the 
regicn, Douglas-fir forms a smaller percentage of 


the stand, western hemlock and other species in- 
creasing in frequency; and on the dry exposures of 
the interior valleys and foothills of southern Oregon, 
Douglas-fir gives way to ponderosa pine (P. 
ponderosa). 


F 325601 


Ficure 1.—Saw-timber stand of old-growth Douglas-fir near the 
Columbia River in western Washington averaging more than 40 
inches in diameter and having a gross volume of about 125,000 
board feet per acre. The trees in the picture measure from 5 to 


6 feet in diameter. 


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Major Phases of Survey 


HE major phases of the Douglas-fir survey 

were four—the inventory phase, the study of 

forest depletion, estimates of forest growth, 
and a determination of present and future timber 
requirements. An analysis of this information for 
the purpose of developing principles and policies to 
make the forests contribute most in services region- 
ally and nationally leads inevitably into a consider- 
ation of land use planning, future supplies of timber 
in relation to industrial development and require- 
ments, and forest management. Although the 
requirements phase is discussed here only for the 
region, the subject is much broader than this; it is 
planned to integrate it with similar information 
from other regions for publication later as a report 
on forest-products requirements for the whole 
country. 

The inventory phase of the forest survey was 
undertaken first in the spring of 1930. Its principal 
purposes were to obtain: 

1. Volume of the present timber stands, by species and 
by ownership class. 

2. Areas of the several types, by ownership class. 

3. Areas of the immature-conifer types by age class and 
degree of stocking. 

4. Maps showing location of each of the forest types. 

5. A classification of timber stands according to economic 
availability for logging. 

6. A classification of forest area according to site quality. 

The existence of considerable information, par- 
ticularly on the merchantable timber areas which 
comprise about half of the 29 million acres in the 
Douglas-fir region, made it practicable to rely on 
checking and compiling the information already 
available from public or private cruises, maps, and 
reports. ‘This was supplemented with field exami- 
nations of all remaining areas. 


SSS 


_ The work of the inventory phase was conducted 
in four steps: (1) Collection of all existing informa- 
tion, (2) checking and adjusting to a common 
standard all usable existing timber estimates, (3) 
field examination of areas not covered by usable 
information, (4) compilation of data collected.” 

The immediate object of the depletion phase of 
the forest survey was to determine the quantity and 
kind of timber annually removed by cutting or 
killed by fire, wind throw, insects, disease, and all 
other causes; in short, the extent and character of 
the drain on the forest capital. The ultimate object 
was to obtain data needed for an analysis that would 
determine the trends of depletion and growth, 
present and potential, and the net result of the two 
trends. 

Depletion as considered in this study does not 
include ordinary endemic losses due to such causes 
as diseases, surface fires, wind throw, and insects. 
Such normal losses have been allowed for in the 
construction of the yield tables used in calculating 
growth. Depletion as here considered involves 
only timber killed or removed by logging, by fires 
that kill entire stands, by windstorms of major 
intensity, and by insect epidemics. 

To estimate the rate and quantity of current and 
potential growth in the forests of this region would 
be simple if rates of growth were constant for all 
conditions. Instead, they vary among individual 
trees according to species, age, and dominance; 
among individual forest stands according to type, 
site, average age, and stocking; and among aggre- 
gates of stands according to the growth character- 

2 The organization of the field work and the detailed 


procedure involved in each of these four steps are described 
in the Appendix, p. 146. 


istics of individual stands. Stands more than 160 
years of age were considered as a whole to have no 
present net growth. Although some stands above 
this age are increasing in merchantable volume, 
others are actually losing in merchantable volume; 
thus in these older stands losses due to mortality 
and to decay approximately balance growth. 
Stands not more than 160 years of age were classed 
as growing stands. For all these stands growth 
computations were made. 

Four conceptions of rate of growth were con- 
sidered: Current annual growth, realizable mean 
annual growth, potential annual growth, and 
periodic growth. These terms as used in this 
report are defined as follows: 

Current annual growth is the volume increase 
that took place in 1933. 

Realizable mean annual growth is (1) mean an- 
nual growth from 1933 to 2032 of existing stands, 
or to dates earlier than 2032 for those areas which 
it is assumed will be depleted before that date, plus 
(2) mean annual growth on portions of areas now 
deforested or to be deforested that presumably 
will restock before 1952. These calculations were 
made for each of the three decades from 1933 to 
1962. 

Potential annual growth is the average quantity 
of timber that can be grown annually if all the 


commercial conifer forest land produces 75 percent 
of full capacity. 

Periodic growth is growth within a given period— 
in this study, 10 years. It was estimated for each 
of the three decades from 1933 to 1962. On the 
basis of these estimates and of assumptions as to 
future depletion, future inventories at 10-year 
intervals during that period were estimated. 

The requirements phase of the forest survey 
consisted of a determination of present and prospec- 
tive requirements for wood products of the Douglas- 
fir region. Estimates of the quantities of these 
products needed in the future cannot be made solely 
on the basis of needs within the region. Interchange 
of products between regions necessitates determina- 
tion of future requirements on a national basis. 

Obviously, this region with its enormous forest 
resources and comparatively sparse population can 
supply its requirements for practically all kinds of 
forest products indefinitely. The only wood prod- 
ucts consumed in this region that must be imported 
are small amounts of hardwood material such as 
flooring and interior finish, and articles manufac- 
tured of woods not grown in this region, such as 
certain kinds of furniture and implement handles. 
The principal sources of these items are eastern and 
southern United States, the Philippine Islands, 
South America, and Central America. 


FE OPR SE ST RES OUR CES 


OPE SVeHGEr eDMOiU) (GC WeUASSs= Fei Re “REG 1 © N 


Methods and Specifications 


279 


Standards of Measurement 


ment of the volume of standing timber, so that 

estimates would be stable and could be cor- 
related with estimates for other regions and ad- 
justed to meet changing economic conditions. 
Standards were defined that conformed as far as 
practical with generally accepted concepts of 
utilization practices appropriate to current condi- 
tions. Inventory, growth, and depletion data are 
given in board feet, log scale in the body of this 
report. Lumber-tally equivalents are found in the 
appendix. 

Timber-volume estimates were made in board 
feet, log scale, according to the Scribner Decimal 
C rule, and in cubic feet. The board-foot esti- 
mates included only the stems of living trees that 
would make at least one log meeting the following 
specifications: Conifers other than ponderosa pine 
and sugar pine, 32 feet long, 12 inches in diameter 
inside bark at the small end; ponderosa pine and 
sugar pine, 16 feet long, 10 inches in diameter 
inside bark at the small end; hardwoods, 8 feet 
long, 10 inches in diameter inside bark at the small 
end. Practically, this amounts to making the 
minimum specification for conifers other than these 
two pines the 16-inch diameter class (15.1 to 17.0 
inches d. b. h.)? and that for ponderosa pine, sugar 
pine, and hardwoods the 12-inch diameter class 
@aEtetost3:0imehes d: b: h:) 

Allowance was made in the volume estimates for 
decay, defects, and such breakage as is inevitable 
in logging. In other words, the estimates are for 
the net volume usable in saw-timber operations 
under good utilization practices. 


|: WAS necessary to fix standards of measure- 


3“T). b. h.” signifies diameter at breast height (41% feet 
above average ground level) outside bark. 


KE 


Probably the standards of utilization employed 


- in the survey estimates are slightly more intensive 


for the more valuable species, and considerably so 
for the less valuable species, than the average 
utilization standards of present-day saw-timber 
operators, Owing chiefly to the inclusion of trees 
as small as the 16-inch diameter class. 

Cubic-foot volume was computed for the sound 
wood of stems only, from stump to 4-inch tip inside 
bark, limb wood and bark excluded, of all trees of or 
above the 6-inch (5.1 to 7.0 inches) diameter class. 

The estimates cover all timber areas, including 
farm woods, outside the platted limits of muni- 
cipalities. 

In order to obtain satisfactory estimates of volume 
of standing timber it was necessary to have for 
each of the commercial saw-timber species an 
accurate volume table that could be applied 
throughout the region. Investigation and check of 
the existing tables showed that some of them could 
be used as they were and others could be made 
usable by adjustment and extension to include 
larger trees, but that for some species new tables 
would have to be made. Volume tables used for 
the principal species are described in the appendix. 


Species and Tree-Size Classification 


An estimate of total volume of living timber was 
made and recorded separately for every species that 
usually attains saw-timber size and character and 
that was present in commercial types in quantity 
measurable according to survey standards. Also, 
an estimate of total volume of dead timber was 
made and recorded for Port Orford white-cedar 
(Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), western redcedar, and 
Alaska yellow-cedar (C. nootkatensis). (Owing to 
their durability and resistance to decay, dead trees 


of these species have commercial value and are 
logged.) In some cases, separate estimates were 
made for certain size and age classes of timber of a 
single species; in some, estimates were combined 
for pairs of species having similar Sa cag tea and 
structural characteristics. 

Species that usually do not attain saw-timber 
size in the Douglas-fir region include Pacific yew 
(Taxus brevifolia) and some hardwoods. 

Table 1 lists the species (27),* classes, and diam- 
eter ranges for which volume was recorded, with 
the symbols adopted for convenience in referring to 
them. As applied to Douglas-fir here and else- 
where in this report, ‘‘old growth” and “‘second 
growth” are relative terms distinguishing between 
the older timber and the younger, more rapid-grow- 
ing timber. Likewise, “large” and ‘“‘small” are used 
here as relative terms distinguishing between larger 
and smaller timber of a given type or species. 


Type Definitions and Type Mapping 


In primitive forests of the Douglas-fir region 
certain fairly definite major species associations 
and innumerable minor associations may be ob- 
served. Fire, cutting, and land settlement have 
added to the complexity of forest-cover conditions, 
and consequently to the difficulty of defining types. 
Each forest type recognized in this survey had to 
have some significance in forest management. 
Types had to be within practical limits in num- 
ber, and type definitions had to be such that types 
could be determined from office records, such as 
timber cruises, and could easily be recognized in 
the field and indicated on field maps. <A _ type 
scheme that had already been adopted by the 
Forest Service for intensive surveys partly fulfilled 
the requirements. On this foundation a scheme 
was finally evolved that stood the test of 4 years’ 
field use with few changes. 

The forest-cover and land-use types recognized in 
the forest survey of the Douglas-fir region ° follow: 


Nonforest Types 


No. Nonforest land other than agricultural, 
including (7) barren areas too rocky, deficient in 
soil, or exposed to support a cover of either trees, 


4 Italic numbers in parentheses refer to Literature Cited, 
p. 145. 

5 Numbers preceding types relate to series of types listed 
for the entire Northwest. 


TasiLe 1.—Species and diameter classes for which volume was 


recorded 
CONIFERS 
Breast- 
Name and class Symbol pelea 
range 
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia): Inches 

Targeiold: erowth bas. sae oe ee eo nee DA 40+ 

Smallioldicrowth®=—-=—=- =e DB 22-40 

barge second) er owithee cee: eee ena a ees ar DC 22-40 

Smallisecond' growth seat ee eee DD 16-20 
Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis): 

Arges sao 2 SSeS hee ae ee ee Fao ee a SA 244+ 

Soma] eee a er ee errr SB 16-24 
Engelmann spruce (P. engelmannii)_______________ ES 16-+- 
Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla): 

SAT On eee een ere ee ey ane RI Anos HA 20+ 

Small Ae SP ee Pa ee ate ead yn LAs 258s HB 16-20 
Mountain hemlock (7. mertensiana)_.__-_________- MH 16+ 
Western redcedar (Thuja plicata): 

Lively Ss Te eee ae see eee eee Cc 16+ 

Deads esas es eens eee een Ne KC 16+ 
Port Orford white-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoni- 

ana): 

Dives: 222 52 er PC 16+ 

PCa Ge Gee ea ene See ak anaes ee KPC 16+ 
Alaska yellow-cedar (C. nootkatensis) 

AW ote ae ee ae a YC 16+ 
California incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens) ____- IC 16+ 
Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Jeffrey 

pine (P. jeffreyi): 

Targe: ke: 5 ee a ee eae Ho YIN 22+- 

Small? 2 See YB 12-22 
Sugar pine (P. lambertiana) SP 12+ 
Western white pine (P. monticola) and whitebark t 

pine CP lalbicaulis =e eee Ww 16+ 
Lodgepole pine (P. contorta latifolia), shore pine 

(P. contorta), and knobcone pine (P. attenuata)__| LP 16+ 
White fir (Abies concolor) and grand fir (A. 

GTENGIS) eee Ns ele Sd TR amas ee | WE 16+ 
Noble fir (A. nobilis) and Shasta red fir (A. mag- 

TLEFECESROSEENSTS) ween ee | NF 16+ 
Pacificisilverstin (Ana ma bilis) eee ere A 16+ 
Alpine fir/CAslasiocarpa) ee sea ee ee ATS 16+ 
Western larch (Larix occidentalis) and alpine larch 

Go Slyalli) et ee ee ee er ee ec een eet ee Ay; 16+ 
Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) _____--___---_-___- R 16+ 

BROADLEAF TREES 
Red alder (Alnus rwbra)______________- eS aeeae RA 12+ 
Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana)______________ 0o 12+ 
Canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis)___________________]| CLO 12+ 
California black oak (Q. kelloggii)_--______________- co 12+ 
Tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflora) --__----_. ----_-__- TO 12+ 
Northern black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa | 

hastata) and quaking aspen (P. tremuloides)______ BC 12+ 
Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)_______________- | 12+ 
Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) _________- 12+ 
Oregon ash (Frazrinus oregona)_____________________ 12+ 
California laurel (Umbellularia californica) _________ 12+ 
Golden chinquapin (Castanopsis chrysophylla) 12+ 
Western paper birch (Betula papyrifera occiden- 

talis) and northwestern paper birch (B. papyri- 

er Gi SILUCOT AGL) heme ee ee ee ee Sea WPB 12+ 


shrubs, or herbs; (2) grass, sagebrush, and brush 
areas on which the principal present vegetation is 
either grass, herbs, brush, shrubs, or sagebrush; and 
(3) cities, towns, and unmeandered water surfaces.® 

No. 3. Agricultural land, including (7) areas 
cleared or cultivated for agricultural use, includ- 
ing pasture; and (2) stump pasture, logged-off or 
burned-off land from which stumps or snags have 
not been removed, now part of an operating farm 
unit and devoted chiefly to grazing. Usually, on 
such an area some attempt has been made to prop- 
agate forage plants by seeding or repeated burning. 


Woodland Types 


No. 4. Oak-madrone woodland, consisting of 
approximately 60 percent or more of any species 
of oaks (including tanoak) or madrone or any 
combination of these. 

No. 514. Ponderosa pine woodland, in which 
ponderosa pine predominates and on which the 
trees are scattered, singly or in clumps, and form 
a very thin stand. Individual trees may or may 
not be of merchantable size and form. 


Timberland Types 


Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Douglas fir: A forest con- 
taining approximately 60 percent or more, by vol- 
ume, of Douglas fir—the characteristic forest west 
of the summit of the Cascade Range. ‘The five 
Douglas-fir types, differentiated by the sizes into 
which most of the volume falls, are (6) large old 
growth, 42 inches d. b. h. and more; (7) small old 
growth, 22 to 40 inches; (8) large second growth, 
22 to 40 inches (coarse-grained timber yielding 
only a small percentage of the upper grades of 
lumber); (9) small second growth, 6 to 20 inches; 
(10) seedlings and saplings, mostly less than 6 inches. 

Nos. 11, 12, and 13. Sitka spruce: A forest con- 
taining 50 percent or more, by volume, of Sitka 
spruce, rarely in pure stands, usually in mixture 
with Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western 
redcedar. The three Sitka spruce types are (11) 
large, 26 inches d. b. h. and more; (12) small, 6 
to 24 inches; (13) seedlings and saplings, mostly 
less than 6 inches. 

Nos. 14, 15, and 16. Western hemlock: A forest 
containing 50 percent or more, by volume, of 

6 Bodies of water that have not been surveyed by the 


General Land Office and that consequently are included in 
the official totals of land area. 


western hemlock with varying quantities of Douglas- 
fir, western redcedar, Pacific silver fir, and Sitka 
spruce. The three western hemlock types are (14) 
large, 20 inches d. b. h. and more; (15) small, 6 to 
20 inches; (16) seedlings and saplings, mostly less 
than 6 inches. 

No. 17. Western redcedar, large: A forest con- 
taining approximately 40 percent or more, by 
volume, of western redcedar, in which most of 
the volume is in trees more than 24 inches d. b. h. 

No. 18. Port Orford white-cedar, large: A forest 
in which 20 percent or more of the volume is in 
Port Orford white-cedar trees more than 30 inches 


~d. b. h., with varying quantities of Douglas-fir 


white fir, western redcedar, western hemlock, Sitka 
spruce, and hardwoods. 

No. 19. ‘‘Cedar,” small: A forest in which west- 
ern redcedar 24 inches or less in d. b. h. or Port 
Orford white-cedar 30 inches d. b. h. or less, or 
both, compose 40 percent or more, by volume, of 
the dominant stand, with some or considerable 
quantities of western hemlock, Sitka spruce, or 
Douglas-fir, or of two or all three of these species. 

Nos. 20, 20A, 21, and 22. Ponderosa and sugar 
pine. The four types are (20) large ponderosa 
pine, in which the predominating trees are the 
so-called yellow pine, about 22 inches d. b. h. or 
more (about 150 or 200 years old or older), in 
which no material part of the stand has been cut; 
(20A) large sugar pine, containing 20 percent or 
more, by volume of sugar pine, never in pure 
stands, usually in mixture with Douglas-fir, pon- 
derosa pine, or white fir, in which most of the vol- 
ume is in trees 22 inches d. b. h. or more. (This 
type was mapped only outside the boundaries of 
national forests.) (21) Small ponderosa pine in 
which most of the trees are less than about 22 
inches in diameter (less than 150 or 200 years old), 
either on an old burn or on an area that has been 
selectively cut, and in which the volume in trees 
12 inches d. b. h. or more is ordinarily at least 1,000 
board feet per acre; (22) ponderosa pine seedlings, 
saplings, and poles, on an old burn or on heavily 
cut-over land, most of the trees being less than 12 
inches d. b. h. and the stand of larger trees, if any, 
amounting to less than 1,000 board feet of saw 
timber per acre. 

Nos. 23 and 24. Fir-mountain hemlock: The 
two fir-mountain hemlock types are (23) large, in 
which most of the dominant trees are 16 inches 


d. b. h. or more and of saw-timber character 
(mature stands not of this character are ordinarily 
included in the subalpine type); (24) small, most 
dominants less than 16 inches d. b. h., usually a 
young stand on an old burn. 

Nos. 25 and 26. Lodgepole pine: A forest con- 
taining at least 50 percent, by volume, of lodgepole 
pine or knobcone pine, often pure. ‘The two types 
are determined by the size of 50 percent or more of 
the dominant trees: (25) Large, 12 inches d. b. h. 
and more; (26) small, less than 12 inches. 

Nos. 27 and 28. White fir-larch-Douglas-fir: A 
mixed forest of greatly varied composition, con- 
sisting of two or more of the five species western 
larch, white fir, Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and 
lodgepole pine, in which ponderosa pine consti- 
tutes not more than 40 percent of the stand; 
limited to the range of western larch and prevalent 
on north and other cool slopes within the ponderosa 
The two types are determined by the 
size of the trees representing most of the volume: 
(27) Large, 20 inches d. b. h. and more; (28) 
small, less than 20 inches. 

Nos. 29 and 30. White fir: Usually a mixed 
forest within the range of ponderosa pine and sugar 


pine zone. 


pine, containing 50 percent or more, by volume, 
of grand fir or white fir. The two types are deter- 
mined by the size of most of the dominant trees: 
(29) Large, more than 20 inches d. b. h. or 150 years 
in age; (30) small, less than 20 inches or 150 years. 

No. 31. Hardwood: A hardwood forest, either 
pure or mixed, consisting predominately of one 
or more species other than oaks or madrone. 

No. 32. Redwood: A forest containing approxi- 
mately 80 percent or more, by volume, of redwood, 
usually with some Douglas-fir and some Pacific 
madrone, tanoak, and other hardwoods. 

No. 33. Subalpine: A forest at the upper limits 
of tree growth, usually unmerchantable because of 
poor form and small size, the principal components 
being alpine fir, mountain hemlock, Shasta red fir, 
lodgepole pine, whitebark pine, western white 
pine, and alpine larch. 


Miscellaneous Types 


No.. 34. This number was used as a prefix to 
type numbers to denote areas clean cut prior to 
1920 or selectively cut at any time. 


10 


No. 35. Nonrestocked cut-over: An area clean- 
cut prior to 1920 on which less than 10 percent of 
the 13.2-foot squares are stocked, not put to other 
than forest use. 

No. 36. Recent cut-over: An area clean-cut 
since the beginning of 1920, regardless of the status 
of regeneration. 

No. 37. Deforested burn: Land not cut over on 
which the stand has been killed by fire and that 
is less than 10 percent restocked. 

No. 38. Noncommercial rocky: An area of any 
species of timber within the range of commercial 
timber and below the range of the subalpine type 
that is too rocky, too steep, or too sterile to produce 
a stand of commercial size, density, and quality; 
ordinarily the stand averages less than 5,000 board 
feet per acre. 

The scale decided on for type mapping was 1 inch 
to the mile. A larger scale would have led to 
excessive detail and made the cost more than was 
contemplated; a smaller one would not have pro- 
vided sufficient space for the field examiner to 
record data of the desired completeness. Obvi- 
ously, areas only a few acres in extent could not be 
mapped on the adopted scale. It was decided that 
all 40-acre or larger areas of commercial forest 
land—that is, land now bearing or capable of pro- 
ducing forests of commercial character—and agri- 
cultural land should be mapped, but that for non- 
commercial-forest land, barrens, etc., the minimum 
should be several hundred acres. Hardwood types, 
owing to their infrequent occurrence, usually as 
‘‘shoestrings’’ along creek and river bottoms, were 
mapped if occupying areas as large as 20 acres. 
These limits are fixed not absolutely but merely as 
In all cases the field examiner was al- 
If he could con- 
veniently map a farm or a patch of conifer timber 
as small as 20 or 30 acres without slowing down the 


a guide. 
lowed to exercise his judgment. 


work he was at liberty to do so; if he was mapping 
an area low in values and difficult of access he was 
allowed to generalize more than if mapping an 
area of high values and easy access. 


Classifications 


Ownership Classes 


Separation of forest type and volume data accord- 
ing to ownership was considered particularly im- 


portant because of the high timber values involved 
and the large quantities of timberland in various 
classes of public ownership. Its usefulness has 
been emphasized by economic developments since 
the inception of this project. The subject of forest- 
land ownership is being carefully studied by 
economists, foresters, legislators, public officials, 
and the lumber industry. The break-down in 
private forest-land ownership (22) is a cause of 
particular concern and the subject of many studies. 
Ownership statistics were taken from the best 
public records available. It is recognized that 
ownership is constantly changing and that the 
totals given for individual ownership classes 
probably fail in many cases to coincide with sta- 
tistics from other sources. Both forest land and in- 
termingled nonforest land were classified as to own- 
ership. No distinctions were attempted as to the 
ownership of large bodies of agricultural land; they 
were all arbitrarily classified as privately owned. 
As applied to forest land,the own- 
ership classification was as follows: 


Private. All privately owned forest prop- 
erty, including farm woods. 

State, available for cutting. 

State, reserved from cutting. 

County. Forest property deeded to the 
county. (Tax-delinquent land not deeded 
to the county is classified as private.) 

Municipal. Includes all municipally 
owned forest property outside the platted 
limits of municipalities. 

Indian. Includes both tribal lands and 
trust allotments. 

Revested land grant. Includes Oregon 
& California Railroad and other land 
grants that have reverted to Federal own- 
ership whether classified as timber, agri- 
cultural, or power withdrawals. GRAYS 

Federal other than national forest and 
revested land grant. 


Includes national 

parks, military reservations, unappropri- 

ated public domain and miscellaneous. 
National forest, available for cutting. 
National forest, reserved from cutting. 
National forest, State selection. 


The term “reserved from cutting” 
as applied to State or national-forest 
land denotes areas unavailable for 
cutting because of statute, proclama- 
tion, or policy. Most land so classed 
had been officially dedicated to 


BAUS 
(CENTRAL 


Hoquiam 
Q or Cnenalls 


Vara Sg @(Longview . 
RIVER] er 
Sen f ) SKAMANIA 


watershed protection, to recreational use, or as 
national-forest primitive areas on which primitive 
conditions are to be maintained so far as possible 
for recreational purposes. The term ‘‘available for 
cutting’? means that there was no legal or formal 
prohibition on timber cutting; it does not imply 
the presence of timber ready for cutting or, in fact, 
of any timber at all. 

National-forest areas designated as State selection 
areas are lands in the north Puget Sound unit that 
have been designated for exchange with the State 
of Washington in order to enable the State to con- 
solidate scattered land holdings. 


Other Classifications 


For convenience and facility of analysis and dis- 
cussion, the region was arbitrarily divided into 
11 units (figs. 3 and 4). So far as was practical, the 
units were compact areas homogeneous as to eco- 


> 


SE ( 599 Riker 
rh 
seater 
Nie Anac6rtes skagit a 
\ SN SKAGIT 


PUGET 


WHATCOM 


el 


Port Angeles 


[WariKiaKuM COLUMBIA 1 ' eS - 


COWLITZ 


@ pe! — Survey-unit boundary 
rol) —— - — County boundar 
S FoLaRK | dl ef 
si WAS'!HINGTON 
*Vancouver ee 
el pas of 


Ficure 3.—Map of western Washington showing survey units, counties, and im- 


portant drainages. 


)) CLATSOP Wee UMBIA 
COLUMBIIA \ 


t 
e t 


- ee 
RIVER), eee of 

= rer 

WASHINGS “Sa \. HOOD 

TON Portland MULTNOMAH‘ RIVER 


( 
Ti/LLAMOOK 
BAY 
6) 


NORTH ete 


UMPQUA 


DOUGLAS 


RIVER 


MILES 
QO 25 50 
——————e 


O 
JACKSON Survey-unit boundary 

JOSEPHINE ! — -— County boundary 

| RIVER 

' 


Figure 4.—Map of western Oregon showing survey units, counties, and 
important drainages 


to economic availability. Class |! 
includes timber that according to 
estimate could profitably be logged 
under the production and marketing 
conditions that prevailed during the 
period 1925-29; class II, timber that 
under those conditions could be 
logged at a loss of not more than $5 
per 1,000 board feet; and class II], 
all other timber. 

In order to calculate growth and 
volume of immature conifer stands. 
most of these stands were classified 
according to age, in 10-year classes, 
and according to density, in three 
degrees of stocking. If an area were 
70- to 100-percent covered, according 
to the stocked-quadrat method of 
measurement (explained in the ap- 
pendix), it was classified as well 
stocked; if 40 to 69 percent, medium 
stocked; if 10 to 39 percent, poorly 
stocked; and if less than 10 percent, 
nonstocked. 

The term “site quality’? denotes 
the forest-productive capacity of an 
area, determined by the composite 
effect of all climatic and soil con- 
ditions. Site-quality classifications 
based on height of dominant and 
codominant trees at a given age 
have been adopted for the Douglas- 
fir type and the ponderosa pine type. 

The classification for Douglas-fir 
consists of five classes and that for 
ponderosa pine of six classes; in each 
case, the highest class is designated 
I. The Douglas-fir classification was 
employed for all forest-cover types 
in the region except ponderosa 


nomic influences and industrial conditions. In pine, lodgepole pine, subalpine, oak-madrone, 

most cases unit boundaries were made to coincide hardwood, and noncommercial rocky. The pon- 

with county lines, so that data could be assembled derosa pine classification was used for all ponder- 

by counties. It was impossible to establish abso- osa pine types except woodland. Land occupied 

lutely self-contained units. by the other types listed was not classified by site 
Saw timber was ranked in three classes according quality. 


LO MReeE aS mele mR SHi@) Wiis GE aS 


ORE SE high ae Din@l WG Ie tA Ss. <oh el eRe SRE Gol iOUN 


Forest Inventory 


>> 


NDOUBTEDLY the most important natural 

resource of the Douglas-fir region is its forest 

land, which comprises 29 million acres of the 
total land area of 35 million acres. Forest land com- 
poses approximately 85 percent of western Wash- 
ington and 81 percent of western Oregon. Approxi- 
mately 27 million acres is classified as commercial 
forest land. Although exceeded in forest area by 
nearly every other important forest region, in the 
United States, the Douglas-fir region, owing to the 
large size of its trees and the density of its forest 
stands, far exceeds any one of them in saw-timber 
volume. The total stand of saw timber at time of 
estimate was 546 billion board feet, log scale. 

Puget Sound, which penetrates to the heart of 
western Washington (see type maps at end of 
report) was formerly surrounded by magnificent 
forests of old-growth Douglas-fir and western 
redcedar. Ease of logging and_ transportation 
attracted lumbermen to lands bordering the sound 
as early as the middle of the nineteenth century. 
Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay, on the coast of 
western Washington, offered almost equally at- 
tractive opportunities for forest exploitation. Prac- 
tically all the old-growth Douglas-fir forests of 
western Washington were within 30 to 40 miles of 
navigable waterways. Now western Washington, 
particularly in the vicinity of Puget Sound and 
Grays Harbor, is characterized by vast expanses 
of cut-over land largely barren of conifer growth. 
The remaining old-growth Douglas-fir stands in 
western Washington are principally in the eastern 
parts of Cowlitz and Lewis Counties. Extensive 
virgin forests of western hemlock, Sitka spruce, 
and western redcedar occur along the Washington 
coast, and on the upper slopes of the Cascade 


224146° —40 2 


Ke 


Range throughout western Washington occur ex- 
tensive bodies of old-growth western hemlock and 
balsam fir-mountain hemlock. Large areas in the 
Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range in 
northwestern Washington are occupied by subal- 
pine and other noncommercial forests, or are bar- 
ren of tree growth chiefly because of altitude. 

There are few extensive bodies of developed agri- 
cultural land in western Washington. The two 
largest are at the northern and southern extremes, 
in western Whatcom County near the Canadian 
border and in Clark County on the Columbia 
River. 

The forest cover of western Oregon (see forest- 
type maps at end of report) differs materially in 
pattern from that of western Washington. Logging 
has removed the virgin timber from extensive 
areas in extreme northwestern Oregon, but almost 
unbroken stands of old-growth Douglas-fir cover 
the lower slopes and foothills of the Cascade Range 
practically the length of the State. Scattered 
throughout this timber belt are comparatively 
small bodies of second growth on old burns, small 
deforested burns, and cut-over areas. At higher 
elevations, reaching to the summit of the Cascade 
Range, is a mixture of western hemlock, balsam 
fir-mountain hemlock, noncommercial forests, and 
barrens. In parts of southwestern Oregon pon- 
derosa pine types predominate. 

In the Coast Range of Oregon the virgin Douglas- 
fir forests are broken by extensive even-aged second- 
growth forests varying in age from 40 to 80 years. 
These are the result of several large fires that burned 
during the middle of the nineteenth century. 
Scattered throughout the Coast Range are a 
number of fairly large deforested burns, and in 


the northwest is the great Tillamook burn, where 
roughly 380 square miles was deforested in 1933. 
Between the Cascade Range and the Coast 
Range in the north half of western Oregon is the 
fertile Willamette Valley, shaped like a cornu- 
copia. It contains more than 4,000 square miles, 
of which by far the greater part is farmed. 
Dotted throughout the valley are small woodlands. 
Other large agricultural areas in western Oregon 
are the Umpqua River and Rogue River Valleys. 
Throughout the Coast Range and Cascade Range 


of both States, ribbons of farm land, and hardwoods 
border the lower stream courses. 


Types and Areas 


The areas of the individual forest-cover and land- 
use types recognized in the survey are given in 
table 2 by ownership class, together with a sum- 
mary by broad groups of types. Table 3 presents 
type areas by forest-survey units. Figure 5 com- 
pares acreages in the several generalized type 
classes and ownership classes. 


Tas_e 2.—Area of all types in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership class, 1933 


INDIVIDUAL TYPES 


| ] 
State Federally owned or managed 
, | Muni- | | National forest 
Type name and No. Private Avail Reserv-|County cipal | Revest- Total 
able forjed from Indian | ed land 7 | S| ce 2} 
cutting euitivg acco iakeoe | 
cutting | cutting| tion! 
1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 
acres acres | acres acres | acres acres | acres acres | acres acres | acres | acres 
Nonforest land other than agricultural (2)____- 549. 2 13.9 0.5 9.9 | 7.9 4.2 39. 1 435.0 193.1 | 4.3 197.9 | 1,455.0 
‘Asriculturall(3)#oss-o=ses= = ane ae eee | 4,611.5 12.3 1.9 17.1 1.8 | 5.8 | 12.0 19h | Dats es |S 6.2 | 4,670.5 
Oak-madrone woodland (4)------------------- 224. 7 1.3 @) | 6.4 8 | 4] 46.2 O79) |Ea ane e | Steen 16.6 | 364.3 
Ponderosa pine woodland (5%) ---_--__- QTE 8a\n 18) | eee 3.8 oi bse S140 | Bokeh Mae sg eee 72) |= a5aea 
Douglas-fir: 
arg e.old growth (6)c--2 222 Se 2,157.5 115.5 1.4 25.3 5.3 7.8 313.6 607.5 35. 1 -3 30.1 | 3, 299.4 
Smallloldterowthi(7)22-- = 2 ee nee 921.6 22.5 aul 36.0 7.0 -8 | 589.9 |1, 905. 2 2955) |b aoeees 52.1 | 3, 565.3 
Large second growth (8) ------------------ 1, 425. 4 57.9 122) 45.3 SZ 7.9 | 339.3 | 728.0 yf {| 2-=e oneal ME Sonla|pe2N641e6 
Small second growth (9)_ -_...-----.2=---- | 2,416.2 127.6 5.0 121.1 8.6 15.6 243.4 597. 1 26.10 2a ae 131.5 | 3,692.2 
Seedlings and saplings (10)_____-_________ | 1,291.3] 61.2 35 || AE) ||6 WoaEe BRAN mes 5 7208 [eo 2759i|) 37230 | see 32.0 | 2,110.5 
Sitka spruce: | | 
Target (11) ean ee eee Ses a Sere ty a 135.6 | 10.5 4 2.5 oY) 0:74 psec 25.2 [pI ease 4.6] 189.8 
Small. 2) Bese 5s a ee a eee 41.2 n5 Bal 2.5 all 45 |Ea oR oeees Da Dhy | Sener | Lea .6 47.6 
Seedlings and saplings (13)--_._-_-__----__- 10. 2 5} eee 6 (3) On a) fee el eee (3) 12.0 
Western hemlock: 
Toarger(ls) her este Sok en ant ease 976. 1 212.8 .4 22. 5 10.8 51.6 4.3 871.7 50. 1 1/2 45.7 | 2,247.2 
Smalli(ls)2eeeas. on ee ee 284.40) 1450 te 4s: 4.4 1.0 Bis 33.8 2:6 G| Seen 11.2 366. 0 
Seedlings and saplings (16)____--_-------_- 179.8 27.4 mill 14.8 2.0 6 ab) 14.6 2A | eae 1.5 243.3 
Western redcedar, large (17) - ----------------- 192.5 49.4 Bal 3.9 -8 62.5 5 71.3 6.3 a .9 388.7 
Port Orford white-cedar, large (18)--_---_____- 27.4 ea (yb eee 2 Bray ssa ee 5.6 SRS arene. |Saeanes (3) OB a7. 
* WedaraesmalliG!9) sesso sae ee nae eens 23.4 5) a3 .9 (he |Saeeeeee Bal Gy | Dime tess | |e a | ee 25.8 
Ponderosa pine: 
Wwargel(20))2s=8 seek eee SAIN te Seem se 92.6 alt) (3) 6.5 572, | 100. 5 8580) | ees | aes 162) 293.5 
Small (21) 42.2 er in) eee a 5. 2 17.5 10533)22ee—— a) Rae BuY/ 79.1 
Seedlings and saplings (22).__-_-____-____- 88.6 BAYT ge oe 10.6 36.5 TSM | Foye i 8.4 153. 2 
Sugar pine, large (20A)--:-+---=----_-_-_==--== 13h | saa ee ae | eee 5.8 36;31)| 222s son |e eae | Sieeeee 4.4 97.8 
Fir-mountain hemlock: | 
Targen (23) ete a Ge cera 208.2 | 67.0 5 3.1 8.7 5.5 8.0 |1,130.7 | 85.9 .4| 91.3 | 1,609.3 
Smialli(Q4) ee ose 2 a ee ee 229) ce tee ee ee 0 GN eee 3.5 212.8 3154)|2 So 2.4 | 273.9 
Lodgepole pine: 
TAL BOt CD) nae ae ee ae AL ee eee Ds |e cell eee re [Pen S| eee Oy” pa SLM GH | acess a | ool cc aoe (3) | 351 
Smalli(26)2s2 ee 5 EET ee ales 33.1 1.0 ar) 155 (3) 5 | ees 30 (22742) eho) | meen 2.1) 269.9 
White fir-larch-Douglas-fir: | 
Nargel(27)) sana es nee epee meee eee elie) | See tees |e, | eee ey Re Ey he eae 30. 4 GAO | sameeren Sal | 37.6 
Siralll((23) eae een Soe eee 25), | kets en | Beet. Base By eel eee ee 22.7 5:8) | reese |e | 30.9 


1 Designated for exchange with the State of Washington. 


2 Of the 981.1 thousand acres listed under ‘‘Other Federal,’’ 563.9 thousand acres is included in Rainier National Park and Mount Olympus National 


Monument, and therefore is not available for cutting. 
3 Less than 50 acres. 


14 


Tasie 2.—Area of all types in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership class, 1933—Continued 


State Federally owned or managed 
; | iMETAE National forest | 
Type name and No. Private | 4 vail pen County cipal Revest. Total 
, c . ; l 
3 ear cutting Indian ed/and Avail- |Reserv-| State | Other 
& able for |ed from| selec- 
cutting | cutting} tion 
ae: 1, 000 1,000 1, 000 1,000 1, 000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1, 000 1,000 1,000 1,000 
White fir: acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres 
IGATZON(29) wees wee eee eee 20. 6 0565) eaeeeee- (hf fi | 0.1 16. 2 SOL 8) (cee ee eee 0.5 69.5 
Sia le( 30) eee ee cee ee 639) ones |e! iy eee BA) bree 3.8 359i | es ae ee ee 56} 15.0 
Mardwoodsi(sl)e2 ss = 584. 1 16.0 2 | 27.3 | 2.8 10.7 12.9 86. 2 OM See 12) 1 753.3 
Redwood (32) __- gC al es | RE [Bere wees Wee Seyler s fal JN | ae enn |e ete ae 1.6 
Subalpines (33) eee eae ema ae eo ee 67.5 (Ac) | eee ee elec MON | ease 2.4] 664.1] 232.5] 1.6] 185.7 | 1,162.9 
Old cut-overs, nonrestocked (35)_-___________- 576. 2 24.6 1 24.7 12.0 11.4 7.0 5:61) sees [rien ee 3.9 665.5 
RecentsCut-OVversi(s0) eee a ee en 1, 824. 2 94.0 1.4] 72.5 (a6 27.5 70.6 | . 54.1 @)i4 / Eee 8.1 | 2,160.0 
Deforested burns, nonrestocked (37)__________ 626. 5 30.3 .4} 95.9 7} 1.3 168.9 | 499.1 ZONE Ness cca 64.9 | 1, 534.7 
Noncommercial rocky areas (38) -_____________ rer y| 6.1 3.0 2.6 oul! 4052 722) |! 312: 9 41.7 | 5 14.7 504. 4 
| | | 
| | | | 
DRO RU nade ae are ee ee 19,814.6 | 977.2 18.7 657. 0 110.6 270.4 |2,165.9 |9, 281.6 841.6 8.8 | 981.1 |35, 127.5 
| | 
GENERALIZED TYPES 
INontforestiland'|(2:andi3) Ss22 =e <a eee 5, 160. 7 26.2 | 2.4 27.0 9.7 10.0 OL 436.9 193.1 4.3 204.1 | 6,125.5 
ardwoodetimbers(3)) es a= ea ees | 584. 1 16.0 2 27.3 | 2.8 10.7 12395) ~ 86332) POM ee es 12:11 753.3 
Conifer saw-log timber (5%,! 6, 7, 8, 11, 14,17, | | “i | 
1Se20 20 Ave 23274820 anda o2)eena see ee | 6,229.4 | 537.8 4.7 155. 1 34.8 145.9 |1, 433.6 |5, 492.4 216. 7 | 2.4 275.1 |14, 527.9 
= | | | | 
Conifer timber smaller than saw-log size (9, 12, | | 
15, and 21): 
Onvcut-ovema\reas see ae eee ee 1, 020. 5 23.0 iisal 39.8 8.3 10.3 BiGs |= Se Bee 8 | eee | ee 767 |) 1922 
Ontoldiburnss 22a eee eee eee 1, 763.5 119.2 4.0 103. 1 4.9 6.7 252.8 643. 4 28 ih) paces 139.4 | 3,065.7 
Le | | 
7 | 
TS 0 Gel pee en PRA Bee ee OS et 2, 784.0 142. 2 551 142.9 13.2 17.0 261. 4 643. 4 28.7 aseaaaae 147.0 | 4,184.9 
Conifer timber, seedling and sapling (10, 13, | 
16, and 22): 
Onicut-over areas sees a ee a 1, 190. 7 53. 0 3 67.0 26.6 5.5 8.3 25.5 BU yi | eta 9.9 | 1,388.3 
Ontoldiburns™ eas rea 379. 2 36.8 3 30.3 1.9 5 86.5 525. 4 BY Mitel bye 32.0 | 1,130.7 
PANO UN ae EN ae 1, 569.9 89.8 6 97.3 28. 5 6.0 94.8 550. 9 BON St | eee 41.9 | 2,519.0 
Conifer timber, small mixed types (19, 24, 28, 
and 30): | 
Onvcut-overiareass=== as ee 20.5 4 2 iT al eee mel te qa .8 eA i eee te 23.1 
‘Onroldiburns=s34=e46 =e et ee 34.9 | ill 1 1.3 oth | See. 7.3 239. 2 36.8 | Sects 2.7 | 322.5 
| 
MOOS Re See Es ee 55. 4 5 3 | 2.0 SEM sates ee 7.4 240.0 37. 2 jacetece| Pell 345.6 
Noncommercial (4, 514,4 25, 26, 33, and 38)_____ 404. 2 15.8 Bi} 12.3 | 1:7; 40.6 58. 2 |1, 273.0 278. 4 | pHa 221.3) |) 22311ed 
Recenticut—overs(36) he | 1,824.2 94.0 NG Chat = Pas 7.6 2725 70.6} 654.1 Cit |e | 8.1 | 2,160.0 
Old cut-overs, nonrestocked, and deforested-) | | | | 
burnetypesi(ssandisy) ise ssou- = oe Se el 202207) 111) 9042.9, | 5 120.6 12,2 12:7 175.9 | 504.7 ATS 25 see ee | 68.8 | 2, 200.2 
WG tall epee een ae | 19,814.6 | 977.2| 187] 657.0| 110.6 | 270.4 |2, 165.9 |9, 281.6 | 841.6 8.8 | 981.1 |35, 127.5 
| | | | 


3 Less than 50 acres. 


4 6,510 acres of type 5%4 in Josephine County, Oreg., is classified here as noncommercial. 


15 


Tasle 3.—Area of all types in the Douglas-fir region, by State and forest-survey unit, 1933 


Western Washington 
2 | | 
Type name and No. aan North | Central | South Gra color 
Puget Puget Puget Harbor Wash. Total 
Sound Sound | Sound ington 
1,000 1,009 1,000 1,000 1,009 | 1,090 | 1,000 
acres acres acres acres acres | -acres | acres 
‘Nonforest Jand otherithan/acriculturall(2)2=222--- en ee eee 1, 455.0 467.3 370.0 22.6 89.7 58.9 1, 008. 5 
Agriculturali(S) se ee eee ee ee Sees Ree 4,670.5 450.9 343.5 257.0 79.4 284.5 1, 415.3 
Oak-madrone-woodland:(4)c-- 22 Sea ee Se eS eee ae 364.3 eal 2.2 23 3 aul 3.0 
Ponderosa: pines woodlandii(54) 2a sse hae ee ee ee ee ea GOA esos eB bee oe TE S| as ee |e ee | ee 
Douglas-fir: 
Large old growth (6)________ . 4 143.9 285.0 367.0 186. 2 296. 2 1, 278.3 
Small old growth (7) __-_-_-- BS) 59. 6 306. 9 24.0 11.8 20.1 422.4 
qargee'second: sro wbhi(8) = Se ee ne ee ee ee eee eee .6 120. 2 152. 2 252. 6 39.1 166.7 730.8 
Smallisecond‘erowthi(9) 2. see ee oe Se eee By 310.3 525. 6 232. 5 51.7 347.7 1, 467.8 
Seedlingsiand’saplings!(10)= 222-2 ae Se es ee ee ees ee 5 230. 7 549. 6 224. 2 108. 9 232.1 1, 345.5 
Sitka spruce: 
Targe! (il) 222k. 2a. So Bn Se ee Ee ee 189. § 69.3 1.8 98. 3 
Small (12) 47.6 9.2 3.9 14.0 
Seedlings and saplings (13) 12.0 1:3} | See 1.3 
Western hemlock: 
Targe (14) 2S a0 oS oa ae eet ee ee 2, 247. 2 420.8 587.3 84.7 676.8 136.7 1, 906. 3 
Smalli(15) eso — se ee oe ee a oe ee ee ee ee 366. 0 46.5 58.9 325 125.8 29.6 264. 3 
Seedlings‘and'saplings: (16)= 22s) — a ee ee Se te 243.3 28. 2 85.0 132 85.3 11.9 211.6 
Western redcedar, large (17) -_---__- 388. 7 6 3 pial 1.3 8 Hal 
Port Orford white-cedar, large (18) __ 38.7 
“<¢Cedar!?:smallt(19)t< 5. es See ea ae ee ee ee ee 25.8 
Ponderosa pine: 
Tyarge;(20)2 se oe pa Se ee ee eee eee eee OLR Bi (aces Be ee eed Bee ee 5.0 5.0 
Small\(Q)) reese a ee ee ee ee a ne eae ee ee TOM lig | eee eee 38), |Ressce s- 22/222 SE be eae .8 
Seedlingsiand(saplingsi(22)= = 2. ace es eee ee 5329) 5ee ee pel BRE Oe oo ose MS SS ee es |e 
Sugar’ pine; larse(Q0:A) oe ee a ee eet es ee ee 978) | sean eg SAE eel ES Fe SS | 
Fir-mountain hemlock: 
Targe; (23) i252 2S = Soe SS SN A oS ate ora ee ee 1, 609. 3 325. 5 250. 6 105. 6 169. 0 142.6 993. 3 
Small (24) 2a sce ee ee ee eee 273.9 20. 6 25. 5 22.2 ~2 84.8 153.3 
Lodgepole pine: 
Targei(25) 8-22: 25. 2 SS 2 ee ee ee 3310) |S mt 2d | eae rea Oe = = «2 
Smalli(26) S225 2 Se ee ee ee ok Fee a en ee 269.9 6.0 4.2 -8 2.3 13.3 26. 6 
White fir-larch-Douglas-fir: 
MATEO (27) <2 Sse oeets 2 See Se beens Read Ee SD ee ee ee BY Ti eeeena tas OU ES ee 2 Be ES IS | Pees SS es 14.9 14.9 
Small (28) 2222s Se eee ee SS eee er Bese ee a 3059) | Pee | ee on |bneseeees 9.9 9.9 
White fir: 
Margei(20)i 7. Sa. oa Se Sa ae es Sos es eo eee ee ee 69.5 44 1.6 Q) 92 eames 0 
Smealll\(30) 22s 22252552 Se Ee as ee en eee 15.0 35 1 ae ee pees 1.0 1.6 
lard woodsi(30) 20 == ono ee ee Se eS oe ee ee Ree 753. 3 134. 2 102. 2 35.5 60.9 20. 4 353. 2 
Redwood (32) _----- OER] NS ere Oe ol ee i) beeces Salles 2 | eee eee 
Subalpine (33) 1, 162.9 590.5 341.6 37.8 74.1 47.9 1,091.9 
QOldicutowers!(35)-ce2= 3 225 A OE es eee 665. 5 149.8 202. 6 28.0 62.5 82.9 525.8 
Reécenticut-overs: (36) <2 Se Sa ae Se ee ee ee eee 2, 160. 0 205.8 483. 2 294.9 323.9 133.2 1. 441.0 
Deforested burns; nonrestocked) (3/222. 2 2. aa ee ee eee 1, 534. 7 73.8 63.1 16.7 6.2 206.0 365.8 
Noncommercialirocky-areas!(38)_- ==- -- <= 222 25 pass os ee eee esse 504. 4 116.8 79.1 abs? 63.3 | 30.7 301.6 
| | 
Total = 2222. S252. ere a Se ee eee 35, 127.5 4, 043.9 4,910.0 | 2, 027.5 | 2, 475. 3 2, 392. 6 15, 849. 3 


1 Less than 50 acres. 


16 


Tasie 3.—Area of all types in the Douglas-fir region, by State and forest-survey unit, 1933—Continued 


Type name and No. 


Western Oregon 


1 ia} Willa- Nort Sout | 
“River, | mette | Oregon | Oregon | Umpaual Rogue | tay 
Oregon River coast coast 
1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 
acres acres acres acres acres acres acres 
Nonforest land other than agricultural (2) 124.0 101.9 23.3 44.9 15.3 137.1 446.5 
Agricultural’ (3) -—------—-------_---=---------- 603.6 | 1,753.2 141.4 167. 6 342.7 246.7 | 3,255.2 
Oak-madrone woodland (4) ______ 7.1 Olona ee 78.6 76. 2 148.1 361.3 
PONG CrosasDineswOOdlanda (51/4) aaa ee mete ee ee ee eer rere et ere Liaenie |i Sn elite UE oie eS |e ee ee 54. 4 54, 4 
Douglas-fir: 
eargeyoldterowUly (6) eae ee ee eee ene eee eee ene eee —— 210. 4 806. 1 167.1 333. 9 397.5 106.1 2,021.1 
Smallioldierowthi ee oases see Se ee ee ee eee ee 248. 3 834. 8 22.6 433. 2 816.8 787. 2 3, 142.9 
Ieargeisecond!erowithi (8) sess es ees ee ee a 159.0 614.8 359. 1 242.2 492.9 42.8 1,910.8 
Small second growth (9)_____- Se ee ee ee ene Nel re At 428. 4 708. 7 138. 4 435.6 327.3 186.0 2, 224.4 
Seedlingstandisaplings((10)hsseeee sae ana see eee er es 269. 5 282. 6 28. 2 64. 0 77.0 43.7 765. 0 
Sitka spruce: 
AT EC CLil!) Sewn es Se Oe Sere ee nes Boe ceo o een a ees oee ee oe 19.9 52. 2 LO aN eee ee Shrew Ors 
Sm 8) | (1.2) Sas eae oe ee . = 2.3 17.9 BIA a Pos | ea ae 33.6 
Seedlingsiandtsaplingesi (13) so s22= a Se a ee eee eos Ee 1.9 6.1 Qarle, | pate = oa el eee eee 10.7 
Western hemlock: 
arco (14) Eee nae es eee eee eer ae Oe ne eee 340.9 
Sim alll (5) seas eat eae see See eee aeons sees coke eee et eee 101.7 
Seedlings and saplings (16) ___ 31.7 
Western redcedar, large (17) _----_----------- 12.6 
Port Orford, white-cedar, large (18) Es 38.7 
COOH ery oa ON OOS) a i a re a ee ee 6.9 
Ponderosa pine: 
GAT Sey (20) seen are wae seen Slee oe Ue tke Re en Jo Sew ence eae Tk 2:2 Oy|eas=- ese _- 11.4 34.3 240.0 288.5 
Sm al li(2 1) tera ee ek oe ret a coe a ee Seen EF ay HO bssavet nese bake 12.0 65.8 78.3 
Seealingsandisaplinest(22)\es nese a ae eee eee ee Oe ae ee ee .6 9) Hie a ee tony [eee eee ee veal 150.3 153. 2 
SAYRE yop tote) METERS) (COUN) a ae a eS ae ee | pee Pe el ea Gi [-=22-2 2222 97. 2 97.8 
Fir-mountain hemlock: 
Large (23) 122.6 298. 3 3.6 151 144.1 46.3 616.0 
Small (24) 67.5 AQHA. 8 Se ee eee 2 3.6 8.9 120.6 
Lodgepole pine: 
ILERRS (QA) os ose Se SE SS I ee |e 5 5 -8 Dele asx eon 2.9 
S711 D126) eset eed ee ree en Be ee ie oe Doe ee erat we ood 19. 2 116.1 12.5 25. 7 63. 0 6.8 243.3 
White fir-larch-Douglas-fir: 
Large (27) 22.7 
Small (28) 21.0 
White fir: 
DOA ERS OTE) ) ec a a a ee ee eee 2.6 US OM eee nee we 5.1 1.6 56.3 67.5 
Sinn ea) (0) pee a ee ee Ne ee eae es -6 PS Re eee 3.5 ree 5.9 13.4 
JET arc OOCSK(S 1) Beer rete ne ee te OS eR SE SSE ues Seen = Wwe Sele ol 58.6 69.9 226. 4 40.9 9 3. 400. 1 
TRICO OOO CPD) a eo Se OE Le er ea Fea ae ON ae eos | ee 1.6 
Sibal piney (33) Mere eee eae ae ee eee oe eee ea oe ek ooe ek 2h Po Sa ee eee (a aac ae 15.7 7.0 71.0 
OTGECUtSOVELST (GD) eee ee ar ea en ee ee Ae ee eee 86.7 32.1 325) 12.8 4.1 5 139.7 
Recent cut-overs (36) = 303. 5 209.3 70.8 89.5 19.3 26.6 719.0 
iDeforestedsburns snonrestockedt (37) e=ss2--- anne ae oe 132. 6 151.5 303. 6 213. 4 76.8 291.0 1, 168.9 
INGncommMercialinocksysaredsy(o8) se ee eee ee al ee 10.3 30. 6 6 79.0 Tad 75,1 202. 8 
CROC al eee aameie cet ae env ucvendi eee oon te ee tal le 3,224.0 | 6,209.0 | 1,712.9] 2,362.8 2,936.1 | 2,833.4 | 19,278.2 


1 Less than 50 acres. 


Ly) 


GENERALIZED 


FOREST TYPE ee 


SAW TIMBER 


SEGOND 
GROWTH 


NON- 
COMMERCIAL 


NONRESTOCKED 
CUT-OVERS 
AND BURNS 


NATIONAL 
FORESTS 


REGENT 
CGUT-OVERS 


HARDWOOD 


bo 


Nonforest Land 


The ‘‘agricultural land” category takes in culti- 
vated fields and orchards and also stump pasture, 
included in operating farm units, on which oper- 
ators are making definite efforts to improve the 
forage by clearing, seeding, fencing, or other 
measures (fig. 6). It does not include the large 
acreage of cut-over land that is used as free range 
This land is grazed casu- 
Usually 


no attempt is made to convert it to permanent 


by neighboring farmers. 
ally and, in many instances, in trespass. 


(e) 
ine) 
BS 


MILLIONS OF ACRES 


Ficure 5.—Areas of generalized forest types in western Washington and western Oregon, by ownership class. 


18 


pasture. It is not an uncommon practice to burn 
this type of land in an attempt to improve the 
grazing. Most of the 444 million acres classed as 
agricultural was orginally forested and is capable of 
again growing forests if not devoted to other use. 
The ‘‘nonforest land other than agricultural’’ is 
chiefly land that will not support tree growth, 
because of soil, climate, or topography. It includes 
sand beaches, rock barrens, swamps, mountain 
meadows, roads, and urban and industrial sites. 
Of the 115 million acres in this class more than two- 
thirds is in Washington, where the Cascade Range 


is more rugged and has a more severe climate than 
in Oregon. 


Conifer Sawlog Types 


The conifer saw-timber types occupy 14.5 million 
acres, or more than 40 percent of the region’s total 
land area and more than 50 percent of its forest 
land. Practically all the saw-timber volume in the 
region occurs in the types making up this group. 
The average stand per acre of these types approxi- 
mates 35,000 board feet. Figure 7 shows the extent 
of saw-timber stands contrasted with that of second- 
growth stands. About 60 percent of the saw-timber 
type area is in Oregon and 40 percent in Washing- 


ton. 
OLD-GROWTH DOUGLAS-FIR 


Nearly all the cutting in this region has taken 
place in old-growth Douglas-fir forests, chiefly in 
type 6 stands averaging more than 40 inches 
d. b. h. It is estimated that before logging began 
old-growth Douglar-fir timber covered about 14 
million acres. Of the 6.9 million acres remaining, 
three-quarters is in western Oregon. 

Old-growth stands in western Washington are 
predominantly mixed; in western Oregon predomi- 


nantly pure. In the region as a whole they average 
about 80 percent Douglas-fir. The most common 
associates are western hemlock, western redcedar, 
Pacific silver fir, and noble fir. The understory 
consists usually of western hemlock, western red- 
cedar, bigleaf maple, and red alder. The alder is 
generally limited to the stream courses. Along the 
larger rivers northern black cottonwood is found. 
Tree species much less commonly present in these 
types are Sitka spruce along the coast, Pacific yew, 
western chokecherry (Prunus virginiana demissa), and 
in southern Oregon ponderosa pine, sugar pine, 
Port Orford white-cedar, golden chinquapin, tan 
oak, California laurel, and Pacific madrone. 

The underbrush of these types is characteristically 
dense and luxuriant. Salal (Gaultheria shallon), vine 
maple (Acer circinatum), salmonberry (Rubus spectab- 
iis), Oregon-grape (Odostemon aquifolium), and 
devils club (Fatsia horrida) are the most common 
brush species. 

Stand volume per acre ranges from 10,000 to 
more than 175,000 board feet and averages about 
60,000 board feet for the large old growth and 
40,000 board feet for small old growth. Douglas-fir 
sawlog-size trees range in diameter from 16 to more 
than 100 inches. 


Sa 


325635 


Figure 6.—Stump pasture, classified in the survey as agricultural and definitely out of forest production. In background, patches of forest such 
as are found throughout the Willamette Valley and other large agricultural areas in the Douglas-fir region. 


Large old growth occurs on better sites and usu- 
ally at lower elevations than the smaller type. 
Small old growth is common in the Cascade Range 
of Oregon but seldom occurs in the Coast Range 
except in southern Oregon. It is found along the 
west shores of Puget Sound and on Hood Canal, a 
district of comparatively low precipitation and 
gravelly soil. 

A very large proportion of the original area of 
large old growth was privately owned, and after 
three decades of large-scale logging about two- 
thirds of the present area is privately owned. 
Most of the small old growth is on national-forest 
land, little of which has been cut over. 


DOUGLAS-FIR SECOND-GROWTH SAW TIMBER 


About 28 percent of the total Douglas-fir saw- 
timber type area is occupied by second growth 


(type 8), nearly three-quarters of it in western 
Oregon. 

Second-growth saw-timber stands are nearly all 
even-aged. Most of them range from about 90 to 
160 years. On the better sites and in the more open 
stands Douglas-fir trees reach a breast-high diam- 
eter of 20 inches as young as 60 years and 40 inches 
by 120 years. Asa general rule, however, Douglas- 
fir even on sites I and II does not attain a 40-inch 
d. b. h. if the stand is closed until it reaches the age 
of 150 years, after which growth slows down. 

These stands occur chiefly on old burns. They 
are usually pure averaging for the region as a 
whole between 85 and 90 percent Douglas-fir. 
Volume per acre ranges from 10,000 to 125,000 
board feet and averages about 45,000 feet. A very 
considerable amount of logging is taking place in 
this type, principally to supply logs to small mills 


TYPE CLASS NATIONAL ALL 
AND SPECIES PRIVATE FOREST OTHER 
SAW-TIMBER TYPES 
Oa’! !2' 2a’ a’ aa"! Oe yy 
DOUGLAS -FIR penne, § WI) 
PULP SPECIES Reeeeeeeeeteeernes ZG 
OTHER SPECIES iy Z 
SECOND-GROWTH TYPES 
DOUGLAS -FIR Rese WZ. 
xX 
PULP SPECIES MY A 
| 
OTHER SPECIES j A 
Oo te a ee a ig a ae a one eee 


MILLIONS OF ACRES 


Figure 7.—Areas of saw-timber and second-growth types in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership class, 


cutting railroad ties. Most of the pole and piling 
material produced in the region is derived here. 
The comparative accessibility of a large portion of 
the area accounts for much of the premature logging 
of these young stands. 


MISCELLANEOUS SAWLOG TYPES 


Of the other sawlog types the most important is 
western redcedar (17), occurring almost exclu- 
sively in western Washington, in low, moist situa- 
tions, rarely in pure stands. Much of the early 
logging in the Puget Sound district was in this type, 
and logging in it is still extensive. 

The large Port Orford white-cedar type (18) 
occupies less than 39,000 acres, all in southwestern 
Oregon. The stands are seldom pure, the usual 
associate being Douglas-fir. Because of its high 
stumpage value this type has been actively ex- 
ploited in recent years. Most of the cutting has 
taken only the ‘‘cedar.”’ 

Next in importance to the ‘“‘cedar”’ types are the 
large ponderosa and sugar pine types (20 and 20A). 
These are practically restricted to the Rogue River 
and Umpqua River units, where they have con- 
Their stand 
volume is usually much less than that of the types 
previously discussed, ranging from about 5,000 to 
30,000 board feet per acre and averaging about 
15,000 feet. 

The large white fir-larch-Douglas-fir type (27) is 
unimportant west of the Cascade divide, and the 
redwood type (32) is restricted to a few acres in 
extreme southwestern Oregon. 


siderable commercial importance. 


PULPWOOD TYPES 


The pulpwood types are composed of the large 
spruces, hemlocks, and balsam firs, which at present 
find their chief use for this purpose. 

Of these types, which occupy in all 4.1 million 
acres, large western hemlock (type 14) is the most 
widespread, since it is found at practically all 
elevations within the range of commercial forest 
growth (sea level to about 4,000 to 5,000 feet 
elevation) and almost throughout the length of the 
region (fig. 8). Eighty-five percent of its area, 
however, is in two large belts in western Washing- 
ton extending the length of the State, one a coastal 
belt about 20 miles wide and the other along the 


2 


F 320956 


Ficure 8.—Western hemlock, the Douglas-fir region's chief pulp 

species, extensive stands of which occur along the coast and on the 

upper slopes of the Cascade Range. The region has 105 billion 
board feet of this species 


upper slopes of the Cascade Range between the 
Douglas-fir and balsam fir-mountain hemlock 
zones. The type has been little exploited except 
Some 
stands are as much as 40-percent Douglas-fir and 


at the low elevations accessible to tidewater. 


are logged primarily for that species. 

The next most prevalent pulpwood type is the 
large fir-mountain hemlock (type 23), the principal 
constituents of which are Pacific silver fir, noble 
fir, Shasta red fir, mountain hemlock, western hem- 


lock, and Engelmann spruce. This type occurs 
commonly at the higher elevations of the Cascade 
Range and Olympic Mountains and occasionally 
at the extreme elevations of the Coast Range. 
Because of its comparative inaccessibility and the 
unsuitability of its constituent species for sawlogs, 
it has little present commercial value and practi- 
cally no logging is taking place in it. Future 
exploitation will probably be almost exclusively 
for pulpwood. 

The larger Sitka spruce type (11) occurs only in a 
coastal belt rarely more than 10 miles wide. The 
common associates are western hemlock, western 
redcedar, and Douglas-fir. Although its acreage is 
relatively small, this type has been logged exten- 
sively for sawlogs and pulpwood. During the 


World War much of the type 11 area was partially 
logged for airplane spruce. 

White fir (type 29) occurs on a small area only. 
More than three-quarters of the area is in southern 
Oregon. The remainder is principally in stream 
bottoms in small patches rarely exceeding 80 
acres. Large white fir is occasionally cut for pulp- 


wood by farmers and woodcutters. 


Conifer Types Less Than Sawlog Size 


Immature stands consisting chiefly of trees below 
sawlog size cover 7 million acres. The continued 
growth of these stands and their protection against 
fire and premature cutting are most essential for 
the future saw-timber supply. Table 4 and figure 
9 show their area, by age and stocking. 


TABLE 4.—Area of certain immature conifer forest types in the Douglas-fir region, by age class and degree of stocking, 1933 


| ; | | 
Good | Medium) Poor | Allstock- 
Type and age class (years) stocking stocking| stocking] ings 
| 
Douglas fir, small second 
growth: 1,000 acres|1,000 acres|1,000 acres|1,000 acres 
D0) se ens Pe eae 60.9 88.7 24.6 174. 2 
BO ee ee en) eee 348.9 385. 2 72.8 806.9 
AQ Verne re a ae eA 395. 4 424.6 85.4 905.4 
50 ete eee 277.3 273.5 63. 2 | 614.0 
6022s Saas e  e 206. 4 312.4 58. 4 577.2 
7(U epee Sac. Pee See a 190. 6 198.8 24.8 414. 2 || 
43.0 57.4 20.5 120.9 
24.8 18.8 12 44.8 || 
10.1 19.1 5.4 34.6 || 
1, 557.4 | 1,778.5 356.3 | 3,692.2 || 
lings: 
392. 2 586. 7 363. 5 1, 342, 4 || 
291.2 283.8 63. 4 638. 4 
81.1 41.1 5.3 127.5 
Dez, AT | Sages 1.8 
23 Hi |f Satu 4 
766. 5 911.8 | 432.2 2,110.5 
| | 
1.0 Dish |powee as 3.3 | 
5.1 5.2 3 10.6 |, 
7.6 5.3 Ao} 1351} 
-5 3 sek 9 
6.1 5.9 1.3 13.3 
WE wy i Sud So soe ees 2c ots eal eee @) 12) 2 
9 1.3 3.2 5.4 || 
=e gel ep na Re .3 | 
Seeds BA ood 5 (1) 15 
PAL 21.1 5.3 47.6 
lings: 
LO ee 2 ae ae eee ee 6 27 3 7.1 || 
20 en + ate 5 as nets Sd 6 3.4 1 4.1 
SOU ee Se Se 1 aff) | ee eee .8 | 
Totals = ease eee ad 1.3 6.8 | 3.9 | 12.0 


1 Less than 50 acres. 
2 780 acres of type 21 in Pierce County, Wash., is 


DD, 


| F | aq 

Type and age class (years) es | Srenene aes Peas 
Western hemlock, small: 1,000 acres|1,009 acres|1,009 acres|1,000 acres 
14.3 9.3 .3 23.9 
60. 4 44.0 4.3 108. 7 
51.2 28.3 2.3 81.8 
16.5 11.6 9 29.0 
15.0 16.8 2.8 34.6 
21. 2 13.9 5.2 40.3 
5.5 7.2 3.1 15.8 
8 albal .2 201: 
5.7 23.1 1.0 29.8 
190. 6 155. 3 20.1 | 366. 0 

Western hemlock, seedlings and | 
saplings: P 
128. 6 57.7 21.2 207.5 
15.7 10.4 7 26.8 
5.0 Lal 2 Ses 6.1 
1.3 344 | ek aoe 1.7 
4 2 anes .6 
(77 a | bere 4 .4 
() 23 |e ee 52 
151.0 70.0 22.3 243.3 

“Cedar,’’ small: 
JOG. 222 2 ee eas 2.7 2.6 6.1 11.4 
20__ 9 BY 8 5.4 
.8 A) .2 1.5 
3 -9 a2, 3.4 
6 .0 6 2.2 
.3 .3 
() 

.3 
1.3 
25.8 
oul 
.5 
6.5 
7.6 


omitted from this table, as it was classified as uneven-aged, 


Tasie 4.—Area of certain immature conifer forest types in the Douglas-fir region, by age class and degree of stocking, 1933—Continued 


| ra | } 
Ponderosa pine, small—Con. 1,000 acres|1,000 acres |1,000 acres|1,000 acres 
24.3 12.3 39.9 
10. 2 5.2 16.6 
2.5 1.0 5.1 
SG | poses 9 
cen ern ae ibal nial 
Motalwssewee ss ce ee sone 9.7 44.0 24.6 78. 3 
Ponderosa pine, seedlings and 
saplings: 
.2 1.9 1.0 3.1 
2.7 9.9 5.4 18.0 
2.8 18.8 5.3 26.9 
12.4 46.5 13.3 72, 2 
2.2 4.3 3.4 9.9 
4.9 15.0 2.8 22.7 
-2 a ral 4 
25.4 96. 5 31.3 153. 2 
11.3 13.9 34.1 59. 3 
45.1 46.1 9.1 100. 3 
25.7 15.9 3.3 44.9 
eal 1.8 17.9 
.3 ra 8.4 
.2 -9 8.8 
7.0 
13.2 
.3 
13.8 
FO Lal Reese ee eas 121.4 103. 2 49.3 273.9 


Type and age class (years) Becene coe | Hoocne | ey 
| 
White-fir - larch - Douglas - fir, 
small: 1,000 acres 1,000 acres|1,0C0 acres\1,000 acres 
pee ee ee ral 
2s Wosd, 
5. 9.7 
a 1.4 
ite 7.2 
GOR erat Se es 3 3.8 
Fo bea Wea = ete Oe ek 20.4 | 9.2 1.3 30.9 
i} 
White fir, small: 
1 OES Se Ee Ge OY 1.3 3 4 2.0 
4 .4 od Aa!) 
-9 Oh seers oa tear eid 
Ba iced) 1 1.9 
563 1.4 6 2.3 
1.4 1 Es ee 2.7 
adi 2 aul 1.0 
seers te dig |e avs 
Medias s 20s |S aut 1 
4 es eee es ues 
Mota lessees se st te ae 5.5 8.1 | 1.4 15.0 
536.9 666. 9 430. 1 1, 633.9 
437.2 460.0 105. 9 1, 003. 1 
536. 5 517.8 91.5 1, 145.8 
488.7 51222 106. 2 L810 Fee 
314. 6 297.0 70.9 682. 5 
242.1 382.7 78.9 703. 7 
220. 7 223.3 35.5 479.5 
59. 8 74.1 27.9 161.8 
26. 2 20.8 alt 48.5 
Wed 57.6 7.5 82.8 
2,880.4] 3,212.4] 955.9 7, 048. 7 


DOUGLAS-FIR SECOND GROWTH 


The small second-growth (9) and seedling and 
sapling (10) types occupy a total of 5.8 million 
acres including some of the most favorably located 
and productive forest land in the region. Stands 
of these types are almost always even-aged. ‘They 
are usually pure, averaging from 80 to 90 percent 
Douglas-fir in the region as a whole. 

The small second-growth Douglas-fir occupies 
3.7 million acres, mostly old burns. The stands, 
6 to 20 inches d. b. h., range from 20 to 120 years 
in age; on poor sites many stands reach 100 years. 
Less than half the small second-growth stands are 
well stocked (table 4). As a general rule those 
growing on old burns are better stocked than those 
growing on cut-over land, because practically all 
cut-over land has been burned over at least once 
and much of it several times. 


The stands on cut-over lands occur chiefly on 
areas that were logged in the early days of the 
lumber industry and that are easily accessible from 
industrial centers. ‘Topography usually permitted 
cheap logging. Undoubtedly these areas will be 
logged again before many of the more remote old- 
growth areas. ‘They are being logged already in a 
small way for poles, piling, fuel wood, and sawlogs. 
This premature clear cutting of small second 
growth is a short-sighted practice, but from present 
indications it will increase. Approximately two- 
thirds of the area involved is privately owned, 
chiefly by farmers and other local small holders. 
Such owners usually do not have the resources to 
carry timber for long periods. How to introduce 
forest-management practice in these second-growth 
stands is one of the critical forest problems in this 


region. 


OPO ZOr Ss OR 4 One® 


NOVO rT BO) 140) SO) GO). © 


AGE 
CLASSES WELL STOCKED MEDIUM STOCKED eee 
(YEARS ) 
Gy 
Ne Wilda 
30 & 40 
50 & 60 
70 & 80 
COOLS, y So, 
ate See 
Le | | | l l 


kOe ZO’ SO 


DISTRIBUTION OF AGE CLASSES (PERCENT) 


Ficure 9.—Age class and stocking of immature conifer stands in western Washington and western Oregon 


The seedling and sapling stands (less than 6 
inches in d. b. h.) range from 1 to about 30 years 
in age and cover 2.1 million acres; those on a few 
thousand acres of poor land are as old as 50 years. 
Roughly half the area of this type has been cut 
over (fig. 10). The condition of these stands is far 
from satisfactory; only a little more than a third of 
the area is well stocked. 


SECOND-GROWTH PULPWOOD 


Second-growth Sitka spruce (types 12 and 13) 
occupies about 60,000 acres. Usually it occurs as 
mixed stands near the coast and ranges in age 
from 1 to 100 years. The stands occupy very 
productive sites, their stocking averages better 


than that of second-growth Douglas-fir stands, and 
their yields are higher. 

The western hemlock types (15 and 16) are the 
most important of the second-growth types other 
than Douglas-fir, and have a total area of 609,000 
The stands are usually even-aged and pure 
Age, stocking, and site being 


acres. 
in composition. 
equal, higher yields are obtained from western 
hemlock second growth than from Douglas-fir 
second growth. There has been little cutting on 
these stands, although in the past few years small 
areas have been logged from pulpwood. 

Balsam fir-mountain hemlock less than 16 inches 
d. b. h. (type 24) covers 274,000 acres, practically 
all of which is on old burns at high elevations on 


the national forests. The stands are usually mixed. 
White fir second growth (type 30) occurs only in 
small scattered patches. 


OTHER SMALL SECOND-GROWTH TYPES 


Second-growth “‘cedar’”’ (type 19) usually occurs 
in mixture with Douglas-fir and western hemlock, 
and seldom occurs in sufficient proportion to be a 
type. The ponderosa pine second-growth types 
(21 and 22) are concentrated in the Rogue River 
unit and are of considerable importance there. 
Small white fir (28) is confined to the Columbia 
River units. 


Deforested Lands 


More than a tenth of the total forest-land area 
of the region has been deforested by fire alone or by 
fire following logging and is now nonproductive. 


NONRESTOCKED CUT-OVERS 


Nonrestocked lands cut over before 1920 (type 35) 
constitute one of the most acute land-use problems 
in the region. They total 666,000 acres, or about 


21 percent of the total area cut over prior to 1920. 
Approximately 79 percent of the acreage of this 
type is in western Washington, concentrated in the 
vicinity of Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and the 
Columbia River. Most of it is within 15 miles of 
one or another of the industrial centers, Seattle, 
Tacoma, Everett, Portland, and Aberdeen. It 
formerly supported fine stands of virgin timber, 
and is very accessible. The present cover consists 
of shrubs and herbs with a few broadleaf trees and 
an occasional conifer. Much of the area is covered 
with bracken. Part of it is grazed, but too inter- 
mittently to be considered pasture land. The 
present condition of this land is not the result of 
logging alone; most of it, since being cut over, has 
been burned several times. 

In 1934 about 87 percent of this land was private, 
4 percent county-owned, and 4 percent State- 
owned. (See table 2.) Since then a considerable 
acreage has been forfeited to the counties for un- 
paid taxes, and a much larger acreage has become 
tax delinquent. Instability of ownership adds to 
the problem that this land presents, and in many 


F 325621 
Ficure 10.—Clear-cut area in western Oregon that restocked satisfactorily with Douglas-fir about 10 years ago, as a result of adequate seed 
1 supply and fire protection. Similar stands were found on more than a million acres of cut-over land in the region. 


cases responsibility for its care and protection is 
evaded by its owners. Remedial measures to cor- 
rect this and other critical forest problems are 


discussed later in the report. 
RECENT CUT-OVERS 


Lands that have been cut over since the begin- 
ning of 1920 (type 36) total 2,160,000 acres (fig. 
11), two-thirds of which is in western Washington. 
It is all easily accessible, and most of it is near the 
great waterways of the region, Puget Sound and 
the Columbia River. 
percent was privately owned and 3 percent county- 


In 1934 approximately 84 


owned. The county-owned portion has increased 
greatly since then, and much more has become tax 
delinquent. 

Less than a third of the recently logged land is 
satisfactorily restocked. Results of a linear survey 
of the land logged in the 4-year period 1920-23 
show that 12 percent of that land is well stocked, 
17 percent is medium stocked, 29 percent is poorly 
stocked, and 42 percent is nonstocked. Since 1923 
the seed crops have been poor. 
that lands logged later than 1923 are in poorer 


It may be assumed 


condition than those logged earlier. 

The recent cut-over type includes not only some 
of the most accessible forest land in the region but 
also some of that having the greatest potential 
productivity. This potential productivity has been 
greatly impaired by present practices, which if 
they continue will bring the forest resources of the 
region far below what they would have been had 
this land been permitted to restock promptly and 
fully. The first and urgently needed step in re- 
storing these lands to a fair degree of productivity 
is to give them more intensive fire protection. 


DEFORESTED BURNS 


The deforested cut-over lands have yielded at 
least one crop, but 14 million acres of land (type 
37) has been deforested by fire without having 
yielded a crop. (A comparatively small percent- 
age of the trees killed by fire have been salvaged.) 
Part of this area has been burned several times, 
and each succeeding fire lessened the chance of 
natural restocking. Part will regenerate naturally 
in time, but a large part must be planted if it is 
to become productive without undue delay. A 
portion has been burned so severely that the in- 


26 


herent productive capacity of the soil has been 
considerably reduced by exposure to the elements, 
and now supports a scanty cover of weeds and 
shrubs. 

Many of the present deforested burns, particu- 
larly those in the Oregon Coast Range, supported 
some of the finest stands in the region. Some areas 
such as the Tillamook and Wolf Creek burns of 
1933 may restock naturally, but had not had time 
to do so when the survey data were collected. 
There are other large deforested areas where the 
original forest was noncommercial or inaccessible. 


Woodland and Noncommercial Forests 


Approximately 8 percent of the total forest land 
in the region, 2,311,000 acres, is woodland and non- 
commercial forests. Although lands of these classes 
are not suitable or available for commercial produc- 
tion of timber products, they are valuable for other 
uses. They protect the headwaters of streams, 
conserving soil and water, they furnish grazing for 
stock, and contribute much to the region’s scenic 
attractions. Oak-madrone woodland (type 4) is 
occasionally cut for cordwood and is extensively 
grazed. The other types forming this group are 
lodgepole pine (types 25 and 26), subalpine forests 


38). 
Hardwood Forests 


Broadleaf or hardwood forests occur infrequently 
and are very much less important than conifer 
stands. Less than 3 percent of the forest area in the 
region is occupied by hardwood forests (type 31) 
other than oak-madrone woodland. Hardwoods 
occur mainly on the moist stream-bottom lands; 
extensive continuous hardwood forests are lacking. 
The more important broadleaf stands occur in the 
valleys and on the lower slopes of the Oregon Coast 
Range and in the vicinity of Puget Sound. The 
most common species is red alder. It often forms 
pure forests by seeding in on conifer sites after fire 
and acts as a rapid-growing temporary cover for 
the seedling conifers. This dominance persists for 
a few decades, but ultimately the alder is over- 
topped by the conifers (fig. 12). Red alder reaches 
optimum development on the bottom lands and 
well watered sections of the western slope of the 


(type 33), and noncommercial rocky areas (type 


| 
| 
| 
| 
| 


F320969 


Figure 11.—Example, in western Oregon, of the 2,160,000 acres clear-cut in the Douglas-fir region in 1920-33. Most of this total has been 
slash burned, and much of it has been accidentally reburned. According to forest-survey findings, probably 12 percent of it is well stocked, 17 
percent medium stocked, 29 percent poorly stocked, and 42 percent nonstocked. 


F 320967 


Ficure 12.—Red alder, the principal hardwood species of the Douglas-fir region. In such stands, which are cut for sawlogs and fuelwood, 
the conifer understory may be expected eventually to overtop the alder. 


27 


Coast Range in Oregon. Other important broad- 
leaf trees are bigleaf maple, northern black cotton- 
wood, California laurel, and Oregon ash. Bigleaf 
maple occurs more commonly in mixture or as an 
understory tree in conifer stands than in pure 
stands. Northern black cottonwood often forms 
pure stands on the banks of the larger rivers, on 
gravel bars, and on river islands. 


Forest Site Quality 


The distribution of the 26 million acres of com- 
mercial conifer forest land by site-quality classes 
(p. 12), as in table 5, indicates the relative growth 
capacity of the region. The Douglas-fir site classifi- 
cation was applied to all this area except about 
748,000 acres for which the ponderosa pine clas- 
sification was used. The area of Douglas-fir site 
quality I has been greatly reduced by conversion 
of forest lands to nonforest uses, and by deteriora- 
tion of lands that were logged at an early period 
and have been burned frequently. Land of this 
site class occurs principally on the flats and lower 
slopes of the Coast Range of southwestern Wash- 
ington and northwestern Oregon and in the Cas- 
cade Range north of the Cowlitz River. It is rarely 
found in southern Oregon. 

The 28 percent of commercial areas in Douglas- 
fir site class If is common to the Coast Range and 
the lower elevations of the Cascade Range, except 
in southern Oregon. 

Douglas-fir site class III is the most common in 
this region, including areas of the coarser, shallow 
soils on mountain slopes. In western Oregon, 46 
percent of the total commercial conifer forest land 
is in this site class and 39 percent in western 
Washington. | 

Douglas-fir site class IV includes the areas of 
shallow, coarse soil with much exposed rock and 
the drier exposures on the upper slopes of the 
Cascade Range. Little land of this site class is 
found in the Coast Range except in southwestern 
Oregon. 

More than a million acres is of site class V, the 
lowest in the Douglas-fir classification. Class V 
includes the land bordering subalpine and other 
noncommercial areas, gravel bars along streams, 
swampy areas, and exposed rocky ridges. By far 


28 


Tas ie 5.—Land areas in the Douglas-fir region, forest land areas, 
and commercial conifer areas, by site-quality class 1 


Area Area 
Kind of forest and in in com- 
site-quality class Total area forest | mercial 
land _ | conifers 
Commercial conifer: 

Douglas-fir: Acres Percent | Percent | Percent 
Classi ee i= 520, 398 1, 48 1.79 1.99 
Classilie sts aie eae 7, 224, 513 20, 57 24.91 7. 64 
@lasssi ee eee eee 11, 131, 223 31. 69 38. 38 42. 59 

_| 5, 424, 108 15. 44 18. 70 20. 75 


7 
1, 086, 121 3. 09 3.75 4.16 


Totalit: 2 Soe set 25, 386, 363 | 72.27 | 87.53 97. 13 


23, 602 .07 . 08 09 

159, 781 - 45 . 55 61 

378, 357 1.08 1.31 1.45 

169, 111 .48 . 58 . 65 

14, 657 . 04 -05 . 06 

2,217 .O1 OL .O1 

Total'sst2-2 ene 747, 725 2.13 2. 58 2. 87 

Total commercial conifer_|26, 134,088 | 74.40] 90.11 100. 00 
iodgepolepines=2—= = 273, 064 . 78 
Noncommercial rocky_-_---------_- 504, 355 1. 43 
Subalpinet=-2 ee. == see ee eee 1, 162, 882 3. 31 
Oak-madrones tio senate eee ee 364, 299 1.04 
Hardwood eu 556, 712 1.58 
Pine) woodland“: == =2=s2e es 6, 510 .02 

Totalie = a ss eee 2, 867, 822 8.16 9. 89 |=====-== 

Alivforestity pes see = esate aaa 29,001,910 | 82.56 | 100.00 |----___- 

Nonforestitypessssse=- oe 651:259539) | po 75445 | Se | ee 

| 
Granditotalbess=ssosesse= = 35;.127,;449")|| 100003 Sates Ss | Eee 


| 


1 Deforested areas, types 35, 36, and 37, were classified as to site on the 
basis of original type. For definition of site-quality classes see p. 12. 


the greater part of this land is in the Cascade 
Range and in southwestern Oregon. 

Areas of all six of the site classes commonly used 
in classifying ponderosa pine land were found in 
this region. The ponderosa pine land in the 
Douglas-fir region averages about class III, whereas 
that in eastern Oregon and eastern Washington 
averages about class IV. 


Timber Volume 


The quantity, kind, economic availability, and 
ownership of the timber of the Douglas-fir region 
are matters of national as well as regional impor- 
tance. The largest remaining stand of old-growth 
timber in the United States is here. According to 


conservative estimates the national total of saw- 
timber volume is 1,764 billion board feet lumber 
tally, and the national total volume of all trees, 
both saw timber and smaller, is 519 billion cubic 
feet. This region’s saw-timber volume, converted 
to lumber tally,’ is approximately 628 billion board 
feet, or 36 percent of the national total, and its 
cubic timber volume is 129 billion feet, or 25 per- 
cent of the national total. The way in which this 
enormous particularly old-growth 
component, is cut and marketed will influence 


volume, its 
forest management in every other forest region of 
the United States. Under current economic con- 
ditions, only about half of this volume is available 
for exploitation. 


Saw- Timber Volume 


All but a small volume of material cut is derived 
from trees of sawlog size. All the lumber, shingles, 
and plywood, practically all the pulpwood, and a 
large proportion of the fuel wood, piling, and other 
timber products are cut from trees of sawlog size. 

Nearly half the total volume of the 24 conifer and 
12 hardwood species of the region’s saw timber is 
privately owned (table 7)—including more than 
half the volume of the more valuable species and 
size classes, such as large old-growth Douglas-fir, 
Sitka spruce, and Port Orford white-cedar. The 
next largest portion is on the national forests. Of 
the 546 billion board feet of all timber, only 4 
billion is hardwood. Western Oregon has 55 per- 
cent of the total volume and 70 percent of the 
Douglas-fir volume (table 6). 


DOUGLAS-FIR 


Douglas-fir exceeds in total saw-timber volume 
It attains 
its best development in western Oregon and Wash- 
ington and in British Columbia. 


any other tree species in this country. 


In size of indi- 
vidual trees and density of stands it is exceeded 
only by the sequoias. In its physical and mechan- 
ical properties Douglas-fir wood is well adapted for 
a multitude of uses and is pre-eminent for many 
structural purposes. It is marketed the world over. 
The principal uses are structural timbers, dimen- 
sion and yard lumber, flooring, doors, factory 
lumber, veneer, plywood, piling, and ties. 


7 Saw-timber volume is shown in lumber tally in the 
Appendix, p. 162. 


224146*—40——_3 


Douglas-fir constitutes approximately 61 percent 
of the saw-timber volume of this region. In spite 
of the concentration of logging in the old-growth 
types, nearly 44 percent of the remaining Douglas- 
fir volume (331.4 billion board feet) is in old- 
growth trees more than 40 inches in d. b. h.; and 
of this, nearly half is in the four most southerly 
Oregon survey units, the Willamette River, Ump- 
qua River, south Oregon coast, and Rogue River. 
This size class includes the fine-grained, slow- 
growing “‘yellow fir’? from which is produced by 
far the greater part of the region’s output of clear 
lumber, veneer, and plywood. Approximately 62 
percent of this volume in the region is privately 
owned. Of the 54.6 billion board feet of this class 


STATE 


WASHINGTON 


OREGON 


25 5 
MILLIONS OF BOARD 


GMB eee PUBLIC 


0 
FEET 


Ficure 13.—In both Washington and Oregon nearly two-thirds 
of the valuable “‘yellow fir,” or large old-growth Douglas-fir, is 
in private ownership. 


of timber in western Washington, 65.1 percent is 
privately owned (fig. 13); of the 89.9 billion board 
feet in western Oregon, 60.8 percent is privately 
owned. 

Almost a third of the total Douglas-fir volume is 
in the class of slower-growing, small old-growth 
trees (22 to 40 inches in d. b. h.). Although it 
produces some clear lumber, this class as a rule is 
much inferior in quality to large old growth. Most 
of its volume is in the Cascade Range in Oregon, 
at higher elevations and on poorer sites than the 
larger class. Less than a third of it is privately 
owned, and more than half is on the national forests. 

The small old-growth stumpage, all factors other 
than size being equal, usually sells for a lower price 
than that of the larger class; but much of this which 
is most accessible brings a premium for conversion 
to piling and structural timbers. Small old-growth 
timber seldom produces peeler-grade logs; this is 


TaBLe 6.—Volume of timber log scale, Scribner rule, in the Douglas-fir region, by species, State, and forest-survey unit, 1933 


[In million board feet—i. e., 000,000 omitted] 


Western Washington 


Total for | 


Species {fare J 
region North Central South z au | 
Puget Puget Puget a zy S om | Total 
Sonnd Sounde ele Souride |e oa elas er 
| | 
Douglas-fir: | | 
Large old Brow EDs Cee es Se ne re es oa a lee ene at A484 Gd 5, 208.1 | 14, 243.3 | 12, 461.7 8,912.0 | 13, 735.3 54, 560. 4 
Small. oldigrowth!sso28 = 22s Se See ae ee oe ee ee ae! _ 101, 378. 5 2,104.6 | 10, 131.7 4,099.8 | 1,031.0 2,584.9 | 19, 952.0 
Taarge:second growth ica 25 =. s20 2 eso ae eae eet ene nese 68, 271.5 2, 139.6 3,233.7 | 8,029.0 1, 115. 2 4, 653. 3 19, 170.8 
Smallisecon dssrowiths sao see ee oe eee | 17, 246.6 544. 3 1, 456. 0 1, 246.3 166.5 2, 306. 6 5, 719. 7 


Western hemlock: 


| 91, 651.6 | 12,335.2 | 24, 917.1 6, 034.6 | 19, 906.6 6, 525. 9 69, 719. 4 
| 12, 908. 2 1, 921.5 2, 404.5 1,016.3 3, 879. 4 1,031.5 10, 253. 2 
10, 828. 7 124. 2 1, 848. 2 68.7 3, 939. 4 227.7 6, 208. 2 
856. 9 11.0 9299 Seen ees 463.9 35.8 520.6 
24, 659. 3 5, 308. 9 5, 203. 2 2, 169.0 5, 666. 5 1, 744.5 20, 092.1 
D745 OF | eae eo | ee ees esi a eaters ol Se ee | eee Ps 
LANG) | See omatelay a] torn oe ee ee eae ee | eee ena Sena es 
Alaska vellow-cedarilive ts waa= ose sne ae ae ane ee ea ne ee ee 547.7 150.9 259. 5 85.7 20.8 18.6 535.5 
G@alifornia-incense-ced ary live ase ee = ao ee ee MG eee aed ae es Sos ee Se a SDE | AE Se | ee 
Other! ‘cedar’ isd ead ee aaa EN Ae eae te eee ee 1, 064. 8 430.8 106. 6 95.7 314.7 21.2 969. 0 
Balsam firs: 
Wihite/and' srandia 2s Se ee ee eee 6, 385. 3 34.8 43.2 294. 4 354, 2 138.7 865.3 
Noble:and)Shastaircd Sos== ssa s= = aa ee een 8, 676. 6 29 951.1 791.7 21.5 994. 0 2, 759. 2 
Pacificisil vere. foo 2 os cay SNC Ss See ON 2 ae ec ES 32,924.5 | 7,911.7 | 8,972.2 | 2,410.5] 6,759.3] 3,829.5] 29,883.92 
PAT pine Be oe Se aS I Se Ee ee ee ee 99.0 4.2 25.1 472 ee Se (1) 33.5 
2) | Bee ees | 28 See wane 98.4 98.4 
Le a DRO | eee el | eee ce ees | Hae era 2:3 
Other conifers: 
Eengelmann:SPruce sae teas. oo eee ee ee a NO ee a ee 223.0 al 5 14s) | Caan 32.0 34.0 
Mountainvhemlock= 2625 25 eee ee ee eee ne 5, 390. 3 612.3 444.6 199. 7 56.5 80.3 1, 393. 4 
Western:white\(and whitebark)spines2=22- 2) =. =s 2 =a ee 2, 819. 5 184.7 523. 1 162.0 139.5 488.4 1, 497.7 
Lodgepole (and knobcone) pine 81.3 2 4.5 mz .4 .4 557, 
Redwood D(A) Sens | sree ae Sy eee eed == eo Soa Seite 4 | Sees 
Western larch 126.7 : 2 eee 26.5 26.5 
Hardwoods: | 
Red: alders.= 2s 22-¢ S22. ee ee ee ee eee 2, 050. 5 96. 2 148.8 38. 0 173.0 97.7 | 553.7 
Bigleatmaples] > oc8 ses sR Mc Wl Sg ae CTs eel ee arenes 735.2 44.3 33.0 | 121.0 39.1 8.9 246.3 
‘Blackicottonwood: (and!aspen) 22222 — a ee eee ae 273.5 63. 4 26.1 11.5 13.1 29.0 143.1 
Oregon white oak_______________ 
California black oak 
QOregon\ash! 2. . .2b 2528 0822 Se ee eee ae ee er 45. 4 .2 3.2 62.95 |taee aera 1.3 11.6 
California laurel 58.8 | 
@hinquapint. 2225-2. eee a eee 66.9 
Western'and' northwestern paper birch) 2:2. -2— = --- ee no) 
[SS LE cae | Me ol aa | | 
To talinssee 0 i BE SO ae Ye mS ev ae 546, 207.9 | 39, 232.3 | 74,9014 | 39,348.3 | 52,972.6 38,710.4 | 245, 255.0 
| | 


1 Less than 50,000 board feet. 


30 


stern sR 


TaBLe 6.—Volume of timber, log scale, Scribner rule, in the Douglas-fir region, by species and ownership class, 1933— Continued 


[In miilion board feet—i. e. 000,000 omitted] 


Species 


Douglas-fir: 
Large old growth 
Small old growth 
Margesecondeorow, thee cee a cee eA eg se eS 
Small second growth 
Western hemlock: 


Smalleaenslascs 
Western redcedar: 


Balsam firs: 
iWihite;andtlowland«whitet =~ sis Se a ese ee ES os é 
Noble and Shasta red 


Ponderosa and sugar pine: 
Ivargewponderosay(andJefirey) =- e262 a) oe ee a ; 
Small ponderosa (and Jeffrey) 


Other conifers: 
Engelmann spruce 
Mountain hemlock 
Western white (and whitebark) pine 
Lodgepole (and knobcone) pine 
Redwood 
Western larch 

Hardwoods: 
Red alder 
Bigleaf maple 
Black cottonwood (and aspen) 
Oregon white oak 
Californiatblacksoakesateese sean ed Some re pe watens wo Non eh 


Oregon ash 
California laurel 
Chinquapin 
Western and northwestern paper birch 


Western Oregon 
Columns i ( ou | ae 

ia River) Willa- Nort 7 South 

mette Oregon Vapdue | Oregon | Hoe ue Total 
River coast co coast wer 
-0 | 35, 783.0 8, 033.7 | 16, 240.8 | 15, 198.6 4, 266.9 89, 896.0 
. 1 | 29,729.8 | 1, 713.2 | 22, 516. 4 8, 425.6 9, 152. 4 81, 426.5 
3, 732.6 | 16, 018.6 8,421.3 | 12, 394.1 7, 533. 8 1, 000. 3 49, 100. 7 
966. 7 3, 796. 5 | 599. 6 3, 029.8 2, 276. 4 857.9 11, 526, 9 
7, 311. 1 8, 370. 9 4, 458.5 812.9 905. 2 73.6 21, 932, 2 
1, 085. 9 929. 3 466. 1 90. 5 75.0 8.2 2, 655. 0 
1, 216.9 6.1 | 2p LLG]. 2 oe IL WAR) aes ese eet 4, 620. 5 
21.0 523i 261. 4 See OS:k | eee 336, 3 
1, 070.8 1, 879.0 723.7 487.3 406.4 |_____- 4, 567, 2 
9.8 14.5 32.7 18.8 19. 2 -8 95.8 
Ee eee (aan 90.9 1, 050. 5 32.6 1,174.0 
Le ey el (et eee sec 24.83 |e sesee 24.8 
GR 23) Breet Pe S| Ole eas |e | ee 12.2 
208824 | eee: 917.7 2.4 660. 2 1, 788. 5 
297.5 590. 0 2.8 1, 380. 3 599. 0 2, 650. 4 5, 520. 0 
1, 589.7 1, 735. 5 348. 4 1, 033. 2 26.1 1, 184.5 5, 917. 4 
1, 655. 1 1, 148. 6 136. 4 O12 | sete eee 3, 041.3 
38. 4 27.0 ae co fae ee be ere 65.5 
55. 8 Gal eee 737.7 27.4 3, 504. 9 4, 393.5 
See ee 34.8 2.8 407.4 447.2 
cS Ee eae 1, 110.4 147.1 2,127.4 3, 553. 1 
130.7 ASS asa ceee .4 neal 13.0 189. 0 
692. 6 QHARA oe S19 ea aee nes = 3, 996.9 
236. 1 474.2 5 357. 2 5 253. 3 1, 321.8 
6.5 63. 3 AY? 3.0 1.8 8 75.6 
zoe AIRE | Sak rw ee | eee | Fk UR Le bY oe Fl Pere ae 57.4 
99. 3 .9 See be be oo | soe aoe | ae es 100. 2 
56. 4 115. 4 961.6 57.2 305. 9 3 1, 496.8 
32.8 242.3 15.3 75.6 122.7 62 488.9 
53.6 Miles O\e| ea eee a3 9 4.1 130. 4 
122 PP NEY A eee ee ee 45.8 2.8 16.0 88.3 
oe ce en ee ee |e eh Cok 30. 4 5.4 27.8 63. 6 
38) 3.0 3.3 
433.6 5.9 439.5 
26.3 6.5 247.1 
| =2 .8 33.8 
pare ee | be eae anid Peete = 2 x she 58:8) eae ee eee 58.8 
aft | ee pe ee 53.4] 12.7 8 66.9 
Rr ee | eRe [Es 22. ot S|. oo ee eh ee eee 
| f | al | 
40, 633.6 104, 025.2 | 28, 290.0 | 62,656.3 | 39,087.3 | 26, 260.5 | 300, 952.9 
| | | 


31 


Tas_e 7.—Volume of timber, log scale, Scribner rule, in the Douglas-fir region, by species and ownership class, 1933 


[In million board feet—i. e. 000,000 omitted] 


State owned Federally owned or managed 
Species Privately County Muni- ae National forest ae 
owned | A vail- Re- cipal F served 
able | served Indian | ‘grant : State | Other! 
lend) | “aie. ||servea | Selec: 
ig tion 
Douglas-fir: 
Ibargeold'srow th ges se oa 90, 233.7 | 4,776.8 42.0 828.0 242.7 255.4 |15, 8138.4 | 28, 909.4 |1, 940. 7 19.6 |1, 394.7 |144, 456. 4 
Smiallioldterowth=22 522 -2=----eseee = 31, 225.7 | 1,259.1 12.9 474.5 246.9 31.1 |11, 028.8 | 55,195. 9 876.8 .8 /1,026.0 |101, 378.5 
Large second growth____---_-_------- 34, 334.7 | 1,593.9 35. 2 701.3 31.5 107.5 | 9, 740.8 | 21, 223. 4 81.2 .6 421.4 | 68,271.5 
Small second growth____---_-_------- 11, 012. 3 740. 4 14.6 | 309.8 26.7 43.1 | 2,290.8 | 2, 536.2 3.3 .2 | 269.2 | 17, 246.6 
Western hemlock: 
Ware e ist oo eee en eee 45, 340.4 | 7, 482.0 20.8 613. 2 378.6 |1, 385.8 | 1,135.4 | 31,4064 |1, 614. 2 20.1 |2, 254.7 | 91, 651.6 
Srna ee ee oe Pore 6, 790.3 | 1,026.7 2.4 | 112.2 16.1 | 122.9 125.4 | 4,317.0 | 229.8 2225 | 1'635,2 12, 908. 2 
Sitka spruce: 
GAT Oates een ever ee 7, 934. 1 752. 1 10. 2 98. 6 8.8 | 461.9 alt |b el so 7e4 65.6 .2 | 139.7 | 10, 828.7 
Small ae ate a eee 702.3 31.1 .8 15.4 .2 Done |e 425.3%) | Ree e ens | te ee 8.6 856. 9 
Western redcedar: 
Tole ess ae Ree ee ere ee 12, 926. 2 | 2,339.1 857 | L7ed 65.9 |1, 183.3 518.1 | 6,751.8 | 471.1 13.6 | 210.4 | 24, 659.3 
| 423.0 LSS Sc eee 4.5 2.3 197.9 10.2 298. 7 6.3 2.2 .9 1, 064.8 
789.3 1.6 .3 5.9 Sul 1.4 186. 1 187.6 Nlie| Seeeeas ~ ak @ 1, 174.0 
2252 fl Reena | Eee (22 | 5 See Se eee 2.0 £164 | eer |B | 24.8 
Alaska yellow-cedar, live_______-------- = 89.7 5/2) |e wees .2 Hs |BeaSe ees | EAs 350. 0 14.4 1.4 86.7 547.7 
California incense-cedar, live_____----___- 759. 3 5 (2) 23.5 6 .8 458. 4 539.1 @ialnzeowere 6.3 1, 788. 5 
Balsam firs: 
Wihiteiand|grand__--2 essere eee 2, 241.7 60. 6 3 26.9 119) 6.8 | 1,016.5 | 2,998.1 L6H ee 16.4 | 6,385.3 
Noble and Shasta red_____----------- 2, 082. 7 LONG S| ps=- 15.5 59.7 (2) 179.4 5, 647.9 38768) 2--aeee 124.0 8, 676.6 
iPacificisilversst sess ese ee eee 8,276.0 | 3, 150.7 10.6 123.8 273.6 446.9 2.1 | 17, 882.2 |1, 054. 7 "13.9 |1, 690.0 | 32, 924.5 
‘Al pine=s tee nee en a eee eee OL (a eel ol epee ee ee | ee 51.6 SO4GE eae 4.7 99.0 
Ponderosa and sugar pine: | 
Large ponderosa (and Jeffrey) --.-_-_- 1, 613.5 7.9 Bal 77.9 6508 Rese 1, 749.5 978.3 DAs Te Pes 57.6 | 4,491.9 
Small ponderosa (and Jeffrey) - --_--- 196.5 1.4 (2) 1555) 78) | ee 144.3 POET | Pati eas | ee antares 14.3 449.5 
Sugars Sse ee ee eee 1,001.4 4.3 (2) 42.9 otf (2) 1, 066. 1 1, «14.5 Qs | eee 23.2 3, 553. 1 
Other conifers: 
Engelmann spruce_------------------ 8,9) | Ses oe | SEN Se Se | es ee eee cee ee 181.8 BG os |e | ee * 223.0 
IMountain:hemlock==: - 2225. 22 = = | 201.7 208 7a |e eee 1.4 374 Ree ai 4,775.4 287.6 atsal 102.1 5, 390. 3 
Western white (and whitebark) pine_ 323.9 TAO pee ae 3.6 15.1 28.0 LSA | 2517 69.5 ab) 112.2 | 2,819.5 
Lodgepole (and knobcone) pine ___. - 451i |e Seen es 2 2) ip) Se See | ee eo eee 74.3 2 Sijal| sees (2) 81.3 
IREd W000 She= senses sees oer ne nee AVS 4) ieee k [bees Se | eee 57.4 
Western larch 108. 4 1724 | ees 2 126.7 
Hardwoods: 
Redialders:: *s25- Va se eee 707. 3 5.7 1 23:9 | 2,050.5 
Bigleaf;maples--- ee vere 21.0 -7 2 3.6 735. 2 
' Black cottonwood (and aspen) ______- 34.4 Bs (ae| eee tees 4.1 27355 
Oregon:white oak=2e2 as eee ees AO | Sess | Besson 2.3 88. 3 
California black oak _- ELLA | me tas | be cope iets 63. 6 
Canvyoudiveoak. =. =s2.-2s-- hess PA 7a eee tee eae fore ge [Peay gS 3.3 
Tan 0akset ass ree Sane ee eee 29055 i | Seee wees | Eee ae 5.3 439.5 
Madronetesenes i. 2s240- scare oeees LB 7 fin) Peers Pee, 2.2 247.1 
‘Oregonsashie- se ses =o Ses ee ees (2) ese eae Se Se 3 45. 4 
California laurel ==? Soe 222. ss BO} [ee teases [see ee 5 58.8 
Chinquapin= 2 s2 S222. eee SiO Bao ee eee eee ati 66.9 
Western and northwestern paper 
birche 2 fo ee 2 ee | ee ee |e a rs | ee | ee | eee ere 23 | ee aS |e | eee 2 
— J} I. 
HCO} Fs peas eRe Ts TN ToT es /260, 880.9 |23, 736.0 160.4 /3, 736.0 |1, 380.4 |4, 393.0 |45, 874. 2 |190, 577.3 7, 220. 7 76.7 | 8,172. 3 546, 207.9 


| 


1 Of the 8,172 million board feet in the class “‘Other federal,’’ 6,389 million board feet is included in Rainier National Park and Mount Olympus National 
Monument and is therefore not available for cutting. 
2 Less than 50,000 board feet. 


one of the principal reasons why the larger class is 
valued higher. 

Large second-growth trees (22 to 40 inches 
d. b. h.) contain slightly more than a fifth of the 
total Douglas-fir volume. ‘These trees are rarely 
more than 150 to 175 years old and are fast-growing. 
Their wood is typically coarse-grained and of a 
reddish color that has given them the name ‘red 
fir.’ Of the total volume, 65 percent is in the 
Willamette River, north Oregon coast, south Ore- 
gon coast, and Umpqua River survey units, the 
result of fires that burned over large areas in all 
Considerable quantities 
of trees of this class are now being cut, particularly 
in the Willamette River unit, where a number of 
The principal prod- 
ucts manufactured are ties, dimension lumber, 
and common boards. 

Small second-growth trees (16 to 20 inches 
d. b. h.) contain about 5 percent of the total 
Douglas-fir volume. 


four units around 1800. 


small mills are in operation. 


These trees, usually not 
regarded by lumbermen as suitable for saw timber, 
are occasionally cut for sawlogs, poles, and piling, 
and fuel wood. 


WESTERN HEMLOCK, 


All factors considered, western hemlock is next in 
importance to Douglas-fir. Nearly a fifth of the 
total saw-timber volume of the region is western 
hemlock. More than three-quarters of this is in 
Western hemlock produces 
a wood having many good properties, but lacking 
the specialty qualities which bring high prices for 
Sitka spruce, western redcedar, and Port Orford 
white-cedar. It is of more extensive occurrence 
and more general use than these species. ‘The 
prejudice of consumers against eastern hemlock has 
been extended to western hemlock, despite the 
superiority of the western species, and has resulted 
in discrimination against western hemlock lumber 
in eastern and midwestern markets. The wood of 
this tree is light, straight-grained, fairly soft and 
easy to work, odorless when dry, and nonresinous. 


western Washington. 


It is used for common boards and dimension, box 
shook, and flooring; also extensively for paper pulp. 
Hemlock bark has a high tannin content, and there 
is a possibility that it will be used more extensively 
for tannin extraction. 


LSS) 


LSS) 


F 325549 


Figure 14.—Port Orford white-cedar, a very valuable species 
found only in southwestern Oregon and the extreme northwestern 
part of California. Principal products are battery separators, 
venetian blinds, and veneers. The volume of the existing stands 
totals about 7.2 billion board feet 


SITKA SPRUCE 


The wood of Sitka spruce is exceedingly valuable 
for special uses. It is comparatively light in weight, 
easy to work, tough, and nonresinous. During the 
World War it was used extensively for airplane con- 


struction. At present it is used principally for box 


shook, ladder stock, basket and crate veneers, and 
paper pulp. It is suitable for building lumber but 
is not used so extensively for that purpose as 
Douglas-fir. Because of its comparatively limited 
occurrence it will probably be used less for lumber 
than for specialty products and paper pulp. 


WESTERN REDCEDAR 


Western redcedar is one of the most important 
commercial species in the region. Its wood is light 
and soft and splits easily, and the heartwood is ex- 
The principal use of 
western redcedar is for shingles. It is used also 
for shakes, sills, siding, interior trim, molding, 
posts, piling, and poles. The saw-timber stand is 
less than 25 billion board feet, of which more than 
81 percent is in western Washington. 


tremely resistant to decay. 


PORT ORFORD WHITE-CEDAR 


Port Orford white-cedar (fig. 14) brings higher 
stumpage prices than any other forest tree of the 
region, owing to the intrinsic excellence of the wood 
and to its scarcity. The wood is valued highly for 
veneer stock, interior finish, boat construction, pat- 
tern stock, ties, block flooring, interior trim, and 
airplane construction. It is most widely used for 
specialty veneer products such as battery separators 
and venetian blinds. It is light in weight, straight- 
grained, easily worked, and exceedingly durable. 
It is in great demand abroad, particularly in Japan, 
and is exported in large quantities as logs, cants, 
and manufactured products. The region’s total 
stand of this useful species is only 1.2 billion board 
feet, all located in the southwestern corner of 
Oregon. 

BALSAM FIRS 


The balsam firs, with a total volume of 48 billion 
board feet, include Pacific silver fir, noble fir, 
Shasta red fir, grand fir, white fir, and alpine fir, 
none of which is now utilized to any great extent. 
Noble fir is generally considered to be superior to 
the other balsam firs for lumber, and is cut in 
small quantities each year. Sometimes this tree 
has been called “‘larch’? by lumbermen, and its 
products have masqueraded under that misnomer. 
It is used for siding, interior finish, shop lumber, 
and box shooks. Pacific silver fir and grand fir are 


utilized in small quantities, chiefly as pulpwood. 


34 


Alpine fir and Shasta red fir occur in nonoperable 
locations, and there is little immediate prospect of 
their utilization. All the balsam firs are well 
adapted to the manufacture of wood pulp, and will 
probably be used more extensively for that purpose 
in the future. Pacific silver fir leads them all in 
volume, with 32.9 billion board feet. 


PONDEROSA AND SUGAR PINES 


Ponderosa pine and sugar pine are much less 
important here than in other western forest regions, 
chiefly because of limited quantity. In the Rogue 
River unit they are more important in lumber 
manufacture ‘than Douglas-fir; elsewhere in. this 
region they are not important. The wood of these 
two species is used chiefly for sash and doors, box 


shook, common boards, and interior finish. 


OTHER CONIFERS 


The other conifers shown in table 6 are com- 
mercially unimportant here, because they occur in 
inaccessible locations or in insufficient quantities 
or because their wood is of poor quality. Engel- 
mann spruce and mountain hemlock are suitable 
for pulpwood but are largely inaccessible. Western 
white pine, an important timber tree in other 
regions, is likewise found chiefly in the mountains 
beyond the reach of present lumbering operations. 
Redwood is so limited in occurrence in Oregon as 
to have little economic importance. 


HARDWOODS 


The hardwoods are of minor importance in this 
region. Red alder composes more than half the 
total hardwood volume. The wood of this tree is 
fine-grained, light, and relatively strong. It is used 
for furniture manufacture, turnery, and fuel. 

Next in importance among the hardwoods is 
bigleaf maple, used in furniture manufacture, for 
veneer, and for fuel wood. Small quantities of 
maple burls have been exported to Europe. A 
large part of the bigleaf maple volume is in under- 
story trees in conifer saw-timber types and under 
present practice is destroyed when the conifers are 
logged. 

Northern black cottonwood 
quantities as pulpwood and for excelsior and 
cooperage. The oaks are used for fuel wood and 
in small quantities for cooperage and handle stock. 


is used in small 


ALL 
OTHER 
SPECIES 


OWNERSHIP AND PULP 
"AVAILABILITY CLASS POL Creag SPECIES 


NATIONAL, 
FORESTS 


CLASS I 
CLASS I 505 
CLASS I 


OTHER 
OWNERSHIP 


RSL 


: SEREENE 
555 
CLASS I aetetatetetctetet 


A A OS 


cLASS I | ‘ 


oS 


GLASS I 


0 50 100 I9O: 0 SOx 0 50 
BILLIONS OF BOARD FEET 


Figure 15.—Economic availability of saw timber in the Douglas-fir region, by species and by ownership and availability classes 


California laurel is used in the manufacture of Puget Sound and Columbia River, have a great 
novelties. The other species are rarely used for influence on economic availability, as already 
any purpose. defined, and are chiefly responsible for the con- 
centration of cutting in large continuous areas in 

Economic Availability western Washington and northwestern Oregon. 
; Other factors being equal, timber within feasible 

A large part of the timber easily accessible to transportation distance of these waterways ranks 
tidewater has been cut. The large water bodies, highest in economic availability. Other factors 


Tasie 8.—Economic availability classification of nonreserved saw timber in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership, forest-survey unit, 
and species class } 


a eee LGA aT La ae ea nwa aaa 


| Douglas-fir Pulp species All other species 
Ownership, State, and 7, A a 7, ; ae 7, : 
forest susvevianit es Volume in class aie Volume in class ae Volume in class— 
volume volume volume 
I Ii iil I |} pal Hil I IL Til 
; | | | | 
National forest: Million | Million | Million 
Washington: board feet | Percent |Percent |Percent | board feet | Percent |Percent |Percent | board feet | Percent |Percent | Percent 
North Puget'Sound.-2222: #22225 3, 100 37 52 ll 11, 293 25 56 19 2, 686 32 56 12 
Central Puget Sound_---_--------- 10, 378 53 40 7 14, 624 41 46 13 1, 680 50 41 9 
South Puget Sound_-------------- 4, 577 37 50 | 13 4, 767 22 60 18 549 32 55 13 
Grays Harbor= 282. 2==s=ae eee 2, 920 63 28 | 9} 10,952 52 30 18 1, 234 58 32 10 
ColumbiaiRivers: s2s222-2--2-->-— 6, 880 | 27 64 9 6, 316 17 69 14 1,118 33 59 g 
Totals totaesn Ceram 27,855 | 48 48 | 9| 47,952 35 49 16 7, 267 41 49 10 
Oregon: | 
Golumbia River:c 2. 2 22 8, 486 | 50 44 6 4, 633 20 70 10 502 | 29 62 | 9 
Willamette River_-___-.---- ----| 35, 332 | 47 44 9 8, 836 20 68 12 1, 730 38 51 ll 
North Oregon coast_-_------ seek 6, 401 48 51 1 1,014 46 53 1 715 28 72/\| oe 
South Oregon coast-_------- eee 5, 954 32 54 14 106 86 5 9 739 19 66 15 
Umpqua River-_----------- 16, 826 | 10 75 15 3, 586 4 70 26 1, 417 14 70 | 16 
Rogue River 7, 033 | 10 67 17 2, 605 22 61 17 1, 665 57 30 | 13 
Ota i= ee eee eee 80, 032 36 54 10 20, 780 19 67 14 6, 768 34 54 12 
Other ownerships: 
Washington: 
North Puget Sound___-__---------- 6, 461 59 35 6 10, 319 46 44 10 3, 269 73 23 4 
Central Puget Sound_-___------_-- 16, 938 | 74 23 3 21, 547 60 37 3 4, 267 75 22 3 
South Puget Sound=:--=22_5- =s=" 21, 026 77 16 7 5, 686 62 33 5 2, 080 80 15 5 
GraysiHasbor< 2.22252 ee 7, 955 82 18 ieee 23, 486 69 27 4 5, 054 81 17 2 
Columbia: Rivero SS 16, 329 71 28 1 6, 596 65 31 4 1, 380 76 20 | 4 
Totale c=. 222 Oe oe Se 68, 709 74 22 4 67, 634 61 34 5 16, 050 77 | 20 | 3 
Oregon: | | 
Columbia River__._...-..------__ 13, 948 70 29 1 7, 278 71 27 2] 758 67 32 | 1 
WillamettetRiver.2=2*o2222" 222s. 49, 852 7 28 2 6, 441 57 40 3 | 1, 553 55 42 | 3 
North Oregon coast____----------- 12, 360 59 39 2 6, 771 61 37 2 1,015 59 40 1 
South Oregon coast__--_--- 27, 464 61 36 3 2, 837 74 25 | 1 1, 969 57 41 2 
Umpqua River. ________-- 37, 355 34 55 1] 653 23 65 | 12 2, 819 35 | 55 | 10 
Rogue :River 222. 22-s2=a=- sees ae | 8, 231 27 60 13 1, 327 39 45 16 5, 376 76 | 16 | 8 
| | | | 
| 
Ota eee oe ee ee 149, 210 56 39 5 | 25,307 62 35 3 | 13, 490 61 33 | 6 
— | 
All ownerships: 
Washington: 
North Puget Sound__-_----------- 9, 561 52 40 8 21, 612 35 50 15 5, 955 54 38 8 
Central Puget Sound------------- 27, 316 66 29 5 36, 171 52 41 7 5, 947 68 27 5 
South Puget Sound__----------__- 25, 603 70 22 8 10, 453 44 45 11 2, 629 70 23 77 
Grays’ Harbor 2222-2225 20 2 ae 10, 875 77 21 2 34, 438 64 28 8 6, 288 76 20 4 
OolumbiasRiver22+2=-24-- = aess 23, 209 | 58 39 3 12, 912 41 50 | 9 2,498 57 37 6 
; | | | | | 
ANGE ee be rece ee Ee | 96, 564 65 30 | 5 | 115, 586 51 40 | 9| 23,317 66 29 5 
Oregon: | | | | | 
Columbia River=— 2. = oe cee 22, 434 62 | 35 3 11, 911 51 44 5 | 1, 260 52 | 44 4 
Willamette River\2..-=-- 22.252 85, 184 60 | 35 5 15, 277 36 56 | 8 3, 283 46 47 7 
North Oregon coast__.------------ 18, 761 55 43 | 2 7, 785 59 39 | 2| 1,730 46 53 1 
South Oregon coast______________- 33, 418 56 39 | 5 2, 943 75 24 | itl} 2,708 47 | 48 5 


1 The economic availability classification, based on estimate, is as follows: I, timber that could profitably be logged under the conditions that prevailed 
during the period 1925-29; II, timber that under 1925-29 conditions could be logged at a loss of not more than $5 per M board feet; III, all other timber. 
“Nonreserved” means unaffected by any legal or formal prohibition on timber cutting. 


36 


Taste 8.—Economic availability classification of nonreserved saw timber in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership, forest-survey unit, 
and species class—Continued 


pn TUE Uy DIE RSET SE UUSISSSSS SS eR 


| Douglas-fir Pulp species All other species 
Ownership, State, and | Volume in class— Volume in class— Volume in class— 
forest-survey unit Total ¥ oI Total3| A Total wes 
volume | volume | volume ale 
tele: 1 = | I i U1 I Il II 
| | | 
| | paseo fe 
All ownerships—C ontinued. Million | | Mullion | | Mitiion | 
Oregon—Continued. board feet |Percent |Percent | Percent | board feet | Percent |Percent | Percent | hoard feet | Percent |Percent | Percent 
Umpaue Rivers 22. se wees \/ie54) 181" |r 27 Git em 12 | 4,280 7} 69 Ba lp 4, 23685985 < 9460) 12 
Rocuewiversceses== o> 5a eo | 15, 264 | 22 63 15 3, 932 | 28 | 55 17 7, 041 72 19 9 
Rota] sees eases See aS es eta 229, 242 49 | 44 7 46, 087 | 43 49 8 20, 258 52 40 | 8 
Summary: | | | 
Nation alforestiaseec= seme vae ise 107, 887 38| 52 10 | 68,732) 30 54/16 | 14,035 | 37 52 ul 
Other ownerships.___-----------------| 217,919 62 34 4| 92, 941 62| 34 4] 29,540] 70 26 1 
Ail ownerships......----------------| 325, 806 54 40 6 | 161,673 48 43 9| 43,575| 59| 34 7 
i} | | 
influencing availability are topography, density of This classification should not be considered pre- 
stand, size and quality of timber, species, and to a cise or permanent. Developments in logging equip- 
lesser extent proximity to common-carrier railroads. ment and methods, such as increased use of crawler 
Broadly classified as to economic availability in tractors and motortrucks, change from clear cutting 
table 8 and figure 15, the nonreserved saw timber to some sort of partial cutting, construction of new 
of the region is divided into three species groups— railroads, or improvement of certain harbors te 
° 5 Pp ’ Pp 
Douglas-fir; pulp species, including the hemlocks, accommodate sea-going vessels, would alter the 
spruces, and balsam firs; and all other—and two status of large quantities of standing timber. 
kinds of ownership—national forest and all other. Development of new uses and markets for some of 
p 
In general the economic availability of saw the so-called minor species would upset the classi- 
Pp 
timber is greater for western Washington than for fication. As depletion advances the relative avail- 
western Oregon and is greater for other ownerships ability of the remaining timber will change. 
than for national forest. It is higher for Douglas- 
fir than for the pulp species, both in western Oregon CahieVoluine 
and in western Washington. On Oregon lands 
outside the national forests, however, it is less for Comparisons of the timber volumes of different 
Douglas-fir than for the pulp species. The reason forest regions can be made accurately only in cubic 
is that a large part of the Douglas fir on these lands feet, because the board-foot unit of measure is not 
is in remote locations in the southern part of the precise and varies greatly with relative size of 
State and is poor in quality, whereas by far the timber and with utilization standards. ‘Total 
greater part of the pulp-species volume is at low cubic volume in this region, given in table 9 by 
and comparatively accessible locations in the ownership class and species, is 129.5 billion cubic 
coastal belt. feet. Of this total 101 billion feet is in sawlog-size 
The ‘‘all other species” group has a total stand of (16 inches d. b. h. or more) trees, 7 billion feet is in 
44 billion feet, mostly “‘cedar.”” Generally speaking understory (less than 16 inches d. b. h.) trees in 
the ‘‘cedars’’, exclusive of Alaska yellow-cedar, are conifer saw-timber stands, 18.5 billion feet is in 
more accessible than Douglas-fir and the pulpwood conifer second-growth stands, and 3 billion feet is 
species. They occur usually at lower elevations in hardwood stands. ‘The first three categories 
and on ground more favorable for logging. Pon- include small quantities of hardwood volume and 
derosa pine and sugar pine, also, are in the main the last includes some conifer volume. 
relatively accessible. As a result the all-other- Sawlog-size timber constitutes a much larger per- 
species group ranks highest in economic availa- cent of the cubic timber volume in the Douglas-fir 
bility. region than in other forest regions of the United 


States (22), because of the preponderance of old- 
growth saw timber in this region. The Douglas-fir 
region excels every other forest region of the United 
States in total cubic volume, but not by so large a 
margin as in saw-timber volume. 

Measurement of the entire stand in cubic units 
is particularly important in considering pulpwood 
supplies,* although only a small part of the pulp- 
wood at present consumed in this region is cut from 
trees of less than sawlog size. Under prevailing 
logging methods and the economic conditions now 
existing, it is unprofitable to remove understory 
trees and they are usually destroyed in logging. 

Cubic measure is useful also in considering the 
capital stock available to produce future growth. 


Ownership of Forest Resources 


The large areas of idle forest land and the dis- 
orderly exploitation of forest resources in the 
Douglas-fir region have resulted partly from the 
ownership pattern. Ownership has been so diffused 
and public responsibility so neglected that no 
coordinated policy of forest-land use has been put 
Future condition of the forest re- 
In 


into effect. 
sources depends even more on this factor, 
order to produce the greatest social and economic 
benefits, the forest resources must be so managed 
that they will be permanently productive; and the 
type of management accorded forest land is 
governed largely by ownership. Stabilization of 
ownership is prerequisite to sustained-yield man- 
agement of forest lands. 


Private Ownership 


More than 53 percent of the commercial forest 
land and approximately 48 percent of the saw- 
timber volume in the Douglas-fir region is privately 
owned. In general, the privately owned forest 
land is more accessible and the privately owned saw 
timber is of better quality than that in public 
ownership. Between 56 and 57 percent of the 


timber in economic-availability class I is privately 


8'The pulpwood resources of this region are analyzed in 
detail in Pulpwood Resources of Western Oregon and West- 
ern Washington, Forest Research Notes No. 17, Pacific 
Northwest Forest Experiment Station. (Mimeographed.) 
1935. 


38 


owned. Roughly 6.2 million acres of conifer 
Included in the 
acreage of private commercial forest lands is 1.8 
million acres of recently cut-over land (type 36), 
about half of which is nonrestocked, and 1.2 
million acres of old nonrestocked cut-over land 
and deforested burns. Conifer second growth 
occupies 4.4 million acres of private land, of which 
about half is cut over and half is old burns. Prac- 
tically all the second growth on cut-over areas and 


timber of sawlog size remains. 


a considerable part of that on old burns is more 
accessible than the existing sawlog-size timber. 

By far the greater part of the privately owned 
forest land in the region is owned by either lumber, 
timber, pulp-manufacturing, or land companies, 
railroads, or individuals other than farmers. 

The conception of forest land as a resource to be 
managed on a sustained-yield basis has attained 
scant realization among private forest owners here. 
Beset by adverse economic factors, nearly all pri- 
vate owners are directing their efforts toward early 
liquidation of their standing timber. Cut-over 
lands, second-growth lands, and other lands not 
supporting saw timber, with few exceptions, are 
held either for speculation, as a protection to ad- 
joining saw timber, to protect rights of way, or 
through inertia on the part of the owner. Very 
little land of this character is being managed by 
the owners for continuous production of forest 
crops. 

Until recent years many timber owners confi- 
dently expected to dispose of much of their cut- 
over land to settlers. Recent economic events and 
a growing realization that most of the remaining 
uncleared cut-over land is not suitable for agri- 
culture have done much to dispel these hopes. 


National-Forest Ownership 


The national forests were originally created from 
the public domain and consist, generally speaking, 
of lands that up to the time of their withdrawal 
had not been considered desirable for private 
investment. They have been slightly augmented 
by exchange and in other ways. As depletion of 
private timber progresses, national-forest timber 
becomes more valuable. 

The national-forest timber is managed under 
sustained-yield policies, and cutting on each oper- 


TaBLe 9.—Cubic volume of timber,! in the Douglas-fir region, by species and ownership class 


{In millions of cubie feet—i. e. 000,000 omitted] 


| 
| | Federally owned or managed 
| State 7 TT = 
aay v Mu- National forest 
Species Private County nicipal Revested|— . i; Total 
ue Indian land | snet State | Other 
Avail- Re- grants Avail- | Re- 
able | served able served | Selec- 
| | tion 
eave sate - | ee Les: 
Douglas-fir eee ties ees se ae ea 39, 503.4 |1, 990.8 33.9 843. 2 142.8 133. 9 8, 396.4 | 24, 789. 4 662.3 3:7 692. 4 77, 192. 2 
Sit Kars price Sasa ee es te as Ree 1,813.1 | 331.2 2.5 35.5 5.1 99. 1 9.5 | 295. 2 11:5 eal 30.6 2, 633. 4 
Engelmann spruce__-------------------- 1H} ew toeer | (OVE a eee ae ABA toe 0254S es oa Se 54.1 
iWesternehemilockseasense saaee ee neees 12, 416.1 |1, 696.6 6.8 228. 0 94.0 350. 5 359.9 | 8,406 8 | 463. 6 4.9 322.3 24. 349. 5 
Mountain hemlock ---_-_-_-_---------_- 50. 5 it | Boeke 3 FO eee (2) 1,171.4 | 72.9 3 11 1,311.4 
Westerniredcedar, live_--=2--2.2+_- 2-2: 3, 189. 0 533. 1 2.4 55. 4 23. 2 256. 6 144.7 1,558.7 | 114.8 | 2.9 41.7 5, 922. 5 
Alaska yellow-cedar, live.--_-_---_____- 22.2 1.3 gies Belt) oi : 99.6 | 3.5 68 iis 141 141.1 
California incense-cedar, live______--___- 213. 3 1.0 (2) 10. 2 .4 SP 127.1 135.9 | (2) 5.7 493.8 
Port Orford white-cedar: | 
ive etc ee ae sea 182. 1 3.2 ae 2.2 1 Bel 42.6 | 40.7) () 1.9 
ID YC eee ae a es ea en eA a5 [eae lee oct (2) erst Para he .4 | aki il lee hey | Base _| 
Other dead ‘‘cedar’’___-----.------------ SON3H| 250i eee ee 1.0 | .5| 42.4 2.1 6307 |< a5 5 ah 
Pond erosaip ine ee eeee eee eee ee 552.0 | 4.1] (© 2.9 2.4 (2) 446.0 | 262.7 1 36.8 | 
Sugar, pine saeeseeeetaeas seem seeesiee oe 219.1 22) ©) 12.5 | 4] @ 206.9] 261.6] (2) |____- 8.2 
Western white (and whitebark) pine____ WoMde | peeee se] =F =| 3.6 5.6 4.3 528. 6 fat | al 17.0 | 
odgepolespinese sete a 37/0} ee LAO. 3 1.3} () (2) 25 ilanD8BuS 4) P8rON 17 
White fir and grand fir---------------_- 648.6 | 25.0 e225 | 1.3 Qn 326.2 | 867.5] 13.6 Bl 11.4 
Noble fir and Shasta red fir________- fee 441.3 35.7 | a2 3.4 11.9 (2) SONC M25 tau 93.5 seis 26.4 | 
iPacificisilvertfir’= = 2 S2525 = 2s as 1,735.0 | 640.1 | 2.2 27.0} 56.1 91.6 1.5 | 4,167.8 | 244.1 2.8 | 185.2 | 
FAD ine fire seater eee ree ae eats 8.1) OBIE a 2 | a2 Be i| 39. 5 | 9.4 () 1.8 | 
Western larch___ NG a | ones | | calla | eset : 45.8 | 4.0 | aul 
Redwood. _____- Balle Bese peal ane eer aes A BUD ental LP ae 
BY. With oe one 4.8 palin (2) =| .2 (2) lla 1.6 be | Bo til eee wl 
Redia ld ers seuunn so nentes stasen cine ol 917.5] 34.2 | RAG ero3eG.[o-ord1n |) kOdod 39.1 285.1 29] (© 22.3 | 
Northern black cottonwood-_---_-__--- ee 169. 6 | 2.8 (2) 3.0 L0u) 2.9 | 1.2 apy Lo 1 i eee 1.2 
Oregon white oak____-_.__.---_---.---_- 161. 4 ee) 4.7 | 43:1 5 6.3 (Geffen sp ea egg 4.9 | 
California black oak____-_----._---_--_- 43.3 BO ulesetens 4.0 le) 3.5 PUTIN ahs a (hoa oS 4.6 | 
Manoa kere ee aoe Sees ee me eee 33. 3 -5 | aul 1 Ut apa .4 2.9 95. 4 |--------]-------- 4.1 | 
C@anyoniliveoaks= ae et AG} ‘(Qo sa Ca) | eee = et | ee 2 .8 | Bes [idee (3) |] 
Bigleaf maple are 348.2] 11.7 sl 9.1 1.5 4.5 31.9 43.7 10] @ 3.5 
BANS Fa ei Ee hele "eh hi be re Sr eae mnae 46.1 3 | (?) .4 eal eal 9 350% Shee ear |Poerees act 51.8 
Western and northwestern paper birch __ Prat ie jl byeeaeaeas pH Veena ng A [aa ed Sil Miele | Rc ae Bal 2.9 
Californialaurelaea tele eae 19.1 1.7 (?) nti) | (2) yal 4.6 | 4.6 |- Ey lente ey :3 30.9 
Madrone_____ See eae os aie eae ae oe 65.4 | 8 (2) 3.6 | 2] a2, 33.5 | 1 OR) bee, De ees al sea 4.1 150. 3 
Ghinquapines2 ed oe 14.9 | 6d|aewtue te tO) () 10.3 | Bid) |G ween en (Eee .2 35. 0 
PTR Ot eh eae areas ree Spain nie 63, 031. 2 l5, 372.9 49.3 |1, 357.7 | 348. 6 i1, 016. 2 | 10, 243.9 | 44, 832.6 |1, 730.8 15.7 /1, 454.3 | 129, 453. 2 
| | | | | 


) Including all sound wood in stems of all living trees and all standing dead trees 5.1 inches d. b. h. and larger from stump to 4-inch tip inside bark, 


excluding bark and limb wood. 
2 Less than 50,000 cubic feet. 


ating unit is restricted to the maximum specified 
in the working plan. Sales contracts and adminis- 
trative measures provide for adequate pretection 
of existing growing stock and for regeneration, thus 
assuring a perpetual supply that should promote 
stability of manufacturing plants and permanence 
of communities. 

A policy of conservative disposal and a lack of 
market demands have tended to keep actual cutting 
far below the indicated sustained-yield capacity on 
most of the national forests of the region. In no 


39 


year of the history of these national forests has the 
total quantity of timber cut from them equalled the 
total permitted by the working plans. Owing to 
the inaccessibility of some of the national-forest 
timber, it may be a long time before the cut reaches 
the quantity permissible; certainly, however, as the 
supply of private timber lessens there will be more 
demand for logging of national-forest timber. 
The total area of the national forests in this 
region is a little over 10 million acres, of which 94 
percent is forest land. Of the total forest land, 6 


percent is classed as noncommercial. The national 
forests form 35 percent of the region’s total forest 
land and 30 percent of its commercial forest land. 
They contain 37 percent of its total saw-timber 
volume. In contrast, they contain only about 24 
percent of the timber in availability class I and 
their Douglas-fir percentage is smaller than that 
of the other ownership classes. Approximately 
73 percent of the commercial forest land in the 
national forests supports stands of saw-timber size 
and 19 percent supports conifer second-growth 
stands, almost all of which occur on old burns. 
Only a small percentage of the commercial forest 
land is deforested. 

The national forests, in common with other 
public lands, are not subject to any kind of local 
taxation. By statutory provision, however, 25 
percent of all receipts derived from the sale or use 
of the resources of each national forest are trans- 
ferred to the State or States containing the national 
forest, for expenditure on the public schools and 
public roads of the county or counties in which the 
forest is situated. When any national forest is in 
more than one State or county the distributive share 
to each from the proceeds of such forest shall be 
proportional to its area therein. Also, 10 percent 
of all national-forest receipts are made available for 
expenditure for construction and maintenance of 
roads and trails within the national forests of the 
States in which the funds originated. In addition, 
direct appropriations are made by Congress each 
year for road and trail construction on lands 
within the national forests. Substantial sums are 
spent each year for the protection, administration, 
and improvement of these public forests, whose 
resources of timber, forage, water, recreation, etc., 
are largely used by and are of much benefit to the 
national as well as the local population. 

In this region, up to and including 1935, more 
than $9,000,000 had been realized from the sale of 
national-forest products and approximately 
$2,250,000 of national-forest receipts had been 
paid to the two States for distribution to the 
counties. 


State Ownership 


Forest lands in the Douglas-fir region owned by 
Oregon and Washington total nearly a million 
acres, of which about 16,000 acres is reserved for 


40 


specific purposes such as State parks. The saw- 
timber volume in State ownership totals 23.9 
billion board feet, of which 160 million feet is on 
reserved lands. The lands were granted by the 
Federal Government to the States to finance edu- 
cation and internal improvements. Oregon dis- 
posed of the greater part of her lands years ago, 
but Washington retained most of hers and is now 
profiting thereby. In the Douglas-fir region 
Washington owns 853,293 acres of forest land 
supporting 23.2 billion board feet of standing 
timber, and Oregon owns 113,968 acres supporting 
0.7 billion board feet. 

The common-school lands originally granted to 
the States comprised sections 16 and 36 in each 
township, and thus were badly scattered. This 
dispersion of the State forest lands has been one 
obstacle to their effective management. In western 
Oregon most of the remaining State lands have now 
been consolidated into one block called the Elliott 
State Forest. This was effected by exchanging 
scattered State lands for national-forest and Oregon 
& California Railroad revested grant lands. This 
block is now almost entirely occupied by second- 
growth Douglas-fir stands. Although there are no 
statutory provisions for its management, the State 
Board of Forestry expects to manage it on a sus- 
tained-yield basis. 

In western Washington the State is acquiring 
through exchange of scattered areas for national- 
forest land, two comparatively large blocks of 
mature timber. One of these is on the west side 
of the Olympic Peninsula and the other is in the 
northern Cascade Range. In 1933 the Washing- 
ton Legislature enacted a law reserving from sale 
all State timberland on the Olympic Peninsula 
area with the intention of creating a sustained- 
yield forest. Subsequently the constitutionality of 
certain provisions of the act was challenged by the 
Washington commissioner of public lands. The 
legislature failed to appropriate funds for the opera- 
tion of a sustained-yield forest, and so far no cutting 
has taken place on the area. No corresponding 
law has been enacted concerning areas in the 
Cascade Range. Other large blocks of State forest 
are being established through acquisition of cut- 
over land by donation from counties and by pur- 
chase from private owners. Payment to the private 
owners is made in State utility bonds. 


County Ownership 


The counties of the Douglas-fir region owned 
nearly 630,000 acres of forest land in 1933, all 
acquired by tax foreclosure. Most of this area is 
either deforested or in second growth; however, 
more than 155,000 acres is occupied by stands of 
saw-timber size. In Oregon the area of county- 
owned land has increased greatly since 1933. 
‘Table 10 shows the increase in county-owned land 
in 8 of the 19 western Oregon counties, by forest 
cover type. In Washington, moratoria on tax 
foreclosures have prevented large increases in 
county-owned land. However, these moratoria 
have now expired and foreclosure proceedings are 
under way in a number of counties. 

Tillamook is the one county that has declared a 
policy of retaining at least part of its county-owned 
forest lands. This county received some forest land 
as a gift and plans to retain it as a park. Further- 
more, it has announced its intention to retain for 
forest purposes other lands acquired by foreclosure. 
There is no statutory basis for establishing perma- 
nent county forests in either Oregon or Washington, 
and a change in county administration could result 
in reversal of ‘Tillamook County’s present practices. 

Generally speaking, the Oregon counties have no 
long-term program for handling their lands and 
are trying to pass them back into private ownership 
by sale. 
saw-timber size without selling the land. Some of 


A few have sold stumpage of pole, tie, and 


these stumpage sales have been on a contract basis 
and have brought extremely small returns. Obvi- 
ously it is not probable that tax-reverted lands can 
be successfully reestablished in private ownership, 
except in a few cases, unless economic conditions 
change materially. 


Municipal Ownership 


Approximately 100,000 acres of forest land in the 
Douglas-fir region is owned by municipalities. 
Almost all this land is retained as a protection to 
domestic water supplies. None of it is owned and 
managed primarily for the purpose of timber pro- 
duction. In addition to this municipal land about 
135,000 acres of national-forest land has been set 
aside for the protection of watersheds supplying 


domestic water to municipalities. An example of 


4] 


Tasre 10.—Increase in county-owned forest land through tax 
delinquency during 1933—36 in 8 western Oregon counties 


rr — 


Increase 
Generalized type 1933 19364 | aeateural os 
1933 1936 

Acres | Acres | Acres | Percent 

Conifer saw timber__...-__--________ 76, 480 |219, 019 |142, §39 186 
Conifer second growth_______________ 78, 052 |159, 999 | 81, 947 105 
Cut-overs and burns. _____-________ _| 85, 907 |188, 598 | 102, 691 120 
Noncommercial forests_____....______ 3, 308 3, 842 534 16 
Hardwood'forests=2- .--2 22-2. - 2) 6, 871 | 12, 792 5, 921 86 
AO Calon See) Se what Sd 250,618 |584, 250 |333, 632 133 


this is the Bull Run watershed on the Mount Hood 
National Forest, from which Portland draws its 


supply. 
Indian Ownership 


Indians own approximately 260,000 acres of forest 
land and 4.4 billion feet of saw timber in the 
Douglas-fir region. The region contains one large 
reservation, the Quinault, and a number of smaller 
ones. A small portion of the Indian-owned land 
Timber on the Quin- 
ault and Makah Reservations is being sold and cut 


consists of trust allotments. 


under management of trained foresters employed 
by the Office of Indian Affairs of the Department 
More than half the Indians’ forest 
land supports stands of saw-timber size. 


of the Interior. 
Unusually 
large percentages of their timber are western red- 
cedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce. 


Revested Grant Lands 


Most important of all forest-ownership classes 
other than private and national forest are the re- 
vested Oregon & California Railroad and Coos 
Bay Wagon Road grants, all of which are in Ore- 
These include well over 2 million acres of 
forest land and nearly 46 billion board feet of saw 


gon. 


timber. 

The original grant to the Oregon & California 
Railroad, which later became a part of the South- 
ern Pacific Railway system, consisted of the odd- 
numbered sections within a 20-mile-wide strip on 
each side of the right-of-way, and an indemnity 
strip 10 miles wide on each side. ‘This line ran from 
Portland, Oreg., to the California boundary. ‘The 
grant contained specific provisions regarding the 


disposal of these lands by the grantee. A similar 
grant was made to the Coos Bay Wagon Road Co. 
for a much smaller area. The terms of both grants 
were violated and the Government brought suit 
against the companies in Oregon maintaining that 
the intent of the grants was being frustrated. The 
grant lands still unsold were declared forfeit and in 
1916 were revested in the Federal Government by 
an act of Congress that provided for their classifi- 
cation and disposal. Land classified as agricul- 
tural (all tracts having less than 300,000 board feet 
of saw timber per 40 acres, regardless of suitability 
for farming) were opened to homestead entry. A 
very large part of this land was strictly forest land, 
with no agricultural potentialities. The timber on 
lands classed as timberland was made subject to 
public sale upon application. After the timber was 
removed these lands were opened to homestead 
entry. In 1934 they were temporarily closed to 
entry, by Executive order. A small acreage of land 
valuable principally for water-power development 
has been withdrawn and placed under the jurisdic- 
tion of the Federal Power Commission. The large 
remaining acreage is administered by the Depart- 
ment of the Interior. Until recently, authority 
and funds for the proper protection and manage- 
ment of the lands were not provided. ‘Their check- 
erboard distribution was another obstacle to satis- 
factory management. In 1937 the Seventy-fifth 
Congress passed an act providing for sustained- 
yield management, under the jurisdiction of the 
Department of the Interior, of the portion of these 
lands classified as timberlands. The law provides 
for classifying the lands more suitable for agricul- 
tural use than for forestry purposes and restoring 
them to homestead entry. 


42 


The original act and subsequent legislation have 
provided for certain minimum payments to the 
Southern Pacific Railroad for its equities, to the 
counties in lieu of taxes, to the State for school 
purposes, and to the United States Reclamation 
Fund. Payments to the railway company, which 
were completed about 1927, and to the counties 
have exceeded receipts by millions of dollars. 


Other Federal Lands 


Other Federal lands include national parks, na- 
tional monuments, unappropriated public domain, 
military reservations, lighthouse reservations, and 
some other Federal lands of small extent. The 
total area of forest land in this ownership category 
is about 775,000 acres. The largest and most im- 
portant units are the Mount Olympus National 
Monument ® and Mount Rainier National Park, 
both administered by the National Park Service. 
Next in importance, probably, is the public do- 
main, which is scattered in small isolated parcels the 
length of the region. 

The total volume of saw timber on “other Fed- 
eral lands” is more than 8 billion board feet. 
Slightly more than 3 billion board feet is on the 
Mount Olympus National Monument, and nearly 
the same quantity is on the Mount Rainier Na- 
tional Park. No cutting is allowed on either of 
these areas. Practically all the remaining volume 
is for one reason or another unavailable for com- 
mercial exploitation. 


9Subsequent to the forest survey inventory, Congress 
created in 1938 the Olympic National Park containing the 
Mount Olympus National Monument, formerly part of the 
Olympic National Forest. 


He O MRE Swe Roe ha Sa OmOm etwas Ombre he tehe DAO GE A'S = FoTeR REG I © N 


Depletion 


O ONE now knows, or will ever know, what 
the volume of timber in the Douglas-fir re- 
gion was before the coming of the white 

man. It is therefore quite impossible to compare 
the volume of the present stand with that of pre- 
histeric times and thus compute the depletion that 
has resulted from the activities of civilization. It 
is certain that the primeval forest was far from 
carrying, on every acre, the maximum volume of a 
fully stocked, mature forest. Fires, windstorms, 
insects, and diseases had always taken their toll 
and kept certain areas understocked or temporarily 
stripped of large living timber. But it must be as- 
sumed that before the interference of man the for- 
ests of the region maintained from decade to decade 
and century to century a generally constant vol- 
ume; that the natural agencies of depletion were 
constantly at work but were substantially in equil- 
ibrium with growth. — 

Since the region has been settled and industrial 
activity begun there has been great acceleration of 
depletion, particularly by cutting and fire, and the 
natural equilibrium has been upset. Though for- 
ests are a renewable resource, so active has been 
the harvesting of mature timber that the regrowth 
has not been able to keep pace, and depletion of 
the forest capital has resulted. It appears now 
that the saw-timber volume of the Douglas-fir re- 
gion is being depleted about four times as fast as 
it is being replaced by growth. 

The current annual depletion of saw timber from 
all causes is estimated to approximate 8.3 billion 
board feet. It should be remembered that the de- 
pletion considered here includes only that caused 
by man and by epidemics and catastrophes, not 
the normal losses that take place in any forest in 


eee 
a virgin state; normal losses due to causes such as 
scattered wind throw, decay, incidental insect kill- 
ing, surface fires, and suppression in crowded 
stands had been allowed for in the preparation of 
the growth and yield tables used in the survey. 
Nor does it include material unutilized in logging, 
as is explained later. 

The principal agent in this 8.3 billion board foot 
annual gross reduction in the forest inventory is 
cutting, which has been active at an accelerating 
rate in recent decades. Fire, also, is an important 
cause of forest destruction, particularly in second- 
growth stands; it is far more destructive than can 
be measured in terms of volume of timber killed. 
Forest-destructive agents of secondary significance 
in this particular region are insects and wind throw. 


Cutting Depletion 


The statistics of depletion from cutting herein 
given include only material actually removed from 
the woods as a result of harvesting operations; they 
do not include sound material left in the woods, 
because the inventory statistics and the growth cal- 
culations included only the usable part of the tree 
wherever the board-foot unit of measure was em- 
ployed. A study of logging waste in the Doug- 
las-fir region made by the Forest Service in 1926-27 
(6), along with information obtained by the survey, 
formed the basis for adjusting gross volume and 
growth figures to volume actually removed in log- 
ging. The results of this study indicate that nearly 
144 billion board feet of sawlogs were left in the 
woods after logging in 1926 when the total sawlog 
production amounted to about 10 billion board 
feet. 


TasLe 11.—Annual output of timber products in the Douglas-fir region, by State and forest-survey unit } 


¥ MATERIAL? CUT FROM TREES OF SAW-TIMBER SIZE 


e i 
Forest-survey unit Sawlogs | Fuel wood 3) Pulpwood 4 apes eS spinels Posts Total 
M board M board M board M board | M board M board M board M board 
Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet Feet Teet 

North Puget) Soundts= 22 ess sseeee ena 679, 977 23, 575 15, 820 8, 593 2, 210 8, 000 453 738, 628 
CentralsPuret|Sounds == 2Se-5 See eae 1, 716, 204 86, 000 21, 835 10, 994 12, 010 1, 750 1, 033 1, 849, 826 
SouthvPugetiSound 22222 st asses e eee 560, 443 | 245/500 | een eee 750 10%330))|Sseeee eee 555 596, 578 
Grays Harbors == sss eo oe ee ee ee 1, 455, 557 6, 080 2, 750 743 | 1, 550 250 74 1, 467, 004 
ColumbiasRiver! 22222222 = 22 ee eee 589, 151 24, 900 3, 450 STL 8 1 | ee a Se 22s eee 256 618, 875 

) 
Totale ! soe ee eS ee eee eee 5, 001, 332 165, 055 43, 855 22, 198 26, 100 10, 000 2, 371 5, 270, 911 

Western Oregon: | 
ColumbiatRiverssses 22s enea so wee eeee eee 1, 110, 229 84, 730 2, 355 USSG | ea es oe ee a cee 584 1, 199, 734 
WiillamettesRiver o> sass ae ee So eee 691, 563 64, 305 1, 530 777, 518 
North; Oregon) coastvos- = == sees ee ee 255, 221 9, 350 141 277, 873 
South Oregon coast__- 2 278, 361 8, 000 100 287, 939 
Umpqua River__----- = 21, 741 9, 625 255 31, 621 
IROPUCHRIVEr sss sera s sess ene ee eee os 68, 468 11, 800 148 80, 416 

| 
Total ise ee ra aoe eee eee 2, 425, 583 187, 810 30, 940 8; O10 8 | Seeee saa | |S aee 2, 758 2, 655, 101 
Region totale:stos sees a = ses eee Ee eee 7, 426,915 | 352, 865 74, 795 30, 208 26, 100 10, 000 5, 129 7, 926, 012 


MATERIAL CUT FROM TREES OF LESS THAN SAW-TIMBER SIZE 


Forest-survey unit Fuel wood | Pulpwood oe Posts pene Hewed Exeoisict Total 


M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic 


Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet 
NorthePugetiSound 22222252 ele ee 6, 022 3, 026 548 133 82 A | ices Seaver eee 9, 855 
GCentraltbucet;Sound#. 2222s ene 11, 617 774 1, 437 283 699 113 180 15, 103 
SouthyBuceti Sounds oe ea eee oe 215g | Sawn 910 95 200 36) | ao eee 3, 356 
Grays Harbor_-_____ 3, 683 345 868 22) Soa oe 44 | eee are 4, 932 
Columbia River 2, 268 271 1, 488 52} beeen nee 23" || enc ee ee 4, 102 

Totaliess 2 un ot eee Sees o sea Ot es 25, 705 4,416 5, 251 585 981 230 180 37, 348 

Western Oregon: 

ColumbisiRivers] 2) a=: oes ee! 10, 078 771 473 {| (ee ea Ue ee. 45 11, 5387 
Willamette River__. 13, 726 1, 397 475 240 | 69)|| Seat ee 180 16, O87 


North-Oregon(coast=---==- see 2, 489 423 125 3, 051 
South Oregon coast 2, 065 10 383 2, 552 
UmpquavRiverss. 2-252 bers ee ee VIN GT eee SRS a ee, 16 2, 783 
PROSTICHRIV er = toe * 6 OS oa oa ees eee ee 297028 so ee | Se ee ee 3, 025 

| | 
Totalezs= 26 te ee ee ee 34, 073 2, 601 1,472 523 | 99 42 225 39, 035 
Region totale) so. 2- Soak ee ee ee 59, 778 7,017 6, 723. 1, 108 | 1, 080 272 405 76, 383 


1 Data for sawlog production are averages for the period 1925-33, other data are for 1930 only. 

2 Figures given are log scale, based on Scribner rule. 

3 In addition to the quantities of material shown under this heading, considerable quantities of slabs, edgings, mill waste, and sawdust were sold as 
fuel. 


*In addition to the quantities shown under these headings, some sawlogs were used for manufacture of paper pulp, veneers, panels, plywood, and 
shingles, 


44 


The survey of cutting depletion covered the ma- 
terial removed from the forest for different uses, 
not only as sawlogs but also as minor timber prod- 
ucts, such as fuel wood, poles, piling, posts, veneer 
blocks, shingle bolts, pulpwood, mine_ timbers, 
hewed ties, and excelsior bolts. Sawlogs were clas- 
sified by species and geographical unit; the minor 
timber products were classified by item, species, 
and geographical unit, and according to whether 
the material was cut from trees of saw-timber size 
(16 inches d. b. h. or more) or from smaller trees. 
The results were expressed in board feet for the 
saw-timber size and in cubic feet for the smaller 
trees. The average annual timber production in 
the Douglas-fir region is shown in table 11 by State 
and survey unit. 

The total volume of material cut from trees of 
sawlog size annually during the period 1925-33 
averaged 7.9 billion board feet. The area clear- 
cut annually during that period amounted to 
roughly 165,000 acres. By far the greater part of 
the cutting, in terms of area, was in large old- 
growth Douglas-fir. Cutting is heaviest in the 
north Puget Sound, central Puget Sound, Grays 
Harbor, and Columbia River, Oreg., units. 


Sawlog Production 


Sawlogs comprise about 95 percent of the total 
cutting depletion. The average annual sawlog 


production during the period 1925-33 of 7.4 
billion board feet, log scale, is distributed by 
species for each unit in western Oregon and western 
Washington in table 12. During the first part of 
this period annual sawlog production increased, 
but beginning with 1930 it declined rapidly, so 
that in the 4 years 1930-33 it was little more than 
half as much as in 1925-29. 

More than two-thirds of the region’s total output 
of sawlog volume during 1925-33 was produced in 
Washington. Douglas-fir composed 83 percent of 
the sawlog production in Oregon, and 68 percent 
of that in Washington. Other leading species, in 
order, were western hemlock, western redcedar, 
and Sitka spruce. 

By far the greater part of the sawlog production— 
6,592 million board feet annually—took place on 
private land. The remaining 835 million board 
feet was distributed, in million board feet, as 
255, Oregon & 
California Railroad revested grant lands, - 245; 
State lands (all in Washington), 175; and Indian- 
owned lands, 160. This volume on public or In- 
dian lands was all cut by private concerns to which 
the stumpage had been sold. 

Water transportation has been a significant 
factor in the development of the lumber industry 
in the Douglas-fir region. ‘The units leading in saw- 


follows: national-forest lands, 


log production are, in order, the central Puget 


Tasie 12.—Average annual sawlog production, log scale, in the Douglas-fir region in 1925-33, by State, forest-survey unit, and species 


| | 
Port | lepine West- 
E . Douglas- | Western | Western | Orford Sitka Balsam z Sugar ern (|Incense-| Hard- 
Forest-survey unit | fir hemlock | redcedar | white- | spruce firs | corose pine white | cedar | woods Total 
cedar Pp pine 
| | — | 
| 
F M board | M board | M board |M board) M board |M board| M board| M board| M board|_M board|M board| M board 
Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet Seet feet feet | feet feet feet feet 
INorthsPuget:Sounds2.- =. 22 =. - 466, 897 104, 212 94713) \\esaea- Ss 8, 668 PULLS | SS ae eee [epee | 398s |o- 2 3, 088 679, 977 
Central Puget Sound_____________ 1,147,927 | 342,811 176}, 0651/2 siene SS, O52 LONG i soc - =< 2|-n2s5 ee L678) | seose oe 3, 504 | 1, 716, 204 
South Puget Sound______________-_ 455, 571 55, 851 435005) seo 1, 663 SPAS 2 Seach ees eee Raa re sere eos 2,172 560, 443 
Grays Harbor 875, 204 285, 241 1LE9"31A! |Se * 120, 761 3, 584 848 608 | 1, 455, 557 
ColumbiatRiversses=- = 2 os 476, 291 56, 532 44, 649 |-------- 3, 313 7,417 80 \aaeenee 639 589, 151 
Mo talebe seawater ee 28. Ut 3,421,890 | 844,647 | 527,743 |_______- 168, 457 | 25,350] 230 |_....__.| 3,004 |___.____ 10,011 | 5, 001, 332 
Western Oregon: | 
ColumbiasRivers = oon 1, 008, 112 62, 638 8, 867 17,852 | 5,073 S601) geese oe 74) fall ees a 7,027 | 1, 110, 229 
WillametterRiver. =. S25 woo 620, 488 49, 439 8,277 |_- 62 | 10, 703 238 | 484 | 266 | 161 1, 445 691, 563 
North Oregon coast_______________ 163, 497 25, 040 5, 536 |------- 59, 644 Shi Eee as -| L53;j|22--226 992 255, 221 
South Oregon coast_______________ 179, 679 6, 814 3, 004 | 48, 558 BSO75o1 21021 |22--2-= |= ad | See ae ae 210 278, 361 
WimpquayRivers2 se ees 2 19, 184 135 135g | ese |S SSSEee SS i224") 824 | OB: sits aoe 376 30 21, 741 
ROSUeER Vers teste swe ee 20, 732 | TS6p peewee 2 | 5 YAN ae a 1,948 | 39,462 | 5, 627 | 110 | 316i ae ee 68, 468 
INO Gea eens aos Shh 2,011, 692 | 144, 252 25,819 | 48,645 | 115,633 | 20, 226 | 40, 887 | 7, 046 826 853 | 9, 704 | 2, 425, 583 
Regionstotal=sasmermeke hae eye ae” 5, 433, 582 988,899 | 553,562 | 48, 645 284, 090 | 45, 576 | 41, 117 | 7, 046 3, 830 853 | 19,715 | 7, 426, 915 
| | | 
1 Including all species of Abies. 
224146°—40-__4 45 


Sound, Grays Harbor, Columbia River Oregon, 
Willamette River, and north Puget Sound. All 
these except the Willamette River unit are readily 
accessible to tidewater, and are characterized by 
cheap water transportation of logs. In the Wil- 
lamette River unit comparatively few logs are 
transported by water and most of the sawlog pro- 
duction is done by logger manufacturers, whose 
mills are usually located within a relatively short 
distance of the woods operation. 

The earliest logging operations in the region were 
in the vicinities of Puget Sound and the Columbia 
River. In the Columbia River district logging 
began in a small way more than a century ago. 
Supplies of saw timber in these units are still large 
but are being depleted rapidly, particularly in the 
some Oregon counties. In Washington, logging 
in this district has been greatly stimulated of late 
by the establishment of large mills at Longview. 
Continued large-scale logging has greatly depleted 
the accessible privately owned saw timber in the 
Puget Sound district—nearly to exhaustion in the 
counties east of the Sound. In Grays Harbor 
County, the comparatively easy logging ground and 
dense stands of high-quality timber invited early 
operation. This county outranked all others in 
the region in aggregate sawlog production from 
1925 to 1933, although cutting declined rapidly 
in the latter part of the period and in 1933 was 
exceeded by that of Cowlitz County. 

In all units except the Rogue River, where pon- 
derosa pine ranks first, Douglas-fir is the leading 
species in log production, ranging from 91 per- 
cent of the total in the Columbia River, Oreg., 
unit to 60 percent in the Grays Harbor unit. In 
the central Puget Sound and Grays Harbor units 
western hemlock constitutes about 20 percent of 
the total production; in the other units, much less. 
Western redcedar forms 14, 12, and 10 percent of 
the total log production in the north Puget Sound, 
Grays Harbor, and central Puget Sound units. 
Sitka spruce production is significant only in the 
Grays Harbor, south Oregon coast, and north 
Oregon coast units. Port Orford white-cedar logs 
are produced only in the south Oregon coast unit, 
where they form 17 percent of the total sawlog 
production. Practically all the ponderosa pine 
are produced in the Rogue 


logs River 


unit. 


46 


Not aii the sawiogs produced are used in the 
manufacture of lumber. A considerable propor- 
tion of the western hemlock and Sitka spruce logs 
and practically all the white fir logs produced in 
1925-33 were used to manufacture wood pulp. 
Some Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce logs were used 
in veneer manufacture. Most of the western red- 


cedar logs were used for shingles. 


Forest Fuel Wood 


The cutting of forest trees of both saw-timber 
and smaller size for fuel, usually into split cordwood 
dimensions, is a factor in the depletion of growing 
stock. Forest fuel wood, as indicated by the 1930 
production listed in table 13, constitutes about 
three-quarters of the volume of all the so-called 
minor timber products. In 1930 western Oregon 
produced 55 percent of the regional total, although 
it had but 41 percent of the region’s population. 
Practically all the forest fuel wood is consumed 
locally, and the principal markets are the urban 
localities. The wood is trucked to consuming 
centers for distances up to 40 or 50 miles. The 
Columbia River, Oreg., and Willamette River, 
the most populous of the Oregon units, lead in 
fuel-wood production. In Multnomah County, 
Oreg., in which Portland is situated, 29 percent 
of the volume of all the trees of saw-timber size 
felled in the period studied was converted into for- 
est fuel wood, together with 97 percent of the mate- 
rial cut from smaller trees. The chief reasons for 
western Oregon’s greater fuel-wood production 
are: (1) A larger percentage of the population of 
western Oregon than of that of western Washing- 
ton is rural or resident in small communities, and 
in the Douglas-fir region these population classes 
use wood as fuel almost exclusively; (2) the forest 
stands suitable for fuel wood near large cities are 
more nearly exhausted in western Washington; (3) 
coal mined’near Seattle and other Puget Sound cities 


competes with forest fuel in _ local 
markets. 


In western Oregon by far the greater part of the 
forest fuel wood is Douglas-fir; oak is next in im- 
portance, followed by red alder. In western 
Washington, the central Puget Sound unit, the 
most populous, produces roughly half the total 
output of forest fuel wood, and almost all the forest 
fuel wood produced is Douglas-fir. 


urban 


Considerable quantities of mill waste such as approximately 75 million board feet of forest pulp- 


slabs, trimmings, hogged fuel, and sawdust, also, wood was cut from trees of saw-timber size and 7 
are used for industrial and domestic fuel. The use million cubic feet from smaller trees (table 14). 
of mill waste for fuel is discussed more fully later. This is but a small part of the total material used 
in the manufacture of wood pulp in this region, 

Forest Pulpwood ; other sources being sawlogs and sawmill waste. 
Approximately 60 percent of the total forest 
Second in importance among the minor timber pulpwood was produced in western Washington, 
products is forest pulpwood—iaterial cut in the most of it western hemlock. In western Oregon 
woods. This is usually in 4-foot lengths, peeled the leading species was grand_ fir, practically 
and stacked in round or split form. During 1930, all of it cut and used in the Willamette River unit. 


Tasie 13.—Production of forest fuel wood in the Douglas-fir region during 1930, by State, forest-survey unit, and species } 
MATERIAL 2? CUT FROM TREES OF SAW-TIMBER SIZE 


Other | 
hardwoods 


a ae ees Douglas- Western | Ponderosa) Other eae : : pe 
Forest-survey unit fir henilecks pine | conifers Oak Red alder Total 


M = board M = board M = board M board | M board | M board | M board M board 


Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet 
INorthiPuget} Sound 22222225 =. 2255-22 eee es 23, 000 1 a5 ees oe 504 | eee asset 350 50 23, 575 
GentraltPuget; Sound: 2222 22s22 22-2 2s 85, 100 1 fs 08 eee eee 50h ass eae eee 595 105 86, 000 
SouthiBuget;soundiaes tae See ees esee ER 2T OM oe seen ena ek nee | eee | Le et 200 25 24, 500 
(Graysthlarborss ses nse 2 Ss ee eae ete 5, 775 [10 ee See 0 (eee eee Pseceerctece 255". 6, 080 
Columbiaghiversaseat snes ae ieee eee 24, 730 20 2 _| eg eee 8 50 100 24, 900 

TT a ee ee teee acelin ee Nh amie heey OP sian 162, 880 SAS bas ae wep TOO erates cnt 1,450 | 280 165, 055 

Western Oregon: | | 
Golumbia River. imine cei Sw Pain ie EME BINA 90% (ween a 150 170 1, 185 625 | 180 84, 730 
WrllamettesRivers22-cse0o2ss 2 - Tone ass ee 59,061; )S-=2=-1 22 Se | oe ee ears ae | a 5, 050 | 45 139 64, 305 
North Oregon coast__-___---------------------- EC) eee ees a a oe | 75 | ect Ss aes 500 5 9, 350 
Southe@regonicoasts = <5 2 see re eee Opti) hae | ee Ls 175 Le pee ee 135 110 8, 000 
(Wim pquapRivenss 2x 8 eee ee ba ea ee Ch GPRS | ae es LOO} So eee en ae | 1200) \|Eee eee ¥ Ds bee 9, 625 
FORTIS PR Ver aoe ae anaes ne tenant Ue Ien Ea LORAT SIN Sse eS 600 25 700} ese : 11, 800 

TT cy bal] Bike ee te eek eet entre tent ye PRR 76416104 | he ae aw Bonne 850 445 8, 135 1, 315 434 187, 810 

Repionttotal ssc as ware ee St ED er eee 339, 511 | 345 850 545 | 8, 135 2, 765 714 352, 865 


MATERIAL CUT FROM TREES OF LESS THAN SAW-TIMBER SIZE 


t M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic 

Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet 
“North Puget;Sound =~ 21 -2-- = 225-2 5-2-2 SOL GM Steak Saleen eo 6 See eee 384 17 6, 023 
Central Puget Sound _- 11, 354 AM |e the es ol | Pee cee ete a |e ee as 259 peta © 11, 617 
South Puget Sound_________- 198 74) eer mens S| Cetera oe oe 3S eee Se eee 119 9 2, 115 
Gray seblanborsomec see eee eae 2, 742 4. Gi etree ete te | een |e awe BO8N ee ae eS. 3, 682 
ColumpbiasRivers et a7 2 a eee eee DS 232i hee re UE Eee ee eS 13 = ee oe 23 \p=eeneene 2, 268 
FN taleees a atm mene nee cr 23, 931 BO p (sua aes - 19 1, 679 | 26 25, 705 

Western Oregon: 
Columbiaskiivencs-0=tess 5-2 Sse as 987485 |Eowee Sees 27 9 150 103 | 42 10, 079 
WhllamettedRiy ers sa 22s ae = be Se TUSG508 225s. 22 nfo | ae Eee a [Ee 2, 067 9 | ae 13, 726 
NorthsOregonicoast:2 2. a ee eee 2) 1405 Eee sae ne leas a Re B2iH 24 Sees. 2 304 4 2, 489 
South Oregon coast_-__..-.-.---.-------- Sea TABO Tae cu eee ae |e ak SS 61 6 51 50 2, 065 
Wmpqua Rivero ses ee Pos ee ene eee Pee PAT eee ees 1) 30 ee 486 Sais Sae 18 2, 745 
IROGUCVRIVer eee se ee ese eee sae PAS) see aby Allis See ea eee 135 .|R ue se eeeee 72 2, 970 
ST tay etre rae ope ata reat See as EEN LE A 30525908 | Se aaeteees = 216 102 2, 844 467 | 186 34, 074 
Regionstotalesass 1 eie het Los Se ee eee sen oe 54, 190 50 216 121 2, 844 | 2, 146 | 212 59, 779 
| 


| | 
1 In addition to the quantities of material shown here, considerable quantities of slabs, edgings, mill waste, and sawdust were sold for fuel. 
2 Figures given are log scale, based on Scribner rule; 1,000 board feet is approximately equivalent to 130 cubic feet. 


47 


Tasie 14.—Production of forest pulpwood' in the Douglas-fir region during 1930, by State, forest-survey unit, and species 


Forest-survey unit 


Western Washington: 


North Puget/Sound2_22- 2 = s-seeaseene oe 
Central PucetiSound)=_ 2 


South Puget Sound 


Grays Harbor-____-__---- 


Columbia River 


Western Oregon: 


ColumbiawRiver®- 221-2 S eee ee 


Willamette River 


INorth'Oregomn coast. 2-2 fae saees 


South Oregon coast 


Wmpauial River-2s2 see ee 
ROpUC RIVED tess ee cee woke ea seoee 


Material 2 cut from trees of saw-timber size Material cut from trees of less than saw-timber size 
| = 
Northern Northern 
Western Sitka Balsam black Total Western Sitka Balsam black 
hemlock | spruce firs cotton- E hemlock | spruce firs | cotton- Total 
wood wood 
M M M M M M M M 
board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | cubic feet | cubic feet | cubic feet | cubic feet | cubic feet 
13, 367 150 31, 678 625 15, 820 1,811 63 422 729 3, 025 
10, 920 9, 935 980))|_22=5-=35= 21, 835 219 462 931) 22a ee 774 
P5550 100 100/\Selaeaee 2, 750 333 19)| 2 eam [aa 345 
3000/22 eee are 50 300 3, 450 RY Bae se 9 155 271 
29, 937 10, 185 2, 808 $25 43, 855 2,470 537 524 884 4,415 
NIBH Go) ea as 580) Rae 2, 355 540)! So eee 231 | Pase eee 771 
15290) |Ee ee 14 25 teense a 15, 415 CY (i ee 1300 pl Ssee aes 1, 397 
6, 600 6,550) | See | See ee 13, 150 342 81) Fae ee | eee 423 
ee eee 205 See see 20) | Eee Saas | eee ene 10) |S 10 
9, 665 6, 550 1457254 |Seeeee eee 30, 940 929 81 175918 | See eeeeee 2, 601 
—_————| 
39, 602 16, 735 17, 533 925 74, 795 3, 399 618 2,115 884 7, 016 
| 


1 In addition to the quantities of material shown here, some sawlogs were used to manufacture wood pulp. 
2 Figures given are log scale, based on Scribner rule. 
3 Includes 50,000 board feet of Douglas-fir. 


Tasre 15.—Production of poles and piling in the Douglas-fir region during 1930, by State, unit, and species 


ColumbiauRiver2o.2.22-1= A. 


North Oregon coast_______-____ 


South Oregon coast_ 
Umpqua River_-____ 
Rogue River--_-_---- 


Material cut from trees of saw-timber size 


Material cut from trees of less than saw-timber size 


Forest-survey unit 
Douglas- Wester Ge Sitka Total | Douglas- Ws ae Y a Western | Sitka Total 
fir cedar “cedar” | Spruce fir Codan “cedar” hemlock | spruce 
. M board | M board | M board | M board | M board | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic 

Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet 
North Puget Sound___________ 7, 575 1,018 8, 593 61 487 548 
Central Puget Sound___ 8,099 2, 895 10, 994 565 872 1, 487 
South Puget Sound____________ 349 401 750 487 423 910 
Grays Harbors 22.22. .2-22--2. 287 447 743 308 445 868 
Columbia River__.-_.._---_.-- 854 5 Shy (epee aes Seeeeea| (el Ae ere 1,118 371 1,110 1, 488 
| feelers LER 
Motale sins: see Ace ees Se 17, 164 5;025|<S25-e se 9 22, 198 1, 792 BOY (ol eee oe 118 4 5, 251 

Western Oregon: 


5, 584 25 


48 


3, 675 


Production of forest pulpwood is usually an in- 
dividual enterprise of farmers and local woodsmen. 
With few exceptions the producers haul the pulp- 
wood to market by truck, and production is com- 
monly restricted to areas within 40 or 50 miles of 
the pulp mills. Production increased considerably 
for 2 or 3 years after 1930, when unemployment 
among woods workers was at its height. Since 
then it has declined and the data for 1930 are prob- 
ably representative of the average forest pulpwood 
production of recent years. 


Other Minor Timber Products 


Of the poles and piling produced in the region 
in 1930, as given in table 15, western Washington’s 
annual production was three times that of western 
Oregon. Well over half the total was Douglas-fir, 
and nearly all the remainder western redcedar 
poles. 

Veneer-block and shingle-bolt production during 
1930 is shown in table 16. Practically all the veneer 
blocks were Douglas-fir. All the shingle bolts were 
western redcedar, and 80 percent of them were 
produced in the north Puget Sound unit. There 
was no reported production of veneer blocks or 
shingle bolts in western Oregon in 1930. This ap- 
parently means that western Oregon’s veneer 
plants and shingle mills operated on logs exclusively. 

The production of hewed ties, excelsior bolts, and 
mine timbers in 1930 is given in table 17. All the 
hewed ties produced in western Washington in 1930 


TABLE 16.—Production of veneer blocks and shingle bolts, during 
7930, by forest-survey unit and species } 


[In thousands board feet, log scale—i. e. 000 omitted] 


Veneer blocks 


% | Shingle 
Forest-survey unit a Nore: Other B ols 
Doug, ae black | hard Total |redeedar 

cotton- |} woods 

wood 

North:Puget:Sound |) 2) 200"|2- 25.222 10 | 2,210 8, 000 
Central Puget Sound-| 11, 060 150 700 100 | 12,010 1, 750 
South Puget Sound__| 10,025 |. --____ 200 108 )3])103330) |e 
Grays Harbor_______ 1, 000 550) (Hasse BS ree eed 1, 550 250 
Columbia River_____|-_-_-___|__-___- eee, eee | Pape pal eee el | eI 
otal 24, 285 700 900 215 | 26, 100 10, 000 


1 No production of veneer blocks and shingle bolts was reported for 
1930 in western Oregon. All material was cut from trees of saw-timber 
size. 


TasLe 17.—Production of hewed ties, excelsior bolts, and mine 
tumbers during 1930, in cubic feet of solid wood by forest-survey 
unit and species 


Excelsior bolts, 


Hewed ties, Mine tim- 
Forest-survey unit Douglas- pees bers, Doug- 
cotton- a 
fir wood las-fir 


Western Washington: M cubic feet| M cubic feet | M cubic feet 


North Puget Sound________ AA) Loe auntie z 82 
Central Puget Sound ______ 113 180 699 
South Puget Sound__.______ Big | es eee eens a 200 
Grays Harbor: --.--: 222. Ee BE: a eer | [ancy oh 
Columbia River____________ 23 =i 

Totals: teat aS 230 180 981 


Western Oregon: 


Columbia*River.2 2. - 2.2. |e. 2-22 eee il ee ee ee See 
Willamette River___________]__ seseus bee 180 69 
iNorthyOregon:coast---- 2002s cee eee | 
South Oregon coast_________ 2 0 eS oe 2 29 
WimpquayRivers 252s wales sees eros | ee ee 
Rogue'River= ==. ==- 222-22 Bate eke a acre: NE Se eee 
Ota eee Wee ie ns re 1 42 225 98 
Eos 
Regionitotali «21 veh 272 | 405 1,079 


1 Port Orford white-cedar. 


were reported as Douglas-fir and all those in west- 
ern Oregon as Port Orford white-cedar. Excelsior 
bolts, produced in the central Puget Sound unit in 
Washington and the Willamette River and Colum- 
bia River units in Oregon, were all reported to be 
of northern black cottonwood. All the mine tim- 
bers produced were reported as Douglas-fir, and 
most of them were cut in the central Puget Sound 
unit, where coal mining is an important industry. 

It was difficult to obtain accurate data on post 
production, since approximately 85 percent of all 
posts produced are cut either by individual farm- 
ers for their own use or by small operators. In 
the totals for 1930, as reported in table 18, nearly 
equal quantities were produced in western Ore- 
gon and in western Washington, nearly all of them 
of western red cedar. 


Fire depletion 


Trees killed directly by fire and not salvaged 
usually constitute but a small percentage of the 
annual depletion of saw-timber volume in the 
Douglas-fir region. This percentage, however, is 
not the full measure of the destructiveness of fire; 
unfortunately, fire reduces future timber supplies 


Tasie 18.—Production of round and split posts in the Douglas- 
fir region during 1930, by State, forest-survey unit, and species 


MATERIAL OUT FROM TREES OF SAW-TIMBER SIZE 


West- | poyg- | Ponde-| 
Forest-survey unit ernred- 1 ue Tosa Oak Total 
cedar pine | 
M M M M M 
board | board | board | board | toard 
Western Washington: feet feet | feet feet | feet 
North Puget Sound____-} 406 479 | Cece | etn | 453 
Central Puget Sound_---| 1,023 | 105 |e eee ess 1,033 
South Puget Sound__-_- 530 | 25) | faa a el Oey 555 
Grays! Harbor_=-——— 70 4p ae ee 74 
Columbia River________- 230 | 26) (Seal Pees 256 
Totale= sere na 2, 259 1:1 2 eee | ean 2, 371 
Western Oregon: | 
Columbia River-__-----_- 530 54 ee ee ee 584 
Willamette River_-_-___- 1, 372 68/2 90 | 1,530 
North Oregon coast_-_-_- 138 BY) ee Bees 141 
South Oregon coast__--_- 64 Ca) | ee el ae . 1100 
Umpqua River----_--:-- 185 30} | Tee 40 255 
Rogue) Rivers 222 =-==2- 685) sa see 48 | 32 148 
Totalost=--25= ee 2, 357 178 48 162 2, 758 
Regionitotalitesess— esa 4,616 290 48 162 5, 129 


MATERIAL CUT FROM TREES OF LESS THAN SAW-TIMBER 


SIZE 

M M M M M 

‘ cubic | cubic | cubic | cubic | cubic 

Western Washington: feet feet | feet feet feet 
North Puget Sound____- 133) eee (ism ete farina 133 
Central Puget Sound__-_- p22.) [ee penn | (epee © ee We 282 
South Puget Sound__-__ 96) eae BAP IE IR So hes 96 
Grays) Harbor==ss2---2 == Pa (ae | a ed PE 23 
Columbia River_-_----_-- Zhi sere al SE es Ce ae | 52 
Motalsecs see Oe a 9867p aoe ea |e se ee ees 586 

| 
Western Oregon: | | 
Columbia River__-____ = 169 Se 1 170 
Willamette River__-_____ ZIG! | Reames | Mertens 20 | 239 
North Oregon coast_____ 143 / E Co wee ee pea 14 
South Oregon coast__--_- 18 1) ee reel Peep ies, 222 
Umpqua River-<-_.2--2. 15 |--------|-------- 8 23 
Rogue;Rivers-==+="--' 23 Sit [es seer 3 18 255 
Tota] use ease et 466 1 3 47 523 
| 

Region:totalae oss 1, 052 il 3 47 1, 109 


1 Includes 13 M board feet of other species. 
2 Includes 3 M board feet of other species. 


by destroying young stands, delaying and prevent- 
ing forest regeneration on cut-over land, and reduc- 
ing the productivity of forest soils. In the present 
study of fire depletion, the gross area burned over 
annually was recorded by type, site, and unit and 
the net loss of saw-timber volume was recorded by 


50 


type and unit. Such records were compiled and 
analyzed for the period 1924-33 for national- 
forest land and for 1926-80 for all other land. 
The records used did not include any catastrophic 
fires, such as the Tillamook fire of 1933 which cov- 
ered more than 240,000 acres and killed 10 billion 
feet of some of the finest timber in the region, prac- 
tically all on private land. If such a catastrophe 
had been included in a study of a period as short 
as 5 or 10 years and for an area as small as a survey 
unit, the averages would have been distorted. In 
estimating future fire depletion it was assumed that 
a catastrophic fire would occur once in 30 years 
and a separate allowance was made for such losses. 
Estimates of the average acreage burned annually 
in the Douglas-fir region are given by generalized 
type for national-forest land and all other land in 
table 19. Saw-timber losses, confined to conifer 
saw-timber types, are, in M board feet, as follows. 


Nationalttorestilandira emi toerr acct: eee 93, 790 
@therpland eye olorsvorehtevorey ker etelarneeeree 178, 613 
Ao tale Si WS Se ee eaexer a Pove /o vobercuc te oye eran 272, 403 


Negligible volumes of saw timber were lost by fire 
in types 9, 12, 15, 19, 21, 24, and 28; fire reports 
customarily include them in saw-timber types or 
ignore them. ‘ 

The 24,000 acres of national-forest land burned 
over annually in 1924-33 is 0.24 percent of the total 
forest area of the national forests in the region. The 
net acreage was considerably less than this, since 
some fires reduce the stocking without completely 
destroying the stand. For example, in old-growth 
Douglas-fir stands (types 6 and 7) field study indi- 
cated that for each 100 acres burned over the net 
loss was equivalent to complete destruction of the 
stand on only 40 acres. 

Approximately 30 percent of the acreage burned 
over annually was occupied by saw-timber stands, 
whereas nearly 56 percent of the total area of 
national-forest land in the region is occupied by 
such stands. A much higher proportion of the 
Douglas-fir seedling and sapling areas, of recently 
cut-over land, of old deforested burns, and of the 
noncommercial types is burned over annually than 
of saw-timber areas, for these types have a higher 
hazard than saw timber and older second growth. 
The seedling, sapling, and recent cut-over types, in 
particular, are highly inflammable. The non- 


commercial types commonly occur at the higher 
elevations, where they are exposed to lightning, the 
principal cause of fires on the national forests. 

The annual loss by fire of saw-timber volume on 
national forests is 0.047 percent of the total na- 
tional-forest saw timber. Very little of the fire- 
killed timber on national forests is salvaged, be- 
cause of inaccessibility to logging operations or 
because the quantity killed on any one area is too 
small to justify salvage logging. 

Outside the national forests the 229,000 acres 
burned over annually during 1926-30 averaged 
1.2 percent of the total. The average annual 
volume loss, not including material salvaged, was 
179 million board feet, or 0.051 percent of the total 
saw-timber stand outside the national forests. 
Acreage burned over is considerably greater than 
on the national forests, largely because causative 
agents are more numerous, climate at the lower 
altitudes is more unfavorable, and the highly in- 
flammable cut-over land types are more prevalent. 
Volume losses would be proportionately much 
greater than on the national forests if salvaged 
timber had been included. Considerable fire- 
killed timber was salvaged on other lands. On 
national forests practically none was salvaged. 

More than one-third of the annual burned 
acreage is recently cut-over land (type 36). During 
1920-32 approximatly 165,000 acres was cut over 
annually, and each year more than half as much 
cut-over land was burned over accidentally, even 
after the slash-disposal broadcast 
burning customarily practiced in western Oregon 
and Washington. Nearly a fourth of the total 
burned acreage was of stands of Douglas-fir seed- 
lings and saplings (type 10). Areas of this type 
were burned over at the rate of 3.2 percent an- 


intentional 


nually. These two types usually occur in the 
vicinity of active logging operations and are ex- 
posed to fire from slash burning of adjacent areas 
and from many other causes. Moreover, they are 
highly inflammable. Undoubtedly, also, they are 
given less effective protection than timber of 


sawlog size. 


Depletion From Other Causes 


Depletion from catastrophic or abnormal causes 
other than cutting and fire is not of great con- 


Tasie 19.—Estimated annual averages | of gross forest-land area 
covered by fire in the Douglas-fir region 


Se 


- 7 Na- Other A 
Type group and type No. penal Tana Sn 
Conifer saw timer (6, 7, 8, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, | Acres | Acres | Acres 
2OAT 23; 2i ANG oe) = see) ee oe ee ae 7,356 | 35, 631 42, 987 
Conifer second growth, small (9, 12,15,and 21)_| 1,120 | 20,157 | 21,277 
Conifer seedlings and saplings (10, 13, 16, and 
22) ee eee ene ee ane ee ae eee ee 5, 886 | 53, 725 59, 611 
Conifer second growth, small (19, 24, and 28)__ 968 231 1, 199 
Noncommercial (4, 514, 26, 33, and 38)________ 3,135 | 7,808 | 10,943 
Recent cut-over areas (36)_...__________._-__.| 1,039 | 83,797 | 84,836 
Old-cut-over areas, nonrestocked, and _pre- 
viously deforested burns (35 and 37)________| 4,172 | 25,894 | 30,066 
Ward wood timber (31) 225-5..222--_ 2522-2222. 34 | 2,203 2, 237 
INonforestland?(2iand:3) #224 ss- 2 see SEEM see 
Totals ead sen ey they 23,710 |229, 446 | 253, 156 


! For national-forest lands, fire-loss data were averaged for the period 
1924-33, for other land, data are for 1926-30. 


sequence in this region. Losses caused by natural 
phenomena such as landslides, avalanches, floods, 
or sand-dune movement do not form a total merit- 
ing separate consideration and are moreover 
exceedingly difficult to appraise on a region-wide 
and annual basis. Although at present there are 
no disease epidemics in the Douglas-fir region of 
such a scale as to cause extraordinary losses, the 
presence of white pine blister rust in sugar-pine 
stands of southern Oregon threatens serious future 
losses. It has been explained already that the 
current small losses inevitably occurring from 
endemic diseases and normal insect activity, from 
surface fires, from scattered wind throw, and from 
overcrowding in growing stands are allowed for 
in the preparation of growth and yield tables. 
The only such factors requiring separate mention 
are insects and wind throw. 

The only forest-insect species causing material 
losses in the region are the hemlock looper (Ellopia 


fiscellaria var. lugubrosa Hulst.) and Sitka spruce 


aphis (Aphis abietina Walk.) in the spruce-hemlock 
stands near the coast, and the Douglas-fir beetle 
(Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk.) in the Douglas-fir 
forests. ‘Timber are not 
serious in the Douglas-fir region as compared with 


losses due to insects 
the ponderosa pine region of eastern Oregon, for 
example. The most destructive of the insects in 
this region is the hemlock looper, which becomes 
In 1889-91 a severe out- 


in southwestern 


epidemic periodically. 
break of this 


insect occurred 


Clatsop County, Oreg., and in Pacific County, 
Wash., but no estimate of the loss from this out- 
During the period 1918-21 
another epidemic took place in Tillamook County, 
estimated to have killed 500 million board feet of 
standing timber on an area of approximately 27,000 
Fire followed the insects on much of this 
area, adding to the damage. 


break was ever made. 


acres. 
The most recent 
epidemic was one in 1929-31 in Pacific County, 
Wash., which the Bureau of Entomology and Plant 
Quarantine estimated covered about 52,000 acres 
and caused the loss of approximately 165 million 
board feet of standing timber, practically all 
western hemlock. Control measures are credited 
with hastening the termination of this epidemic. 

The native Douglas-fir bark beetle is commonly 
found in freshly felled or fire-killed trees, but 
occasionally this insect increases abnormally on 
burns and cut-over areas and attacks neighboring 
green timber, causing considerable damage. These 
outbreaks are usually of short duration and small 
extent. The annual damage to spruce by the 
aphis is usually small, although heavier infestations 
occur periodically. The Bureau of Entomology 
and Plant Quarantine estimates that during the 
period 1921-30 the abnormal forest drain due to 
epidemics of the hemlock looper and other insects 
averaged 80 million board feet per year. 

Abnormal losses from wind throw are difficult to 
estimate for a period as short as a decade, because 
they occur only sporadically and are likely to be 
catastrophic. The loss in the Olympic blowdown 
of January 1921 is estimated at 5 billion board 
feet, but there had probably been no storm damage 
like it for at least 75 years in this region. Losses 
averaging about 30 million board feet per year 
were reported for western Oregon in the decade 
1920-29. In April 1931 several hundred million 
feet of timber was reported to have been wind 
thrown during one storm, which did its greatest 
damage on the Mount Hood and Willamette 
National Forests in Oregon. In October 1934 a 
windstorm of unusual severity in western Wash- 
ington caused loss estimated at more than 300 
million board feet, practically all on State and 
private lands in King, Pierce, Skagit, and Sno- 
homish Counties. Fortunately a considerable part 
of this volume is salvable and it is therefore not 
considered as depletion. 


On the basis of such records and evidence as were 
available regarding windstorms, the quantity of 
saw timber blown down, including both bodies of 
timber and scattered trees, was estimated to average 
150 million board feet per year. It was further 
estimated that half of this fallen timber either was 
so scattered as not to affect total growth or would in 
the future be salvaged. If so, the net loss from 
wind throw was 75 million board feet annually. 


Assumed Future Depletion 


Undoubtedly all agents responsible for depletion 
in recent years will continue to be active in the 
future. By far the most important of the probable 
causes of future depletion is cutting. Beginning 
with 1933, the date of the inventory, the rate of 
depletion by cutting, fire, insects, and wind throw 
was estimated for each of three decades, 1933-42, 
1943-52, and 1953-62. The estimates are shown 
in table 20. 


TasLe 20.—Assumed future average annual forest depletion in the 
Douglas-fir region 


| 


Ejind of depletion and 10-year period National Gther Total 
: Miilion | Million | Million 
Cutting: board feet | board feet | board feet 
1933-42 22s Saree ee Re 215 6, 785 7, 000 
1943252 tam sae aoe eel kee e 498 7, 502 8, 000 
1953-6222 20 Ee eet ee eee ee ae 831 6, 169 7, 000 
Other: 
1933=42 7 Ee a St Soe os ee 242 507 749 
194352) ess ee ee eae 231 324 555 
1953622252 Re a 199 | 240 439 
Total: 
1933 40 ee ee eee eee ee eae 457 | 7, 292 7, 749 
OAS 55 Dis mene Pre ae cer oreo ee 729 7, 826 8, 555 
1953-62222 eee a Sb ee ee 1,030 | 6, 409 7, 439 


During the period 1925-33, the annual depletion 
by cutting of material of saw-timber size averaged 
approximately 7.9 billion board feet. It was con- 
siderably higher at the beginning of the period, but 
declined rapidly after 1929. A gradual increase 
over the cutting rate of the 3 years 1930-32 is 
anticipated during the decade 1933-42, but it is 
expected that the average for this period will be 
less than that for the period 1925-33. Therefore, 
it was estimated that the net annual depletion by 
cutting for 1933-42 would average 7 billion board 
feet. 


It was thought that in the decade 1943-52, as a 
result of reduction of timber supplies in other forest 
regions, a greater proportion of the national lumber 
requirements would be supplied by this region. 
Furthermore, increase in the population of the 
West should increase local lumber consumption 
and result in increased markets. Considering these 
and other factors, it was estimated that annual 
cutting depletion for the decade 1943-52 would 
average 8 billion board feet. 

In view of the tendency of national population to 
become stable and the trend toward decreased per 
capita consumption of lumber, it was anticipated 
that by about 1950 national lumber consumption 
would again decline. By this time the eastern and 
southern forest regions, close to the large centers 
of population, should have increased their forest 
productivity so as to be more nearly self-sufficient, 
thus limiting the market in the East for lumber from 
the Pacific coast. An annual depletion by cutting 
of 7 billion feet was assumed for the decade 1953-62. 

Assumptions as to future losses from fire were 
based on past rates of loss adjusted to meet changes 
in inventories. The net area burned annually per 
100,000 acres was computed for each type. After 
analyzing these data, it was decided to combine the 
types into 10 groups and assign a net annual rate of 
loss per 100,000 acres, exclusive of that caused by 
catastrophes, to each group (table 50). Next, on 
the assumption that one such catastrophe as the 
great Tillamook fire of 1933 might be expected 
each 30 years and that it would destroy on the 
average approximately 150 million feet of timber 
on about 4,500 acres annually, catastrophe loss 
rates were computed for the saw-timber types and 


oy) 


added to the rates previously calculated for ordinary 
fire losses. 

A future net loss from wind throw of 75 million 
board feet annually was assumed and was converted 
to an acreage basis by using average-stand-per-acre 
figures for the types in which such loss occurs, 
derived from inventory check-cruise data. The 
result was about 1,400 acres per year. The future 
loss from the hemlock looper was assumed to be 60 
million board feet, or 1,200 acres annually. This 
loss will probably occur exclusively in the hemlock 
saw-timber type (type 14). 

Future depletion from cutting as shown in table 
20 for the entire region was prorated to individual 
survey units on the basis of past cutting and amount 
of saw timber available for future cutting in the 
units. The total future cut assumed for each unit 
was prorated to type groups and the acreage cut of 
each type group calculated for national-forest land 
and other land separately. Average volume per 
acre as determined for each type group from inven- 
tory check-cruise data was used to estimate future 
cutting depletion. In so doing allowance was auto- 
matically made for logging waste. 

Acreage depletion from fire, wind throw, and 
insect losses, computed as previously explained for 
each of the three decades, was converted to board- 
foot volume, by use of stand-per-acre values com- 
puted separately for each unit’s national-forest land 
and other land. ‘These estimates were combined 
with cutting estimates for corresponding decades to 
give the total assumed future depletion from all 
causes (table 50). 
junction with growth data to estimate inventories 
for 1943, 1953, and 1963. 


They were later used in con- 


FiO; R EO Saf (ROE SO UR GeESS: (O70 bh Eee DeOeUNGyErARS F- she li RR Es Gale @meN 


Forest Growth 


>> 


HEN conclusions had been reached regard- 

ing the extent of the forest capital of the 

Douglas-fir region and the rate at which it 
is being depleted, the next step in the survey was to 
calculate the rates at which this forest capital is 
being and might be replenished by growth. 

In general, the forest stands of the region may be 
divided into two categories—those in which there is 
net volume growth and those in which growth is off- 
set by mortality and decay. It was assumed in the 
survey that net increment in stands between the ages 
of 160 and 300 years is balanced by net loss in older 
stands, and estimates of growth were therefore re- 
stricted to stands not more than 160 years of age (2). 

Because most of the growing stands are even- 
aged, growth in all stands was calculated on the 
basis of growth in even-aged stands and average 
ages were assigned to the small areas of uneven-aged 
stands. 

Briefly, growth was calculated by applying rates 
to areal statistics of type, age, stocking, and site 
obtained in the inventory phase of the survey. 
Classification of forest lands and stands by these 
variables is described in pages 14 to 38. 

Table 21 shows what percent of the 11 million 
acres of growing stands in the region is occupied by 
each of five type groups. The conifer stands total 


10 W. H. Meyer devised the methods used in computing 
growth values and directed the computational work. P. A. 
Briegleb is the author of the text of this section. 
publications presenting results of the growth phase of the 
forest survey are (1) the station’s Forest Research Notes 
No. 17, Pulpwood Resources of Western Oregon and West- 
ern Washington, which includes some growth data for stands 
of pulpwood types, and (2) its Forest Research Notes No. 20, 
Forest Growth in the Douglas-Fir Region, which gives de- 
tailed growth statistics by broad ownership class for each 
unit and county of the region and briefly discusses the growth 


Previous 


study and its results. 


54 


Ke 
TABLE 21.—Composition of growing stands, in terms of total area 
occupied 
Type group Conifer All types 
J mnes All types 
Percent | Percent 

Douglas-firses nen eee eee aa ee es 85. 2 | 76.5 
Spruce:hemlocksss-- seater as ee eee 9.2 8.3 
Ponderosa: pineemensan see tae ome eee enen mee 1.9 GY 
Other! coniferssae ssa er oe na oa eee 3.7 3.4 
Lotaliconifers savrsamesea ees eear ee ane oer 100.0 89.9 
TEL ar W.00G Beran eae ae ee eee tes ee ae ee ee 10.1 
Granditotalieee creamer ann seesin Paes | Mee a eee 100.0 


nearly 9 acres to 1 of hardwoods, and approxi- 
mately 85 percent of them, by area, are of types in 
which Douglas-fir predominates. 

Growth rates derived from standard Douglas-fir 
yield tables (72) were applied to all growing conifer 
stands, in the belief that application of these rates 
to stands of types other than Douglas-fir would lead 
to adequate, conservative estimates. Findings of 
the recently completed study of spruce-hemlock 
yield in the region (73) indicate that spruce-hem- 
lock forests (fig. 16) usually produce materially 
greater volumes than would be estimated by use 
of the Douglas-fir yield tables. Because of the rela- 
tively small extent of growing spruce and hemlock 
stands, however, the procedure employed resulted 
in no serious underestimate of forest growth in the 
region as a whole. Analysis of results of the 
recently completed study of ponderosa pine yield 
(74) indicates that application of the Douglas-fir 
growth rates as modified for survey use to ponderosa 
pine stands has resulted in estimates satisfactory for 
the present purpose. 

For application to actual stands the yield-table 
growth rates were reduced by the ratios of actual 


stocking (p. 10) to normal stocking." 


results of previous investigations (72, 75), under- 


According to 


stocked stands tend to approach normality, at a 
relatively slow rate where understocking is due 
principally to holes or gaps in the stand, and at a 
relatively rapid rate where it is due principally to 
wide spacing of the trees. Understocking in the 
forests as mapped in the survey is due primarily 
to the presence of gaps in the stands too small to be 
mapped on the scale adopted, and only secondarily 
to wide spacing of trees. The fact that no allow- 
ance was made for improvement of stocking with 
time contributes another element of conservatism 
to the growth estimates. 

The growth rates used for the hardwood types 
were derived from an empiric yield table based on 
field sampling done as a part of the forest survey 
of Lewis County, Wash. 

The growth rates used are rates of net growth; 
that is, they represent stand increment due to 
growth of merchantable-sized trees and to the pass- 
ing of small trees into the merchantable-size class 
minus volume lost through normal tree mortality. 
Because the yield tables from which the rates were 
derived show only volume in living trees at 10-year 
age intervals, they do not include the growth in 
trees that under present practices are lost through 
suppression but that could be utilized through 
intermediate cuttings and thinnings. Hence, in- 
tensive forest management would result in realiza- 
tion of growth greater than is indicated by the 
survey calculations. 


Kinds of Growth Calculation Made 


In this project four kinds of volume growth 
calculation were made: (1) Current annual growth, 
the annual increment of stands in their present 
condition; (2) realizable mean annual growth, an 
approximation of the growth that will actually 
occur in the future under forest practice as main- 
tained in the past; (3) potential annual growth, 


11 A normal stand, or fully stocked stand, is one that, so 
far as any practical consideration is involved, utilizes its site 
completely, that is, represents the full productive capacity 
of the land on which it is growing. Normality of stand is 
determined not only by number of trees per acre but also by 
spacing of trees. The condition referred to as normal stock- 
ing is not maximum stocking. 


5D 


Ficure 16.—Second-growth western hemlock and Sitka spruce 


stand approximately SO years of age. This type is found only 


within a few miles of tidewater 


the average annual growth that could be obtained 
on the whole of the region’s commercial forest land 
through intensive forest practice; and (4) periodic 
growth, the estimated growth within a given 
interval—in this study, 10 years. he predomi- 
nance of conifers in the forests of the region has been 
previously pointed out. Although 10 percent of 
the growing stands are hardwood, less than 2 per- 
cent of the total area of forest land is true hardwood 
site and only a little more than 1 percent oak- 
madrone woodland site. In addition, much of the 
hardwood site is considered potential agricultural 


land and probably considerable portions of such 
land will be shifted from forest to farm use in the 
future. Consequently, in the growth phase the 
hardwood stands were considered only in the cur- 
Results of the periodic 
erowth calculation, made in order to estimate 
board-foot timber inventories as of the years 1943, 
1953, and 1963, are not discussed here but are 
included on page 150. 

In the growth phase as in the inventory phase, 


rent growth calculation. 


volume estimates were made in cubic feet and in 
board feet (for detailed specifications see p. 7). 
Periodic growth was computed on the basis 
of the current board-foot utilization standard 
only, as a means of estimating future board-foot 
In anticipation of more intensive 
in the future, realizable and 


inventories. 
forest utilization 
potential annual growth were also computed 
according to another standard, board feet for all 
trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or more estimated in 
16-foot logs to 8-inch top, Scribner rule. Board- 
foot growth rates were reduced 5 percent for 
breakage and defect. 


Current Annual Growth 


Estimates of current annual growth, the annual 
increment of stands in their present condition, were 
based on acreages of growing types as found in 
1933. ‘This is the only one of the four kinds of 
growth calculation that does not involve estimates 
of future changes in condition and extent of forests. 
An estimate of current annual growth should not 
be used as a basis for any estimate of volume at a 
future time; it cannot remain valid for more than a 
short period. It does not show the potential 
productivity of the land, and it does not show the 
growth realizable over long periods such as are 
involved in management plans for large forest 
areas. 

Current annual growth in the region totals 917 
million cubic feet, or 2.4 billion board feet, Scribner 
log scale, of which 886 million cubic feet or 2.3 
billion board feet is occurring in conifer stands 
(table 22). 

Immature conifer stands occupy 9.9 million acres, 


or 38 percent of the commercial conifer forest land 
of the region. In cubic feet their annual increment 


Ol 


amounts to only 0.66 percent of the region’s total 
conifer timber stand; in board feet, only 0.42 
percent. 

Western Oregon, having a greater acreage of 
rapid-growing stands than western 
Washington, is producing 56 percent of the 
region’s cubic-foot growth and 62 percent of its 
board-foot growth. 

The three Puget Sound units contain 30 percent 
by area of the conifer second growth in the region 
and have 22 percent of the region’s annual conifer 
board-foot growth and 28 percent of its cubic-foot 
growth. The two Oregon coast units, though con- 
taining only 14 percent of the region’s conifer 
second-growth area and having approximately a 
commensurate amount of its current cubic-foot 
growth (16 percent), have 25 percent of its board- 
foot growth. This is due to the relatively large 
proportion of sawlog-size stands among the grow- 
ing forests on the Oregon coast, there being great 
areas of advance second-growth timber now about 
80 years old. 

Table 23 shows the species distribution of cur- 
For the 
region as a whole, approximately three-quarters 
of the growth is of Douglas-fir and about one-fifth 
is of the pulpwood species. Notable departures 
from the regional averages are found in the Grays 
Harbor unit, where nearly two-thirds of the growth 
is of pulpwood species and less than one-third is of 
Douglas-fir. In the Rogue River unit, other 
species (in this instance principally ponderosa 
pine) are making more than one-third of the total 
current growth, both in cubic feet and in board 
feet. 

The growing stands as a whole compare favorably 
in physical accessibility with the virgin stands of 


immature 


rent annual growth in conifer stands. 


the region that are now being logged; but because 
their quality is, in general, much poorer, they are 
lower in current economic availability. However, 
the immature stands are growing rapidly in volume 
and in value and should not be logged at this time. 
Of greater import than their current economic 
availability is their potential availability. It is es- 
timated that approximately 90 percent of such 
stands as a whole is either economically or poten- 
tially available. 

Very little of the current net increment is being 
added to the large or clear stems that provide the 


ee 


bulk of the current sawlog production. Of the total 
net board-foot growth in the region one-third is in 
stands less than 22 inches d. b. h., approximately 
one-half in stands 22 to 30 inches d. b. h., and less 
than one-fifth on trees 32 or more inches d. b. h. 

Survey data indicate that current annual growth 
is about 28 percent of total annual depletion of 
trees of sawlog size. However, such a direct com- 
parison may be misleading in a region of extensive 


virgin forests in which growth is offset by mortality 
and decay. Such a rate of cutting in excess of 
growth may be justified until the large area of 
mature and overmature timber stands is converted 
to growing stands. The present growth of the 
region’s forests would have been much less if exten- 
sive old-growth stands had not been destroyed by 
fire about the middle of the last century and re- 
placed by thrifty growing stands which are now 


Taser 22.—Current annual growth } in the Douglas-fir region, 1933 


Conifer types ? Hardwood types 3 Total 
District and unit & ; " Z , at 
urrent annual | ‘urrent annual | Current annual 
Area growth | Area growth Area growth 
| 
| | 
Million | Million Million | Million Million | Million 
Puget Sound: Acres cubic feet | board feet Acres cubic feet | board feet Acres cubic feet | board feet 
INoxthy Puget'Soun ds): eae a a 786, 635 61 114 134, 252 5 7 920, 887 66 121 
Gentralteuget: Sounds eee ee 1, 412, 220 101 127 104, 458 3 6 1, 516, 678 | 104 133 
SouthiPugetSound 222922. 22 2s ss 742, 095 | 83 261 35, 730 2 2 777, 825 85 263 
LTR Gall] erate eee ie oe na tee SY 2, 940, 950 245 502 274, 440 10 15 8, 215, 390 255 517 
> 
Grayseblarbor ieee eae eee eae eee er be ee 553, 719 62 165 61, 193 2 3 614, 912 64 | 168 
Columbia River: 
ColumbiasRiverpiwashs Sanit cele: 899, 740 85 222 20, 538 1 | 3 920, 278 86 225 
ColumbiaiRiver! Oreg? 2-2" 2 sass eee 1, 087, 619 105 156 65, 716 2 | 3 |. 1, 153, 335 107 | 159 
| 
Lao re eo Se a ae ee 1, 987, 359 190 378 86, 254 3 | 6 | 2,073, 613 193 384 
WiillamettemRivenysws suc. ces cies lezen ae irlgg 1, 683, 674 166 422 121, 207 3 5 1, 804, 881 169 | 427 
Oregon coast: | 
INorth;Oregon'coast si ss2- 2 ee a 613, 596 64 283 226, 363 6 40 839, 959 70 323 
SouthiOregonicoastaece esa ee ee ee ee 765, 741 76 297 119, 484 3 3 885, 225 79 300 
ANS ERs nee a a eee 1, 379, 337 140 580 345, 847 9 43 1, 725, 184 149 623 
South Oregon: 
Wimp quarRiver® yy sass cas ea ee 921, 590 51 246 77, 118 1 (4) 998, 708 52 246 
TROP MGHECLV CL ren oe ne ik ne es ee een See 449, 993 32 17 151, 507 3 (4) 601, 500 | 35 17 
PROC eee ont cate te ae Tis the Bits 1, 371, 583 83 | 263 228, 625 4 | (4) 1, 600, 208 | 87 263 
Regional: totals sae ee PL ee 9, 916, 622 886 2,310 1, 117, 566 | 31 72 11, 034, 188 917 2, 382 
Summary by districts: Percent Percent | Percent Percent Percent | Percent Percent Percent | Percent 
IPUset Sound sca meme ME ee ae 29.7 27.7 21.7 24.6 32.3 20.8 29.1 27.8 21.7 
(Grav shel anbDon ees semen ne oe eo ee 5.6 7.0 (ba 5.5 6.4 4.2 5.6 | 7.0 eal 
Columbiaghivens=s2sesa—- = = 2s = a 20.0 21.4 16.4 Fat 9.7 8.3 18.8 21.2 16.1 
Willamette River 17.0 18.7 18.3 10.8 9.7 7.0 16.4 18.3 17.9 
Oregon coast_______- 13.9 15.8 25.1 30.9 29.0 59.7 15.6 | 16. 2 26. 2 
South Oregon 13.8 9.4 | 11.4 20.5 | 12.9 |.--.------ 14.5 | 9.5 11.0 
Regionalstotal = case e- s eee| 100.0 100.0 100. 0 100.0 | 100.0 100. 0 100.0 | 100.0 100. 0 
| | 
5 | | 


1 Growth in cubic feet is shown for the portion of the stem of all trees 5.1 inches d. b. h. or more between the stump and a top 4 inches in diameter 
inside bark, exclusive of bark and limb wood. Growth of conifers in board feet is shown for all trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or more, estimated in 32-foot logs 
to 12-inch top, Scribner rule. Growth of hardwoods in board feet is shown for all trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or more, estimated in 8-foot logs to 10-inch top, 


Scribner rule. 


2 Data are shown only for stands 160 years or less in age, on commercial conifer forest land. 
3 Data shown are totals for hardwood timberland (type 31) and oak-madrone woodland (type 4). Data for north Oregon coast include 182,060 acres 
of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods, and those for south Oregon coast include 14,520 acres of such land. 


4 Less than 4 million board feet. 


Taste 23.—Species distribution of current annual growth in 
conifer stands 1 of the Douglas-fir region 


CUBIC-FOOT GROWTH 


SSeS rrr 
Balsam firs, |‘‘C edars”’ 
Unit Douglas, hemlocks, 4 and other 
and spruces} species 
Puget Sound units: Percent Percent Percent 
North Puget Sound ---_----------- 66 27 7 
Central Puget Sound__----------- 74 22 4 
South Puget Sound_-------------- 88 9 3 
Total’ Ss eee 77 19 4 
Grays: Harbor==2--- == 31 63 6 
Columbia River units: 
Columbia River, Wash____-_---_- 78 21 1 
Columbia River, Oreg__-_-_------- 73 26 1 
Totals Ss a ee ee 75 24 1 
WillamettenRivers=---eossos = oes 82 17 1 
Oregon coast units: 
North Oregon coast--------------- 77 22 1 
South Oregon coast_-------------- 82 11 7 
Total. oo Poe eee | 80 16 4 
| 
South Oregon units: | | 
Umpqua River | 88 | 6 6 
Rogue River=se-- sesso aan | 57 6 37 
Total Bat Se eee ee | 76 6 18 
Revionaveragesss-= 2 - ae eee ae eee 75 21 4 
| 
BOARD-FOOT GROWTH 
Puget Sound units: 
Worth! Puget Sound ===:-222_-=2=- 62 30 8 
Central Puget Sound__- 69 | 25 | 6 
South Puget Sound 88 9 | 3 
Tota] Ms See ae eae | 77 18 5 
ee 
GraysiHarbors == ee | 32 62 | 6 
Columbia River units: 
Columbia River, Wash___-_--__-- 78 21 1 
Columbia River, Oreg____-__---__ 73 25 2 
To tale se eee ee: | 76 23 1 
Willamette River_........------------ | 85 14 | 1 
Oregon coast units: 
North Oregon coast_--_____-_--__- 82 17 1 
South Oregon coast_____---------- | 82 7 
Totalewwet- <1 severe Ue | 82 | 14 | 4 
| 
South Oregon units: 
Umpqua: Rivers) 2222 ese 88 6 6 
mopne River’ = =e sce use acse se 58 5 37 
Tio tal ais ene ae Se 86 | 6 8 
Regioniaverage:~--- 2222 22-2 77 19 4 


1 On commercial conifer forest land. 


58 


producing most of the board-foot growth. As the 
old-growth timber is harvested and replaced by 
young stands, growth will increase. More signifi- 
cant are the comparisons between depletion and 
realizable mean annual growth and between deple- 
tion and potential annual growth. 

It is particularly significant, however, that the 
timber depletion of the region is principally in the 
high-quality material and that the volume being 
added by growth is of relatively poor quality. 
Hence the spread between current growth and de- 
pletion is much greater on a value than on a volume 
basis. In this connection it should be borne in 
mind that the successful application of selective 
timber management might greatly increase the 
average quality of the net volume increment. 

Hardwood stands occupy 1.1 million acres and 
are making an annual growth of 31 million cubic 
feet or 72 million board feet. These totals each 
represent 3 percent of the region’s total current 
growth. 


Realizable Mean Annual Growth 


The computation of realizable growth assumes a 
uniform rate of growth to assumed age at depletion. 
It prorates and credits the estimated growth of 
every stand, whether present or prospective, to the 
whole of its estimated life. 

Although the concept of realizable mean annual 
growth is not entirely new, the present technique 
for computing such growth, which is explained in 
detail in the Appendix, is original and the term 
“realizable mean annual growth” is believed to 
have been used for the first time in connection with 
the growth phase of the forest survey of this region. 


Results of Computation 


If the present trends of depletion by cutting, fire, 
and other factors continue and if cutting and other 
depletion factors affect forest conditions in the 
future in the same manner as they have in the past, 
the realizable mean annual growth in the region 
for the decade that began with 1933 amounts to 
733 million cubic feet or 3.3 billion board feet. The 
expected conversion of additional areas to second- 
growth conditions increases the realizable mean 
annual growth for the decade 1943-52 to 953 mil- 
lion cubic feet or 3.9 billion board feet. Further 


} 


expected conversion from nongrowing to growing 
types increases the estimated annual growth for the 
decade 1953-62 to 1,060 million cubic feet or 4.1 
billion board feet. Detail for the various units is 
given in table 24. Improved forest management 
could further increase realizable mean annual 
growth considerably. 

Realizable growth in board feet for the decade 
1933-42 is greater than current growth for every 
unit except the Umpqua River unit, and for the 
region as a whole is 43 percent greater. In the 


Umpqua River unit current board-foot growth is 
greater than realizable growth for the first decade 
because in 1933 many of the growing stands were 
at an age at which current annual growth in board 
feet was greater than the average annual increment 
for the assumed life of the stands. In following 
decades, as more nongrowing old-growth timber 
stands are assumed to be converted to growing 
stands, realizable growth increases and exceeds 
current growth in this unit as well as in the others. 
The same explanation applies to the fact that cur- 


Tasie 24.—Realizable mean annual growth | of conifers of indicated diameter range in the various survey units of the Douglas-fir 
region, by decades 


5.1+ inches d. b. h. 11.1+ inches d. b. h. 15.1+ inches d. b. h 
Unit s 
1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 
Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million 
Puget Sound units: cubic feet | -cubic feet | cubic feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet 
Northebuget Sound = 22 22 a4 fore 56 72 79 336 413 442 213 254 266 
‘CentralePuget|/Sound-=) 22s 8 100 140 154 515 705 | 780 309 401 435 
SouthtPuget;Sound S2ss2se eee es ee 66 88 102 418 527 | 594 314 378 409 
| | 
Oval eg ste we teen en eas ee ee 222 300 | 335 1, 269 1, 645 | 1, 816 836 1, 033 1,110 
| 
Gray stl arbor sess ete rian meee! 59 84 98 | 354 485 | 550 | 261 344 377 
Columbia River units: 
Columbia River, Wash___._---_-_--------- 74 94 103 462 562 599 328 380 394 
ColumpbiajRiverOreg-22224- coe ease eee = 90 119 128 541 675 711 344 418 433 
Motels ame tsas 2 Ae aise Susie eae Te ee 164 213 | 231 1, 003 1, 237 | 1, 310 672 798 827 
Willamette River__-:---2--22------c-eceneee 2 118 142 162 797 906 | 980 559 613 642 
Oregon coast units: 
North Oregon coast 3_________________---___- 53 71 79 402 491 511 316 370 378 
South’ Oregon coastis!22=.S 28 2. eee 58 73 82 427 489 | 530 343 377 396 
i} 
MIN FN a Se 111 144 161 829 980 1, 041 659 747 774 
South Oregon units: 
Wim PQ UarR iy eres ete ee ee 37 42 45 288 307 316 240 248 250 
IROgUC IR ver rant see ee ae Se ose 22 28 28 135 153 153 | 79 86 86 
TG tal eens tare Besos ENN 59 70 | 73 423 460 469 | 319 334 336 
Regionalitotal Sov ssek Sass ee 733 953 1, 060 4, 675 5, 713 6, 166 3, 306 3, 869 4, 066 
Summarv by districts: Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent 
Puget SOundse-ce sewers ee 30. 3 31.5 31.6 22 28. 8 29. 5 25.3 26.7 27.3 
GrayssHarporses eee 8.0 8.8 9.2 7.6 8.5 8.9 7.9 8.9 9.3 
Columbia: Rivers 25 =e sere 22.4 22. 4 21.8 21.5 21.6 21.2 20.3 20.6 20. 3 
Wiillamettcunivers swsse= ce Sr lie lees 16.1 14.9 15.3 17.0 15.9 15.9 16.9 15.9 15.8 
Oregon coast_______ 15.1 15.1 15.2 a Gare 17.2 16.9 19.9 19.3 19.0 
South Oregon____ 8.1 ree: 6.9 9.0 8.0 7.6 eae SY f 8.6 8.3 
Regionalitotal ess ess 3 Se 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100. 0 100.0 100. 0 100.0 100.0 


! Growth that, according to the calculations described in the text, may be expected if growth and depletion trends revealed by the survey continue 
through the designated period. Growth shown for trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or more was calculated by estimating volumes in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, 


by Scribner rule. 


? Data exclude growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 


3 Data exclude growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 


59 


That shown for trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or more was calculated by estimating volumes in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top, by Scribner rule. 


rent cubic-foot growth is greater in every unit than 
realizable cubic-foot growth for the first decade 
and that realizable growth in cubic feet gradually 
increases, exceeding current growth in the second 
decade in all but four units and in the third decade 
in all but three units. In the Rogue River unit, 
realizable growth in board feet is approximately 
the same in the third decade as in the second. It 
was assumed that in this unit greater depletion of 
stands increasing. rapidly in board-foot volume 
would occur in the third decade. 


Interpretation of Results 


Where extensive areas of very young growing 
stands and nongrowing virgin stands are involved, 
as in the Douglas-fir region, this type of growth 
computation clearly demonstrates that even with- 
out any marked increase in the intensiveness of for- 
estry practice, future forest growth may be expected 
to exceed current growth as of 1933 by a consider- 
able margin. 

The next logical question is, What value can 
realizable growth be expected to approach? The 
detailed computation was carried forward only 
three decades because to have carried it further 
would have involved great additional labor and 
highly speculative assumptions regarding deple- 
tion and standards of forest practice and utilization, 
but an appraisal was made of the end result of simi- 
lar computations for decades succeeding 1963. 

The computation of realizable mean annual 
growth, if carried forward, would lead to estimates 
of growth for approximately 100-year rotation on 
80 percent of the commercial forest sites at a stock- 
ing of 55 percent of normal. Hence an approxima- 
tion of its end result may be extrapolated by apply- 
ing normal yield table rates for the commercial 
conifer forest sites under the stated assumption re- 
garding stocking. This operation indicates an ulti- 
mate value of 4.5 billion board feet at the current 
standard of measurement and one of 7.4 billion 
board feet at the more intensive standard used in 
these growth calculations. 


Potential Annual Growth 


Potential annual growth is the average annual 
increment that could be obtained on the whole of 


60 


the region’s commercial forest land through inten- 
sive forestry practice. It could be achieved only 
after years of careful and effective forest-land man- 
agement. As here computed potential growth does 
not represent the maximum increment obtainable; 
the theoretical ultimate value of increment has 
been substantially reduced (25 percent) to allow 
for a certain amount of understocking and nonuse 
of forest land believed inevitable. In computing it 
all the commercial conifer forest land was assumed 
to be occupied by immature stands, averaging 75 
percent of normal stocking, with all age classes up 
to technical rotation age, approximate age of maxi- 
mum mean annual growth, equally represented. 
Stocking in excess of this adjusted standard can be 
found throughout the region’s natural forests, uni- 
formly over areas of several thousand acres. The 
mean annual growth rate for each site-quality class 
was multiplied by the corresponding acreage, and 
the sum of the resulting products is the estimated 
potential annual growth ? (table 25). 

Lands in the region capable of producing com- 
mercial conifer forests total about 26.1 million 
acres. These lands have the capacity to produce 
annually, under intensive sustained-yield forest 
management, 2.8 billion cubic feet of wood. Ex- 
pressed in board-measure content of sawlogs from 
trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or larger, the potential 
annual growth totals 8.2 billion board feet, log 
scale, Scribner rule; in board-measure content of 
all trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or larger, it comes to 
12.6 billion board feet, log scale, Scribner rule. 
Of the region’s total potential growth, 28 percent 
is contained in the three Puget Sound units and 16 
percent in the two Columbia River units. 

Areas of site-quality classes I and II include less 
than one-third of the region’s commercial conifer 
forest land, but nearly one-half of its potential for- 
est productivity (fig. 17). Less than one-tenth of 
the region’s growth capacity is in site-quality 
classes [Vand V, even though lands of these classes 
compose more than one-quarter of the commercial 
conifer forest land area. 

Almost one-third of the commercial forest land 
in the region is within national torests; but because 
of relatively low site quality, these national-forest 

lz [he rates used in making these calculations, and the 


corresponding approximate rotation ages, are shown in 
table 55. 


Tas_e 25.—Potential annual growth } of conifers of indicated diameter range in the Douglas-fir region, by survey units 


Trees 15.1+ inches d. b. h. 3 


Trees 5.1+ | Trees 11.1+ 
Unit inches inches ? Distribution by site quality class— 
d. b. h. d. b. bh. Total 
growth | 
I Il Ill IV Vv 
i Million Million Million 
Puget Sound units: cubic feet board feet board feet Percent | Percent | Percent | Percent | Percent 
Noni heBupet; sOouUnGES === Nede oo ee eee ae 224 981 609 0.7 32.1 50.5 16. 4 0.3 
Central Puget Sound 363 1, 605 1,012 2.2 35. 1 49, 2 12.8 wilt 
SouthyPugetyS orn cee es ee ee es eee 196 940 652 7.2 60. 1 29. 7 AOS |Peeeeee 
TANG Lo ae a ee ee eee 783 3, 526 2, 273 3. 2 | 41.5 43.9 11.0 .4 
GrayspHarhborienss soe sesss eas ose she ea arise Se 264 1, 297 933 14.3 71.6 11.8 2.2 1 
Columbia River units: 
GolumbisvRiverwmWash==cens= 2) =e 204 924 604 1.5 47.4 42.1 8.6 4 
Columbia; River Oregea wetness ms sans ooo eee 247 1119) 732 3.4 49.9 36. 2 9.9 6 
ST Ge] eee eee Sea en ee Sere a eee eee 451 2, 043 1, 336 2.5 48.9 38.8 9.3 mt) 
| 
WillamettemR iv erase sees te reeaaer n= eee es crces Sekeee eee 424 1, 918 1, 238 1.0 26.7 68.0 | 3.8 ad 
Oregon coast units: 
NorthiOregoncoash:4ausaie is See Se eases aes 185 904 644 me T.2 19.5 1.0 1 
SouthwOregonicoast{sies = ws ser etre ee SE eee 226 1,077 741 5.4 56. 3 35.6 Delt [eee 2 ee 
| 
Ie 0 bal] Baa RNS re ee ey Re sek hae peat De eee a san ee 411 1, 981 1, 385 6.7 63. 2 28.1 1.9 al 
South Oregon units: 
Um pquarRiv cress tase seo tate nse ee enn sas ee ene eee 229 _ 990 603 1.2 25.7 55. 0 17.4 a 
Rogue River 6 __ ae 197 820 476 2.9 14.3 55.0 26.8 1.0 
fo tall beeen te ey nee hte sgt ne 426 1, 810 1,079 2.0 20. 7 55.0 21.5 8 
Regionalitotaliomaverage.-se2- = 22 ans aote oe eee 2, 759 12, 575 8, 244 4.4 44.8 41.9 8.5 4 
| | 
Summary by districts: Percent Percent Percent 
Ruget;S UM dr ss Sa ne ee ee Se 28.4 28.0 27.6 
(Graysidlanb Oreste eae at a = a en ee 9.6 10.3 1 
@olumbiaiRiy cress seesaw see ees ene eee anon 16.3 16.2 16. 2 
WallametteiRivers==sse= saw iatee bees ere Sot 15.4 15.3 TOROH Pes s 2 a alles os. SR ee aE eee 
Oregon COAST sss ae ee See os a ee eet 14.9 15.8 VG OG eee ts Jae ON eet Ne oe Be on tea ee a oe oe 
SouthiOreg omer ae an a eee ee 15.4 14.4 a1 BE 7c a el | eee ee |S ee ee | ger ere (ee eee eee es 
IRefionalito tale< see saws ete Se ee = =e == 100.0 100.0 


1 On commercial conifer land. Calculated at annual growth rates shown in table 22. 


2 Growth estimated by Scribner rule in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top. 
3 Growth estimated by Scribner rule in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top. 
4 Data include growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 
5 Data include growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 

8 Data exclude growth on 6,510 acres of pine woodland (type 514) considered noncommercial forest land. 


224146°—40 


5 


61 


lands have little more than one-fifth of the region’s 
potential forest productivity. 

Forest lands reserved from cutting have about 3 
percent of the timber-growth capacity of the region. 
Additional withdrawal of forest lands from com- 
mercial use may be anticipated, and all such clos- 
ure will correspondingly decrease the effective 
growth capacity of the region. The extent of this 
decrease is of course dependent upon the area and 
character of the lands withdrawn. 

The species-group distribution of current annual 
growth as shown in table 23 is some indication of 
that of potential growth. Under prevailing meth- 
ods of forest management and for the region as a 
whole, probably about three-fourths of the poten- 
tial growth can be assigned to Douglas-fir and one- 
fifth to the pulpwood species. These proportions 
could of course be materially altered by changes in 
forest management. Clear-cutting favors Douglas- 
fir, while partial cutting tends to increase the per- 
cent of western hemlock, western redcedar, the 
balsam firs, and other tolerant species in the stand. 


Comparison of Current, Realizable, and 
Potential Growth 


Comparison of the growth calculations described 
is facilitated by table 26. 

In 1933, growing stands occupied 38 percent of 
the total commercial conifer land. The increment 
in such stands, however, was but 32 percent of the 
potential growth in cubic measure and 28 percent 
of that in board measure. This discrepancy be- 
tween increment and area involved is due partly to 
differences in age-class distribution, but principally 
to the lower average stocking of current immature 
stands (62 percent of normal) compared with that 
assumed for the potential growth calculation (75 
percent of normal). Differences in site on the 
areas involved are slight; the average site on the 
area that supported growing stands in 1933 is 
virtually equivalent to that of the entire commer- 
cial conifer area. 

Although the end result of realizable growth is 
based on 80 percent of the commercial conifer land, 
the calculated end increments are but 55 to 59 
percent of corresponding potential increments. 
This is due principally to the lower average stock- 


Tas ie 26.—Comparison of current annual, realizable mean annuai, 
and potential annual conifer growth in the Douglas-fir region 


Increment on trees— 
Kind of annual growth cal- | Area in- | 
culation and period volved 5.1+ 111+ 15.1+ 
inches inches inches 
| d.b.h. | d.b. h.!] d.b. h.2 
Thousand) Million | Million | Million 
acres | cubic feet | board feet | board fect 
Current1933 "==> ee 9, 917 8863) eee 2, 310 
Realizable: | 
1933-4952 ee 12, 132 | 733 4, 675 3, 306 
1943-52-22 eee 13, 195 953 5, 713 3, 869 
1963=6222 Se ee ee eee 14, 193 1, 060 6, 166 4, 066 
Rndgvalueseess ss eee 20, 907 | 1, 575 7, 400 4, 500 
‘Potentials eae se ene 26, 134 | 2, 759 12, 575 8, 244 
Summary in terms of poten- | 
tial values: | Percent | Percent | Percent | Percent 
Current, 1933____________ 38 | S21 | os eee 28 
Realizable (end values) __ 80 | 57 59 55 


1 Calculated by estimating volume in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top, by 
Scribner rule. 

2 Calculated by estimating volume in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, by 
Seribner rule. ; 


ing, 55 percent of normal, assumed for the realiza- 
ble increment in contrast with the 75 percent of 
normal stocking on which the potential growth 
calculation is based. Slight differences are also 
due to the rotations assumed. For the realizable 
calculation a constant 100-year rotation was as- 
sumed, while the potential-growth calculation is 
based on technical rotations (table 55). 

Under ideal forestry practice all the forest land in 
the region should be supporting either virgin or 
growing stands. However, of the area not now 
occupied by virgin stands, only 70 percent is sup- 
porting growing stands of one sort or another, and 
for this area as a whole current growth is but 58 
percent of the potential in cubic measure and 51 
percent in board measure. Opportunity for in- 
creasing forest growth in the region is therefore 


obvious. 


Trends in Future Forest Increment 


If Present Forest Practice Continues 


If forest practice neither improves nor declines, 
annual growth may be expected to increase gradu- 
ally from 2.3 billion board feet as of 1933 toward a 
maximum of 4.5 billion board feet. The rate of 
this increase and the date at which the maximum 


may be attained are of course de- 


pendent on the rate at which cutting 
proceeds, the type of stands in which 


it is concentrated, and the effective- 
ness of fire protection. 


Tf Forest Practice Becomes More Intensive 


The maximum average annual 
attainable under present 
inten- 


growth 
standards of utilization and 
siveness of forest practice (4.5 billion 
board feet) is but little more than 
half the annual volume depletion the 
forests of the region have undergone 
in the recent past. ‘Thus, the extent 
to which growth can be increased 


through improved forest practice will 
be a controlling factor in determ- 
ining the level at which forest industry 


DISTRIBUTION OF REGIONAL GROWTH (PERCENT) 


can be continuously maintained, 


assuming reasonable stability of 
demand. 

By increasing the rotation assumed 
for realizable mean annual growth 


(100 years for all sites) to the tech- 
nical rotation ages (ranging from 
100 to 200 years, depending on site), 
the end value of realizable growth, 


based on a 55-percent stocking of 80 SOUTH 
percent of commercial conifer sites, gees 


would be increased from 4.5 to 4.8 
billion board feet. Obviously growth 


WILLAM- 


OREGON GRAYS PUGET | DOUGLAS 
T ] 
COAST i ee HARBOR SOUND FIR 
UNITS UNIT UNITS | UNIT UNITS REGION 
1 


could be further increased by extend- 
ing the timbered area and raising 
stocking to a greater percentage, 
through increased efficiency of fire 
control, seeding and planting of devastated 
sites, interplanting on poorly stocked sites, and 
adoption of logging methods that will insure prompt 
By 
increasing the average stocking of forest sites, mean 


and adequate regeneration for cut-over areas. 


annual increment for the region could be increased 
to the estimated potential annual total of 8.2 
billion board feet, which assumes average stocking 
of all forest sites at 75 percent of normal, the esti- 
mated maximum attainable over extensive areas. 


63 


Ficure 17.—Distribution of potential annual conifer growth (by Scribner rule, in 
32-foot logs to 12-inch top) of trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or more on commercial forest 
land in the Douglas-fir region, by survey unit and site class 


From the foregoing computations of board-foot 
growth it is obvious that if the more intensive forest 
practice and higher standard of utilization were 
adopted, about 50 percent more material could be 
obtained from growing stands than is obtained 
under the present standard. The reductions in 
technical rotation age that would be effected by 
this change are indicated in table 55. 

Under 
yields through utilization of material cut in thin- 


existing market conditions, increased 


ning operations can be realized economically only 
in extraordinary cases. They are dependent upon 
standards of utilization much more intensive than 
the prevailing average, and at present possible 
only on a few of the most accessible operations near 
adequate pulpwood, piling, or fuel-wood markets. 
The extent to which yield can be increased when 
opportunity is afforded for thinnings varies with 
utilization standard or type of product, as well as 
with site quality and with age and density of stands. 
Analysis of the normal mortality rates of Douglas- 
fir stands reveals that ultimately increase in yield 
resulting from thinnings may approximate one- 
third of the cubic-foot yields shown in the pub- 
lished tables. 


Tf Selective Cutting Is Widely Employed 


A revolution in logging methods is now taking 
place the The steam- 
donkey, high-lead method, which is associated 


in Douglas-fir region. 
with clear cutting, is giving way to the crawler- 
tractor method, which facilitates selection in cut- 
ting. If selective cutting came into practice on a 
wide scale as a result of this change in logging pro- 
cedure, the total increment in succeeding stands 
would probably be somewhat different from that 
assumed in this discussion, which applies specifi- 
cally to the even-aged second-growth stands that 
develop after clear cutting. Whether the incre- 
ment of a given forest would be greater or less, or of 
improved quality, and whether the species compo- 
sition would be altered, would depend largely on 
what kind of selective cutting was practiced. 
Changes in prospective growth that might be 
brought about by substitution of different kinds of 
selective cutting for clear cutting are as follows: 


AREA-SELECTION CUTTING 


If the selective cutting were predominantly in 
the nature of area selection, no material change in 
potential growth would be effected. In the long 
run, the growth on a series of patches clear cut in 
an operation of this sort would be about the same 
as that on a continuous clear-cut area of the same 
acreage. 
ply, almost always assured under this system, 


The proximity of an adequate seed sup- 


would favor prompt, denser, and more uniform 
regeneration. 


64 


ZERO-MARGIN CUTTING OR “CREAMING” 


If the selective cutting were predominantly zero- 
margin cutting, which takes all the trees of positive 
value and leaves the trees of minus value, the re- 
sults of the change would probably vary widely. 
In some stands, such as the decadent even-aged 
Douglas-fir occurring on much of the privately 
owned forest land, such cuttings would frequently 
leave only defective and malformed trees, or sup- 
pressed trees of inferior species, which might pro- 
duce little or no net growth and would be likely to 
cast too much shade to permit establishment of 
reproduction of desirable species; in this case less 
usable increment would become available than 
In 
other kinds of stands—for example, certain two- 


following clear cutting and full restocking. 


story stands—zero-margin selection would remove 
only scattered veterans and leave well-stocked, 
thrifty stands; in such cases, growing stock that 
would otherwise have been wasted would be pre- 
served and many years’ growth would be saved. 
In the many kinds of stands intermediate between 
these two, substitution of zero-margin selection 
would probably have widely varying effects on 
growth, 


LIGHT, FREQUENT CUTTING 


If the selective cutting prevailingly took the form 
of light cuts made at relatively short intervals and 
leaving well-distributed stands of thrifty trees— 
such cutting as is consistent with continuous forest 
management and is now being practiced experi- 
mentally in certain forest types—the reserve stand 
could be expected to produce a mean annual 
volume increment comparable in amount and 
greatly superior in quality to that of a normal 
forest composed of even-aged stands. To the ex- 
tent, therefore, that this was done, selective cutting 
could be expected to result in greater realizable 
growth, particularly board-foot growth, over the 
whole forest area in the succeeding few decades 
than the method assumed in this report. 


SECONDARY CONSIDERATIONS 


Under selective cutting the fire hazard might be 
considerably different from what it is under clear 
cutting. If the selective cutting were light it might 
make possible better fire control: if heavy, it might 


have the opposite effect. Fire is the most potent 
factor in causing understocking and preventing 
satisfactory growth after logging. 

Every managed forest having normal distribu- 
tion of age classes, whether composed of even-aged 
stands or of uneven-aged stands, would probably 
produce about the same volume of wood per acre, 
site for site, under a selective-cutting as under a 
clear-cutting system of management, except as 
standards of utilization or the practicability of 
thinnings might vary. Under selective cutting the 
product would, however, average higher in quality. 
For example, the supply of high-quality old growth 
would be exhausted much less quickly and more of 
such timber would be produced. ‘This should re- 
sult in better utilization and therefore in greater 
Selective cutting might 
also result in utilization, through thinnings, of 
much material that would otherwise be lost. On 
the other hand, it might result in a higher per- 
centage of tolerant species in the stand. 

It may be concluded that widespread substitu- 
tion of selective cutting for clear cutting would 
affect the volume and value increment on some 


net utilizable growth. 


areas favorably, on others unfavorably, and on 
others not at all. For the region as a whole, the 
effect of the change would depend on what type of 
selection predominated. 
a controlling factor, the change would probably not 


If liquidation remained 


65 


alter materially the growth estimates herein pre- 
sented. If large areas were carefully selectively 
logged under a system of light cuts at frequent 
intervals, realizable growth measured in board feet 
during the next few decades should substantially 


exceed the estimates presented. 


Summary 


Under prevailing methods of management the 
forests are being depleted of high-quality volume, 
the comparatively small volume being added by 
growth is of relatively poor quality, and no ma- 
terial improvement in quality of forest growth can 
be anticipated. Such increase in volume incre- 
ment as may be expected without change in forest 
practice is small in comparison with that needed 
to support forest industries continuously at present 
levels. Although at the present time and for the 
region as a whole the relation of cut to permanent 
production capacity is apparently fairly rational 
it decidedly is not so for individual units. Cutting 
has been irregularly distributed, the best-quality 
stands and the most accessible stands being taken 
first. In several units, notably the Grays Harbor, 
Puget Sound, and Columbia River units, the 
present rate of cutting exceeds that allowable under 
sustained-yield management, while in Oregon 
outside of the Columbia River unit an increased 
cut could be sustained. 


FO RE S-T RES OUR CORES) OE 2 HE DOUG EE RAGS Sehr le Ree Rs hm Carle OmeN 


Forest Protection 


HE forests of the Douglas-fir region are par- 

ticularly subject to devastating fires—more so 

than those of most of the other forest regions 
of the United States (fig. 18). The dry summer 
climate, the predominance of resinous trees, and 
the great volume of inflammable material all com- 
bine to create an acute fire hazard. During the 
past 25 years this hazard has increased greatly. 
The area of the inflammable types, such as cut-over 
land, has become much larger. Increases in mile- 
age of roads, in motor travel, and in population, and 
the opening of hitherto inaccessible areas to settlers 
have added to the number of forest users and thus 
increased the possibilities of fires starting. In- 
creased logging has left great areas of hazardous 
debris exposed to the drying effect of sun and wind. 
Lightning storms, as well as human activity in many 
forms, are ever present to start fires. In critical 
weather a spark from a logging engine, a land- 
clearing operation, or the cigarette of a passer-by is 
sufficient to account for a major conflagration. 
Under these circumstances systematic fire protec- 
tion is essential both to prevent fires which human 
agencies start and to hold to a minimum the dam- 
age that fire may do. 

Organized fire protection has made great prog- 
ress in the Douglas-fir region in the last two dec- 
ades. Presumably, all forest land in the region is 
now protected against fire. Formerly, saw-timber 
areas were protected intensively while cut-over land 
received very little protection. In the past few 
years, however, particularly since the establishment 
of the Civilian Conservation Corps, protection of 
all lands has been strengthened considerably. 

Federal, State, and private protective agencies 


cooperate closely, and together are responsible for 


66 


KE 


the protection of all forest lands. Where there is a 
commingling of lands differing in ownership, co- 
operative agreements provide for division of the 
area and the assumption of responsibility for pro- 
tection of each division by a single agency. 


Protection on Federal Lands 


The Forest Service is responsible for the protec- 
tion of national-forest lands, amounting to about 
9%, million acres in the Douglas-fir region. In both 
States the Forest Service has contracted with the 
State foresters with fire-patrol associations for 
protection of isolated parcels of national-forest land 
intermingled with private land. 

Steady progress has been made in fire protection 
on the national forests of this region in recent years, 
through increased facilities, better planning, and 
training of personnel in organization and technique. 
Since 1931 the aid received through the Civilian 
Conservation Corps and other emergency programs 
has been applied in construction of new roads and 
trails to make the national forests more accessible 
and reduce the time required to reach fires; con- 
struction and betterment of 
telephone lines to increase the 
tection and “smoke chasing”’; 


guard stations and 
efficiency of fire de- 

building of many 
miles of firebreaks through old burns; and reduc- 
tion of hazards along roads and in especially dan- 
Also, the C. C. C. has furnished a 
mobile fire-fighting force which can be organized 
and trained, held in readiness, and quickly trans- 
ported to fires in organized units. 


gerous areas. 


As a result, fires 
have been attacked more intensively and _ effec- 
tively than is possible where pick-up labor only is 
available. 


Ficure 18.—The fire that killed the forest stand on this area has been followed by a series of fires that have prevented restocking. 


F325521 


Areas of 


similar history within the Douglas-fir region total more than 1% million acres 


The National Park Service is responsible for pro- 
tecting the national parks and monuments. Gener- 
ally speaking, the fire problem is not so acute on 
these lands as on the national forests. A large part 
of the area of the parks and monuments is nonforest 
land, or noncommercial forest land at high eleva- 
tions where the fire season is comparatively short 
and the hazard not high. Indian lands are pro- 
tected by the Indian Service. The protective 
organizations of these bureaus are similar to that 
of the Forest Service. 


Protection on State, County, and Private 
Lands 


Oregon and Washington both have progressive 
forest-fire codes providing for protection of private- 
ly owned forest lands, as well as laws requiring every 
owner of forest land to provide protection therefor. 
If an owner does not protect his land, the State 
forester does so and the cost is assessed against the 
property on the county tax rolls. Both States have 
compulsory slash-disposal laws. Oregon has a law 
enabling the Governor to close forest areas to 


67 


entry during critical fire weather, and this has been 
invoked several times even when it meant post- 
ponement of the hunting season. In Washington, 
hazardous areas may be closed or other restrictions 
applied thereon by the director of conservation and 
development. Oregon also has an operator’s per- 
mit law that gives the State forester authority to 
shut down logging operation during periods of high 
fire hazard, and a law requiring snag felling. 
Washington the supervisor of 
forestry to close logging, land-clearing, or other 


law authorizes 


industrial operations during periods of extreme fire 
hazard. 

The organization of fire-protective agencies is 
On private 
lands, associations of timber owners have been 
In Wash- 
ington one such association functions over all terri- 
tory west of the Cascade Range. Western Oregon 
has 11 associations, each of which covers a certain 
area, in some cases less than a county. Several 
timber companies maintain their own patrols. ‘The 
Forest Service by contractual agreement with the 
associations and States protects practically all the 


essentially alike in the two States. 


formed to protect holdings of members. 


State, county, and private lands within national- 
forest boundaries and a large acreage of lands ad- 
jacent to national forests. Other private lands, 
State lands, and county lands are protected by the 
State except in King County, Wash., which retains 
its own fire warden, paying his salary and expenses 
from county funds. In both States the work of the 
associations and private patrols is inspected by 
State officials to see that adequate protection is 
given. In some cases the State contracts with an 
association for the protection of tax-roll land within. 
the association’s territory. 

The States receive funds for fire protection from 
private owners through county tax rolls, through 
direct appropriation by their legislatures, and from 
the Federal Government. The Federal contribu- 
tion under the Clarke-McNary Act has been an 
important factor in developing and maintaining 
fire protection of private lands. In 1936 the share 
of Clarke-McNary funds distributed to western 
Oregon was approximately $70,000 and to western 
Washington about $65,000. In recent years C.C.C. 
work has accelerated the progress of fire protection 
on private and State lands. 

Expenditures for fire control on private and State 
lands in the last 10 or 15 years have ranged approx- 
imately from 3 to 5 cents per acre per year. They 
are generally conceded to be insufficient to obtain 
adequate protection of all types of forest land. The 
large proportion of cut-over land and other highly 
inflammable types on the areas protected by the 
State foresters increases greatly the cost of protec- 
tion. In Oregon, the State forester (5) estimates 
that it would cost approximately 10 cents per acre 
per year to restrict the annual burn to 0.15 percent 
of the total forest area. Annual losses in both 
States have been many times that figure, but in 
1936 and 1937 are reported to have been approxi- 
mately 0.15 to 0.2 percent. Protection efforts on 
private lands are generally concentrated on mer- 
chantable timber, with much less attention to cut- 
over and second-growth land. 

One of the most serious problems facing the State 
forest-protective agencies is the rapidly increasing 
area of county-owned and tax-delinquent lands, 
which they are required to protect if the counties 
so elect. The State may charge the counties for 
such services but cannot force collection, and many 
counties are in arrears. 


68 


A few years ago the private associations became 
less active in Oregon, but they were revived by 
the passage of the so-called tithing act. This act 
provides that 10 percent of State taxes collected, 
including the forest-fire-patrol tax, be paid into the 
State general fund to be used in defraying expenses 
of general State administration. The timber own- 
ers, loath to see 10 percent of the money paid for 
fire-patrol purposes diverted, rejoined the associa- 
tions. Unquestionably the scope and activities of 
the fire-patrol associations will diminish as more 
land is cut over and the volume of private saw 
timber decreases. Eventually, fire protection will 
probably be administered entirely by the States 
and the Federal Government. ‘There is persistent 
demand for increased subvention by the Federal 
Government. 

In respect to other enemies, the Douglas-fir region 
is more fortunate than in its war against fire, and 
protective measures against them are accordingly 
of relatively minor importance. Measures for con- 
rol of hemlock looper infestations were first tried 
in this region during the epidemic of 1929-31. 
The infested areas were dusted with calcium arsen- 
ate from an airplane. The expense was shared 
by private owners and the State of Washington. 
The State acted principally as a landowner, since 
a large part of the timber involved was State- 
owned. There are no annual expenditures for 
protection against either insects or disease in this 
region except those of the Federal Government for 
research in forest-insect and disease control con- 
ducted by the Bureau of Entomology and Plant 
Quarantine and the Bureau of Plant Industry. The 
former bureau has done some experimental work 
in the control of white pine blister rust. This 
problem is not serious in the Douglas-fir region, 
as the susceptible species (the five-needled pines) 
are relatively unimportant here. 


Future Hazard Conditions 


In the past few years logging methods in the 
Douglas-fir region have been revolutionized, and 
the end is not yet. In 1930 motortrucks hauled 
only a few hundred million feet of logs in this 
At present, it is estimated, trucks haul 
2 million feet per day in the lower Columbia River 


region. 


region alone. It is alleged that in the 3 years 
1934-36 there has been a greater shift to the use 
of tractors in Douglas-fir logging than there was 
in the 14 years 1920-33. There will still be con- 
siderable railroad and donkey-engine logging, but 
trucks and tractors will continue to be substituted 
The use of tractors and 
trucks for logging, regardless of intensity of cut, 
will have marked effects upon the problems of 
slash-hazard abatement and forest protection, some 
(1) 


Since logging with tractors does not knock down 


where they are superior. 


beneficial, some otherwise. For example: 
so much nonmerchantable material as donkey- 
engine logging, it leaves less combustible debris 
on the ground and leaves this debris rather well 
shaded by residual trees. 
by broadcast burning is more dangerous and less 
effective after tractor logging than after absolute 
clear cutting, because the residual trees are likely 
(3) The tractor 
trails and truck roads will be of some value as 


(2) Disposal of slashings 


to be killed and become snags. 


firebreaks and as means of ingress in case of acci- 
dental fire. 
road engines removes one flagrant cause of fires. 
(5) Tractor and truck logging distributes the slash 
hazard over a wider area than do railroad and 
(6) If accidental fires are 
tractor-logged areas have a_ better 


(4) Absence of steam logging and rail- 


donkey-engine logging. 
prevented, 
chance than clear-cut areas to be quickly reclothed 


69 


and shaded with woody vegetation and the fire 
hazard diminished. 

Use of trucks and tractors has expanded the op- 
erable timber area in the region, owing largely to 
the fact that it makes possible the opening up of 
timber tracts with a far smaller capital investment 
than would be necessary for railroad and donkey- 
engine equipment. Past procedure resulted for the 
most part in large, continuous expanses of cut-over 
land, the fronts of which were extended by each 
year’s cutting. 

If protective measures are not adapted to the 
changing situation, the shift to truck and tractor 
logging may increase fire hazard. If areas logged 
selectively are broadcast burned, then hazard will 
be greater than that of clear-cut and broadcast- 
burned areas, because of the killing of reserve trees. 
Where the slash hazard would not be materially 
reduced by burning and a useful reserve stand 
would be killed thereby, very intensive protec- 
tion must be substituted. This will be facilitated 
in the case of very lightly logged areas by the re- 
latively small quantity of debris and by the shade 
resulting from the reservation of large numbers of 
trees. 

In view of the wide range in cutting methods and 
types of machinery, it would be unwise to adopt 
any inflexible method of slash disposal but rather 
to vary the method to fit local conditions. 


Eo OR ES T RES © UcR GES) O17 Tf BED RO, UGE CAS Siar epee Rrra Gapla@ uN 


Land Use 


3 


century ago, before agricultural development 
A of the Pacific Northwest began, approxi- 
mately 33 million acres, or 94 percent, of 
western Oregon and western Washington was for- 
ested. Nearly half the nonforested land was level 
or rolling prairies and meadowland in the lower 
valleys. The open land suitable for agriculture was 
all preempted shortly after the arrival of the first 
settlers. The building of transcontinental rail- 
roads—largely between 1880 and 1890—brought 
an influx of settlers from the East and Middle West 
Clearing of forest 
At 
the same time lumbering developed as an industry 


and immigrants from Europe. 
land for agriculture then started in earnest. 


and cut-over land became available for agricul- 
tural settlement. In all, about 3}4 to 4 million acres 
of forested land has been transformed into agricul- 
tural land, either by land clearing alone or by 
logging and subsequent clearing. 

The remaining forests have been altered consid- 
erably by man’s work. About 514 million acres has 
been logged and not put to other use, and a large 
part of this is not satisfactorily restocked. Several 
extremely large fires and numerous smaller fires 
directly traceable to human causes have devastated 
vast areas. Second-growth stands are growing on 


extensive areas of logged-off land and old burns. 
Agriculture 
Present Use of Land for Agriculture 


Agricultural land, as defined by the forest survey, 
consists of cultivated and pasture land, including 
stump pasture but excluding woodland or forest 
land in farm ownership. It totals approximately 


4,700,000 acres, about 70 percent of which is in 


70 


Ke 


western Oregon. It is estimated that more than 
half the farms in this region have some of their 
acreage in forest land. 

The most extensive body of agricultural land in 
this region is in the Willamette Valley, in north- 
western Oregon. This is a broad alluvial valley, 
interrupted occasionally by low rolling hills, about 
120 miles in length and 50 miles in width at its 
million acres of 
agricultural land. Its soils are chiefly recent allu- 
vial and old valley fill. The hill soils are residual, 
originating from both basaltic and sedimentary 


widest point, containing about 2 


material. 

The agricultural lands in the Umpqua River and 
Rogue River Valleys, in southwestern Oregon, the 
only other large bodies of farm land in western 
Oregon, total about half a million acres. The re- 
maining agricultural land in western Oregon oc- 
curs as small areas on flood plains and bottom lands 
of the larger streams. 

The most important agricultural areas in western 
Washington are the Cowlitz and Chehalis Valleys, 
the west half of Clark County, and the flood plains 
and alluvial valleys of the larger streams flowing 
into Puget Sound, such as the Nooksack, Skagit, 
Snohomish, Duwamish, and Puyallup Rivers. 
None of these compare in extent with the Willa- 
mette Valley, but they include some extremely 
productive land. 

The total area in farm ownership in the Douglas- 
fir region was nearly 7 million acres in 1934, accord- 
ing to the Bureau of the Census. Of this total 
approximately 2 million acres was classified as 
cropland, 3}, million acres as pasture land, more 
than three-fourths of a million acres as woodland 
not pastured, and nearly half a million acres as 
building sites, farmyards, roads, or wasteland. 


In addition to the woodland not pastured, 2 mil- 
lion acres of the pasture land was classed as wood- 
land pasture, making a total of nearly 3 million 
acres of woodland in farm ownership. Much of 
this, however, is stump land supporting only a 
sparse stand of second-growth conifers or hard- 
woods; on the other hand, a considerable part of 
the area classed as woodland pasture is well forested 
and is only 
Since only about 4% million acres was classified by 
the survey as agricultural, it can be seen that only 
a small portion of the woodland pasture was 


intermittently used for grazing. 


classed in the survey as agricultural; the remainder 
was considered forest land. Not all the forest land 
in farm ownership can be considered as farm 
woods, or woods managed in conjunction with 
agricultural land; some of it is entirely unrelated 
to the farm operation and is merely timberland 
adjacent to farms that is being held until the tim- 
ber can be logged. Many a farm in the Douglas-fir 
region consists of a few acres of tillable bottom 
land and a large area of mountainous forest land. 
Such a farm is only a place of residence for the 
owner, producing not more than enough for 
family consumption. ‘This type of farmer obtains 
a cash income from woods work and regards his 
forest land as a timber investment to be liquidated 
whenever possible. 

There were nearly 100,000 farms in the Douglas- 
fir region in 1934, according to the Bureau of the 
Census. The average farm contained 70 acres: 
21 acres of cropland, 5 acres of plowable pasture, 
21 acres of woodland pasture, 10 acres of other 


pasture, 8 acres of woodland not pastured, and 5 
acres of land classified as miscellaneous. 

The Bureau of the Census classified 22 percent of 
the farms as dairy farms, 19 percent as abnormal, 
16 percent as general farms, 14 percent as poultry 
farms, 11 percent as fruit farms, 7 percent as self- 
sufhicing farms, and 11 percent as either grain, crop 
specialty, truck, animal specialty, or stock farms. 
It is significant that such a large percent was classed 
as abnormal farms, a category comprising five 
subtypes—institutions, part-time farm, boarding 
and lodging farms, forest-product farms, and horse 
farms. In this group the part-time farms and 
forest-product farms are probably the most im- 
portant and numerous. The part-time farm is 
defined as one where “‘the operator spent 150 days 
or more off the farm, in other than farm work, or 
reported an occupation other than farmer, pro- 
vided the value of products did not exceed $750.” 
Many of the part-time farmers were employed in 
The forest-product farm is de- 
‘where value of forest products sold 


forest industries. 
fined as one ‘ 
represented 50 percent or more of the total value 
of all products of the farm.” This type of farm is 
common in the Douglas-fir region. 

‘The most recent population census, that of 1930, 
showed that in this region the rural farm popula- 
tion amounted to 316,778, or 16.8 percent of the 
total For the same year persons 


classed as gainfully employed in agriculture num- 


population. 


bered 103,643, which is 12.7 percent of the regional 
total of persons gainfully employed in all occupa- 
tions. 


TABLE 27.—Acreage of improved farm land and of farm woods, number of farms, and average size of farms in the Douglas-fir 


region |, in stated years 


Year | Land in farms Farms on | Farm land ? improved | Farm land an farm 

| farms | woods 

| 

| Acres Percent | Number | Acres Acres Percent Acres Percent 
S80 eae ee eee ee EE ee tee 4, 028, 421 11.6 | 15, 819 | 254. 7 1, 958, 037 48.6 1, 793, 678 | 44.5 
1890_—-_- 4, 763, 145 13.7 23, 384 203. 7 1, 990, 736 ACR yee eer ee eee <2 
1900___ 6, 268, 601 18.0 39, 237 159.8 | 1, 880, 431 S0KO}| Geese eer Bpescde E 
1910___ 6, 260, 944 18.0 54, 775 114.3 | 2, 133, 081 34.1 2, 180, 796 34.8 
1920___ | 6,223, 326 17.9 64, 592 96.3 | 2,386, 164 38. 3 2, 226, 895 35.8 
VPS a eae pe IR | 6, 214, 646 17.9 78, 917 78.7 | 2,299, 283 37.0 2, 685, 412 43,2 
TB ee 2 Oe a Ra is ea) Se ee eee eee 6, 421, 233 18.5 77, 165 83.2 | 2,447, 502 38.1 | 2,791, 580 43.5 
O35 errr ane cee urete Acs ani) Joa Ue | 6, 866, 127 ORT, 95, 991 71.5 | 2, 527, 981 36.8 | 2, 950, 404 43. 0 


1 Exclusive of Hood River County, which was created in 1908 from part of Wasco County. 


2 Includes cropland and plowable pasture. 
3 Includes woodland pasture and woodland not pastured. 


Data from Bureau of the Census. 


(Al 


The total value of farm products sold, traded, or 
used by operators’ families amounted to 144 mil- 
lion dollars during 1929. The value of field and 
orchard crops made up approximately half this 
total, dairy products nearly a quarter, and poultry 
and eggs about a quarter. The principal field and 
orchard crops produced were vegetables, berries, 
apples, cherries, prunes, walnuts, hay, and grain. 
During 1929, sales of farm-forest products brought 
in nearly 3 million dollars and, in addition, 2} 
million dollars’ worth of fuel wood, fence posts, 
and other forest products were used on the farms 
where they originated. 


Trends in Agricultural Land Use 


From present indications agricultural use of 
land has about reached a condition of equilibrium. 
Relation of present to past conditions is indicated 
by the 1880-1935 Census Bureau data (table 27) 
for total acreage in farms, number of farms, 
average size of farms, acreage of improved land in 
farms, and acreage of farm woods. 

Between 1880 and 1900 farm acreage increased 
sharply, but for 25 years thereafter the increase was 
slight. 
gradual, and came mainly after 1920. The rise in 


Increase in acreage of farm woods was more 


improved land in farms has been slow and fairly 
steady since 1900. Between 1880 and 1935. the 
number of farms increased fivefold and average 
size of farm decreased by more than two-thirds. 
In the early days of agriculture large farms were 
the rule and cereals were the principal crops. As 
population increased and transportation facilities 
improved, many of the large farms were divided. 
Grain became less profitable as a crop as land 
values rose above those in eastern Oregon and 
Washington, and farming became more intensive 
and varied. 

There are now few blocks of forest land as large 
as 10,000 acres in the whole region—whether virgin 
timber, second growth, or cut-over—that could 
successfully be converted to agriculture, and what 
potential agricultural land there is lies mainly in 
Washington, in Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pacific, 
western Clallam, and western Jefferson counties." 

13 In studying possible future conversion of forest land to 
farm, the forest-survey staff received valuable assistance 


from agricultural experiment station staff members and 
county agents of both States. 


Burrier (3) states that the principal areas in western 
Oregon suitable for new or more intensive farming 
are the Willamette Valley and tidelands and wet 
areas along the Columbia and coastal streams. It 
has been estimated that drainage would be profita- 
ble at this time on 250,000 to 500,000 acres in the 
Willamette Valley, and preliminary investigations 
indicate that irrigation could profitably be ex- 
tended to about 500,000 acres in the valley. Bur- 
rier predicts that from 500,000 to 750,000 acres of 
undeveloped land in western Oregon will eventu- 
ally be cleared, about half being bottom and valley- 
floor lands. A large part of this area is stump 
pasture or idle forest land, and clearing it will not 
materially reduce forest crop production. 

From present indications there will be little 
change in the acreage of cultivated land during the 
next two or three decades. Doubtless some forest 
land will be cleared and some cleared land now in 
agricultural use will revert to forest, but the net 
change will probably be small. Very little of the 
remaining uncleared forest land would produce 
sufficient agricultural income to justify the $100 to 
What little 
forest land is cleared will usually be parts of ex- 


$250 per acre required to clear it. 
isting farmholds. 


Relation of Agriculture to Forests 


The forest is an integral part of the farm economy 
of this region. Not only do the forests furnish fuel, 
fence posts, and other products essential to farm 
management and rural life and a cash crop im- 
portant in farm economy, but forest industries also 
afford part-time employment to many farmers. 
Communities supported by forest industries are 
important markets, and in some cases the only 
markets, for local farm produce. Taxation of for- 
ests and forest industries helps to build and main- 
tain roads, schools, and other public facilities used 
chiefly by the rural population. 

Of the nearly 3 million acres of woodland in farm 
ownership in this region in 1934 (table 27), more 
than two-thirds was grazed. Results of the forest 
survey indicate that of the total area classed as 
woodland pasture more than a million acres is so 
lightly grazed that it is primarily forest land and 
the remainder is stump land with little forest growth 
The area of actual farm woods in the region ap- 


proximates 2 million acres, a part of which consists 
of old-growth stands held for timber speculation 
and not intended to be operated as part of the farm. 
The total saw-timber stand in farm woods is esti- 
mated at approximately 10 billion board feet. 
Each year forest products valued at about $5,000,- 
000 are removed from farm woods for sale or home 
use. 

Many farmers are employed part time in these 
neighboring logging operations and in sawmills 
and other wood-using industries. The periodicity 
of employment in the forest industries allows them 
ample time for farm work. No accurate data are 
available on the amount of employment thus fur- 
nished but it is conservatively estimated that 10 to 
20 percent get work of this kind. Many have only 
small farms and practice no more than a subsistence 
type of agriculture, but they are classified as farm- 
ers by the Bureau of the Census. 

The proximity of forests gives the farmers a 
readily available and cheap supply of fuel wood, 
fencing, building materials, boxes, and other forest 
products within a reasonable hauling distance, 
wherever their own woodlands fail to supply their 
needs. Even the Willamette Valley, the largest 
agricultural body in this region, is dotted with 
patches of forest. The low cost of these essential 
forest products partly offsets the disadvantage of 
remoteness from the large markets for agricultural 
goods. 

The forest resources of the region pay a large part 
of the local taxes. In many of the sparsely settled 
counties they are the principal source of revenue. 
Many roads used almost exclusively by farmers and 


many schools attended only by farm children are 
chiefly supported by the taxes on forest lands. 
Gerrymandering of school, road, and port-improve- 
ment tax districts to include bodies of inaccessible 
virgin timber is not an uncommon practice. Un- 
questionably forest resources have reduced the 
burden of taxation on farm property, especially 
since virgin forest lands make little demand on the 
public treasury for services. The expenditures of 
tax money for the benefit of forest properties are 
quite disproportionate to the revenues collected 
therefrom, in comparison with the expenditures for 
and revenues from farm property. 

The availability of cheap cut-over land and other 
raw land has been responsible for the establishment 
of many submarginal farms. Burrier (3) estimates 
that 5,000 to 6,000 farms in western Oregon are 
problem farms, submarginal as full-time self-sus- 
taining units, chiefly “‘stump”’ ranches and farms 
in “shoestring” valleys. In Oregon they constitute 
a serious land use problem. Except where continu- 
ous supplemental employment can be obtained, 
the farmers either abandon the farms or depend on 
public funds for support. These scattered farms 
in the forest zones unduly increase the cost of local 
government and greatly raise the fire hazard of 
adjoining forest land. Not only does the timber 
owner have to pay more for fire protection but the 
cost of road and school upkeep falls more heavily 
upon him. The migration of large-scale logging 
operations leaves in their wake stump ranchers in 
distress because of loss of their outside employment. 
Were sustained-yield management, instead of liqui- 
ation, the prevailing policy of private forest-land 


TaBLeE 28.—Stocking classification of cut-over lands in the Douglas-fir region 


Land 


Oregon lands cut over— 
Since beginning of 1920 


Washington lands cut over— 


Since wberinnin gyofal 920 eae ee een ee Pee ease 
ErIOTAL On O20 Bee enya ee een eee ee oh ae ce sceteecssss 


ETIOTRLO BLO 20 Rete eeee Hime eens sree od ee os ce ssa sa sestkee 


Well Medium Poorly 7 Ns Mote 
stocked stocked | stocked Nonstocked Total 
| | 
| 
Acres Acres | Acres Acres Acres 
86, 285 122, 237 | 208, 522 301, 998 719, 042 
238, 584 309, 550 | 127, 740 139, 698 815, 572 
| | 
324, 869 | 431, 787 336, 262 441, 696 1, 534, 614 
172, 919 244, 969 417, 889 | 605, 219 1, 440, 996 
654, 452 849, 120 | 350, 401 525, 817 | 2, 379, 790 
827, 371 | 1, 094, 089 | 768, 290 1, 131, 036 | 3, 820, 786 
| | == = 
1, 152, 240 1, 525, 876 1, 104, 552 1, 572, 732 | 5, 355, 400 
| 


owners, there would be continuing forest employ- 
ment for a small number of part-time farmers. 


Forest Land Use 


The present area of forest land, 29 million acres, 
will probably remain practically constant for some 
time to come. This vast area represents a natural 
resource not only for the production of timber and 
other commodities, but also for watershed pro- 
tection, recreational use, wildlife production, and 
grazing use. Practically every body of forest land 
can serve efficiently more than one of these uses and 
in many cases all simultaneously and without 


conflicting. 


Status of Cut-Over Land 


As of 1933 the forest-survey data show that 5.36 
million acres of forest land in the Douglas-fir region 
has been cut over and not put to other use (table 
28). Of this area about 3.20 million, or 60 percent, 
was cut over prior to 1920. 

Thirty-six percent of the land cut over prior to 
1920 and 71 percent of that cut over later is not 
restocking satisfactorily, amounting to 50 percent 
of the total 5.36 million acres. The 2.68 million 
acres of cut-over land that has restocked satis- 
factorily is widely scattered. Reforestation has 
resulted from several combinations of circumstances. 
The methods of logging and slash disposal practiced 
varied from early-day light ground logging with no 
slash burning to clear cutting with complete slash 
burning. Many tracts were clear cut with no 
slash burning; still others were clear cut and slash 
burned, but owing to weather conditions were 
burned only lightly. Most of the total area, how- 
ever, was slash burned after logging and thereafter, 
either by intention or by chance, not reburned. 

Fire-protection agencies in the region, in com- 
piling fire statistics, do not record areas on which 
slash is burned under permit. They attempt to 
cover all areas reburned, either by accidental fires 
or in connection with the original slash burning of 
adjoining areas. Undoubtedly many accidental 
fires reburning cut-over areas are unreported, al- 
though reporting service is much better now than 
formerly. Fires reported by the protective agencies 
burned over an annual average of 85,000 acres of 


74 


recently cut-over land (cut since January 1, 1920) 
during the 5-year period 1926-30, or more than 
half the 13-year average of 165,000 acres cut over 
annually during the period 1920-32. Actually, 
these reported burns have covered much less than 
half the cut-over jands, since they undoubtedly in- 
cluded each year substantial acreages of repeated 
burns. Barely more than one-fourth of the recent 
cut-overs have restocked satisfactorily, and ap- 
parently fire has not been solely responsible. 
Elsewhere unreported accidental reburning of cut- 
over areas in connection with annual disposal of 
slash may be to blame. Certainly fire or destruc- 
tive logging methods must be responsible for the 
difference in this respect between lands logged 
before and after 1920. Analysis of data on lands 
logged prior to 1920 shows that as of 1932 nearly 65 
percent were satisfactorily restocked. Much of 
this area was logged under less: destructive condi- 
tions than prevailed in later years, and no part of 
it was subject to the extreme fire hazard of proxim- 
ity to large areas of recently logged lands. It is a 
safe assumption that by 1943 not much more than 
half the lands clear cut in 1920-32 will be satis- 
factorily restocked if present practices persist, 
largely because of repeated fires. 

This raises the question whether clear-cut areas 
can be burned in a manner that does not endanger 
adjacent forest land. Without doubt, vast im- 
provement over past practices and results can be 
attained, and determined efforts to restrict slash 
fires to areas cut over during the current year would 
result in far more reproduction. 

The principles and detailed practices involved 
in slash disposal in this region, after the conven- 
tional clear cutting, are covered in a previous 
report (7/6) and will not be discussed here. 


Timber Production 


In this region 26 million acres, nearly 90 percent, 
of the forest land was classified as suitable for com- 
mercial production of softwood timber and more 
than half a million acres additional for commercial 
hardwood timber. Under improved forest manage- 
ment practically all this land, on which timber 
production will be pre-eminent for many years to 
come, can perform other functions without inter- 
ference with its main resource. On the privately 


owned lands other uses will be incidental since these 
lands are for the most part more valuable for timber 
production than are the public lands. Of the 
commercial forest land in public ownership, 696,000 
acres generally less suitable for timber production 
has been set aside for recreation and city water 
supply protection exclusively. 


Production of Commodities Other Than Timber 


Forest products other than timber, from which 
considerable income is obtained in this region, in- 
clude tanbark, 
swordferns, berries, huckleberry greens, pitch, and 


Christmas trees, cascara_ bark, 
Oregon-grape root. 

The most important of these is the bark of the 
cascara buckthorn (Rahmnus purshiana), valuable for 
The gathering of the bark 


is a seasonal occupation pursued largely by local 


its medicinal properties. 
residents. During the depression this employment 
has been an important source of income to many 
people. The price, forced down by a glutted 
market, has gone up again as unemployment has 
decreased—from 114 cents a pound in 1933 to a 
high of 9 cents a pound in 1936. Despite predic- 
tions that the supply of cascara bark would soon be 


exhausted, it is apparently as large as ever. The 
dealers state that when the price is around 6 to 8 
cents a pound the normal peel is 2,000 tons. The 


demand is comparatively inelastic, and excess pro- 
duction in 1 year results in a lower price and a 
smaller peel the next year. 

The popularity of Douglas-fir Christmas trees in 
other parts of the country has resulted in an enor- 
mous Increase in the annual shipments. In 1936, 
it is estimated, about 4,000,000 trees were shipped 
by rail, truck, and vessel to all sections of the 
country except the Rocky Mountain and New 
England States. 
California; other principal destinations were Texas, 
Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Florida, and Okla- 
homa. 


The majority were consigned to 


A small number were shipped to Hawaii 
and the Philippine Islands. A large part of the 
delivered price goes for freight, but the local 
revenue, including stumpage, labor, etc., undoubt- 
edly totals at least a million dollars annually. Four 
counties in western Washington, Mason, Kitsap, 
Thurston, and Pierce, produce the large majority 
of the annual cut, and in 1936 Mason County alone 


W® 


produced about 25 percent of the regional total. 
The low-site gravelly soils in this section grow a 
bushy tree with closely spaced whorls of branches 
that sells most readily. 

On privately owned cut-over land nearly all the 
young trees are cut for Christmas sale and no 
attempt is made to manage the land for future 
crops. Where the land is insufficiently stocked to 
begin with, as is often the case, the future sawlog 
productivity of the land is impaired. If the cutter 
gave thought to making an improvement thinning 
and to leaving a sufficient stand for proper forest 
development, the Christmas-tree industry would 
furnish the landowner some return from his 8- to 
20-year-old stock and yet not diminish production 
of the major forest crop. 

The bark of the tanoak has a high tannin content. 
and formerly was used in considerable quantities. 
In recent years the gathering of tanbark has prac- 
tically ceased, owing to depletion of the available 
‘The 
latter has so lowered the price that it is at present 
unprofitable to cut tanoak for bark alone. 

Data on ferns, pitch, berries, and the other mis- 
cellaneous forest products are nonexistent or un- 


supply and competition of other materials. 


satisfactory. Harvesting is done almost exclusively 
by local residents as home industries and no reliable 
These byproducts of the forest, 
mainly of second-growth stands, are now of very 


records are kept. 


little significance in comparison with the major 
commodities, but it is safe to predict that there will 
be a strengthening market for some of them. The 
gathering of these secondary crops hardly ever con- 
flicts with other forest uses, except in some instances 
it has increased the risk of forest fires. 


Soil and Watershed Protection 


In the Douglas-fir region the great extent of the 
old-growth forests, the luxuriance of the shrubby 
vegetation that within 2 or 3 years of logging clothes 
much of the deforested land, the abundance of 
water available for farm, home, and industry, and 
the mildness of the climate render the protective 
function of the forest cover of much less consequence 
than in many other parts of the United States. 
Any vegetative cover does, however, exert an 
ameliorating influence on flood peaks by retarding 
run-off and lengthening the time required for 


waters to congregate in streams, and tends to insure 
continuity of stream flow throughout the dry sum- 
mer months. Perhaps even more important, it 
protects the soil against abnormal erosion. 

In view of the heavy precipitation, it is fortunate 
that cut-over areas in this region normally become 
clothed with a cover of grass, weeds, or shrubs 
within 2 or 3 years after logging. Such a cover 
gives watersheds considerable protection from 
erosion, but is much less effective in retarding run- 
off and preventing abnormal erosion than a com- 
plete forest canopy, is inherently temporary in 
nature, and is highly inflammable. The area of 
cut-over land has increased rapidly in the last 20 
years and the average quality of the watershed cov- 
er has correspondingly lowered. Floods in some 
20 to 30 streams west of the summit of the Cascade 
Range cause damage to lowland property estimat- 
ed at $1,000,000 io $2,000,000 or more annually. 

In spite of the importance of forests in this region, 
little positive information is available here con- 
cerning the relation of forest cover to stream flow 
and erosion. The problem is so complex that su- 
perficial observation will not answer; detailed stud- 
ies of different types of forest cover under varying 
climatic, soil, and topographic conditions are 
urgently needed. 

It is evident, however, that the prevailing practice 
of clear cutting and slash burning accelerates run- 
off and that this continues until a new cover is 
established; considerable soil washing and gullving, 
started often in the skid trails made by logging 
machinery, is evident on the steeper freshly logged 
slopes. Sheet erosion and consequent soil deple- 
tion are a natural consequence of heavy rains where 
the beneficent cover is completely removed and the 
debris and the humus burned away. As the area of 
poorly stocked logged-off land grows larger the 
lack of that run-off regulation and soil conservation 
which the original forest gave will be more notice- 
able. More and more, logging and slash-burning 
operations are reaching the steeper slopes of the 
mountains, and here the dangers are greater that 
accelerated run-off and soil deterioration will ensue 
unless precautionary forest practices are adopted. 

The only areas where occupancy and use of the 
forest are restricted in order to regulate run-off 
are the watersheds of several streams that supply 
water for municipalities, aggregating about 200,000 


76 


acres. This protection is given to insure the purity 
of the water supply and the volume and regularity 
of its flow. 


Recreation 


Few other sections of the United States are so for- 
tunate as the Pacific Northwest in its outdoor re- 
creational facilities. The abundant forests, streams, 
lakes, and snowclad mountains of the Douglas- 
fir region, as well as its seashore, are so accessible 
that they can be enjoyed with little effort or ex- 
pense. Good hunting and fishing are still to be 
had within easy access of the cities and towns. 
The development of highways and motor transpor- 
tation in recent years has extended this accessibility 
until at present most of the forest land is used to 
some degree for recreation, not only by the local 
population, but by many tourists from other States. 
Even areas rendered unsightly by logging or fire 
are frequented by hunters and fishermen. The 
recreational resource is thus a very real asset, as this 
region becomes more and more one of the national 
playgrounds. 

Much of this recreational use conflicts in no way 
with timber production; only 959,300 acres are re- 
served from logging to preserve certain distinctive 
recreational features. Of this area approximately 
two-thirds is on national forests. The reservations 
include 472,500 acres of commercial forest land in 
conifers, but not the 331,600 acres of nonforest land, 
such as glaciers, rocky barrens, and alpine meadows 
within the recreational reserves. Among the lands 
reserved for recreation are such nationally famous 
areas as Mount Rainier National Park, Crater Lake 
National Park (which borders this region), Mount 
Olympus National Park, Mount Hood and Colum- 
bia Gorge recreational areas on the Mount Hood 
National Forest, and the Mount Baker recreational 
area and North Cascade primitive area on the 
Mount Baker National Forest. In addition to such 
reservations, practically all of the remaining na- 
tional-forest land is available for recreational use. 
Along the roads on the national forests of this region 
there are 803 forest camps where facilities are main- 
tained for overnight camping as well as picnicking. 

The remarkable increase in popularity of winter 
sports has been responsible for the recent develop- 
ment of a number of areas for this specific purpose. 
The subalpine forests on the slopes of the Cascade 


Ba ee 


Range are admirably adapted for skiing and other 
winter sports and are readily accessible to the prin- 
cipal cities and towns. Within 1} hours’ drive of 
Portland is the Mount Hood area on the Mount 
Hood National Forest, and equally accessible to 
Seattle and Tacoma are the Snoqualmie Falls area 
on the Snoqualmie National Forest and Paradise 
Valley in Mount Rainier National Park. Within 
recent years great progress has been made in the 
development of State parks, located chiefly on the 
principal highways; although overnight camping is 
not permitted in many of the State parks. 

The privately owned forest land is not all avail- 
able for public recreation use; many forest owners 
forbid trespass on their property near the highways 
because of the increased fire risk and cost of protec- 
tion. The trespass laws of Oregon and Washington 
are not enforceable on unfenced wild land, but the 
widespread use of closure by State officials under 
authority of fire laws has resulted in material re- 
striction of public use of forest land during critical 
fire weather. Nevertheless, there are large areas 
of private forest land where the public may hunt or 
fish undisturbed unless they violate State game laws. 
Farm woods, the most accessible of forest lands, are 
generally closed to public use, although some farm- 
ers add to their income by making a small charge 
tor the use of their woods for recreation. A definite 
need exists for small forest picnic and camp grounds, 
in addition to the existing State parks, on the high- 
ways near the larger cities. 


Wildlife Production and Use 


This region is well supplied with wildlife. The ex- 
tensive forests furnish food and shelter for the native 
fauna and have prevented its depletion. Hunting 
and fishing have not made the inroads on the game 
resources here that have been reached in more 
densely populated regions. 

The forests contribute to the maintenance of the 
fish population by regulating stream flow, moderat- 
ing water temperature, and keeping the water clear. 
Other uses of the forests, including recreation, pro- 
tection, timber production, and grazing, do not 
seriously disturb wildlife production when properly 
coordinated. In fact, cutting operations usually 
result in an increase in shrubby and herbaceous vege- 
tation, which affords more food for game animals. 


224146 °—40——6 


77 


Fire has undoubtedly been responsible for the 
destruction of much wildlife. Immediately follow- 
ing a crown fire the deforested area is vegetated 
by plants affording better feed than the original 
dense woods, and the game population usually 
increases by attraction from surrounding forests; 
but repeated burning results finally in a reduction 
of feed and consequent lowering of the game pop- 
ulation. In some parts of the region it has been a 
not uncommon practice for local residents to set 
fire to the forests to improve the hunting. Over 
a period of years this practice results in impair- 
ment of the wildlife resource. The aborigines are 
generally supposed to have done this, particularly 
in the Willamette Valley, and the treeless condition 
of this area when white settlement began is thought 
The reclaim- 
ing of some of these lands in the foothills of both 
the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys through fire 


protection has resulted in some of the most thrifty 


to have resulted from this practice. 


stands of even-aged immature Douglas-fir now 
found there. 

Game management, including protection of wild- 
life, has made some progress. The posting of 
privately owned forests against hunting and fishing, 
although far from universal, is increasing and is 
not likely to lessen as the population grows and 
as better roads bring in more tourists. Hunting 
and fishing are also forbidden on large areas of 
both private and public forest land set aside by 
the State and Federal Governments as wildlife 
refuges. During critical fire weather other forest 
areas are closed temporarily for protection against 
fires that might be started by hunters, fishermen, 
and other forest users. ‘The national forests, with 
their traditional policy of multiple land use, guar- 
antee the people of this region large areas on which 
wildlife management will be correlated with other 
forest use. Eventually it may be necessary to 
make provision for wildlife management on all 


public and private forest lands. 


Grazing 


The shrubs and herbaceous species that grow in 
the shade of the dense forests of the Douglas-fir 
region proper are usually of low forage value. 
Woody shrubs, such as Oregon hollygrape, salal, 
huckleberry, vine maple, and hazel, with little or 


Ficure 19.—This area was cut over years ago, seeded to pasture, and repeatedly burned. 


F 348208 


It has now been claimed by bracken and 1s practically 


worthless for pasture 


no palatability to livestock, far outnumber succu- 
lent species among the understory plants. On the 
logged-off land and burns, where there is more of 
the succulent herbage, the rough topography, large 
quantities of down timber and other debris, and 
the rank growth of shrubs make the movement of 
livestock difficult. Grazing is therefore meager in 
the virgin and the dense second-growth forests, and 
very limited on old burns and recently logged land. 
In the higher mountains, however, chiefly within 
the national forests, numerous meadows, subalpine- 
type glades, and grassy hillsides and ridges afford 
excellent and largely used summer range. During 
the period 1925-35, approximately 14,000 cattle 
and 130,000 sheep grazed such areas on the national 
forests each season, and the grazing fees collected 
averaged approximately $20,000 a year. 

A number of attempts to use cut-over Douglas-fir 
land for livestock range have been temporarily 
successful, but as a general rule the results have not 
justified this practice on any considerable scale. 
The possibility of converting cut-over land to per- 
manent grazing use has been the subject of con- 
siderable controversy and study. Certainly much 
of this land because of failure to restock to conifers 


78 


and because of unstable ownership is not now filling 
an economic use. Unquestionably portions of it 
through seeding can be converted to permanent 
pasture economically, on other portions grazing can 
be practiced without seeding for a few years with- 
out damaging future use for forestry. The use of 
fire to convert forest land to grazing should be care- 
fully controlled (9). The guiding principle in 
determining the future use of cut-over forest lands 
should be to put them to highest use. There is a 
dearth of physical and economic facts necessary for 
an impartial decision between forestry and grazing 
on much of this land. Some of it obviously suited 
for one use or the other. Gradually, scientific 
research by private, State, and Federal agencies and 
practical experience are supplying the answers to 
some of the questions; others are unanswered. 
An early solution to this entire problem of land use 
is urgent. 

If these areas are not reburned for about 3 to 5 
years, other shrubby species such as salal, Oregon- 
grape, rose, hazel, oceanspray, willow, and elder- 
berry enter the vegetative type. Broadleaf tree 
species such as bigleaf maple and red alder appear, 
and along with conifer seedlings soon dominate the 


other vegetation. Reburning retards the woody 
species and encourages the bracken (fig. 19), resulting 
in a vegetation cover not only of little value for graz- 
ing but also highly inflammable during dry seasons. 

Despite the availability of moderate quantities 
of forage on recently cut-over land and the possi- 


bility of lowering the fire hazard by grazing, use of 


hthis type of land for stock range as been limited to 
dairy cattle and a few sheep turned onto it by 
neighboring farmers and to occasional shipments 
of sheep from ranches east of the Cascade Range in 
summers when the home ranges east of the moun- 
tains were poor because of drought. 

The oak-madrone woodland (fig. 20) and pon- 
derosa pine forests in southern Oregon are less 
dense and their many grassy openings furnish more 
range than is found in other forests of the region. 
Some of these open prairies and hillsides are sup- 
posed to have been burned by the Indians to make 
better hunting, although others are obviously on 
areas unsuited to forest growth because of soil or 
climate. In the Siskiyou Mountains of south- 
western Oregon, the grazing of cattle on such grass- 
covered openings began soon after white settlement 


79 


F 325591 
Ficure 20.—Oak-madrone forest in southern Oregon, where forests of this type and of ponderosa pine have considerable forage value 


and was an important industry up to 20 years ago, 
when heavy grazing had so reduced the forage 
that the cattle were supplanted by sheep and goats. 
Periodic burning in the hope of improving grazing 
has greatly depleted the palatable herbage on these 
areas, resulting in many instances in a brush cover 
typically composed of scrub tanoak, Pacific ma- 
drone, or any of several species of manzanita or 
ceanothus, either unpalatable or of such low palata- 
bility that only goats will browse it. With the 
setting up of fire protection, some of the more 
promising of these areas have been reclaimed by 
conifers. Others cleared for farming and early 
abandoned were reclaimed by conifers prior to 
protection from fire. 

Attempts have been made to seed recently cut- 
over lands or burns to forage plants, especially in 
southwestern Oregon. Seeding by airplane has been 
tried, with orchard grass, ryegrass, and various 
mixtures. As a rule a good stand of grass is ob- 
tained the first year, but the second year the stand 
is much less and the third year it is sparse. In order 
to retain the grass cover it is usually necessary to 
reseed the grass about every 3 years, and then it is 


often necessary to slash the woody plants that in- 
evitably occupy parts of the area. Alternate grazing 
of cattle and goats has been tried as a means of 
keeping out bracken and brush, but without not- 
able success. Repeated burning, as already pointed 
out, results in increasing the bracken. The expense 
of seeding is apparently not justified where the land 
is going to be allowed to revert or will inevitably 
revert to trees or other woody growth in a few 
years, and where utilization as permanent pasture 
is not its highest economic use. Small areas that 
can economically be converted to pasture by per- 
sistent seeding and clearing are usually parts of 
operating farm units and accordingly are classed as 
agricultural, not forest land. 


Forest Problem Areas 


There are three major areas of idle forest land in 
the region, which illustrate conditions and prob- 
lems that occur on many other areas on a smaller 
scale. The first of these extends along the east side 
of Puget Sound from near Tacoma to about 25 
miles north of Everett and runs inland 15 to 25 
miles. Although the soils are chiefly gravelly and of 
low agricultural value, they once grew valuable 
forests, a large part of which was logged many 
years ago. Much of this district, which includes 
between a third and a half of the population of the 
Douglas-fir region, has been subdivided, outside 
urban limits, into 5- and 10-acre lots. Only a small 
number of these lots have been improved, chiefly 
for residence by workers in Seattle, Tacoma, and 
Everett; many of them are tax delinquent; and a 
considerable number have reverted to the counties 
through tax forfeiture. Little of the area is actually 
farmed. Clearing fires escaping to adjoining land 
have devastated large areas, until in this entire dis- 
trict there is little forest growth. Although this land 
is fairly densely populated, all but a small part of it 
is idle. To bring it under management for timber 
production would be difficult because of instability 
of ownership and proximity to industrial centers. 

The second major problem area is the expanse of 
recently cut-over land in Gravs Harbor, Mason, 
and western Thurston Counties, Wash. Parts of 
this area have deep and fertile soil, but the topog- 
raphy is generally unfavorable to agriculture. There 
is little agricultural settlement in this district, and 
the only farms are in the narrow shoestring valleys. 


80 


This area may restock successfully; but because of 
its extent, the scarcity of seed trees, and the high 
fire hazard it probably will not do so for many 
If 
present conditions continue there is a strong possi- 
bility that large parts of this area will never restock 
naturally. The two most difficult problems are fire 
protection and tax delinquency. The instability of 
ownership reduces the effectiveness of fire protec- 


years, unless remedial measures are applied. 


tion. A State forest is now being created in this 
district, which should alleviate the situation. The 
area includes some of the most productive forest 
soil in the region, and if it is nonproductive for long, 
a serious loss of timber growth will result. 

A large part of the third area, covering Columbia, 
Tillamook, and eastern Clatsop Counties in the 
northwest corner of Oregon, is cut-over land and 
deforested burn including the great Tillamook burn 
of 1933. It is practically all forest land but, like 
the second area, the topography is so rough as to 
permit little agriculture. The main bodies of saw 
timber will be almost entirely gone in about a dec- 
ade if the present rate of cutting continues. These 
three counties are already financially distressed, 
and it is doubtful if they can maintain the present 
road and school system in the forest zone when tax 
revenue from timberland decreases, unless sources 
other than the general property tax are available. 
The problem of financing fire protection is acute 
because of the instability of ownership and the large 
area of county-owned and tax-delinquent land. 
Much of this area will not restock naturally for 
many years, since many parts of it are a consider- 
able distance from seed trees. 

Practically all of the region’s old nonrestocked 
cut-over lands (type 35), totaling 666,000 acres, 
occurs in these three problem areas. The economic 
returns from nonforest use of this land are negligible 
and from the standpoint of the future timber supply 
its idleness represents a serious loss. Under good 
forest management, however, it is easily capable of 
producing 250,000,000 board feet of timber an- 
nually. It is estimated that an annual production 
of this amount would give permanent employment 
to at least 2,000 workers in the forest industries and 
indirect employment to 2,000 or 3,000 additional 
workers in dependent industries and service occu- 
pations, thus supporting a total population of 
10,000 to 12,000 persons. 


* 


18) ©) I IOS) IES IRIE SSO), WIR ae 


ORES) Te Tite DMO Ui Gisele Ag St — 


Rel Reo Res iG lON 


Forest Industries 


>> 


Conditions in the Industries 
Development 


HE first sawmill in the Douglas-fir region was 

erected in 1827 near Fort Vancouver on the 

Columbia River, by John McLoughlin, chief 
factor of the Hudson’s Bay Co. A few years later 
lumber was exported from this mill to Hawaii. Be- 
tween 1840 and 1850 a number of mills were estab- 
lished to supply lumber to the increasing local popu- 
lation and for export to the gold fields of California 
and to the Hawaiian Islands. 

From its beginning more than a century ago, 
lumbering has been one of the leading industries in 
this region. The present industrial development is 
based toa very great extent upon the forest resources. 
The large majority of the population derive their 
support, directly or indirectly, from either lumber- 
ing or agriculture. The only other extractive indus- 
tries, fishing and mining, are of relatively minor 
Of the 1,883,650 population of the 
Douglas-fir region in 1930 (according to the Bureau 
of the Census), 815,528 were gainfully employed. 
Approximately 14.3 percent of those engaged in 
gainful occupations were directly employed in for- 


significance. 


estry, lumbering, and other wood-using industries, 
12.7 percent in agriculture, 0.9 percent in fishing, 
and 0.7 percent in the extraction of minerals; alto- 
gether, 28.6 percent of the total were employed in 
natural-resource industries. 

In this region the transportation industries, ma- 
chinery manufacture,'* food processing,’ merchan- 

14Sawmill and logging machinery and equipment are 
manufactured here for local use and for shipment to other 
parts of this country and abroad. 

15 This group, next in importance to the forest industries, 
includes fruit and vegetable canning, fish and other sea-food 


canning, flour milling, butter and cheese making, condensing 
and evaporating milk, and meat packing. 


81 


ke 


dising and other service industries, and the profes- 
sions are all dependent almost entirely upon the 
natural-resource industries. Another important 
source of income is tourist travel. It is safe to as- 
sume that nearly half the gainfully employed are de- 
pendent directly or indirectly upon the forest re- 
sources for their livelihood. 

Lumbering in the United States has been a mi- 
gratory industry, and each successive move west- 
ward has widened the gap between producer and 
consumer. In the Douglas-fir region and the other 
Pacific coast forest regions, the large size of the trees, 
density of stands, and topography made needful 
many changes in logging and manufacturing meth- 
ods as developed in the East and South, and neces- 
sitated new techniques. Because of the great dis- 
tance from markets, distribution is one of the most 
important problems of the industry here; but in gen- 
eral methods of distribution and business practices 
have received far less attention from the leaders of 
the industry than have logging and manufacturing 
methods. 

There is no new frontier to which the industry can 
turn from here, consequently competitive condi- 
tions must soon reach a stage of equilibrium. 
Lumber from this region competes with lumber pro- 
duced in the South. 
particularly for labor, and much shorter distance to 


Low manufacturing costs, 


the important domestic markets give the South an 
advantage over this region that is only partly offset 
by the latter’s cheaper stumpage and high-quality 


raw material. In foreign markets, and to some 


this 
region is subject to competition from lumber pro- 
duced in British Columbia and its lower labor and 
stumpage costs and cargo rates to distant points— 


extent in domestic markets, lumber from 


advantages only partly offset by greater cost of 
certain equipment and materials used in lumber- 


ing and more difficult physical logging conditions. 
Both manufacturing and distribution costs must 
be kept at a minimum if lumber from this region 
is to continue to compete successfully in eastern 
and foreign markets. 

Data from the Census of Manufactures indicate 
that in 1929 the forest industries of the region paid 
in salaries and wages approximately $125,000,000 
and produced goods valued at more than $350,000,- 
000. For the same year the value of sawlogs, pulp- 
wood, fuel wood, shingle bolts, poles and piling, 
fence posts, and other timber products was between 
$150,000,000 and $175,000,000. During 1929 
lumber production was at a peak, wages and prices 
were high. Since then lumber production, wages, 
and prices have declined greatly. In 1935 lumber 
production was but half that of 1929. However, 
the relative importance of the forest industries in 
the economic life of this region has changed but 
little, as other industries have followed parallel 
courses. 


Integration 


The forest industries throughout the country are 
not integrated vertically to nearly so great an ex- 
tent as some other large industries. In the Douglas- 
fir region, in particular, there is little complete 


6 industries. 


vertical integration '® in the forest 
Many of the large lumber manufacturers own 
standing timber and do their own logging, and 
some of the larger companies own and operate 
steamship lines. Some lumber manufacturers pro- 
duce sash and doors, box shook, and shingles, but a 
large percentage of the output of these items in this 
region is produced by independent establishments. 

Many of the lumber manufacturers here sell 
lumber at retail from their plants, but only a few 
of the larger mills are interested to any great extent 
in retail lumber companies. Several of the large 
companies own or control retail line yards in the 
Middle West. Many of the Douglas-fir manufac- 
turers are affiliated with lumber-manufacturing 
interests in the Lake States and the South; hori- 


zontal integration of this sort is quite common. 


16 By ‘complete vertical integration”’ is meant performance 
by the same concern of all processes of manufacture and 
distribution, from harvesting of the raw material to dis- 
tribution to 
facture of byproducts. 


the ultimate consumer, including manu- 


The pulp industry is dominated by companies 
The 
largest wood-pulp manufacturer and its affiliated 


not affliated with lumber manufacturers. 


companies own standing timber, and fill some of 
their requirements for raw material by logging 
their own timber. ‘This group is also affiliated 
with companies that manufacture and distribute 
many kinds of paper products. A large percentage 
of the wood-pulp manufacturers make paper. 

The plywood and veneer industry is quite inde- 
pendent of other forest industries, and very few 
of the plywood and veneer manufacturers have 
any direct connection with timber owners and 
lumber manufacturers. 


Investments 


The total investment in the forest industries of 
this region at the present time probably exceeds a 
billion dollars. Of this amount about half is rep- 
resented by privately owned standing timber and 
the remainder by logging equipment, manufactur- 
ing plants, and working capital. The total invest- 
ment in logging facilities is estimated at approxi- 
mately $85,000,000, and that in lumber-manufac- 
turing plants at $140,000,000 to $150,000,000. Not 
included are common-carrier -railroads, steamship 
lines, and other shipping facilities that depend 
mainly on the forest industries for their traffic. The 
private investment in standing timber and _ the 
logging and lumber-manufacturing industries is 
roughly $100 per 1,000 board feet of lumber cut 
annually. ‘The investment in forest industries, 
including raw material, is approximately $4 per 
1,000 feet of privately owned standing timber. 


Labor 


Labor is probably the most important single cost 
element in the forest industries. It is estimated by 
the West Coast Lumbermen’s Association (24) that 
in 1935 nearly half the return received by the 
Douglas-fir lumber manufacturer from the sale of 
his product went for labor. The association states 
that on an average two 8-hour man-days are re- 
quired to produce 1,000 board feet of lumber and 
that in 1935 wages per 1,000 feet averaged $8.89. 
The 40-hour week is established in the lumber 
industry in this region. Hourly wages in the log- 


ging and lumber industries averaged in 1936 about 


65 cents. 
the East and South, approximately the same as 
those in the other Pacific slope States, and as high 
as those in any other forest region. Hourly wages 
here are about double those paid in the South. 
Wages in the lumber industry in this region 
declined during the period 1930-32, but not so 
rapidly as lumber prices, and they have recovered 
much faster. In 1935 they were approximately 
at the 1926 level, and at the middle of 1936 they 
had risen above the 1929 level. Lumber prices 
had increased, but were still below the 1926 level. 
Approximately 75 percent of the 100,000 to 
115,000 workers normally employed in the forest 
industries of this region are skilled. For this and 
for the consequent high average wage the high 
degree of mechanization in the logging and lumber 
industries and the extremely large size of the manu- 
facturing plants are chiefly responsible. Workers, 
including woods workers, are highly unionized, 
unlike those in the eastern and southern forest 
industries. 
in normal 
periods shut-downs are relatively brief. Conse- 
quently, a large percentage of the workers em- 
ployed are resident. 


Employment is nearly yearlong; 


Many men in rural communi- 
ties near the logging centers have had experience in 
forest work and supplement the yearlong labor 
during periods of extra activity. 

Most of the larger logging operations maintain 
semiportable or portable logging camps where 
workers are housed and fed in community fashion. 
Some of these camps have quarters where married 
men may house their families, and even provide 
school facilities. Nota few logging operations, both 
large and small, are so situated that workers can go 
to their jobs daily from their homes on nearby 
farms or in neighboring towns, sometimes in trains 
run by the company or sometimes in their own auto- 
mobiles. A large percentage of the labor, which is 
practically all white, is native born. Many of the 
remainder, mostly the older forest workers, mig- 
rated from the Lake States and the South when 
operations there folded up or moved to the Pacific 
Northwest. 


Production 


The Douglas-fir region produces approximately 
30 percent of the total lumber cut in the United 


Wages are much higher than those in 


States. 


Figure 21, giving lumber production in the 
United States and in the Douglas-fir region, shows 
that the ratio of production of this region to the 
total for the country varied but little during the 
11-year period 1925-35. For the first nine years 
of that period western Oregon’s lumber production 
amounted to about one-third of the regional total, 
varying from about 32 percent in 1925 to 36 per- 
cent in 1929; in the last 2 years the ratio increased 
slightly, and in 1935 it reached 41 percent. 

This region produced 91 percent of the shingles 
manufactured in the United States in 1935, Wash- 
ington producing 81 and Oregon 10 percent. 

The production of wood pulp was about 23 per- 
cent of the total for the country in 1935. The 
present installed pulp-mill capacity is about 17 
percent of the Nation’s total. Present indications 
point to a large increase in pulp-mill capacity 
within the next few years. 


Markets 


This region’s wood-using industries depend 
chiefly upon outside markets. During the period 
1926-34 only about one-quarter of the lumber pro- 
duced in the region was consumed within it. Ap- 
proximately one-third of the wood pulp produced 
is shipped to other regions without being manufac- 
tured into paper. Only about one-fourth as much 
paper is consumed in the region as is produced in 
it. Therefore, local paper consumption accounts 
for only about 15 to 20 percent of the annual 
regional pulp production. The situation in the 
This de- 


pendence upon outside markets apparently will 


plywood industry is about the same. 


continue for many years if current rates of produc- 
tion are maintained. 

With the exception of a very small quantity of 
hardwood veneer and lumber, no wood products 
need be brought into this region for a long time to 
come. 

There are four large markets where logs are 
offered for sale under definite rules of measurement 
and grading; these are the Puget Sound, Grays 
Harbor, Willapa Bay, and Columbia River log 
markets. in each of these, an association has been 
formed to do the scaling and grading. Many lum- 
ber manufacturers depend entirely on these mar- 
kets for their raw material. 


REGION 


DOUGLAS -FIR 


BIELIONS. OF “BOARD: PRET 


WESTERN WASHINGTON 


fe) 


1926 1928 


1930 


1932 1934 1936 


Ficure 21.—From 1925 to 1936 lumber production of the Douglas-fir region, although fiuctuating considerably in volume, remained constant in 
its relation to national cut, never falling below 25 percent or exceeding 30 percent of lumber production for the United States as a whole 


Loggers and manufacturers of this region also buy 
and sell logs in British Columbia, but compared 
with the total sawlog consumption, the quantities 
are not large (table 29). Practically all the im- 
ported logs are brought into the Puget Sound 
district. 

The volume of Douglas-fir log exports is com- 
paratively insignificant, amounting to about 0.5 
percent of the annual production, and during the 


Tas Le 29.—Logs imported! from British Columbia to Douglas- 
fir region (Scribner rule), stated years 


Species 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937 
M board|M board|M board|M board|M board 

feet feet | feet feet feet 
Wouglas-firs 2. £22 se ee 119, 411 | 92,711 | 77,850 | 40, 275 18, 757 
Western redcedar==_.- 7-22 30, 250 | 23, 100 | 37,414 | 23,265 | 25, 111 
Western hemiock__--________ 16,990 | 35,568 | 4,319 | 30,406 | 53,594 
Allliothens22s-2-aseoe see a= 5, 560 1,223 | 2,483) 2,736 | 10,214 
otal: ak 20 set ei aes: 172, 211 |152, 602 |122,066 | 96,682 | 107, 676 


1 Data based on reports from Pacific Northwest Loggers Association. 


84 


period 1928-37 (table 30), except in three of the 
years, was more than balanced by imports from 
British Columbia. A large part of the exports, 
however, 1s in “‘peeler’’ logs, amounting to a signifi- 
cant part of the total peeler log production. Most 
of the log exports go to Japan, China, and Aus- 
tralia. 
exported do not at present materially influence 
local supplies, except for a few preblem species. 
In addition, considerable quantities of large sawed 
timbers, “‘Jap squares,”’ are exported to the Orient 
for remanufacture (fig. 22). 

The quantities of Port Orford white-cedar logs 
exported, practically all to Japan, are a significant 
part of the total production of the species. During 
the 9-year period 1925-33, the total average annual 
production of Port Orford cedar sawlogs was slightly 
less than 50 million board feet, log scale. For the 
last 6 of these years the Port Orford white-cedar log 
exports averaged about 17}4 million feet annually, 
or roughly a third of total production. In some 


From a regional standpoint the quantities 


>) 


F347422 


Figure 22.—Gizant squares being loaded for shipment to Japan, where they will be manufactured into lumber 


TaBLE 30.—Logs1 exported from Douglas-fir region, Scribner 
rule®, 1928-37 


Species 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 


M board|M board|M board| M board M board 


Seet Jeet Jeet Jeet feet 

Douglas-fir ae 9, 388 | 27,225 | 29,939 | 18, 385 5, 509 
Western redcedar___________- 70, 938 | 56,897 | 31,373 | 33. 826 3, 869 
Port Orford white-cedar_____ 35, 306 | 28,776 | 14, 208,| 12, 658 5, 298 
Western hemlock_____-_____- 26, 468 | 35.119 | 24, 633 | 31, 215 23, 797 
Balsamaifirs sess es see 110 489 1, 955 5, 707 4, 889 
Northern black cottonwood _ 40 150 1,062 | 7, 245 4, 132 
Sitkatsprucesaseeekee ee 1, 846 2, 380 1, 982 1, 309 447 
SATO th ernest ne ee rane 332 237 191 1, 346 | 269 

ET 0 al] aslo sere tn 2 144, 428 [151,273 |105, 343 {111,691 | 48, 210 


1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 


Douglas-firs =. ee 14, 299 | 24,688 | 37,059 | 53, 943 25, 409 
Western redcedar______-_____ 5,807 | 8, 243 | 10, 990 7, 190 1, G51 
8, 691 9,171 7, 480 6, 404 3, 647 
22,277 | 29,185 | 40,369 | 32,521 12, 705 
4, 143 1, 570 2, 657 4,099 1, 944 
Northern black cottonwood_| 4,257 | 3,862 | 2,349 | 6, 461 2, 631 


Sitkasprucess=ss5 >a t 580 | 2,805 7, 083 3, 245 1, 497 
PAN(o ther. sate ee 175 1, 611 4, 290 1, 965 544 
Motal==*=s eis 60, 229 | 81,135 |112, 277 |115, 828 50, 028 


1 Data include small quantities of bolts. Source of data, summaries of 
United States customs records compiled by Seattle and Portland Mer- 
chants Exchange. 

2 Original Brereton-scale data converted to Scribner by dividing by 2. 

3 Includes so-called larch, actually noble fir. 


years exports have been half the total production. 
In addition to logs, considerable quantities of Port 
Orford white-cedar lumber and sawn timbers are 
exported to Japan, and remanufactured there. The 
supply of Port Orford cedar in private ownership, 
about three-quarters of a billion board feet, will 
last only 15 years at the present rate of cutting. 

In the vicinity of Coos Bay the manufacture from 
Port Orford white-cedar of products such as battery 
separators and venetian blinds has developed into 
an important and successful industry. This indus- 
try employs an unusually large number of laborers 
for the volume of forest resources used. Exporta- 
tion of this ‘‘cedar’ in unmanufactured form 
deprives this region of considerable income and 
outlets for labor and hastens the end of this industry. 

Western redcedar, the supply of which is limited, 
is being exported in considerable quantities. How- 
ever, offsetting the exports, a large volume of this 
species is imported from British Columbia. 


Logging 


Types of Organization 


Logging in the Douglas-fir region is a highiy 
specialized and mechanized operation. This has 


4q 


resulted in organization of the industry along lines 
not commonly found in other forest regions. Many 
companies and individuals are in the business of 
logging only, not having any interest in the sawmill 
industry or other wood-using industries. Some of 
these concerns are timber holders, others buy 
timber shortly in advance of cutting, and a few 
depend almost entirely on Government-owned 
timber. Their log output is sold on the open 
market or by contract to manufacturers. Much 
logging is done by “gyppo”’ loggers, operators who 
contract with owners of timber to log it at a stipu- 
lated price per 1,000 feet. They usually log on a 
small scale and are often irresponsible. The timber 


owner may use the logs in his own sawmill or may 
sell them on the open market. A number of manu- 


Ficure 23.—Logging Douglas fir with tractor and arch in the Oregon Coast Range. Use of 
this type of equipment is increasing in the sbruce-hemlock and Douglas-fir types of western Wash- 
ington and western Oregon and is causing significant changes in management of these types 


facturers, particularly the larger ones, do their own 
logging, either directly or through logging subsid- 
laries. 

There are many variations and combinations of 
these types of organization. Some manufacturers 
supply part of their needs by logging their own 
timber directly, part by contracting the logging of 
their timber, and part by purchasing sawlogs on the 
open market. Sometimes they contract only a part 
of the logging operation, such as felling and bucking 
or truck hauling. 


86 


Methods 

With very few exceptions, forests have been clear 
cut; that is, the entire merchantable stand has been 
felled and whatever trees were left as unmerchant- 
antable were usually knocked down in the process 
of skidding. The large size of the trees, the dense 
stands, and the rugged topography have been re- 
sponsible for the development of highly mechanized 
logging methods. Heavy high-speed machinery 
powered by steam, gasoline, diesel-oil, or electricity 
is used to move the logs, by cable, from stump to 
railroad, highway, or waterway and there load 
them for final transportation to mill or market. 
Recently there has been a tendency toward the use 
of lighter, more flexible, and more mobile machin- 
ery like crawler tractors and trucks, not only by small 
but also by large operators. 

Where modern tractors or 
trucks or both can efficiently 
be used, they are likely to 
have certain advantages over 
the conventional steam-donkey 
and railroad method of log- 
ging, chiefly in saving on the 
investment required per acre 
logged and in the opportun- 
ity to practice selective cut- 
ting. Where tractors and 
trucks are usable their flexi- 
bility and mobility enable the 
operator to select the individ- 
ual trees or tracts of timber 
that can most profitably be cut 
348202 at the time, thus effectively liq- 
uidating his investment with- 
out needless waste of forest re- 
sources or needless operating 
expenses. The rapid increase 
in the use of tractors and trucks is actually revo- 
lutionizing woods practice in this region and may 
have a far-reaching effect on both the economics of 
the industry and the condition of the cut-over areas. 
The use of tractors for skidding makes practicable 
the logging of small or remote bodies of timber where 
the installation of less mobile and more expensive 
machinery would not be justified. Wherea high de- 
gree of selectivity is practiced, as when tractors do the 
skidding (fig. 23), the cut-over land is still partly 
stocked with trees, in contrast to the denudation 


when clear cut for steam-donkey 
skidding. Attendant problems 
of fire protection, silviculture, 
and forest management vary 
greatly under the two methods. 


Transportation 


Rail hauls of about 50 miles 
are common and veneer logs 
are hauled much greater dis- 
tances. It is not uncommon 
for logs to be moved by rail 
and water 150 to 200 miles or 
more. In the larger operations, 
standard-gage railroads extend 
to all parts of the area and the 
logs are hauled directly to the 
mill or to waterway. Stream 
driving, never very common 
here, is now practiced in only 
a few places. Puget Sound and the Columbia and 
Willamette Rivers have made possible cheap 
transportation of logs. Large flat rafts (fig. 24) 
are towed considerable distances on these waters 
and are used to a lesser extent on other waterways. 
Ocean-going rafts or barges are used to move logs 
coastwise; cigar-shaped rafts are towed from the 
Columbia River to San Diego, Calif., a distance 
of 1,100 miles. Practically all the merchantable 
timber in western Washington and a large part 
of that in northwestern Oregon is within 30 or 
40 miles of tidewater or navigable streams. 


Sk 


F 347420 


Ficure 24.—Log raft being towed up the Willamette River at Portland. At right are storage 


booms and sorting pond 


The increased mileage of improved highways in 
the past few years and the development of efficient 
and economical motortrucks have extended the 
use of trucks from small operators to many of the 
large companies, which are now using them partly 
or wholly to move logs from woods to mill (fig. 25). 
The use of trucks, particularly in connection with 
such mobile and flexible skidding machinery as the 
modern tractor and arch, makes it practicable to 
harvest small isolated tracts of timber, or timber at 
long distances—sometimes 50 miles—from water 
or railhead, provided there are public highways 


Se 6 ere OS ee ree 


o * 


F 348199 


Ficure 25.—Truck with load of about 4,000 to 6,000 board feet. Larger trucks haul as much as 10,000 board feet 


nearby. This encourages geographic diffusion of 
logging operations, instead of the former concen- 
tration near railroads and waterways. It also en- 
courages selectivity in cutting whereby the very 
desirable species or the best logs are hauled even 
from great distances to market, while the less de- 
sirable tracts, trees, or logs are passed up for the 
present. No doubt, trucks will be used more for 
log transport as investment in logging railroads 
and expensive rolling stock is liquidated or present 
equipment is worn out. 

Improvement of existing waterways and develop- 
ment of new routes by the construction of canals 
has been proposed. ‘Two of these proposals, if 
consummated—the canalization of the Willam- 
ette River and the construction of canals connect- 
ing Grays Harbor with Puget Sound and the Co- 
lumbia River—would probably have great influ- 
ence on log movement, the permanence of manu- 
There is, 
however, no definite assurance that these projects 
will be undertaken. 


facturing centers, and logging methods. 


Lumber Manufacture 


The sawmill is the most common type of indus. 
trial plant in western Oregon and western Wash- 
ington, and many of the communities have grown 
up around a sawmill. Longview, Wash., for ex- 
ample, which has grown from nothing in 1920 to a 
population of over 10,000, owes its existence to 
two large sawmills. On the other hand, abandon- 
ment or dismantling of sawmills has resulted in 
the decline of communities dependent on them. 
Temporary shut-downs immediately result in a 
noticeable slackening of trade in surrounding 
communities. 

Lumber production is, generally speaking, a more 
complex manufacturing process than in most other 
parts of the United States. A large variety of 
items, grades, and sizes are produced to satisfy many 
different classes of world-wide trade. The large 
sawmills produce hundreds of different patterns of 
molding and interior finish; flooring of many 
kinds and sizes ranging from 1- by 4-inch boards 


Tasie 31.—Number and installed capacity } of sawmills in forest-survey units of Douglas-fir region, 1934 


Mills Total installed capacity 
Forest-survey unit and capacity group - 
Active Idle Total Active mills} Idle mills | All mills 

Western Washington: Number Number Number |M board feet|M board feet|M board fect 

NorthPuget:Soun ds secs se ee scene en ee ee Ee ee 48 20 68 4,077 1,010 5, 08% 

Central! Puget :S oud se ee aie aN Ee Li ee ees ere a 99 40 139 7, 314 1, 600 8, 914 

South: Puget Sound's 2 <i ee ae ee oe eee 65 25 90 2, 385 504 2, 889 

Gravsiitarbore- = - seen 38 16 54 3, 286 1, 301 4, 587 

66 15 81 3, 722 240 3, 962 

M1 bo) oY (ev nae ae eee dla ARI RO ire Ee NRT ieee eer) ey Se 316 116 432 20, 784 4, 655 25, 439 

Western Oregon: 

ColumbiatRiver-.2e oe ea ee eae oe le Se ee ae 103 26 129 4, 752 1,095 5, 847 

Willamette River 172 56 228 5, 066 1,173 6, 239 

North: Oregon:coast 222 saree aoe ee a I ae i ee ees 14 9 23 314 704 1,018 

Uimpqita Riverso2 i= ee ar Ee ae ee 41 20 61 564 316 880 

South: Oregon: coasts se ee cs ee oe ee 43 24 67 1, 776 556 2, 332 

Rogue/Riveriic: = ssc se2 22k ska ee ae en esses eee ee 38 10 48 666 160 826 

LS BX) 0 ap pe een epee SINE SNA RN eC SN ee rate 411 145 556 13, 1388 4, 004 17, 142 
Daily capacity (M board feet) 

P=D0 is bx SSS es Se ene ee 472 191 663 4, 586 1,719 6, 305 

DImO Os Sees ch SSA Po ites See ss Mac Nie Ne dee eae a mee eee CEE EAR aE 108 32 140 3, 498 1, 067 4, 565 

Gif Ea KO] i ce eee ee EE Se EU ea Ee ee he Ae ae 53 13 66 4, 299 1, 050 5, 349 

101200 2s2 6 2 ara Se ee eee ee 54 18 72 8, 908 2, 625 11, 533 

201-500 S23 SSS a Sen se Ne 2 AE rn ee 36 7 43 9, 331 2, 198 11, 529 

Oweer'500 paws a es a TE eS See TR ee Se oe oe 47 cys eee 4 3,000 | eane= eee 3, 300 

Régional totale oso e se Saas I a LN ses a one re ee ie 727 261 988 33, 922 8, 659 42, 581 

| 


1 Per 8-hour shift. 


88 


ae 


WESTERN OREGON 


SURVEY UNITS 


fo} 
North Puget Sound Beleye ee A 
. Central Puget Sound eae) = 
South Puget Sound 28 0, lo 2 


Grays Harbor 
Columbia River,Wash. 
Columbia River,Oreg. 
Willamette River 
North Oregon coast 
Umpqua River 

South Oregon coast 

. Rogue River 


CAPACITY OF MILLS 


@ 51-200 M per-8-hr. day 
°o 1-50 M per day 


=OVBNOUSUN= 


1 
{ 


@ 20!M or more per 8-hr. day 


a eae 


Ficure 26.—Location of sawmills in the Douglas-fir region 


for ordinary dwellings to ship and bridge decking; 
ceiling, siding, and boards; dimension lumber of 
many sizes; large timbers for oil derricks, bridges, 
and other types of heavy construction; factory 
The 
smaller mills produce fewer items, and some manu- 


lumber; railroad ties; and many other items. 


facture one class of products—ties, for example— 
almost exclusively. 


Sawmills 


Sawmills range in size from small portable mills 
operated by a few men to huge plants employing 


89 


more than 1,000 people each. In 1934, approxi- 
mately 74 percent of the 988 sawmills in the region 
were active during at least part of the year (table 
31). 
number of small and medium-sized mills that were 


idle. 
than western Washington, had 8 million board 


A significant fact is the relatively large 
Western Oregon, with 124 more sawmills 


feet less installed 8-hour capacity. ‘This is due to 
the large number of small mills in western Oregon, 


The 


large mills are concentrated in a few localities (fig. 


most of which are in the Willamette Valley. 


26) and with some exceptions are located on tide- 


Figure 27.—Large sawmill on the Willamette River. 


the extreme left are seen the cores remaining after logs and bolts are peeled 


water or on rivers navigable to transoceanic ves- 
sels (fig. 27). In contrast, the small mills are 
widely scattered throughout the region, mostly in 
the interior (fig. 28). 
source of raw material becomes more remote from 


As cutting progresses the 


the large mills. 

The total annual installed capacity of all existing 
sawmil!s in 1934, computed on a basis of 300 work- 
ing days of 8 hours each, was nearly 12.8 billion 
board feet (lumber tally), and the annual capacity 
of the mills active in 1934 was approximately 10.2 
billion board feet. Actually, the mills can produce 
considerably in excess of these 
totals. Even when production 
is considerably below normal 
many of the large mills operate 
two shifts daily at least part of 
the year. The lumber produc- 
tion for 1934 was 4.4 billion 
board feet, only a little more 
than a third of the total esti- 
matedcapacity. Evidently, the 
existing sawmills are mechani- 
cally capable of producing at 
least twice the amount of lum- 
ber necessary to fill current de- 
mands (1925—33 average annual 


production). Furthermore, 
any slight increase in demand 
and prices is usually followed 


by erection of new sawmills log supply 


In the foreground is a veneer plant; at 


90 


and rehabilitation of partly 
dismantled mills. This condi- 
tion leads to chronic malad- 
jusment of saw-mill capacity 
with lumber production. 
Retirement of obsolescent 
sawmills has been advocated 
as a panacea for the ills of the 
lumber industry, but no practi- 
cal method has been suggested 
for effecting this. Some of the 
oldest sawmills are among the 
more successful, proving that 
age is not necessarily a measure 
Sor of sawmill obsolescence. Many 
mills have become obsolete 
not because of mechani- 
cal deficiences of the plant but because the accessible 
timber has all been cut and the mill is too far from 
the source of raw material to operate successfully. 
The difficulties of the lumber industry are more 
The 


availability of enormous quantities of standing tim- 


deep-seated than excess sawmill capacity. 


ber generates a constant pressure to increase pro- 
duction. Timber owners, weary of paying taxes and 
other carrying charges without return, seek to 
liquidate at the first opportunity. This trend, 
coupled with the excess sawmill capacity, has created 
a chronic overproduction that can be remedied only 


F 348127 


FiGuRE 28.—Circular sawmill in western Washington having a capacity of approximately 30,000 
board feet per 8-hour shift. 


timbers, common boards, and dimension. 


The chief products of small mills are railroad ties, planking, 
Usually such mills are located in the woods near their 


by changes in timber ownership or a sharp reduc- 
tion in the cost of timber holding. General adoption 
of sustained-yield management would automati- 
cally cure most evils of overproduction. 


Transportation and Markets 


Lumber from this region is marketed in all parts 
of the world and forms the principal cargo shipped 
from its ports in both tonnage and value. Lumber 
is likewise the leading commodity shipped from the 
region by rail, in both tonnage and value. Water- 
borne shipments in 1935 from Oregon and Wash- 
ington ports amounted to 2.3 billion board feet, 
according to Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau 
data. Practically all the lumber shipped by vessel 
from Oregon and Washington is produced in the 
Douglas-fir region; and very little comes from 
eastern Oregon and eastern Washington or from 
other States. Domestic shipments picked up from 
the low points of 1932 and 1934 (table 32 and fig. 
29) despite strike conditions in the shipping and 
lumber industries; but foreign shipments did not 
respond to improved economic conditions abroad. 
A large part of the lumber shipments were formerly 
consigned to Great Britain and possessions, but 
since the British Empire Trade Agreement of 1932 
British Columbia mills are getting more of this busi- 
ness. Partly offsetting this trend, Oregon and Wash- 
ington mills are getting a larger proportion of the 
domestic cargo business. 

It is estimated that in 1935 approximately 1 
billion board feet of lumber produced in the Doug- 
las-fir region was remanufactured or consumed 
locally, and 1.9 billion board feet was shipped by 
rail to various parts of the United States. The 
principal rail markets for forest products from this 
region are the Lake, Central, and Prairie States. 
Shipping costs practically prohibit rail shipments 
to States farther east, although lumber shipped by 
vessel to the Atlantic coast is reshipped by rail or 
trucked to interior points within short distances. 
Freight charges constitute from 35 to 50 percent of 
the average delivered price of Pacific coast lumber 
in midwestern and eastern markets. To overcome 
this handicap there has been increased local use of 
dry kilns in the last few years. 

The rail rate on lumber to Des Moines is 68 cents 
per hundredweight, to Chicago 72 cents, and to 


91 


| MILLIONS OF 
BOARD FEET 


3.500 


3,000 


| 2,500 


2,000 


1,500 


1,000 


500 


YEARS 


| qf UNITED STATES 
DOMESTIC 


{ BRITISH COLUMBIA 
| FOREIGN 


Sune STATES 7{ BRITISH COLUMBIA 


FOREIGN “4 TO UNITED STATES 


Ficure 29.—Water-borne lumber shipments from the United 
States (Oregon and Washington) and from British Columbia 
to domestic and foreign ports 


points eastward to the Atlantic coast 78 cents. 
Assuming an average shipping weight of 2,500 
pounds per M board feet, these rates amount to 
charges of $17, $18, and $19.50 per M feet. The 
cargo rates per M board feet from ports in this 
region to the Atlantic coast averaged $12 to $13 in 
the last few years, to California ports $5 to $7. 
Back haul costs by rail or truck from Atlantic coast 
ports mount up rapidly, and at points as distant 
from the east coast as Buffalo and Pittsburgh cargo 
rates plus rail back haul exceed the through rail 
rate. In striking contrast to the domestic cargo 
rates are the rates to foreign ports; for example, the 
rate to Japan is about $7 per M, to China about the 
same, and to Australia $8 to $9. Practically all ex- 
port shipments are carried in foreign bottoms, with 
operating costs lower than those of the American 
vessels that handle coastal and intercoastal trade. 

The great distance between mill and market has 
been a disadvantage in another way; it has been 
partly responsible for the development of a system 
of marketing through wholesalers and commission 
men. It is estimated that 70 percent of the lumber 
production of this region is sold through wholesale 
middlemen. This has weakened the control of the 


Tasre 32.—Destination and volume of water-borne lumber shipments } from Oregon and Washington and from British Coiumbia 
in 1929-35 


OREGON AND WASHINGTON 
{Million board feet; i. e., 000,000 omitted] 


Destination 1929 1930 | 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 
Foreign: 
SA Sighs a he re Ce ene ee ee 817 532 642 367 468 523 375 
Continental MOLD ge) ofc Reece tema nee te Marca S SS Oa Sah at ee, Bae a | 73 58 58 63 47 
United: Kingdom 2S2- i= = Sa eee ee ee ee eee ee 98 43 56 37 31 
Western Hemisphere!32= 22 >= = sve eee eee eee 260 169 67 47 48 66 75 
‘Australasian si) 2 = eee WE OE Re ee ane eee 235 91 28 13 8 14 25 
TA TICS Se a eee rea ne ee ne ae eee eos 14 13 8 9 7 17 11 
YY 2 ey A ee eee 1, 610 1,111 916 537 | 645 720 564 
Domestic: 
‘Atlantic coasts22s 232 ea a re ae eee ee nee eee eee 1, 594 1, 342 1, 236 724 849 601 826 
C@alifornige! 45232 ce ee ee 1, 420 1, 143 824 512 622 500 819 
United States poss 108 82 74 78 83 69 81 
PP otad< 25 toe Oo ie ee ee ee eee ne 3,122| 2,567| 2,134] 1,314| 1,554] 1,170 1,726 
Grand ‘total 2 3326 ee ee ee ee ae eee eee 4, 732 | 3, 678 3, 050 1, 851 2,199 | 1, 890 2, 290 
| | 
BRITISH COLUMBIA 
Foreign: 
JA Sizes © Leer yeah ise NS ae ee ee ees See ee ee ee eee 236 206 193 114 192 189 138 
Gontinental Huropes- 2 Sodas see ee ee i) 70 a | 2 1 7 4 12 
United Kingdom J 81 108 271 455 456 
Western Hemisphere ? 17 15 9 10 17 17 16 
‘Australasia: - 22 0222.2 Slee sees es ee ees 56 43 56 128 128 136 138 
ATTICA SE OE 2 Se SI Ss SO eee Re ee 21 18 17 6 18 30 32 
Totalitin2 A8t sho ee a eo ee eee 400 | 380 358 367 633 831 792 
| | 
Domestic: 
FACE Tar GIG] CORSE a= seen aN ee eR ra ns aE RI 276 208 140 39 | 13 1 40 
G@alifornia. 3h 2o Boe re ae es Se eee 41 50 37 10 2 1 4 
United! States'possessions 2-25 oot. ee oe A ee Eee a a | a ef) |e ee 1 
Unclassified 232 223 2222 a ee Se 51 73 31 31 | 15 | 27 17 
Total! oto 2s = ee et ee eee 368 332 208 80 | 30 | 29 | 62 
| | 
| 
Grand-totali2- 2. 222 ae Se ee Se ee eee 768 | 712 566 447 663 860 | 854 
| | 


1 Data from reports of Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau. 


producer over the distribution of his product, and 
has resulted in reduced prices. The distance from 
markets was also partly responsible for the practice 
of shipping transit cars and cargoes, which cost the 
producers large sums by lowering selling prices and 
increasing selling costs. The improvement in ship- 
ping facilities and the depressed market have been 
chiefly responsible for the reduction in transit 


shipments. 
Sawmill Byproducts 


In the last 20 years the manufacture of byprod- 
ucts from what was heretofore waste destroyed in 


2 Mexico, West Indies, Central America, and South America. 


refuse burners at sawmills has increased tremen- 
dously. The principal sawmill byproducts are lath, 
handle squares, shingle bands, pulp chips, fuel 
wood, hogged fuel, and sawdust. Lath has been 
manufactured as a byproduct of the sawmills for 
many years. Nearly half the lath produced in the 
United States is manufactured in this region. 

Slabs, edgings, etc., are used for fuel in homes, 
apartment houses, schools, and small industrial 
plants. Hogged fuel is used in sawmills, pulp and 
paper mills, power plants, other industrial establish- 
ments, schools, and office buildings. In recent 
years the use of clean sawdust as a domestic fuel has 


| 


increased considerably; thousands of homes in 
Seattle, Portland, and smaller cities have installed 
sawdust burners. Many schools, apartments, stores 
and office buildings, also, are heated by sawdust- 
consuming furnaces. 

Hodgson estimated (8) that during 1929 sales of 
sawmill “‘waste”’ fuel wood, hogged fuel, and clean 
sawdust totaled more than $4,300,000 f. o. b. mill. 


Other Wood-Using Industries 


Pulp and Paper Manufacture 


The manufacture of wood pulp is fast becoming 
one of the leading industries in this region. In 
1937, 25 active wood-pulp manufacturing plants 
had a combined capacity of 5,164 tons per 24 hours 
(table 33) of which more than a third was devoted 
to the bleached sulphite process. In the last few 
years production of paper pulp has nearly equalled 
installed capacity. Production in 1935 represented 
approximately 225 days’ operation at full capacity. 
The total output for 1937, shown in figure 30 as 
approximately 1.46 million tons, represents capac- 
ity production for about 285 working days. The 
annual pulpwood consumption of these mills in- 
creased sharply from 1936 to 1937. In 1934-35, as 


shown in table 34, western hemlock was the pre- 
dominant species and nearly 70 percent of the total 
was from sawlogs of this and other species. 

In recent years there has been a significant 
increase in pulp-mill capacity in this region through 
establishment of new plants and expansion of 
existing mills. From June 1936 to July 1937 the 
installed pulp-mill capacity increased more than 
1,000 tons per 24 hours, the increase totaling nearly 
25 percent. Approximately 750 tons of the in- 
crease was in sulphite plants. From present indi- 
cations such considerable increases will continue. 
One pulp mill was under construction in 1937 with 
an expected capacity of 125 tons. 

The 17 paper mills active in 1937 had a total 
24-hour capacity of 2,600 tons, of which 30 per- 
cent was newsprint, nearly 50 percent was fairly 
evenly divided between sulphites and sulphates 
and some 16 percent was in boards (table 35). 
The estimated annual production of paper for 1937, 
as shown in figure 30, amounts to capacity produc- 
tion for 300 working days. 

The region has one plant, not listed in table 35, 
that manufactures wood-fiber insulating board 
from Douglas-fir exclusively, with a daily capacity 
of 250,000 square feet. 


TaBLe 33.—Pulp mills active in Douglas-fir region in 1937 and their capacity,! by survey unit and process of manufacture ? 


Mechanical Deni sul- | Bleached sulphite Sulphate Soda All processes 
Forest-survey unit = 
| 
. Capac- 7 Capac- pa Capac- 7: Capac- : Capac- rs Capac- 
Mills ity Mills ity Mills ity Mills ity Mills ity Mills ity 
Western Washington: Number| Tons | Number| Tons | Number| Tons | Number| Tons | Number| Tons | Number| Tons 
INonthsbugetiSoundees ss a0 oes eee 3 420 i A500 tesce@r ss |4 se ease 1 60 5 930 
Central Puget Sound___________ 2 330 3 137 2 560 2 490) |2es= oo i eis 7 1, 457 
Souchsre use tes OU mG ee ememsteret tn |eke a eam ctll| calen ese sel Ue eS se a awe Anal |e Pies ees | Ee eas | teen eal ee Se ee ee | 
(Gray spbiarborseesaseen as een en |e cas (ee Sy Lee 1 200) ees 2S | OAS ae eee 22 |e ees 1 270 
ColumbiasRivers2s25_2 = 22. 4 240 1 250 3 420 2 310% |Beeeea oe |eenee ee 5 1, 220 
aOR ee ee ee 6 570 | 7 807 7 1, 700 4 740 | 60 | 18 | 3, 877 
Western Oregon: : 
‘ColumbiatRiverses 22-2 -- = 2s 3 670 2 ASS | See | Ce 1 L2G etran sees | Peee 3 980 
WillamettepRivers=oe = Sai eh ee Se 2 117 1 ISOM So 22 es see ee Eee ee ae oe 3 247 
INOTtheOregoniCOas te mesmenree ese | ee oe eae |e ce ek SOs ee ee eee eee |e ere I ee Yi ral eee een eerie Pan eet ee eas Se 
Southk@regontcoast ase aoe ee es 1 GO acre tel | Nea ee ee alee ere SaILNEE See ee ee ce 1 60 
IW OC WADE e Ly Cr eee terse erate | lee head [he Perens 44 Ge Lycra nds) | ENON ES |LGee 2 ea ee ee ce oe |e ey ee a ese ee ee 
UO STIG REVI C 1 semen nearest me caeien | ree w [LC ee oe | een ern [beeen ull ets deere ees Ws eo We hae a |e ee Es ece ee [pee ee 
= | 
Potala ween out 3 670 5 362 1 | 130 10] (ON eae oe eh | apse 287; 
| \— | | | 
Regionitotalass= = use 9 1, 240 12] 1, 169 | 8 | 1,830 5 | 865 1 60 25 | 5, 164 
| | | | 


1 Per 24-hour day. 


224146 °—40——7 


9 


2 


3) 


= A mill using more than | process of manufacture is enumerated under each. 


The Census of Manu- 
2,600 vu T aa ] factures for 1929 lists 23 
- PULPWOOD CONSUMPTION ; 
pcre Mis 4 al aie =I Ei iias pulp mills and 20 paper 
mills in the region. It 
| 2,200 gives the total number of 
| 5568 workers as 7,700, salaries 
and wages paid as $12,- 
1,800 000,000, and value of 
ip) 
2 ne products for 1929 as $70,- 
: 000,000. Figure 30 shows 
: 1.400 clearly an approximate 
S 1366 doubling of pulp produc- 
8 tion between 1929 and 
= poe 1937 and a 35-percent in- 
800 crease in paper produc- 
tion. The present invest- 
oe WE ment in pulp and paper 
ine — plants is estimated to 
| 4 ate ee dies 1 a lee a | | exceed $125,000,000 
= -—o-" ee NC Neat I) 5) 0 
200 t= c | = 
Sl | | | es Fees ee Shingle Manufacture 
1,600 « 55 
+ WOOD - PULP PRODUCTION Monulacurc ot ceday 
1.400 =a shingles is among the 
= more important of the 
@ al ee other primary wood-using 
miiood a industries. The total pro- 
S = duction in 1935 was 4 
g eerily million squares, or about 
| 3 600 eee 3% billion pieces. Dur- 
as fa ing 1934 there were 232 
OO. tases active and 37 idle shingle 
200 mills in the region. The 
active mills had 782 
: shingle machines and a 
e 800 total installed capacity of 
© 600 2315 million pieces, per 
$ 8-hour shift, and the idle 
| g eae mills had 42 machines 
| g 200 and a total installed 
5 | capacity of 965,000 pieces 
e 1925 1927 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937 | per 8-hour shift. Ap- 
Douglas RipReaien | proximately 85 percent 
| . . 2 
Uv Wastern Waeringlone meee Weetarmroreqon | of the installed shingle 
| 
J 


mill capacity is in western 


FicurE 30.—Pulpwood consumption and wvod-pulp and paper production of the Douglas-fir region \Nashington. 


94 


Veneer and Plywood Manufacture 


The veneer and plywood industry has increased 
steadily in importance in the past decade, and 
especially in the past few years. Production in- 
creased from 200 million square feet in 1932 to 
480 million square feet in 1935 and again to 700 
million in 1936 (fig. 31). Production lagged be- 
hind orders in 1935 owing to longshoremen’s and 
lumber-workers’ strikes. 

In 1937 there were 19 veneer- and plywood- 
manufacturing plants in the region, 17 in western 
Washington and 2 in western Oregon. The total 
rated annual capacity of the Washington plants is 
790 million square feet, and that of the Oregon 
plants is 95 million square feet. 

The market for plywood and veneer products 
from this region is principally domestic, only about 
9 million square feet being exported in 1935. Of 
the domestic consumption, about 15 to 20 percent 
is local. 

Douglas-fir is the principal species used in this 
industry; other species used are Sitka spruce, Port 
Orford white-cedar, western hemlack, noble fir, 
red alder, and bigleaf maple. 

In recent years there has been a decided change 
in the type of peeler logs used. Formerly the de- 


Tasie 34.—Normal annual pulpwood consumption in Douglas-fir 
region,! by species and type of material 
a Oe 
Mill 
waste 


Forest 
wood 


Saw- 


ae Pulp 
Ss 


Species chips 3 


Total 


M cords|M cords|M cords|M cords|M cords 


Western hemlock_._.______ Eee abaty 263 81 32 1, 478 
Sitkaispruces.s ware 2 oe 130 23)¢| eee 4 157 
RWI Sirsa eves are rue 64 69 Pf (es ee 160 
Northern black cottonwood_ 1 Pals ee ee eae 22 
Douglas-firss a) ws Ee 38 | O20), ey ae Boe 61 119 

Total eee tas 1, 335 396 108 97 1, 936 


ee 
1 Basis, data for years 1934-35. 
2 Factor used to convert log scale to cords, 500 board feet=1 cord. 
8 Usually measured in 0.8117-cord units. 


mand was almost exclusively for the highest-quality 
No. 1 grade Douglas-fir logs, 40 inches or more in 
diameter (fig. 32). Now a large percentage of 
high-line No. 2 logs, even as small as 30 inches 
in diameter, are accepted. These developments 
have been caused chiefly by the increasing scarcity 
of large No. 1 Douglas-fir logs and by techno- 
logical improvements. Future expansion of the 
industry may be curtailed, at least in certain sec- 
tions, because of the limited quantity of high- 
quality Douglas-fir suitable for veneer faces and 


TasLe 35.—Paper mills active in Douglas-fir region in 1937 and their capacity,! by survey unit and kind of material produced * 


News Sulphites Sulphates Book Board Other All materials 
Forest-survey unit a q : : 
Mills | Capae-| Mills | Capac-| Mills | Capac-| Mills | Capac-| Mills | Capac-| Mills | Capaec-| Mills | Capac- 
ity ity ity ity ity ity ity 
Western Washington: Number| Tons |Number| Tons |Number| Tons |Number| Tons |Number| Tons |Number| Tons \Number| Tons 
North Puget Sound_______ ue) Mena ak 1 15 hee ae | Sea ee 1 650 | 252e See | eee | eee eee ees 2 80 
Central Puget Sound ______| i SAO e | eee | ae 235 1 35 2 175 1 8 5 793 
South Puget Sound___ Ch A YM dA Pa (a Pl [op (eee | De aN ee ee ame Re) ee eae oe 
Grays:Harbor== = -222- =< | rere se Lens | 1 SOR es | eek |B ares |e 2b | eae oe eee cael ee sa 1 50 
Columbia River________-__ [atte ele ea ae) 2 305 2255 | eee | ann 2 25 De Eker eal Saar e ep 4 782 
Total sen ae eee ee Fae 1 340 | 4 370 460 2 100 4 427 1 Sila 9 mt2hlyeet705 
Western Oregon: 
Columbia River 115 LSS sesso 2 eee 2 ae | eee ae 1 45 3 735 
Wiilamette River___ 16O}| Sir22— 2 Eee eee igs Sc La (eee (Bed ba | ce 2 160 
NOT tHROLee OnRCOaS tae weirs | tesa oe | eu eR |e See | Bere el | See a ee a8 ee |= SSE eek eee Soi bs ee 
SOUGHEOreeOniCOaS ecserstoe acs |e tec | meme omel |S Sete meas | Di ecaec es | Wi eet al | Ma See | ae 8 |e a ee | Be ata ee | De ee ee ee 
{UI DCE ABER v, © roseererne reece es | aera | Eaten nl | psa ectes |b ern a | eer | ee ere | wes soe |W Se eee Oe |S ea | de 2s] be |e ee 
FEO UTC PE ULV.@ bsserre geet ter | Ea thet cen | LANL SPC ce || teri aoe ell] Seas cM ne pee |eh Cas eres [We Oni abs LI Coes ene ik bal ees (Soo ee ea kn | ee nee 
| | 
TOA saeeenta el crane wee 2 440 4} 275 L359 [noe sree Se we ee |e ee A 1 45 | 5 895 
Region totale 3 780 | 8 | 645 | 595 2 100 | 4 427 2 53 17 2, 600 
| | 


1 Per 24-hour day. 


95 


2 A mill manufacturing more than 1 kind of material is enumerated under each. 


the demand for this type of material for other uses. 
More flexible methods of logging, however, such 
as those employing tractors and trucks, is now 
making it possible to reach with partial-cutting 
methods tracts too inaccessible for the conven- 
tional clear-cutting methods; thus a larger volume 
of potential veneer logs is now brought into the 
radius of availability. Future expansion, predi- 
cated upon a plentiful supply of raw material, will 


probably be restricted to western Oregon. 


ies 


g 


400 ie 154 
350 —-— 135 


8 


g 
fe) 


MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET (3/8-INCH~ 3-PLY BAS/S) 


n 
o 
3° 


=) 
ue 
APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENT IN M/LLIONS OF BOARD FEET, LOG SCALE 


150 — — 58 
1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 


Ficure 31.—Plywood production of the Douglas-fir region 


Wood Preserving 
The 


speaking, a wood-using industry—is of considerable 


wood-preserving industry—not, _ strictly 


importance. ‘The prolongation of the life of wood 
products through treatment with preservatives is 
an important factor in holding the markets for 
wood products against the competition of substi- 
tutes and in reducing the depletion of the forests of 
this region. Fifteen plants were in operation in 
1935. The principal products treated that year 
were: 


96 


F 347405 


FicurRE 32.—Douglas-fir veneer log on lathe. The volume of 
Douglas-fir veneer produced in the region increased more than 250 
percent during the decade 1927-36 


Poles: (pieces) meee eee eee eee 71, 903 
Pilesi(linearsfeet) bese eee ee eee 452, 441 
Grossstiesi (pieces) Maecenas 2, 573, 875 
Crosstarms} (pieces) yen ae eee eee 40, 732 


Switch ties, timbers and lumber (board feet)... 50, 000, 000 


Secondary Wood-Using Industries _ 


The secondary wood-using industries have in- 
creased greatly in the last two decades, although, 
in comparison with the primary wood-using indus- 
tries, they are still far from completely developed. 
Their leading products are sash and doors, mill- 
work, boxes and crates, cross arms, furniture, wood 
pipes, tanks and silos, handles, caskets, wooden- 
ware, and vehicles. The principal woods used in 
these industries are Douglas-fir, western hemlock, 
Sitka spruce, western redcedar, red alder, and 
bigleaf maple. 


aOR ES he eR Bes OU RG ES 


Ota lh Hehe D) Oli Gul ASS. Fb sR Roe E AG: a OmN 


Future Timber Supplies in Relation to 
Industrial Development 


N considering the adequacy of forest resources 
| present and future, it is necessary first to 
examine the present situation as to forest in- 
dustries, their requirements, and the supplies of 
raw material on hand, and then by using the best 
data available on rates of depletion and growth to 
project the present situation into the future. 

In a century of operation, and 20 to 25 years of 
heavy cutting, the virgin commercial forests of the 
Douglas-fir region have been exploited in a very 
uneven manner, with heavy cutting in the north 
and central parts of the region and little or no cut- 
ting in the southern part. As is shown by the type 
maps at the back of this publication, vast areas 
have been cut over on and near Puget Sound, 
Grays Harbor, and the Columbia River, and large 
areas of virgin timber remain in southern Oregon. 
Approximately 75 percent of the present cut-over 
area (including 84 percent of that in Washington 
and 59 percent of that in Oregon) was logged to 
supply tidewater or Columbia River mills. 

During the period 1925-33, mills on tidewater 
and the Columbia River produced 85 percent of 
the lumber, 95 percent of the pulp, and practically 
Such 
mills have the following advantages over other 


all the veneer manufactured in the region. 


mills in the region: (1) Access to open log markets 
in which logs of any grade can be purchased; (2) a 
wide territory from which to draw logs; (3) access 
by combinations of rail and water transportation 
to both foreign and domestic markets for forest 
products; (4) better opportunity for integration 
with other wood-using industries, owing to cheap 
water transportation—for example, several saw- 


97 


Khe 


mills on Puget Sound can sell waste material to a 
pulp mill on the sound, because the waste can be 
transported cheaply in barges; and (5) better op- 
portunity to sell—as fuel wood, hogged fuel, and 
sawdust—material that usually goes into the burner 
at strictly inland mills. 

By far the larger part of the remaining timber of 
economic-availability class 1 in western Washing- 
ton is tributary to mills on tidewater or the Colum- 
bia River. In western Oregon, the class 1 timber 
in the Columbia River and Oregon coast units is 
tributary to such mills, but that remaining in the 
Umpqua and Rogue River units and the southern 
part of the Willamette River unit cannot, under 
present conditions, be moved to coast or Columbia 
River points except at excessive costs. The mills 
at inland points that are operating in competition 
with tidewater and Columbia River mills, are doing 
so in most cases on the basis of special advantages— 
such as preferred locations and easily accessible 
timber—that probably will be available to very 
few additional mills. The production of inland 
mills, now a very small percentage of the total re- 
gional production, is not likely to show any great 
increase until the timber tributary to tidewater is 
cut out. 


Major Forest Districts 


On the basis of transportation—water, rail, and 
truck—the region was divided into six major districts 
(fig. 33) as follows: (1) The Puget Sound district, 
which includes the north, central, and south Puget 
Sound forest-survey units, that is, all the territory 


in western Washington tributary to Puget Sound. 
(2) The Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district, which 
is identical with the Grays Harbor unit and includes 
all the territory in western Washington tributary to 
Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay harbors. (3) The 
Columbia River district, which includes the Colum- 
bia River unit in Washington and that in Oregon, 
or all the territory in western Washington and 
western Oregon tributary to the Columbia River. 
(4) The Oregon coast district, which includes the 
north and south Oregon coast units, or all the 
territory in western Oregon directly tributary to 
the Pacific Ocean. (5) The Willamette River dis- 
trict, which is identical with the Willamette River 
unit and includes all territory in the Willamette 
Valley not tributary to the Columbia River. 
(6) The south Oregon district, which includes the 
Umpqua and Rogue River units, or all the remain- 
ing territory in southern Oregon. 

For the next decade or two, at least, there is not 
likely to be any great amount of cross haul among 
these districts so far as the average run of logs is 
concerned. At some points along the edges of any 
one of them timber may go either one way or the 
other, and for high-grade logs there may be a large 
amount of cross haul, but by far the greater part of 
the average-grade logs cut in any district will 
probably be manufactured somewhere within that 
district. 
percent of its own log output is the Oregon coast 


(The district manufacturing the lowest 


district.) This prediction applies particularly to 
rail or motortruck transportation; where water 
transportation is feasible there may be a consider- 
able movement of camp-run logs from one district 
to another, e. g., from the Oregon coast district 


TaBLe 36.—Unreserved saw timber of availability class I in the 
transportation districts of the Douglas-fir region by species group, 
log scale, Scribner rule 


(In millions of board feet, i. e., 000,000 omitted) 


eee Douglas- Pulp All other 
District fir | species | species Total 

i} 
Buget Sounds 2 eae | 40,922 30, 972 | 9, 100 80, 994 
Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay __| 8, 374 22, 040 | 4,779 35, 193 
Columbia River_____________ | 27,370] 11,369] 2,079 40, 818 
Willamette River_....--.----| 51,110 | 5, 500 1, 510 58, 120 
Oregon coasts ss-=-=— - se 29, 033 | 6, 800 2, 069 37, 902 
SouthiOreson22e ey se 17, 987 | 1, 398 6, 256 25, 641 

| 
TO tal Dee ae aee eer ee 174,796 | 78,079 25, 793 278, 668 


98 


to the Columbia River, Grays Harbor-Willapa 
Bay, or Puget Sound district and from the Willa- 
mette River district to the Columbia River district. 

The remaining stand of saw timber of availability 
class 1 in each of the six districts is shown in 
table 36. 

Territory tributary to tidewater mills may be en- 
larged and movement of logs between districts 
facilitated by one or more of the following improve- 
ments proposed by various public and private 
agencies: (1) Improving the Willamette River so 
as to allow all-year economical towing of logs from 
Eugene to Portland; (2) cutting a canal across the 
narrow neck of land separating Willapa Bay from 
the Columbia River; (3) cutting a canal from 
Grays Harbor to Puget Sound; (4) connecting the 
railroad running north from Grays Harbor with 
that running west and south from Port Angeles. 
These purposes would be furthered also by other 
railroad construction, new highway construction, 
and improvement in trucks. 

It is to be expected that the districts having most 
natural advantages will be exploited first, and that 
if industry is left to its own course their virgin tim- 
ber supplies will be exhausted before certain less 
favored districts are opened up. The Puget Sound, 
Columbia River, and Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay 
districts are the most favored, having the advantages 
of ocean shipping and open log markets. A log fed 
into the Sound or into the Columbia River at any 
point is about as available to any one mill on the 
Sound or on the river, respectively, as to another, 
so far as the cost of delivery is concerned. 

Timber within reasonable distance of these water 
bodies has the following advantages over other tim- 
ber: (1) Concentration of sawmills, pulp mills, 
veneer plants, shingle mills, and other wood-using 
industries on these water bodies creates specialized 
markets for logs of many species and varying 
grades; (2) the log market is not dominated by a 
few buyers. In many instances these factors may 
result in rapid liquidation but in some cases they 
should induce the timber owner to practice con- 
tinuous forest management. 


Puget Sound District 


Of these six major forest districts in the Douglas- 
fir region, the Puget Sound district is the oldest in 


large-scale logging and production of wood prod- 
It has 40 percent of the installed sawmill ca- 
Prior to the depression 


ucts. 
pacity of the entire region. 
a large quantity of logs was put on the Puget Sound 
log market by independent loggers, but this has 
fallen off during late years. Puget Sound has ex- 
cellent harbors and has good shipping service—that 
is, it has enough volume of other traffic and enough 
sawmills and pulp mills so that boats plying at regu- 
lar intervals have an opportunity to get full cargoes. 
Location of both sawmills and pulp mills on tide- 
water makes it easy and cheap to move sawmill 
waste to pulp plants and hogged fuel to points of 
Logs can easily be 
imported, also, from British Columbia. 

The Sound district is served by three transcon- 
tinental railroads to the east and three to the 
south, and by an _ excellent 
Wood-using plants are scattered up and down the 
Sound from Bellingham to Olympia, including 
sawmills, pulp mills, veneer plants, shingle mills, 
The diver- 
sity of these plants allows maximum integration of 
industry and full utilization of different timber 
species and of different grades of logs. The com- 
munities on the Sound where most of the wood- 
using industries are located are modern, progres- 
sive cities with good facilities for the welfare of 
their inhabitants. 


consumption in the large cities. 


highway system. 


door factories, furniture factories, etc. 


Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay District 


The Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district has 
some of the advantages of the Puget Sound district, 
but not to the same degree. Grays Harbor is an 
excellent port, but the Willapa Bay harbor, to 
date, is only mediocre. At neither harbor 
there other lines of business permitting good water- 
transportation small shipments of 
lumber or pulp; in fact, forest products constitute 
practically all the shipping in these two ports. 
Although the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district 
has sawmills, a pulp plant, veneer plants, shingle 
mills, box factories, door factories, general remanu- 
facture plants, cabinet works, and other wood- 
using industries, its wood-using industries are 


are 


service for 


neither so varied nor so extensive as those of the 
Puget Sound district. 


99 


Se a Ce Ee I De 


So — WU Bellingham 
4) 
- 


)iA\; -Angcortes 


’ 
COLUMBIA '~ RIVER 


\ s Vancouver 


TILLAMOOK\, 
BAY 


ip Tillamook 


ps 
|| @ 
q 
l| o 
| re) 
WINCHESTER 
BAr 
COOS BAYA(C 
\((° Marshfield 
( 2 
} [e) 
| i SOUTH ane 
LES 
y & 25 50 
( fe) OREGON 


eee Transportation district 


boundary 


Figure 33.—Map showing 6 major transportation districts in the 
Douglas-fir region 
In this district, considering timber in all avail- 
ability classes, the ratio of board-foot volume of 
pulp species to that of Douglas-fir is 3 to 1. 


Columbia River District 
The Columbia River district has excellent fresh- 
water harbors that will accommodate transoceanic 


vessels, transcontinental rail facilities, and good- 
sized cities offering markets for mill byproducts 
and waste. It has ample fresh-water storage for 
logs. It contains 25 percent of the active sawmill 
capacity of the region, 43 percent of the installed 
pulp-mill capacity, and 18 percent of the installed 
plywood-mill capacity. It is the center of the 
furniture-manufacturing industry in the Pacific 
Northwest, and contains many secondary wood- 
using plants. Its forest resources have not been 
exploited to such an extent as those of the Puget 
Sound district. 
supply of all species immediately tributary to 
Columbia River mills is less than that tributary to 
mills on the Sound, but includes almost twice as 


much Douglas-fir timber as pulp timber. 


The existing commercial timber 


Willamette River District 


The Willamette River district has more Douglas- 
fir in availability class I than any other district and 
about 10 times as much Douglas-fir timber as pulp 
species. It has a greater volume of class I timber 
of all species than any except the Puget Sound 
district. It differs widely in industrial develop- 
ment from the three districts already discussed. 
It has no veneer or plywood industry, only 5 per- 
cent of the installed pulp-mill capacity of the 
region, few minor woodworking industries, and is 
distinctly a district of small sawmills and small 
woods operators. In this district 172 sawmills 
were active in 1934, representing about 15 percent 
of the regional installed capacity. Of the installed 
capacity of the district about 30 percent was in 7 
mills cutting 100,000 feet or more per day, 44 
percent represented mills cutting from 20,000 to 
100,000 feet, and 26 percent less than 20,000. 
Although a considerable quantity of logs from the 
Willamette River district are taken into the Colum- 
bia River district for manufacture, most of the 
logs are manufactured locally, and this situation 
High-grade 


logs will undoubtedly continue to move north in 


will probably continue for some time. 


increasing quantities. A considerable part of the 
lumber produced is moved to Portland for ocean 


shipment. 


Oregon Coast District 


The Oregon coast district, although containing 
about as much timber of availability class I as 


100 


either the Grays-Willapa district or the Columbia 
River district, has lagged behind the districts 
already discussed in timber cutting and, especially, 
in forest-products manufacture. In the period 
1925—33 it produced about 7 percent of the regional 
output of sawlogs. Between 20 and 25 percent of 
these logs were shipped to other districts or other 
countries for manufacture. This district has only 
about 8 percent of the installed capacity of active 
sawmills in the region, no pulp plant except a rela- 
tively small one at Empire, and only one veneer 
plant, newly installed at Coquille. Its sawmills 
are almost entirely dependent on California for 
outlets for the part of their cut that is shipped by 
water; Port Orford white-cedar logs are shipped to 
the Orient for manufacture, but in smaller quantities 
now than formerly. 

For some time Lincoln and Tillamook Counties 
have been the source of many of the high-grade 
logs manufactured in the Columbia River district, 
and this will undoubtedly continue. Some logs 
from Lincoln County have been shipped even to 
Grays Harbor and Puget Sound points. Whether 
appreciable quantities of logs from the Coos Bay 
country will in the future be shipped north for 
manufacture in other districts is somewhat doubtful. 

The largest manufacturing center in the Oregon 
Other major industrial 
points are the Tillamook-Nehalem area, Toledo, 
and Winchester Bay. 


coast district is Coos Bay. 


South Oregon District 


The south Oregon district not only lacks facilities 
for ocean shipping but is more remote from large 
population centers than any of the other districts. 
In its southern portions are extensive forests that 
represent a merging of types characteristic of the 
Douglas-fir region, the ponderosa-pine region, and 
the Sierra region of northern California. It is less 
developed industrially than any other district of 
the Douglas-fir region. It has no pulp mills, no 
veneer or plywood mills, and only about 4 percent 
of the region’s installed sawmill capacity. In the 
period 1925-33 its cut of logs was only 1 percent 
of that of the region as a whole. Logging and 
lumber manufacture are chiefly limited to pon- 
derosa pine. In the south Umpqua drainage there 
is a tremendous volume of Douglas-fir timber, 


but there neither logging nor 
the manufacture of wood prod- 
ucts has been of any conse- 
quence up to the present, owing 
in part to somewhat lower 
quality of timber but chiefly 
to lack of water-shipping facil- 
ities. In this district asa whole 
there are relatively few saw- 
mills, and the typical mill and 
the typical logging operation 
are small. The one large saw- 
mill is a pine mill with a box 
factory in connection, located 
at Medford. 


Future Depletion and 
Inventory 


On the basis of 1933 inven- 
tory data and depletion and 
growth estimates presented pre- 
viously, forest depletion and 
erowth in the Douglas-fir re- 
gion have been estimated for 
each decade of the 30-year 
period beginning with 1933 and 
regional forest inventories have 
been calculated as of 1943, 
1953, and 1963 (table 37 and 
figure 34). The depletion fig- 
ures are log scale and do not 
include the results of any wind 
or fire catastrophe. Assump- 
tion of a specified cut in a given 
forest-survey unit does not 
necessarily imply that that 
quantity of logs will be manu- 


factured into lumber, pulp, or other products in 
that unit. How the assumed future depletion by 
cutting, fire, etc., would alter type areas is shown 


in figure 35. 


The key element in these estimates and calcula- 
tions was the assumptions of future cutting. ‘These 
were based on a continuation of past practices, 1. e., 
that liquidation would take its normal course. 
This would mean a continuation of past destructive 
processes. ‘The depletion data as set up, both as to 
amount and location, are based on conditions which 
are contrary to conservation principles and which 


BILLIONS OF BOARD FEET, LOG SCALE, SCRIBNER RULE 


DECADE 1933-42 


DECADE 1943-52 


DECADE 1953-62 


250 


| WASHINGTON 


CLASSES IT AND IZ 


150 


x? 

me 
5 

i“ 


~ RS 
rg Bs ; 
RS O08, 
Nore 
See, 
x 
50-G ——+— FIRE 
SS CUTTING ICE 
EES —- 
x 7/j~ CUTTING] | 
oS | 
300 | 
ra 
= 
250 
=| 
rg 
Q 
200;-x 
~ 
Es 
150 it 
y Shs j 
Sho 
100 LORS 
> Bas 
LE bso 2 
Se 
so S st oe 
a ectee legeee 
) eten FIRE ene 
=RY Gln 
r Sp Y <CUTTING] KXxY 
ska ZA | 
1933 DEPLE- GROWTH 1943 DEPLE- GROWTH 1953 DEPLE- GROWTH 
INVEN- TION INVEN- TION INVEN- TION 
TORY TORY TORY 


Douglas-fir region 


it is to be hoped will change. 
thought desirable to show what might result if past 
practices continued.” A constructive program of 


Ficure 34.—Estimates of forest depletion and growth and periodic timber inventories for the 


Nevertheless, it was 


forestry would alleviate the situation created by 


101 


this destructive process. 

Timber in availability class I alone was con- 
sidered, on the theory that cutting will shift to class 
I timber in unexploited localities before any ma- 
terial quantity of class II or class III timber is 
cut in localities where the class I timber has been 


17 See pp. 52 to 53, inclusive, for further details on as- 
sumptions or on estimates of future depletion. 


Tapie 37.—Current and assumed future inventories of forest resources in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership, class, and district } 


INVENTORY OF 1933 


| Area, second-growth timber 
Total ue Area, old- ie Sel Volume 
Sle mercia. Ss | Area, non- ota! in avail- 
Ownership iendidistrct conifer owen 22-40 6-20 Less than | restocked | volume ability 
area inches inches 6 inches class I 
d. b. h. d. b. h. d. b. h. 
| Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand Billion Billion 
National forest: acres acres acres acres acres acres board feet | board feet 
Puget: Sound 2-5 ee oes e ee eee 2, 124. 9 1, 443.9 124.0 178.6 234, 4 144.0 Mist 20.1 
Grays Harbor 2-=<-- 282 2-20 es eae es 371.9 364. 1 1.5 1.6 1.9 2.8 16.4 8.3 
Columbia River 1, 451.0 7eli3 114.8 139.8 376. 4 88.7 32.8 8.6 
Willamette River 1, 603. 8 1,006.9 204.7 210.6 141.1 40.5 46.1 19.0 
Oregon Coast sess re eee ee neers | 864. 6 373.1 221.4 74.6 35. 4 160. 1 14.9 5.9 
SouthiOregon= 222222220 2-228 2 ee | 1, 541.6 1, 161.0 63.9 71. 2 81.2 164.3 33.2 4.2 
Totals ee ee NaS alae eae ee 7, 957. 8 5, 080. 3 730. 3 676. 4 870. 4 600. 4 201.1 66.1 
Other ownerships: 
Puget: Sounds.) =o ks Peer are eee 5, 482. 2 1, 742.3 401.0 1, 001. 2 963. 8 1, 373.9 95.9 61.0 
Graysib arbor ses s=- oo- seen eee ees 1, 733. 3 920. 3 37.6 185. 1 200. 5 389.8 36.6 26.8 
Golumbia: River= <2 222222222. 2, 865. 3 702. 4 211.0 745.7 349. 8 856. 4 46.5 32.4 
Willamette River 2, 455. 0 994. 4 410.1 507. 4 190. 6 352.5 57.7 39. 4 
Oregon‘coasts2-2 2-22 = sass =2 2, 368. 8 828.7 379.9 550.0 77.0 533. 2 52.5 32.0 
South: Oregons22 22 see eee ees eee ee 3, 075. 1 1, 617.8 471.7 520.0 211.6 254. 0 55.7 20.7 
Total=-.-.. 22 Se eee 17, 979.7 6, 805. 9 1,911.3 3, 509. 4 1, 993. 3 3, 759.8 344.9 212.3 
All ownerships: 
Puget Soundis=a. his stow sees See a eae 7, 607.1 3, 186. 2 525. 0 1,179.8 1, 198. 2 1, 517.9 153. 6 81.1 
GraysiHarbor22- === o-oo ese aes See ees 2, 105. 2 1, 284. 4 39.1 186.7 202. 4 392. 6 53.0 35.1 
Columbia Rivers: 22 Sits eee ee eee 4, 316.3 1, 433.7 325. 8 885. 5 726. 2 945.1 79.3 41.0 
Willamette River 4, 058. 8 2,001.3 614.8 718.0 331.7 398. 0 103. 8 58. 4 
Oregonicoasts-2- soso sees 3, 233. 4 1, 201.8 601. 3 624, 6 112.4 693. 3 67.4 37.9 
SouthiOregont)- 2202S See 4, 616.7 2, 778. 8 535.6 591.2 | 292.8 418.3 88.9 24.9 
Tote Ses awe Se cae Ss ee es EN | 25, 987. 5 11, 886, 2 2, 641.6 4,185, .8 2, 863. 7 4, 360. 2 546.0 278. 4 
ASSUMED INVENTORY OF 1943 
National forest: 
Puget:Sound soho ss 2 at ae Sere een ees |e ere ae 1, 399. 3 164.8 205. 6 229. 2 126.0 Gi eee 
Graystbarbor 2 see eet ae ae ee eee en | eee eae 353.9 1.9 V7) 3.0 11.4 16:0) | ite 
GolumbiasRiversi2: 35 see eee es eee 717.1 148.9 214.3 302.8 67.9 32:9), | ae 
Willamette River 987.7 256. 3 203. 0 115.8 41.0 46.6 
Oregoncoast2_ =~ 222= 368. 3 239.1 67.1 118.9 71.2 16.4 
South Oregon | 1, 145.5 81.4 79.5 151.1 84.1 33.1 
Notas: 2205 ee 2 sok eae Ae aD ph ele | ee ee 4,971.8 892. 4 Mdilet2 920.8 401.6 2015.6) 
Other ownerships: | | 
Puget Sound =.= 2220 eas sn Bee ee | eee 1, 232.3 609. 5 974.0 1, 087.8 1, 578.6 125 2)| see 
GraystHarbor=_2-=) co. soe ae se ae ee | ee 765. 5 72.5 186.8 309. 5 399. 0 29010 |e Seas eee 
GolumbiatRiverzse6 en ee ee oe | en eee 376.6 345. 2 640. 6 607.7 895. 2 SLAG) | So eee 
WillamettenRiveri2c2 . 22s Mole ha oo ras Sake | ae 840. 2 482.9 427.6 308. 6 395. 7 5252) | See 
Oregon!coastee seis 2 se ee oe os Se ee | eee eee oe 674.6 495.1 424. 4 357.7 417.0 49° 0)) | ease eee 
South2Oregom eo is See es es Cs | SER eee 1, 553. 2 571. 2 458. 9 282. 9 208. 9 565 1s eee eee 
| 
Motels 2 ee ee ee | 5, 442. 4 2, 576. 4 31253 2, 954. 2 3, 894.4 290%2))| een 
Ajl ownerships: 
PugetsSounde | 2: osteo e ee ene ee Seren 2, 631.6 774.3 1,179.6 1, 317.0 1, 704. 6 128: 8:)|iaes eee oe 
Grays Harbor. 52! i) 3222. eee eee 1,119. 4 74.4 188. 5 312.5 410.4 45.01 22 eo eee 
ColumbiayRiver<: eos ee a2 a ee | ars eee 1, 093. 7 494.1 854.9 910. 5 963. 1 6425 ¢ | eoienenenaees 
1, 827.9 739. 2 630. 6 424.4 436.7 98.:3))| aes 
1, 042.9 734. 2 491.5 476.6 488. 2 65; 4 3 |S ee ae 
2, 698. 7 | 652. 6 538. 4 | 434.0 293.0 89523 2c ees 
| | | 
| | 
TO Gall ene eae Sa ee 28 eet Be an ae the See 10, 414. 2 3, 468. 8 38, 883. 5 3, 875. 0 4, 296.0 401.8: |e eee eee 


1 Includes nonreserved lands only. 


102 


Tasie 37.—Current and assumed future inventories of forest resources in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership, class, and district—Continued 


ASSUMED INVENTORY OF 1953 
se ee ee 


' Area, second-growth timber | 
ee Potal’ Com | Area, old: 2 | Volume 
Ownership and district ¢ growth : | Area, non- Total in avail- 
conifer timber 22-40 6-20 Less than | restocked volume ability 
area inches inches 6 inches | class I 
d.b.h. d. b. h. dab: he«| 
F Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand Billion Billion 
National forest: acres acres acres acres acres acres board feet | board feet 
Puget Sound-------- 1, 337.6 204.4 225. 4 221.9 136.6 S4580 | Rear o eee ee 
Grays HarboT - - --- 326.6 2.2 19 9.1 32, 1 L459) Resse ee 
Columbia Rivet 699. 2 182. 4 281.8 223.8 63.8 B3q Og | eeciensene a 
Willamette Rivel------------------------------|------------ 951.3 307.5 194.0 93. 2 57.8 CYG( fil less Bruen 
Oregoni const at a nee e s ee  e aee 362.9 256. 7 59. 1 146. 3 39.6 V7SRi | Meese Wake toe 
Southi@regonSsesse sea canara scene en we ewe nae 1,119.5 98.8 86.9 172.4 64.0 SOR7e|| Cte sae woe 
ITO tg eaae eo e t uan ne aheee e noel ar uea | Stent ne 4, 797.1 1, 052. 0 849.1 866.7 392.9 AQOHB': [less taneous 
Other ownerships: 
Puget; Sounds. se eue san ree enone ace eae | ene 717.1 783.1 870.8 1,377.1 1, 734.1 50.6 
GrayssHanrbor eats aaee eee eae eae eae cea 572.9 103. 5 177.6 417.6 461.7 22.6 
Columbia River 80.9 475.5 510.8 867.8 930. 3 19.5 
Willamette River 559. 1 536. 2 339. 4 448.5 571.8 AEN OM | Snel 
Oregon coast - —--- 430. 1 590. 2 300. 3 550. 8 497.4 J he. See ea 
South Oregon 1, 451.0 667. 0 398. 4 327.0 231.7 BBS | Paces ar pede ule 
PTS tet] See ein ere a Sr Ra S| a eS 3, 811.1 3, 155. 5 2, 597. 3 3, 988. 8 4, 427.0 PBT IEN | eke adres) 
All ownerships: aa 
PugetiSoun de Sees a we ee on wan Nn See 2, 054. 7 987. 5 1, 096. 2 1, 599.0 1, 869.7 105545 | beter Bere. 
Grays Harbor ee ean ee ens het aoe ose So nae 899.5 105.7 179.5 426.7 493. 8 37.5 
ColumbiatRiverseos22 soe as esas at noes one e en ee 780. 1 657.9 792.6 1,091.6 994.1 52.5 
WiillamettouRiverssc sss ese ns ca eee eee ea eh 23) 1, 510. 4 843.7 533. 4 541.7 629. 6 88.1 
OregonicoaSte syne an te a ean eee eee oe ees oan 793. 0 846.9 359. 4 697.1 537.0 59. 2 
South! Oregon sees ee en eee eens eee ee cee ly 2, 570. 5 765. 8 485. 3 499. 4 295.7 88. 2 
TN eal erie casera sete Mea eee aye EE aot ek Bs | eee 8, 608. 2 4, 207.5 3, 446. 4 4,855.5 4,819.9 430 Gy ete ene aie 
ASSUMED INVENTORY OF 1963 
National forest: 
Puget Sound 22222 ses aes ee 1, 259. 0 243. 4 316.3 150.9 155.3 
Grays Harbor 288.9 2.6 3.6 25. 5 51.3 
ColumbiatRiverss =. ses se a ee 673. 2 215.3 417.5 76.5 68.5 
Willamette River 888.0 358. 2 207.9 58.8 90.9 
Oregonkcoas tesa ea ene oes ae eee Es 357. 2 274, 2 141.4 65.3 26.5 
Southw@res om esete = ses aS ee a nee ae 1, 083. 7 116.0 187.7 87.6 66.6 
ETO Lallemeeteee erent owen meena ee ee ae 4, 550.0 1, 209. 7 1, 274.4 464. 6 459. 1 1O522/) eta eee 
Other ownerships: : 
ae PUpet SOUNG ses esmes = Weasels ee ee hee BENE Sk aeh 547. 2 839.5 1,091.9 1, 371.2 1, 632. 4 4153) ees 
Graysebanbor2 sewn oss tl ee 395. 0 92.8 277.8 | 396. 5 571. 2 145 Q),| Rekteree ce 
Columbia River-__- 56.9 541.8 682. 5 833. 2 | 750.9 LOM a tower ae 
Willamette River__ 289. 4 570. 5 416.9 526.1 652. 1 PU ie fet 
Oregon coast--—-__-- 200. 5 573. 8 431.0 511.9 651. 6 301i) Ree eee 
South Orecon == sent xt ss (sees a se |e ee 1, 244. 2 738. 6 463.9 249.8 378. 6 SOMO: |e ees rae eke 
. i} 
ET 0 tet eee ae er ae Sree ee Le ae ee he ea | 2, 733. 2 3, 357.0 | 3, 364. 0 3, 888. 7 4, 636. 8 LSG309 (Soe eeeee 
| | 
All ownerships: | | 
USE TIS OULIG meat mune tenant cin eta owt |e eee 1, 806, 2 1, 082. 9 1,408.2] 1, 522.1 | 1, 787.7 O38 Rt eee mse eee 
Gray Sean OTs ses ee eat its Ps SS a es 683.9 95, 4 281.4 422.0 622. 5 2 Ue Ly | ees cues 
ColumbigeRi verte ee a Se eee wt 730. 1 757.1 1, 100. 0 909. 7 819. 4 5210) | seams ee 
Willamette River 1,177.4 928. 7 624.8 584.9 743.0 75:0) eres ee oes 
Oregontcoast= eet esses! ee 557.7 848. 0 572. 4 | 577. 2 678. 1 A4QnA pst eee aes 
Southi@reconte ws =8 ee ee 2, 327.9 854. 6 651.6 337. 4 | 445. 2 8320} | seen 
| 2 
TRO tall peer eterno ce one NOt Ua Pee Se al ST | i a ee 7, 283. 2 | 4, 566. 7 4, 638. 4 4, 353. 3 | 5, 095. 9 SOL || eens e 


103 


exhausted. In regard to material for lumber manu- 
facture it was assumed that Douglas-fir will be the 
principal species used during the next two or three 
decades, and that a certain quantity of Douglas-fir 
of lower economic availability will be taken before 
hemlock and other species are used extensively, but 
that during the second and third decades species 
other than Douglas-fir will be used in greater quanti- 
ties thanat present. The quantity of pulp manufac- 
tured in the region was assumed to increase mate- 
rially during the 30 years covered by the calculations. 

The estimates of depletion in the region and in 
individual forest-survey units theoretically indicate 
not only how far the supplies of raw material now 
available will go but what shifts of logging opera- 
tions from district to district are likely to take place. 

On the 1933 basis, according to the figures given 
in table 37, by 1963 the region’s total volume of all 
species in all ownership and availability classes 
would be reduced to about 70 percent and the vol- 
umes in the various districts would be reduced as 
follows: Grays Harbor, to one-half; Puget Sound 
and Columbia River, to two-thirds each; Willa- 
mette River and Oregon coast, to about three- 
quarters each; and south Oregon, to something 
more than nine-tenths. 

According to the estimates the total national- 
forest volume in 1963 would be 97 percent of the 
1933 figure, but the total volume on other lands in 
1963 would be only 54 percent of the 1933 figure: 
the difference is explained by the fact that in 1933 
there was three times as much class I timber on 
other lands as on the national forests and that the 
national forests are managed under a sustained- 
yield policy. 

According to estimate, in 1963 the national-forest 
volume would exceed the volume on all other lands 
in the Puget Sound, Columbia River, and Willa- 
mette River districts, would about equal it in the 
Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district, and would fail 
by a considerable margin to equal it in the Oregon 
coast and south Oregon districts. The estimates 
were based on the present ratios of national-forest 
area to other land area. 

Let us consider, with the 1933 inventory data as a 
basis, how the assumed rates of depletion and 
growth would affect the supply of raw material for 
the wood-using industries in each major district of 
the Douglas-fir region. 


104 


Sawlogs 
PUGET SOUND DISTRICT 


Douglas-fir saw timber in availability class I is 
practically cut out in the north and central Puget 
Sound units. The entire Puget Sound district con- 
tains about 154 billion board feet of saw timber of 
all species in all ownership classes, of which only 
about 81 billion is in availability class I, including 
only 40.9 billion feet of Douglas-fir. The depletion 
assumed for this unit during the decade 1933-42 
totals about 30 billion feet. Of the remaining 124 
billion feet, 55 to 60 billion would be in class I and 
only 21 or 22 billion Douglas-fir. During this 
decade Douglas-fir will continue to form a major 
part of the cut, most of which will be manufactured 
somewhere in the Puget Sound district, and un- 
doubtedly some high-grade Douglas-fir logs will be 
brought in from British Columbia and from Oregon 
points as far away as the Willamette Valley. So 
long as there is an open log market on the Sound 
a supply of raw material for the existing manufac- 
turing plants will be assured, and this situation is 
likely to continue until 1942 to 1945; by that time, 
although probably there will still be an open log 
market on Puget Sound for’ species other than 
Douglas-fir, it is possible or even probable that a 
few large operators will control by far the greater 
part of the Douglas-fir in the district. 

Sawlog production in the Puget Sound district in 
the period 1925-33 averaged about 3 billion feet 
per year; the 28-billion-foot cut assumed for the 
decade 1933-42 would allow the industries in the 
district an annual- supply of that magnitude. 
About two-thirds of the logs used in 1925-33 were 
Douglas-fir, and this ratio could continue in 1933-— 
42. Almost the entire supply of Douglas-fir logs 
would have to come from the central and south 
units, since the north unit has only between 7 and 8 
billion feet of class I Douglas-fir left. 

For the period 1943-52 the total assumed deple- 
tion for the Puget Sound district is about 2814 bil- 
lion feet, log scale, of which slightly more than 27 
A considerable 
reduction in cutting is assumed in the north and 
central units, and a material increase in the south 
During that decade most of the Douglas-fir 
timber of sawlog size will be depleted, but local 
timber resources should be adequate to supply the 


billion feet is assigned to cutting. 


unit. 


SEEDINGS 


SMALL 
SECOND 
GROWTH 


OLD 
GROWTH 


STATE AND 


AND 
SAPLINGS 


eee 
va 
os 
oO Oo 
Ww 
(pe) 


PRODUCTIVE 


YEAR 


OREGON 


KX 
KS 


See 


i 


i 
Xx 


SSR 


on 
x 


OSS 


<x 
x 


SC 


\Z 
> 
Sex 


\/ 
“0; 
x 


22. 


1933 ---- 
1943---- 
1953---- 


1963---- 


RO 


| 
I 
| 


WASHINGTON 
1933 ---- 
1943 ---- 
1953 ---- 
1963---- 


MILLIONS OF ACRES 


LANDS OTHER THAN 
NATIONAL FORESTS 


and calculated growth on timber-type areas in the Douglas-fir region 


NATIONAL 
FORESTS 


Ficure 35.—Effect of assumed depletion 


105 


sawmills if greater quantities of hemlock and ‘“‘ce- 
dar” are utilized. 

For the decade 1953-62 the assumed cut for the 
district drops to about 1515 billion feet, of which na- 
tional-forest timber composes about a fifth. In 
1963 the Puget Sound district is assumed to have 
the third largest total log production among the six 
By that time its total volume 
of timber on lands other than national forests is as- 
sumed to have diminished to about 42 billion feet, 
and its national-forest timber to have diminished 
(from 58 billion feet in 1933) to 52 billion feet. A 


considerable reduction in the quantity of sawlogs— 


districts of the region. 


particularly Douglas-fir sawlogs—cut for lumber is 
It is assumed 
that by that period part of the slack in employment 


expected to occur during this decade. 


caused by the passing of sawmills will be taken up by 
increase in pulp production. 

Under present marketing conditions the existing 
raw material is sufficient to supply all the existing 
wood-using industries at present rates of consump- 
tion at least until 1943, and is probably sufficient to 
do so until 1963 if all species are used. However, 
disappearance of the open log market for Douglas- 
fir would undoubtedly force certain sawmills to 
cease operation. Owners of sawmills the deprecia- 
tion of which has been fully accounted for and that 
are still reasonably efficient can afford to pay about 
$1.50 per 1,000 more for logs than owners of newly 
built sawmills requiring depreciation, and this $1.50 
can be applied to the cost of transporting logs from 
greater distances. ‘This differential is not, however, 
sufficient to bring in camp-run logs from northern 
Oregon. ‘Therefore, unless other species are substi- 
tuted on a large scale for Douglas-fir there is bound 
to be a reduction in the quantity of lumber sawed in 
the Puget Sound district during the period 1953-62. 

Forced migration of forest industries as a result of 
raw-material shortage would seriously disrupt the 
economy of this district which has more than half 
the population of the entire region. Constructive 
measures that would help avert this danger are: (1) 
Conserving the supply of high-quality material 
through selective logging; (2) better utilization in 
the woods; and (3) more complete manufacture. 


GRAYS HARBOR-WILLAPA BAY DISTRICT 


In the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district the 
annual production of lumber, lath, and shingles for 


106 


the period 1925-34 averaged about 1.1 billion feet, 
lumber tally, with a high of 1.8 billion feet in 1926. 
a low of 0.3 billion feet in 1932, and a 1934 total of 
about 0.47 billion feet. Annual production of logs 
(log scale) for 1925-33 averaged slightly more than 
1.45 billion feet, with a low of 0.77 billion feet in 
1933. The Douglas-fir, spruce, and “cedar” of 
availability class I in this district is sufficient to 
maintain the 1933 rate of log production until 
about 1948, even if no hemlock or balsam fir trees 
are cut. This same timber would maintain the 
1925-33 annual rate of log production only until 
about 1943. The total cut of 9 billion feet assumed 
for 1933-42 and for 1943-52 includes a consider- 
able proportion of hemlock and other species to be 
used in pulp mills, 15 to 20 percent in the first de- 
cade and 20 to 40 percent in the second. By the 
end of the second decade the greater part of the 
Douglas-fir will be gone, and a considerable part of 
the Sitka spruce and “‘cedar.”’ 

The sawmill industry in the Grays Harbor- 
Willapa Bay district will be able to go ahead on a 
reduced basis for one more decade and probably 
part of the second, but not much longer unless there 
is a decided increase in the use of hemlock, ‘‘cedar.” 
and balsam firs for lumber. Inventory data and 
type maps for the district show that the future of 
this region is bound up in the pulp industry. With 
raw material enough for greatly increased pulp 
production, this district needs additional pulp mills 
if all labor now used in the lumber industry is to be 
given employment in the future. 

Western hemlock lumber is well adapted to most 
ordinary construction needs, and prior to 1930 a 
considerable quantity of it was marketed. Preju- 
dice against this wood existed particularly in eastern 
markets where eastern hemlock, a different species, 
had only a mediocre rating. Instead of making a 
determined effort to overcome this prejudice 
through trade extension and through better manu- 
facturing methods, West Coast manufacturers of- 
fered western hemlock at prices lower than those 
of competing woods. The prejudice persisted; 
and during the depression, when little building was 
being done and prices of other woods went to rock 
bottom, the price-differential sales weapon was 
eliminated and hemlock lumber sales dropped off 
% larger proportion than sales of Douglas-fir. It 
is assumed that good manufacturing procedure, 


including good drying, together with aggressive 
merchandising, will partly remedy this situation. 

The cut of timber in all ownership and economic- 
availability classes in the period 1933-62 is assumed 
to total about 30 billion feet. Offset in part by 
growth, this depletion would reduce the 1933 
supply of 36.6 billion feet on lands other than 
national forests to 14 billion feet and the 16.4 
billion feet on the national forests to 13.1 billion 
feet. During 1953-62 the annual cut of national- 
forest timber is assumed to average about 13 
percent of the total annual cut. 

The industrial development in this district is 
dased almost entirely upon the forest industries. 
Prompt application of forestry practice that will 
insure a continuous flow of raw material is of utmost 
concern to all communities in the district. 


COLUMBIA RIVER DISTRICT 


In 1925-34 the Columbia River district produced 
annually an average of 1.77 billion feet of lumber, 
with a high of 2.38 billion feet in 1928 and a total 
of 1.36 billion feet in 1935. The quantity of logs 
cut in this district averaged more than 1.82 billion 
feet in 1925-33, but was only 1.41 billion feet in 
1933. The 1925-33 average was about 23 percent 
of the regional average for that period, and the 
total in 1933 was 30 percent of the regional total. 
Production of both logs and lumber fell off less, 
proportionally, during 1931-33 in this district 
than in any other district. 

The standing timber in this district now in 
availability class I is not sufficient to maintain the 
1925-33 rate of log production until 1963. During 
the decade preceding 1935 the sawmills in the dis- 
trict cut 14 billion feet or logs per year; if this rate 
of production continues, and if the pulp mills in 
the district continue to utilize between 300 and 350 
million feet of logs per year, the sawmills and ply- 
wood industry will be pinched for raw material 
sometime between 1943 and 1952. It is assumed 
here that the annual rate of cutting depletion will 
be only slightly less in 1933-42 than in the period 
preceding 1933, that in 1943-52 it will average 
between 85 and 90 percent of the 1925-1933 rate, 
and that after about 1952 it will diminish abruptly. 
A relatively small number of companies own a 
large part of the timber in this district. It is as- 


107 


sumed that during 1933-42 these owners, both 
large and small, will continue cutting at the same 
rates as in earlier years, but that by the end of that 
decade most of the present small owners will have 
cut out and that by 1945-50 there will be few 
areas where small independent loggers can operate. 

The anticipated reduction in cut of timber in the 
district within the decade 1943-52 would not nec- 
essarily result in a proportional reduction in quan- 
tity of raw material available to the local wood- 
using industries; there is every reason to believe 
that it would be compensated by an increase in 
the quantities of logs brought into the district 
from the Oregon coast and Willamette River dis- 
tricts. In the competition with the Puget Sound 
and Grays Harbor districts for these logs, the 
Columbia River district should have the geographic 
advantage enabling it to intercept the flow of logs 
northward. The lessening of the volume of logs 
cut within the district would probably have some 
effect on the volume and quality of logs available 
on the open log market. This effect would prob- 
ably be felt first in the plywood industry. General 
application of selective logging would conserve the 
supply of peeler logs. 


WILLAMETTE RIVER DISTRICT 


The Willamette River district has not played a 
prominent part in the West Coast lumber industry 
in the past, but seems destined to do so in the future. 
In 1934 more than 515 million board feet of lum- 
ber was sawed in the district. This was 12 per- 
cent of the regional total, and exceeded the out- 
put of any of the other districts except the Puget 
Sound and Columbia River. During 1925-33 the 
annual cut of trees of sawlog size for all uses aver- 
aged about 778 million feet, of which the sawlog 
cut was about 692 million feet, log scale, including 
some 120 million feet shipped elsewhere for manu- 
facture. Cutting in the 30 years 1933-62 is as- 
sumed to average higher per year than in 1925—33, 
but leaving more than 20 billion feet of timber of 
availability class I in the district, even if none of 
the timber now in availability class II moves into 
class I. 

Decadal cuts assumed for this district are as 
follows: 1933-42, 7.6 billion feet; 1943-52, 14.2 
billion feet; 1953-62, 16.2 billion feet. The cut on 


the national forests is assumed to amount to about 
450 million feet in the first decade and to increase 
to 2.25 billion in the third. According to these 
assumptions, by 1963 the 46.1 billion feet of tim- 
ber on the national forests in 1933 will be reduced 
to 45.8 billion and the 57.7 billion on other land 
in 1933 will be reduced to about 30 billion feet, 
depletion being practically equalled by growth on 
the national forests but being greatly exceeded by 
it on other lands. 


OREGON COAST DISTRICT 


The average annual cut in the Oregon coast dis- 
trict of trees of sawlog size used for all purposes of 
570 million feet in the period 1925-33 was about 7 
percent of the total regional cut and fairly evenly 
divided between the north and south units. Annual 
lumber production was about 540 million feet 
(1925-34 average) with a cut of 390 million feet 
in 1934. By 1933 the production of logs had 
dropped to 270 million feet, or 6 percent of the 
regional total. 

With the exception of Port Orford white-cedar, 
there will be no shortage of logs for local industries 
in this district for at least three decades. The 
assumed depletion in the district, which increases 
in each decade to 1963, would leave 15 billion feet 
The pre- 
depression annual cut of Port Orford white-cedar 
was about 70 million feet. The total stand of this spe- 
cles is not much more than 1.1 billion feet, of which 


of class I timber remaining in that year. 


something more than 750 million feet is in private 
ownership. Resumption of the former rate of 
cutting would lead to exhaustion of the supply in 
private hands in the second decade, even if all the 
The cut of 
logs took a tremendous drop in the 1931-33 period, 


remote stands were logged completely. 


when ‘exports of the logs to Japan were at a very 
low point. but in 1935-36 it increased materially. 
Cessation of the exporting of Port Orford white- 
cedar logs would materially lengthen the life of the 
local industries dependent on them, since during 
the period 1928-33 the logs exported amounted to 
about 30 percent of the total quantity cut. 

For the district as a whole the depletion assumed 
in the survey for the period 1933-62, increasing in 
each decade, would not exhaust the class I timber. 
However, as in any other forest district of the region, 
dividing the remaining supply of class I timber by 


108 


the past average annual cut of logs does not neces- 
sarily give an indication of how long the wood using 
industries in the district may be assured of a supply 
of raw material. Even where a considerable vol- 
ume of timber is at present available, if the mill 
owner does not own this timber he may have no 
guarantee of a continuous supply. 

The total cut of some 33 billion feet in this dis- 
trict during the period 1933-62 is assumed to in- 
clude less than 1 percent cut on the national forests. 
The national-forest timber in the northern part of 
the district will not mature by 1963, and that in the 
southern part presumably will still be economically 
While the timber volume 
on lands other than national forests is calculated to 
decline from 52.5 billion feet (log scale) in 1933 to 
30.1 billion feet in 1963, national-forest timber is 
calculated to increase from about 15 billion feet in 
1933 to slightly more than 19 billion feet in 1963. 

The disastrous Tillamook fire of 1933, located 
mostly in the Oregon coast district, particularly 
affected the wood-using industries on the Columbia 
River, since probably at least three-fourths of the 
10 billion feet of timber burned would have been 
manufactured in Columbia River mills. Of the 
remainder, part would have gone to Oregon coast 
Salvage 
on the burned area has lagged behind expectations, 
and of the total volume removed to date a con- 
siderable part has been green timber. At the end 
of 1937 only about 5 percent of the timber burned 
had been salvaged. 

Since the fire considerable areas within the 


unavailable at that time. 


mills and part to Willamette River mills. 


boundaries of the burn have become tax delinquent, 
and even though assessed values have been reduced, 
the hazards of holding the timber make it doubtful 
that taxes will be paid on much of the burned area 
after 1940 or 1945. At current salvage rates the 
most that present owners can expect to recover be- 
for relinquishing their equities is about 2 billion 
feet. By about 1945 Tillamook County may own 
the greater part of the 7 or 8 billion feet that will 
remain uncut, unless the State or Federal Govern- 
ment takes over the area before that time. 

A study of deterioration of fire-killed Douglas-fir 
(7) showed that by the eighth to tenth year after 
fire killing, salvage for lumber logs is practical only 
for large slow-grown trees 50 inches d. b. h. and 
more. On the Tillamook burn Douglas-fir com- 


posed about 85 percent of the timber burned and 
40 percent of this was in trees 50 inches d. b. h. and 
more. By the time the county may be expected to 
own most of the burned timber the gross volume of 
the unsalvaged trees 50 inches d. b. h. and more 
will probably be less than 3 billion feet. 

In an examination '* of a large area of the burn 
in 1935 two-thirds was found to be restocking. A 
reexamination in 1937 showed serious loss to repro- 
duction from mechanical injuries wherever salvage 
Restoring the Tilla- 
mook burn to forest productivity represents an 


operations had taken place. 


acute problem in fire protection and silviculture, 
and if this is to be accomplished within a reason- 
able period planting will have to be resorted to on 
large parts of the burn. 

The profits in salvaging this burned timber, even 
at very low valuation of stumpage, have been 
small. An operator whose margin of profit is 
narrow is not likely to do much work to prevent 
spread of slash fires from the areas logged. As 
time goes on, salvage operations will probably be 
conducted only by smaller operators who will 
spend even less time and money on control of slash 
fires. 

SOUTH OREGON DISTRICT 


The south Oregon district contains about 89 
billion feet of standing timber, of which about 25 
billion feet is rated in availability class I. In the 
period 1925-33 the cut of logs in the district 
amounted to about 1 percent of the regional total, 
practically all manufactured locally as lumber— 
a few logs cut along the north border being sent 
to the Willamette River district for manufacture. 
During the period 1925-34, the average annual 
production of lumber was only about 85 million 
feet, of which more than 90 percent was produced 
in the Rogue River unit, and 70 percent of this 
was ponderosa pine and sugar pine. 

The depletion assumed in the survey for the 
period 1933-62—even though about six times as 
great a cut of lumber is assumed for 1953-62 as 
the 1933-42—would not materially change the 
quantity of timber available in the district. For 


18 Tsaac, L. A., and MEAGHER, G. S. 
DUCTION ON 
FIRE. Pacific Northwest Forest Expt. Sta. 
eographed. | 


NATURAL REPRO- 
THE TILLAMOOK BURN TWO YEARS AFTER THE 
1936. |Mim- 


224146 °—40——8 


109 


some time to come, also, no considerable quantity 
of logs is likely to be taken from this district for 
manufacture.!® ‘There appears to be sufficient raw 
material on hand not only for existing wood-using 
industries but for a considerable addition to them. 
Several of the small mills may not have enough 
supplies to continue indefinitely in their present 
locations, but most could be relocated without 
difficulty. 


Pulpwood 


At the beginning of pulp manufacture on the 
Pacific Coast, the principal material used by the 
pulp mills was sawmill waste. In 1929, pulpwood 
consumption in the region totaled 1% million 
cords, of which logs constituted 48 percent, saw- 
mill waste 40 percent, and forest pulpwood 12 
percent. Data obtained by circulating a ques- 
tionnaire to all pulp manufacturers in the region 
in 1936 indicated that in a normal year pulpwood 
consumption would total very nearly 2 million 
cords and would be divided as follows: Waste, 11 
percent; logs, 69 percent; and forest pulpwood, 20 
percent. During the last few years the sawmill 
waste used in pulpwood manufacture has de- 
creased greatly in total quantity, as well as in pro- 
portion to other materials used for pulpwood, and 
the quantities of logs and forest pulpwood used for 
this purpose have correspondingly increased. ‘This 
is accounted for in part by the great decrease in 
In Puget 
Sound sawmills, for example, until 1930 hemlock 
lumber constituted about 20 percent of all the 
lumber manufactured, in 1932 it was but 7 per- 
cent of the total, and in 1934 it was a little more 
than 8 percent. After 1930, lumber buyers who 
formerly took a certain quantity of hemlock mixed 
with Douglas-fir refused to take any hemlock. 
However, loggers continued to take approximately 
the same percentage of hemlock out of the woods; 
in fact, of the logs brought out of the woods in 
1931-33 the percent of hemlock was larger than 
in 1925—29; 

Future trends in use of logs as against use of 
forest pulpwood for pulp manufacture are hard to 


hemlock lumber production since 1929. 


19 Some of the pine in the southeast corner of Jackson 
County will undoubtedly be milled in eastern Oregon, 
probably at Klamath Falls. 


foresee. Unquestionably, the pulp industry in the 
Pacific Northwest will continue to demand high- 
grade raw material. Logs yield cleaner pulp than 
mill waste or forest cordwood and they can be 
handled at less cost per ton of chips produced. 
Apparently there is a trend toward use of chipping 
machines that take larger cants, which further 
reduces handling charges. In general, cordwood 
is not likely to supplant logs except where it is 
available at much lower prices—for example, 
where it is produced by farmers who are willing to 
work for wages lower than those paid in the logging 
industry. However, some of the existing mills are 
organized to use cordwood, and undoubtedly 
large quantities of cordwood will be used for pulp 
As before 
stated, the competition of lumber, veneer, and 


other wood-using industries for hemlock and bal- 


manufacture for some time to come. 


sam fir logs may result in higher log prices to the 
pulp mills when stands in which Douglas-fir pre- 
dominates become scarce, but this is still likely to 
be offset by the advantages of using logs. As the 
lumber industry recovers, more waste will become 
available, and if independent operators can con- 
vert this to chips and sell it at the right price the 
pulp industry will use it. 

Undoubtedly the pulp industry in the Douglas-fir 
region, as in other parts of the country, will produce 
various grades of pulp, and consequently will 
require various grades of raw material. 

It is popularly thought that any large sawmill 
company could be merged with a pulp company 
and the latter would take all the waste from the 
mill and utilize all the small logs, leaving only the 
high-grade logs for the sawmill. As a matter of 
fact the pulp manufacturers, particularly the pro- 
ducers of high-grade pulp, are likewise looking 
for better grade logs. There is opportunity for 
integration of the two industries, however. Until 
more hemlock is manufactured into lumber, the 
pulp mills will utilize the hemlock and balsam fir 
timber occurring in stands logged for Douglas_ 
fir, spruce, and “‘cedar”’ to be used in the sawmills, 
There is very little tendency to date to use small 
trees for pulpwood, either as small logs or as forest 
cordwood. Ordinarily only No. 1 and No. 2 
hemlock logs are taken from the woods, and in 
cordwood operations trees less than 14 to 16 inches 
d. b. h. are not taken. Thus far, attempts to 


110 


prelog saw-timber stands for the small understory 
hemlock and to salvage the waste hemlock and 
balsam firs left on the ground after logging have 
been unsuccessful. The rapid changes now taking 
place in logging methods and costs may, however, 
make production of smail hemlock logs profitable. 
Also, if the price of hemlock logs rises a greater 
effort will be made to utilize the waste now left in 
the woods; but such an increase in price will 
have to be considerable to result in any appreciable 
utilization of small understory trees or of logging 
waste. 

In the Puget Sound district pulp manufacture 
will increase in importance among the forest indus- 
tries. The supply of pulpwood available in the 
Puget Sound district is sufficient to maintain the 
present pulp mills in this district until 1963 and 
probably much longer. However, in the future 
(particularly after the first decade) more and more 
of the logs used for pulpwood will be produced in 
logging operations intended chiefly to produce 
pulpwood, rather than as a byproduct of logging for 
sawlogs. According to present indications, logging 
will have exhausted most of the stands of the 
Douglas-fir types by the end of the second decade. 
In logging stands in which Douglas-fir is a minor 
species or is lacking, it appears probable that 
production of sawlogs will usually be incidental 
to production of pulpwood. 

Since 1919 the price of camp-run hemlock in the 
Puget Sound log markets has with few exceptions 
been even lower than that of No. 3 Douglas-fir 
logs. In general, camp-run hemlock logs have 
been sold on Puget Sound for $1 to $2 less per 
1,000 feet than the actual total cost of production. 
In 1934 Douglas-fir log prices per 1,000 feet 
ranged from $19 for No. 1 logs to $10 for No. 3 
logs, and camp-run hemlock sold for about $9, 
although the total cost of delivering those logs to 
pulp mills, including not only direct cost of logging 
but overhead, depreciation, etc., was about $10.50 
per 1,000 feet. As a result of this and of the utili- 
zation of sawmill waste, the price per cord of pulp- 
wood delivered at Pacific coast mills has been less 
than the average for any other forest region of the 
United States except the South and has been about 
$2 less than the national average. In the past 
little or no stumpage charge has been made for 
hemlock, and camp-run hemlock logs (usually only 


Ficure 36.—Pulp and paper mill on the Willamette River near Oregon City. 


F347418 


A plentiful supply of raw material, cheap power, and an abun- 


dance of clean water have combined to make pulp and paper manufacture one of the principal industries in the Douglas-fir region 


No. 1 and No. 2 grade) were brought in if they 
would show a profit on the direct cost of logging, 
all overhead charges being allocated to the Douglas- 
fir, Sitka spruce, and ‘‘cedar”’ logs. This procedure 
may continue for some time; but by the end of the 
decade 1943-52, when logging for Douglas-fir, 
spruce, or even high-quality hemlock will have 
shifted to stands in which Douglas-fir is only a minor 
component, western hemlock and balsam firs will 
have to carry the full cost of logging, which 
will tend to increase considerably the prices of logs 
of these species. 

Savings under recently developed methods of 
logging may, however, counteract this tendency to 
some extent. In the hemlock and balsam fir stands 
the opportunities for using lighter equipment—trac- 
tors and trucks—and for practicing selective logging 
will be much greater than they have been in 
stands of large old-growth Douglas-fir. If trees 
are properly selected for cutting, the supply of 
high quality logs will meet the needs of the indus- 
try, as now constituted, for an indefinite period. 

In the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district the 
situation as to future supplies of pulpwood is similar 
to that in the Puget Sound district. 
installed pulp-mill capacity the supply of pulp 
species is even greater. 


In relation to 


skill 


In the Columbia River district, pulp mills have 
heretofore obtained raw material in about the 
same manner as in the Puget Sound district; 
but about 43 percent of the region’s installed pulp- 
mill capacity (fig. 36) is in this district, and pro- 
spective supplies of pulp species are therefore smaller 
in comparison with plant capacity than in the 
Puget Sound district. The 1963 stand of 52 bil- 
lion feet, however, will contain a large volume of 
pulp species. ‘There is every reason to believe, also, 
that Columbia River pulp mills will draw some 
material from the southern part of the Grays Har- 
bor-Willapa Bay district 

The capacity of the pulp plants in the Willamette 
River and Oregon coast districts is so small that the 
estimated future inventories are more than ade- 
quate to supply their needs. 

Current annual requirements for pulp total about 
190 million cubic feet.?° This slightly exceeds 
the current annual growth of the pulp species (186 
million cubic feet) but is considerably less than the 
potential growth of these species, estimated at 594 
million cubic feet. For the region as a whole the 
assumed future inventories include sufficient raw 
material for the established pulp mills. 


20 See table 9, p. 39 for data concerning present supplies 
of pulpwood species. 


Plywood 


The foregoing discussion of future supply of raw 
material for the lumber industry applies also to the 
plywood industry, which is chiefly dependent on 
the lumber industry for its raw material. Plywood 
manufacture is relatively new here; the region’s 
annual plywood production expanded from 153 
million square feet (%-inch three-ply basis) in 
1925 to about 700 million in 1936.71. The installed 
capacity of the region’s plywood mills is distributed 
principally as follows: Puget Sound district, 49 
percent; Grays Harbor district, 30 percent; 
Columbia River district, 18 percent. Concentration 
of the industry at tidewater and on the Columbia 
River has been due principally to the ample supply 
of large high grade logs produced in the course of 
logging for sawmills and available on the open log 
markets there. The plywood industry has been in a 
position to command the market for these logs be- 
cause it can pay more for them than the sawmills. 
Owing to the rapid recent increase in plywood 
manufacture, some combing over of stands of 
large old growth to get veneer logs in advance of 
regular logging has been necessary in order to 
supplement the open-market supply. There is no 
immediate shortage of peeler-log trees in the 
woods. Whether or not the supply of high-grade 
veneer logs obtained in the ordinary course of log- 
ging for sawmills will prove adequate for the ply- 
wood industry in the future, or whether it will be 
necessary to continue the present practice of sup- 
plementing this supply by combing over old-growth 
stands, will depend on future trends in the demand 
for plywood, on progress in using logs of smaller 
diameter for plywood, and on the extent to which 
use of lower-grade logs for this purpose can be 
increased through taping of face stock. 

The quantity of high-grade veneer used in mak- 
ing panels is only a small part of the total material 
needed for panel manufacture. 

As yet plywood manufacturers have not owned 
much timberland, depending mainly on the open 
market or else on contractual agreements with 
loggers. ‘This industry is too big and promising to 
be allowed to decline because of a short-sighted 
policy towards providing raw material. Through 
~ 21 269 million board feet of logs is required to produce 700 
million square feet of plywood (%-inch three-ply basis). 


LZ 


selective logging and application of simple forestry 
measures a supply of logs suitable for the manu- 
facture of plywood may be provided indefinitely. 

In the Puget Sound district, the supply of raw 
material for this industry is adequate for the first 
decade. Puget Sound plants may be faced with 
a shortage of high-grade Douglas-fir veneer logs 
during the latter part of the decade 1943-52. 
Logs of this type can stand a high transportation 
charge, however, and may be brought in from the 
Columbia River, Willamette River, and Oregon 
coast districts; or small veneer plants may be set up 
in these other districts and veneer shipped from 
them to plywood mills on the Sound. 

In the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district the ply- 
wood industry will probably have enough raw 
material to operate for two decades, since a con- 
siderable part of the 20-years supply of Douglas-fir 
and Sitka spruce timber in availability class I will 
Even 
so, veneer logs are now being brought into Grays 
Harbor from Oregon coast and Willamette River 
points. If during the next decade or two the ply- 
wood industry uses an increased proportion of 


yield logs suitable for veneer manufacture. 


hemlock, the supply of material for plywood 
should last well into the third decade. 

In the Columbia River district there will un- 
doubtedly be a shortage of peeler logs by the third 
decade. However, this district has only one-fifth 
of the region’s installed plywood-mill capacity and 
is close enough to the Willamette River and 
Oregon coast districts to obtain its supply of 
veneer logs from them. 


Poles and Piling 


The cubic-foot production of poles and piling 
combined in 1930 contains far more Douglas-fir 
than “‘cedar,”’ since the use of Douglas-fir for piling 
far overshadows that of “‘cedar”’ for poles. Western 
redcedar composed more than 75 percent of the 
1930 pole production for the region, more than 90 
percent of that in western Washington, and less 
than 30 percent in western Oregon. Nearly as 
many “‘cedar”’ poles were imported into Washington 
from British Columbia as were produced locally; 
at the same time many “‘cedar”’ poles growing in 
Washington were wasted in the process of logging 


for saw timber. Since 1930 the importations have 
dropped and there has been a very considerable 
increase in the practice of prelogging old-growth 
timber stands for ‘‘cedar’’ poles before cutting 
their saw timber. 

The Puget Sound district holds first place in the 
output of ‘‘cedar”’ poles, which are found mixed with 
other species, usually as an understory in saw 
timber along stream bottoms and in other moist 
sites. Although through Douglas-fir, 
hemlock, or spruce types, they are most often 
found in stands that contain enough “‘cedar’’ to be 


scattered 


classed as a ‘‘cedar”’ type. Large quantities of pole 
timber are contained in the mature “‘cedar’’ stands 
covering 196,000 acres in the Puget Sound district, 
171,000 acres in the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay 
district, and 21,000 acres elsewhere in the region. 
In the small ‘‘cedar’’ type (trees less than 24 inches 
d. b. h.), which occupies only 26,000 acres in the 
region, only about 7,500 acres support scattered 
stands of the pole age of 40 years, in no single 
instance as large as 100 acres in extent. Therefore, 
‘“‘cedar” poles will unquestionably continue to be 
produced for the most part by prelogging areas on 
which the saw timber is to be cut later, since the 
rate at which commercial logging advances into 
the particular areas where “‘cedar”’ poles are plenti- 
ful is not likely to make poles available rapidly 
enough to meet the marketrequirements. It is more 
than probable that future “‘cedar”’ pole production 
will center chiefly in the Puget Sound and Grays 
Harbor-Willapa Bay districts, where the supply 
is sufficient to supply the demand for many years. 

As for piling, the regional supply of trees of 
suitable size and quality far exceeds the quantity 
of material of this kind that is likely to be required 
for several decades. In contrast with 2.6 million 
acres of second-growth stands in which most of 
volume is in trees from 22 to 40 inches d. b. h. and 
3.7 million acres of second-growth stands in which 
most of the volume is in trees from 6 to 20 inches 
d. b. h., the 1930 regional cut of 135,000 pieces 
totaling between 25 and 30 million board feet is 
relatively insignificant. This annual requirement 
could be supplied by taking on the average one 
tree from every 4 acres of the large second growth 
in the Oregon coast district alone. If integrated 
utilization were effected, no doubt a large part of 


e) 


the annual piling requirements could be obtained 
in the course of ordinary logging. 


Fuel 


In the past forest fuel wood was the chief fuel in 
western Washington and western Oregon. The 
use of this type of fuel has decreased, particularly 
in the large population centers, with increased use 
of oil, coal, gas, and different forms of mill waste— 
slabs, trimmings, hogged fuel, and sawdust. 

In 1930 the waste from sawmills and other wood- 
working plants utilized for fuel amounted to 331 
million cubic feet of solid wood. In that year 
trees of saw-timber size aggregating 353 million 
board feet, log scale, and smaller trees aggregating 
60 million cubic feet were cut into forest fuel wood. 
Portland now uses some 100,000 cords of forest 
fuel wood annually, in addition to large quantities 
of mill waste. In Seattle about 10,000 cords of 
forest fuel wood is burned annually, and consider- 
able quantities of mill waste. 

No general statement can be made as to the prob- 
able adequacy of future supplies of the various kinds 
of wood fuel. The timber supply available to the 
sawmills and other wood-using industries in the 
larger manufacturing centers of the region is an in- 
dication of the quantity of mill waste that may be 
available to the people in these cities in the future 
for fuel. Shut-downs in sawmills and other wood- 
using plants due to cessation of logging in winter, 
strikes, or other reasons have made the supply of 
mill waste, particularly hogged fuel and sawdust, 
somewhat undependable—particularly for resi- 
dences, in which storage space is limited. However, 
many people in the wood-manufacturing centers un- 
doubtedly will continue to depend on this type of 
fuel for a considerable time. 

The supply of forest fuel wood that can econom- 
ically be hauled into Tacoma and Seattle by truck 
is limited, and will probably be inadequate. On 
the other hand, lands tributary to Puget Sound in- 
clude large areas, principally logged areas, support- 
ing trees that are too poor for sawlogs but from which 
cordwood could be cut and cheaply barged to cities 
on the Sound. Comparble areas within a reasonable 
trucking distance of Portland are not extensive 
enough to permit Portland’s present rate of con- 
sumption of forest cordwood to continue. 


For most rural communities of the region, future 
local supplies of forest cordwood apparently will be 
adequate. Most farms in the region contain some 
forest land that with but little care and attention 
could supply farm fuel requirements. 


Hardwoods 


More labor is required to log 1,000 board feet of 
hardwoods than to log a like quantity of conifers, 
and the manufacture of hardwoods into the finished 
product is carried farther. Approximately 90 per- 
cent of the hardwood lumber cut in the region is re- 
manufactured locally, practically all being used for 
furniture. The quantity of hardwood lumber and 
veneer produced has gradually increased and in 
1935 amounted to 50 million board feet, of which 
75 percent was alder and practically all the remain- 
der was maple. This annual cut was about 1 per- 
cent of the total stand of these two species. Nearly 
all the hardwood production was in the Puget Sound 
Columbia River, Willamette River, and Oregon 
coast districts. 

The supply of maple available within reasonable 
hauling distances of certain hardwood mills is in- 


114 


adequate, but alder is plentiful in the vicinity of all 
centers of production. There is between 900 million 
and 1 billion board feet of alder in the northern part 
of the Oregon coast district, where alder stands have 
claimed the old burned-over conifer sites on fertile 
benches and lowerslopes. In this locality conifers are 
rapidly invading many alder stands and will grad- 
ually shade them out, causing the elimination of the 
present extensive stands except along the principal 
stream courses and the loss of several hundred mil- 
lion board feet of commercial timber within two or 
three decades unless the timber is utilized earlier. 
To utilize this timber before it is lost through the 
natural process of forest succession, the present rate 
of cutting will have to be increased and additional 
markets for alder will have to be developed. Most 
of the alder trees cut for lumber or veneer are less 
than 50 years in age, and many are only 25 to 35 
years. Considering the short rotation and the large 
quantity of local labor required in the remanufac- 
ture of alder lumber, it would seem desirable to 
manage certain of the extensive mixed alder-conifer 
stands in the Oregon coast district for alder pro- 
duction instead of letting nature take its course. 


EAOPRS Ea SleerRsern SOW RIC VES OF Tt HE'D OU GL 


ASS Siem be baa eas ee Hy Ge a © IN 


Forest-Land Management Problems 


= 


OREST land is the basic resource of the 
Douglas-fir region; its products constitute the 
raw material for the region’s leading indus- 
Past and present unwise treatment of forest 
land will influence greatly the future economic 
history of the region. If forest land is not kept con- 
tinuously productive and protected against de- 


tries. 


terioration, industry will decline and communities 
break down. The results of unrestrained forest 
exploitation are already apparent locally. Deple- 
tion of virgin timber within the radius of feasible 
transportation of several sawmill communities has 
resulted in serious economic and social loss. 

Properly managed, the region’s forest land could 
permanently supply raw material for forest indus- 
tries of approximately the present magnitude, if 
these were properly distributed within the region. 

Although timber production is the major use of 
forest land here, other uses are increasing in im- 
portance, namely, watershed protection, forage 
production, recreation, and hunting and fishing. 
Intelligent forest management involves two major 
principles: (1) Wood removed from the forest 
should on the average be limited to a volume ap- 
proximately equal to the increment, and the grow- 
ing stock—the forest capital—should be main- 
tained; (2) every forest area should be made to 
serve as many uses as possible, and these uses should 
be so correlated as to effect maximum production. 
The first is called the principle of sustained yield; 
the second, that of multiple forest-land use. The 
two are compatible. 

One important prerequisite of forest management 
for continuous production is stability of forest-land 
Many of the problems that aggravate the 
forest situation in this region are inherent in the 


tenure. 


existing distribution of forest-land ownership. 


115 


Ke 


Uses of Forest Land Other Than 
for Timber Production 


Effective plans for management for continuous 
production must in the main be based on areas of 
forest land that can be expected to produce forest 
crops continuously. Areas now forested that may 
in the near future be more valuable for agriculture, 
or for a type of recreation or wildlife production 
that allows but little or no cutting, can play little 
It is therefore 
necessary to consider here the present use and 


part in_ sustained-yield plans. 


future requirements of forest land for agriculture, 
recreation, and wildlife production. 


Future Agricultural Expansion 


As was stated in the section on land use, agri- 
cultural use of land has about reached a condition 
of equilibrium, and any expansion of agricultural 
production in the next two or three decades will be 
the result of increasing the productivity of exisiting 
farmlands and clearing wild land in existing farm 
holdings. This does not mean that efforts will not 
be made to convert a considerable area of present- 
day forest land into farms, much of it in localities 
Un- 
less adequate zoning laws are enacted, this cannot 
be prevented. Although the aggregate area of such 
lands placed under cultivation in the forest zone is 


where farming probably will not be feasible. 


small, timber production is endangered by hazards 
created through careless use of fire in clearing them. 


Forage Production 


Future attempts to use large areas of forest land 
for range may be of greater consequence in limiting 


timber production than future attempts to make 
arable farmland out of forest land. Logged-off 
lands and burns, both seeded and unseeded, have 
been grazed successfully for a few years until tree 
reproduction and brush crowded out the forage 
plants; but permanent grazing of cut-over, burned- 
over, or virgin-timbered areas is incompatible with 
Of the landowners 
who have temporarily gained a livelihood by raising 
cattle on cut-over and burned forest land, many 


forest production in this region. 


own and pay taxes on only very small areas, using 
land either privately owned or county owned as 
open range. Many people still advocate grazing 
forest lands, asserting that past failures have been 
due to improper techniques in seeding after burns 
and in handling sheep and cattle, and it is true 
that proper seeding immediately after burns does 
result in a grass and weed cover that holds for a 
while. 
over and burned-over forest land in this region, 
unless cultivated or otherwise intensively handled, 


Experience has shown, however, that cut- 


reverts to forest where seed trees are present except 
where repeated burning results in a permanent 


brush or bracken cover, which has very little 
grazing value. 

Where burning is practiced to improve grazing, 
neighboring forest owners who might otherwise 
have held their land for timber production recog- 
nize the fire hazard, liquidate their timber if 
possible, and let their lands revert to the county. 


Recreation 


Because of improved highways and added leisure 
time, forest lands are now used for recreation to a 
degree undreamed of 20 years ago. The public 
apparently has accepted the idea of reservation of 
certain publicly owned forest lands for recreation. 
At the same time it assumes that private forest 
lands are available to it for hunting, fishing, camp- 
ing, and hiking at no charge, and for the most part 
does not consider such use of private lands a form 
of trespass. 

The form of forest recreation available to the 
greatest number of people is that of motoring 
through forest areas with stops for picnic lunches 


TABLE 38.—State and Federal roads in the Douglas-fir region, by class of forest land and ownership of bordering lands } 


Private | 3 
5 [County Indian | Na- Na- & Cali- 
State and class of forest land Outside Inside State |_20 Teser- | tional | tional | fornia Other Total 
national- | national- munic-| vation | forest | park Rail- Federal 
forest forest | ipal | | road 
boundaries | boundaries | | 
is 
Western Washington: Miles Miles | Miles Miles | Miles | Miles | Miles | Miles Miles | Miles 
Nonforest, including urban areas__-________-___--___-- 683. 8 0.4 | 9.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 Fre 700. 3 
Pard woods. one ile RE ee 2016) ee ee | iad Ven coc | tea at 53,1 
Conifer!sawtim ber 22222 = =e eee 150.9 21.4) 18.2 ail | 20.0 | 247.6 
Conifer second growth: | | 
6toi20\inches dubs hes. sn! Meese Be | 196. 7 | 2.6 4.3 Pala |le as QESH| ero" 2 | Pieces 2.5] 221.9 
Less than 6 inches d. b. h__-_-.________-_---_-_-_ 127.0 7.6] 10.0 yr ae a Ayal oe 1.0] 149.0 
Noncoumerdials. 2. ak 22s") Sie oneness Oe 11.5 Dues Set] ae eget eee! 1°9,|rsceuees Ole Heng 
Nonrestocked cut-overs and deforested burns_________ 119.9 4.6 | 4.7 8) AD) UPS eee | seas 25 132.2 
|. |. 1. 
PD ots Osten ake of Scatter meee ee ee oe 1, 339. 4 305)] 49:1 | 5.0] 249) 36.7 |) a5 Jee __| 12:0 | 1,522.0 
| | 
Western Oregon: | | | | 
Nonforest, including urban areas______-___-_-________ 1, 040. 2 27.4 3.9 2.1 | aby | eae B a ae 2.0 | 1.6 1, 090.8 
Hardwoods 15-06 21!) ,) ON eek eae 32.3 | ESO) Mes es Wisecees | Weuemee ys eeu eemame seri ph ren 7 
Gonifersawatimbers22ss2--2 22-0252 = ee ee 133.9 14.1 1.4 | 5p) ON 58570 | aereeies 250) | ne 1S y | peer lieey 
Conifer second growth: | | | | 
6to20iinches dbs is 2222 eee 170. 2 6.6 | 7.9 -9 | .9 211.) | Sea 1555] 1.4 210.5 
Tess:thani6/inchesids, bjhu-t 22's. et one 37.8 | irl eect pili eben OWN eee Ss Soh 5 45.6 
INOMCOMMIMCT CIA sy ee te ee ee ee = BYR 674) | ae | ac eee be ae c= abyal | Serio | ates {cai eabess 63.2 
Nonrestocked cut-overs and deforested burns________- 80.0 il 4 | oth eee fey |e 130 8] peeamer 87.5 
Neh eo bacata ee ee ae ie S e SOS 5 1, 532.1 | 61.0 | 13.6 41/19] 125.5 |-...._.| 13:75] -p5alalelepiors0 
| } 
RegionalitotalMe tes === ee eeere eee em 2, 871.5 | 100.5 | 627] 91) 268] 162.2] 15.4] 13.7] 171 3,279.0 


1 Both sides of road. 


or overnight camping. Since 
presumably forest travelers are 
interested in scenery, particu- 
larly that which can be enjoyed 
from good roads, this form of 
recreation represents extensive 
use of large scenic areas plus in- 
tensive use of campgrounds and 
picnic spots. Along forest high- 
ways in this region are many 
beautiful views, but also many 
miles of unsightly cut-over and 
burned-over lands. 

Old-growth timber occurs 
along 16 percent of the total 
mileage of lands bordering State 
and Federal highways in west- 
ern Washington and along 12 
percent of those in western 
Oregon (table 38). Less than 
one-third of the sawlog-size co- 
nifer timber bordering 460 miles 
of main roads in the region is in public ownership. 
In the last 4 or 5 years the original beauty of three of 
the recently built scenic highways, the Olympic Pen- 
insula Loop Highway, the Oregon Coast Highway, 
and the Salmon River cut-off, has been badly 
marred by roadside logging. The privately owned 
saw timber along highways, amounting to more 
than two-thirds of the total saw-timber mileage, 
is highly accessible, and will probably be logged 
in the near future unless acquired by the public. 
Oregon and Washington have been derelict in 
acquiring adequate strips of virgin timber along 
roadsides when projecting new highways. Some 
31,000 acres would have to be purchased if 400- 
foot strips of the sawlog-size timber now in private 
ownership were to be saved on each side of the 
highways. Owing to its location this timber would 
not be cheap, but its acquisition would probably 
result in more public satisfaction than acquisition 
of any other equal area of forest land. 

According to table 38, of the 220 miles of cut- 
over and burned-over land adjacent to main high- 
ways, 205 miles is privately owned. The public 
interest in such destruction is manifest. The public 
responsibility to safeguard roadside beauty, as 
representing an intensive recreational use of forest 
land, is being recognized more and more widely, 
and if the States do not make more progress in 


ington. 


Figure 37.—A forest campground on the Mount Baker National Forest, Wash. 

more than a million visitors entered the national forests of western Oregon and western Wash- 
Approximately 25 percent of these used the campground facilities provided without 
charge by the Forest Service 


Pi? 


. ‘ag ? 
eee Be 


— 


During 1937 


acquiring such scenic roadside strips reserving them 
so far as possible from all cutting other than salvage 
operations, the Federal Government should step in. 
When forest land along State highways reverts to 
the counties for nonpayment of taxes it should im- 
mediately be deeded to the States for development of 
scenic strips. Areas that are not naturally reseed- 
ing should promptly be planted with forest trees. 

Forest campgrounds have been developed on 
national forests (fig. 37), and also in many locali- 
ties on State lands, but there is still a shortage of 
them close to the larger centers of population. 
Even a greatly expanded program of forest camp 
and picnic grounds would not materially decrease 
the area available for timber production. 

So far the discussion has referred to recreational 
uses that might withdraw from commercial exploi- 
tation accessible, high-quality forest land at low 
altitudes, chiefly in private ownership. Except 
along streams, lakesides (fig. 38), and highways, 
the lower-altitude forests of the Douglas-fir region 
have no great recreational appeal, owing to the 
density of timber and underbrush. Cross-country 
progress through these forests is so difficult that 
recreational use is limited to hiking along trails, 
fishing, and deer hunting for a short period in the 
fall. Moreover, a large percentage of the hunting 
by residents of western Oregon and western Wash- 


ington is done in the eastern parts of the two States. 
The higher altitude forests, of much lower value for 
timber production and often of none, have much 
greater recreational appeal, owing to the fact that 
they are easily traversed, have openings in the 
form of mountain meadows, and afford splendid 
views of vast expanses of country. The national 
parks and national monuments, the various re- 
served areas on national forests, and an additional 
large acreage of national-forest land where no 
cutting is likely to take place for a long time to come 
are for the most part located at the higher altitudes. 

A large aggregate area of publicly owned forest 
land in this region is either entirely or partially 
reserved from timber cutting or other commercial 
use and dedicated to recreation. Mount Rainier 
National Park and Mount Olympus National 
Monument now total 564,000 acres, and have a 
total stand of 6.4 billion feet of timber all reserved 
from cutting.2 State parks total about 19,000 
acres, with a timber stand of about 161 million 
feet all reserved from cutting. 

The Forest Service has dedicated about 1 
million acres in the Douglas-fir region, chiefly 


22 The establishment of the Olympic National Park since 
these data were compiled will increase these figures by 
316,000 acres and 8.6 billion board feet of timber. 


of noncommercial forest types to recreational use, 
watershed protection, education, and _ scientific 
study, by establishing 5 large recreational areas, 
5 large primitive areas, and 4 small natural areas. 
These 14 areas have a stand of approximately 
7.5 billion board feet. 
tive and recreational areas, and also the national 
parks and national monuments, contain con- 
siderable acreages of large old-growth timber of 
commercial size and quality but of low economic 
availability due to location. ‘Table 39 shows the 
acreages, by forest type, and timber volumes in- 
cluded in the recreational, primitive, and natural 
areas. 

Recreational use of forest land need not always 
involve a complete ban on cutting. As new types 


The national-forest primi- 


of logging machinery and new logging techniques 
are developed and as better utilization is attained, 
many areas of medium or even fairly high recrea- 
tional value can undoubtedly be cut lightly without 
loss of recreational value. The total recreation 
area includes 710,000 acres listed in the survey as 
‘reserved from cutting’ and 417,000 acres on 
which some cutting might presumably be allowed. 
If economic conditions ever justify logging opera- 
tions on land of the latter category, the cutting, 
owing to the general location, will undoubtedly 


Tae 39.—Area, type classification, and timber volume of national-forest primitive, recreational; and natural areas in the Douglas-fir 


region 
a 
a Conifers | 
: | Noncommer- : 
State and recreational class Barrens cial types Total area Timber 
and burns | 20+ inches | 0-20 inches volume 
d. b. h. d. b. h. 
| 
Western Washington: Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres see ae 
Primitive Sin Satee St eee Tis 2 ea Ee Fes ee eee 134, 800 395, 400 166, 800 25, 600 722, 600 fa} 
Recreational 67, 600 56, 400 | 7, 100 225, 000 1, 337 
TN PY bigs eee ee Sano a a oO 100 4, 200 | 100 4, 400 190 
| 
Total es txn ste eer etal een eee rere 228, 700 463, 100 227, 400 | 32, 800 952, 000 6, 280 
Western Oregon: 
Primitive ase ie is Poe ee see Soe eee cee 13, 900 29, 600 31, 300 500 75, 300 383 
Recreational 25.22 = ae ae one eee 15, 200 20, 700 31, 200 | 31, 800 98, 900 745 
Naturales = 2 cio es Se ek Se ar ee Cee 200 O00 8 | =2eee ease eee 1, 200 57 
Total tes 2S se oe see eh ee eae eee 29, 100 50, 500 63, 500 32, 300 175, 400 1.185 
Region: 
Primitive Se aU a oe ee eee 148, 700 425, 000 198, 100 26, 100 797, 900 5, 136 
IRecreationale22 i=" .3 <i k= oe eS eee 109, 100 88, 300 87, 600 38, 900 323, 900 2, 082 
IN ature] e220 fos te See ee ee ae ee | 300 5, 200 100 5, 600 247 
| 
otal sea ac ie eos eee Se ee 257, 800 513, 600 290, 900 65, 100 | 1, 127, 400 7, 465 
| 


118 


Figure 38.—Takh Lakh Lake, at the foot of Mount Adams, one of the many alpine lakes in the Cascade Range that attract summer 


recreationists 


be of such character as neither to lessen the areas’ 
suitability for recreational use nor to add appre- 
ciably to the region’s annual production. Reserva- 
tion of forest land from cutting for recreational use 
has reduced but little the region’s sustained-yield 
capacity. Under the Forest Service policy of 
multiple use practically the entire national-forest 
area is available for recreation. 


Wildlife 


In this region the forests support an abundance 
of wildlife and as a general rule wildlife use does 
not conflict with timber production or other 
forest-land uses. The use of forest land for wildlife 
has had little influence on commercial timber pro- 
duction here, and it is unlikely that any conse- 
quential areas of commercial timberland will be 
withdrawn exclusively for this use in the immediate 
future. 

It is possible to improve wildlife conditions in this 
region by a slight modification of current forest 
practice. Most of the streams and lakes are bor- 
dered by narrow strips of alder, cottonwood, and 


maple, with scattered conifers. If these strips 


119 


were preserved during logging the reduction in 
quantity of material produced would be small. 
This practice would greatly improve scenic condi- 
tions, result in better fishing conditions, and in 
addition constitute a first step in a region-wide 
program of erosion and flood control. Also, the 
strips of timber would serve as firebreaks and as a 
source of seed to reforest adjoining cut-over land. 
On many national-forest timber sales the edges of 
streams are left in a natural condition after logging: 
otherwise, there has been little effort on the part of 
public and private agencies to follow such a 
course. 

Hunting, indirectly, has conflicted with timber 
production, through the creation of high fire hazard 
in the fall months by the many hunters in the woods. 
A large percentage of the fires in this region are 
caused by hunters, some of them incendiary fires 
set allegedly to improve hunting conditions. 


Sustained- Yield Forest Management 


The preceding discussion of future timber sup- 
plies is based on the assumption that liquidation of 


privately owned timber resources and clear cut- 
ting will continue, and it applies only to the period 
ending with 1962, which is as far ahead as most 
timber operators plan. In discussing the prospec- 
tive supplies of raw material for that period and 
particularly for the more remote future, it is neces- 
sary to consider the possible effects of sustained- 
yield forest management. 

In this region the term “‘sustained-yield manage- 
ment” has been used too loosely. Essentially it 
denotes a plan of procedure which, assuming 
adequate stocking, will be applicable to an indi- 
vidual property or to a combination of properties 
under unified control whereby in the long run 
annual cut will equal annual growth. The cuts 
on a specified area may be made annually or at 
intervals of 5, 10, 20, or more years, but over a 
long period cut and growth will balance. At 
present sustained-yield management is in force on 
only a small percentage of the world’stotal com- 
mercial forest land. It is more prevalent in Ger- 
many, the Scandinavian countries, and France 
than elsewhere. In the Douglas-fir region there 
is no sustained-yield practice on large areas except 
on the national forests, and there the annual cut 
to date has been too small to permit any significant 
application of the policy. 

Leading factors in the present situation in this 
region as regards sustained yield are about as 
follows: (1) The forests in any one locality are 
badly out of adjustment, 1. e., in most of them there 
is either too much old growth in proportion to timber 
of younger age classes or too little old-growth area 
in proportion to recently cut-over area, and a 
paucity of the intermediate size and age classes that 
would provide the owner a steady income; (2) there 
is no adequate system of permanent forest-develop- 
ment roads; (3) instead of maintaining a close rela- 
tion with growers, such as is found in European 
countries, many manufacturers in the three leading 
industrial districts depend on open log markets for 
their supply of raw material—a factor that may, 
however, be favorable toward attaining sustained 
yield in the northern part of the region; (4) regional 
distribution of wood-conversion plants in relation to 
supplies of standing timber is uneven, with heavy 
concentration of manufacturing plants in certain 
heavily cut-over districts and a lack of such facilities 
in many districts containing extensive stands of 


virgin timber; (5) vast areas are covered by mature 
and overmature timber; (6) tax laws do not favor 
holding timber, and administration of existing tax 
laws is not uniform; and (7) few private owners are 
interested in holding forest land for continuous 
management. 

The great extent of the timberland tributary to 
Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and the Columbia 
River and the ease and cheapness of log transpor- 
tation by water have resulted in the installation of 
sawmills whose aggregate capacity is far greater 
than could be supplied by available forests for even 
afew decades. Many of the mills face a shortage of 
raw material in the relatively near future which is 
not only of serious consequence to the companies 
involved but of even greater gravity to the depend- 
ent communities. This shortage is no less real 
for being at present obscured by the fact that 
several communities are counting upon the same 
bodies of privately and publicly owned timber for 
their sawmills. 

Region-wide or large-scale adoption of sustained- 
yield management must begin in the forest rather 
than in the mill; wood-using industries must base 
their operations on what the forest land within 
their range of economical transportation can pro- 
duce under such management—and also on their 
own competitive ability. In a forest region that 
does not have extensive waterways, the timberland 
tributary to individual manufacturing centers is 
usually rather distinctly defined. This is true of 
some inland portions of the Douglas-fir region. 
The availability of water transportation in western 
Washington and northwestern Oregon, however, 
seriously complicates the distribution of logs and 
makes it exceedingly difficult to define tributary 
territories. 

Vast expanses of clear-cut areas threaten forest 
stability. What is needed is a shift from clear 
cutting to a system, whether individual tree selec- 
tion or small area selection, which will allow fre- 
quent cutting over the same general area of high 
returns, leaving areas of low return for longer 
periods. 

In connection with plans to institute sustained- 
yield management on a region-wide basis, decisions 
as to which of the present mill locations should be 
retained and what new locations should be chosen 
would be affected by the facility with which trucks 


and tractors can go over timberlands for the higher 
quality logs that can stand the expense of long hauls. 
They will also be influenced by the greatly in- 
creased area of operable timberland in the region 
made available through the low initial investment 
involved in tractor logging, and by the fact that 
existing lumber-manufacturing centers on water, 
such as Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Bellingham, 
Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Longview, and Portland, 
not only have better facilities for marketing and 
shipping wood products, including waste, but have 
an advantage in possibilities for integrating wood- 
using industries. Many of the present plants have 
been largely or entirely depreciated. Changes in 
location involved would in some cases be no greater 
than those that would result from continuance of 
present trends under the liquidation policy; for 
many sawmill owners it has already become a 
problem whether to mill logs coming from their 
holdings at existing mills or to establish new mills 
nearer the source of log supply. 

Regardless of whether sustained-yield practices 
are adopted in the near future, many communities 
in western Washington and northwestern Oregon 
will in the future have less saw timber on which to 
draw than they have had in the past. In consider- 
ing the region-wide aspects of forest management 
it would seem expedient to set up sustained-yield 
units on the basis of allowable annual cut in the 
future period when the ideal balance constituting 
sustained yield has been realized, at the same time 
calculating allowable cut for the intervening period. 

If existing laws requiring that publicly-owned 
timber offered for sale be sold to the highest bidder 
were modified, sustained yield could be inaug- 
urated in the region through cooperative arrange- 
ments whereby the products of specified public 
and private forest areas would be committed to 
certain mills. Such arrangements would tend 
toward constant supplies of raw material for the 
mills and economic stability for the communities 
in which the mills are located. 
ease of transporting logs by water, however, 


In view of the 


objections could be raised to freezing into a fixed 
pattern the distribution of publicly owned timber 
in the northern part of the region. 

Although these cooperative arrangements would 
not be planned specifically to result in normal age 


121 


distribution on each individual property involved, 
some of them might do so, particularly if selective 
logging were employed. The agreement might 
then be terminated. Thereafter, each of the indi- 
vidual properties could be managed under an indi- 
vidual sustained-yield plan and its product sold 
periodically to the highest bidder, and the annual 
production of the wood-using industry or industries 
that had been involved in the agreement could be 
scaled to the raw material obtainable on the basis 
of free competition. Community stability would 
then rest on the assurance that a regular supply of 
raw material would be produced in the various for- 
est units in the region and that this material would 
be sold in open competition to the mills and com- 
munities qualified by virtue of proper location, 
efficient management, and other economic factors 
to pay the top price. 

Ultimate sustained-yield capacity has been calcu- 
lated for each of the forest units set up by the Forest 
Survey, and also the average rates of cutting that, 
starting with the present areas of old-growth tim- 
ber, second growth, and cut-over lands, would 
bring about a balance of cut and growth within a 
period varying from 90 to 150 years. The calcula- 
tions were restricted to unreserved commercial con- 
ifer forest land. Sustained yield probably will not be 
put into effect for areas so large as the survey units; 
but comparison of these figures with past and current 
rates of cutting depletion show in a general way the 
extent to which the forest-survey units and the major 
forest districts are being either overcut or undercut. 

Before these allowable rates of cutting could be cal- 
culated, however, certain premises had to be set up. 
Undoubtedly future practice will be better than past 
and the calculations were based on that assumption, 
although with no attempt to allow for the inevitable 
economic changés which will occur in the future. 
The premises are as follows: That there will be 
prompt attainment of normal distribution of age 
classes; that utilization will be reasonably complete 
in the future; that all timber on commercial conifer 
land will be marketable; that existing mature stands 
will be cut first; that there will be an increase in 
stocking in understocked stands at the rate of about 4 
percent per decade; that areas cut over will restock 
within the next decade; and that future cuttings will 
restock to approximately 75 percent of normal. 


The rates of cutting calculated for the transition 
are shown in table 40 in comparison with the record 
of cutting depletion for the period 1925-33, the cuts 
in 1933 (which are approximately the lowest of the 
whole depression period), the assumed depletions 
for the three decades of 1933-62 as set up in the 
survey, and the potential ultimate rates of cutting 
under the sustained-yield plan. The potential 
ultimate sustained annual cut for the region as a 
whole of 8.08 billion board feet exceeds slightly the 
average annual cut during 1925-33 and is nearly 
three-fourths greater than the 1933 cut. It is note- 
worthy that the 1925-33 average annual cut of 7.9 
billion feet is about 1.66 billion feet in excess of the 
annual cut estimated to be allowable for the first 
transitional period of 70 years, but that the cut for 
1933 fell short of the estimate by 1.48 billion feet. 

It is apparent that the three northern districts, 
Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River, 
having river and tidewater facilities and most of 
the region’s wood-using plants, are seriously over- 
cutting, but that the Willamette River, Oregon 
coast, and south Oregon districts are undercutting 
(table 40 and fig. 39). The extent of the over- 
cutting in the first three districts is as follows: 


Billion 
Puget Sound: board feet 
NO Z5S—3S race eacauesegaer eve averse ewe chop susan eacRobsuetelone 153, 
IES ee mein aa eis ecm AA. Anam aa s Gaia dS . 14 
Grays Harbor: 
LO 25 = 33 eicaacs wesccret oer ret ciaieiene Colaaeie oie eer . 89 
AO 33 Mya Borel awareneteien sien Colel ae vekevereheiereker ken eoeeun eer 19 
Columbia River: 
TODS ABS eiiacccvca store Oraetarerers opscererbelorey steve re stoke Tone STL 
eh pE ean tin RenCh raed auaobenean aaan 36 


If sustained yield were brought into effect in the 
Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River 
districts, the rate of cutting would be reduced to 
half the 1925-33 average and even below the 1933 
figure. In the other districts the annual cut would 
be double the 1925-33 average and more than 
three times what it was in 1933. Obviously, any 
such radical changes are not going to take place 
in the immediate future. 

The Oregon coast and Willamette River districts 
are now shipping logs of all grades into the Colum- 
bia River district and high-grade logs into the 


Puget Sound and Grays Harbor districts. If sus- 


tained yield were brought into effect in each of 
these five districts, the two southern districts 
could add 1.27 billion board feet to their average 
annual shipment of logs to the three northern 
districts as of 1925-33; but this contribution 
would fail by 0.78 billion feet to meet the shortage 
in the annual cut of the northern districts as com- 
pared with their average for 1925-33. 

Overcutting will presumably continue in the 
Grays Harbor, Puget Sound, and Columbia River 
districts, in order to keep mills running and men 
employed, as long as private timber lasts. 

A number of sawmills in the three overcutting 
districts have ceased operations, because of short- 
age of timber available to these particular mills. 
Within 20 years more widespread lack of raw 
material will cause serious dislocation of sawmill 
employment throughout the overcutting districts. 
Cutting is already tapering off in the Puget Sound 
and Grays Harbor districts. Increasing woods and 
mill operations in Oregon and operation of newly 
installed pulp mills in Washington will probably 
employ many of the people deprived of employ- 
ment by abandonment of sawmills in these two dis- 
tricts. A voluntary further reduction in the rate 
of cutting logs for sawmills would lessen the shock 
that will occur if cutting goes ahead at the current 
rate for a few more years until raw materials sud- 
denly become nonavailable. It would, however, 
be as difficult to obtain any voluntary reduction of 
cut in the overcutting districts as to increase pro- 
duction in the undercutting districts, which at 
present cannot compete with the other three in the 
principal markets. A regional economy based on 
maintaining a specified production is so exceedingly 
rigid that efforts to divert production to unde- 
veloped localities are strongly resisted, until absolute 
exhaustion of raw material compels such diversion. 
This is the major unsolved problem of the region. 


Forest-Land Ownership 


Stable Owrership Essential to Continuous-Production 
Management 


Application of the sustained-yield principle would 
be far easier, other things being equal, on areas 
where only one ownership was involved. One of 
the major difficulties in the way of universal adop- 


as. 


Taste 40.—Past and assumed future cutting depletion of saw timber, and allowable transitional and ultimate annual cuts of saw timber under 
sustained-yield plan, in the Douglas-fir region 


TT NR ee ee n— Oo — —n—— 


Past annua! cut Assumed future average annual cut in relation to 1925-33 average 
District and unit 
fone 1933 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 
Million Million Million Million Million 
Puget Sound: board feet | board feet | board feet Percent board feet Percent board feet Percent 
iINorthehugetiSound i= sess oe eee ee 730 350 520 71 400 55 390 53 
Central’Pugetss oun dis ee eee eee 1, 840 1, 030 1, 610 88 1, 130 61 620 34 
SouthtbugetiSoundes 22 ei esee were to te 590 390 650 110 1, 190 202 550 93 
Sa EN a ee 3, 160 1,770 2, 780 88 2, 720 86 1, 560 49 
Grays)Harborssss= aes od Se eee ses ei se 1, 470 770 920 63 900 61 1, 150 78 
Columbia River: 
Columbia River, Wash 620 640 795 128 870 140 290 47 
Columbia River, Oreg--_--------- 1, 200 77 970 81 720 60 190 16 
ONO a ee a ee ee ee 1, 820 1, 410 1, 765 97 1, 590 87 480 26 
iWillametterRiverzas=- 2-6 sso ono fo ne sa es 770 470 770 100 1, 410 183 1, 625 211 
Oregon Coast: 
INorthtOregonicoaSttess2-— = saa sese es saa as- 280 130 340 121 560 200 560 200 
SouthtOregon'coast=2= === == oe nae ase 290 140 325 112 580 200 950 328 
GROIN se Se ee 570 270 665 117 1, 140 200 1, 510 265 
South Oregon: 
(WinpdUamR verges s2s eee eee es 30 20 30 100 120 400 475 1, 583 
IVORUC RAV CLs eee wet ee ee ees ISL 80 50 70 88 110 138 200 250 
FT Ot al eae nn ec Cle yen 110 70 100 91 230 209 675 614 
Regions total eee eee ee ae one re See 7, 900 4, 760 | 7, 000 89 | 7,990 | 101 7, 000 89 
| 
1 1 
| 
Average annual cut under sustained-yield plan 
WDistrictandeinit First transitional period Second transitional period 
Eten 
Towable Duration Mlowable Duration eae 
Million Million Million 
Puget Sound: board feet Years board feet Years board feet 
INOLtHeRUge tis OUN Geese ees te weed me Sa ee ee ee ee 420 70 320 70 570 
Central Puget Sound _ 750 80 740 50 990 
South Puget Sound__-__-___- 2 460 60 520 50 650 
S10 tel] Bost te enieertat act tee = 1, 630 70 1, 580 55 2, 210 
Grayssblan boris bestia ae eee ar eo Pe Pa ee oe 580 70 750 50 920 
Columbia River: 
480 60 440 60 600 
570 50 500 60 670 
1, 050 55 940 60 1, 270 
1, 160 60 910 30 1, 230 
Oregon Coast: 
INOLEDRO res ONICOAS t= seen es eae Se oe nae ake 350 60 410 60 640 
SouthsOregoniconstaseee eet ae et Sree eee Seen eee 480 70 520 50 740 
FT: 0 Le)] ene peteek ae epee et Noe EE Med 20 2 eee aoa 830 65 930 55 1, 380 
South Oregon: 
Wim pPquagR iv ere as ee estes See oe as endo Senn se esto o se sesesassee 670 70 500 50 600 
IROP TIGER Vereen ieee an on cae Sa eee see ea col lessee seston cee 320 50 200 100 470 
ETO Ll eters car er een Nia. See ees Jb oee cone ne ees Stes 990 65 700 70 1,070 
Regi omstotalmeesseeeeee ee a EIS eee oe ones eeeee eae cee 6, 240 70 5, 810 | 80 8, O80 


tion of sustained-yield management in the Pacific 
Northwest is the present division of forest areas 
among many owners, both public and_ private 


whose intentions in regard to management of the 


123 


areas vary widely. Except for the national forests, 
the Indian reservations, and the Washington State 
forests. there are very few large continuous blocks 
of timber land in one ownership. Even much 


FIRST TRANSITIONAL PERIOD UNDER SUSTAINED-YIELD PLAN 


Pee aga lee aaa 


PUGET SOUND 


1925 


ol ! 
é =: ---- [f= H I 


SOUTH OREGON + 


[eae 


1953 1963 1973 1993 2003 


YEARS 


1933 1943 1983 


Figure 39.—Past rates and assumed future rates of cutting compared with rates allowable under 


sustained-yield management 


their holdings in order tospread 


| 

| action | AVERAGE the chance of losses from fire 
| ANNUAL i 

poaro | ANNY Re ai aa 5 — ALLOWABLE AVERAGE | and other causes. Private lands 

FEET | ioos-a3) |withOUlSUSTAINERIVICID ANN VAL Comegs are irregularly intermingled 

: : - r with lands in different kinds of 

pes lie = public ownership. Moreover, 


neighboring owners are unlikely 
to fall into the same general 
category as to intent in owner- 
ship. Some are holding timber- 
land speculatively, intending to 
sell it to the highest bidder; some 
own logging equipment and 
plan to log for the open market 
or for wood-using industries 
with which they have contracts; 
and some operate mills and 
also do their own logging. 
Although it is estimated that 
the 12 largest hold 
nearly half the privately owned 
saw-timber area in the region, 


owners 


other owners number about 
32,000. To further complicate 
the situation, probably nowhere 
in the region is there a solid 
block of as much as 30,000 
acres owned by one company or 
individual unalienated by other 
ownership. Figure 40 shows the 
complexity of the ownership 


| ‘ he oe OREGON COAST =| pattern in a typical forested 
ale oa | ial county, Coos County, Oreg. 

a SSS po) ee poe aaa _| | In earlier days, particularly 

5 | in Washington and northern 

i | | Oregon, mills were set up on 

| ot= au the basis of operating only long 


enough for full depreciation 
(usually about 20 years), and 
supplies of standing timber 
were acquired with the assur- 
ance that if the mill owner’s 
supply of timber was exhausted 
before the plant was depre- 
ciated the deficiency could be 
made up from the open log 


market. At the same time, much timberland was 
purchased speculatively by buyers who anticipated 
that their timber would be needed by mills depend- 


of the publicly owned land is in scattered parcels. 
Few timber operators carry more than a 20- 
year supply; and many owners have scattered 


124 


ent on the open log mar- 
ket. Many mills in the re- 
gion have no raw material 
of their own to guaran- 
tee future production. Of 
the three major lumber- 
manufacturing districts, 
Grays Harbor district has 
20 percent of its installed 
mill capacity dependent 
on the open log market 
for raw material, Puget 
Sound district 50 percent, 
and Columbia River dis- 
trict 60 percent. 

Few private owners are 
doing much to block up 
their forest-land proper- 
ties for continuous timber 
production. ‘True, some 
owners have continued to 
hold timberland after 
the merchantable timber 
has been cut, but usually 
for other reasons than 
growing and _ harvesting 
a second crop of timber. 
The trends in tax delin- 
quency and in forfeiture 
of forest land to the coun- 
ties indicate that no great 
area of recently cut-over 
land will remain in private 
ownership even so long as 
20 years. Since the aver- 
age private forest property 
in this region contains a 
much greater area of old- 
growth timber than of 
second-growth timber, it 
would be difficult for 
many owners to put a 
sustained-yield plan into 
practice unless they 
acquired young and mid- 
dle-aged timber to bridge 
the gap between the 
last of their old growth 

224146°—40——_9 


: DOUGLAS 
S ane CO. 
&y il 
© 
9 
6) = 
& Ty 
NN gS Xf 4 
. <6 OSmaze 
Tt N= ews 
Q VAL Ze 
f N= @ Dill 
fi Zalll " bOoSh= Oo 
= N=N EN-N oF Zilli ft 
zill goeosill @ QUE 
SR teeta Ne a 
ozilizoeozoeoZo0e ele] 
N=O07s=0=o0=0=e8O ele, 
Ozi-zozozozoZo0= ole] 
: D-OGO=06s=o6 n= ele, 
j i] Z o i E =. 
® inasgeenaecn Ze qe 
qi He Feel JeLalle [ile [The one 
| T] ga We rere Fae [fe pe t 
° ANY (Seley Sere eliaetae fef}e, 
a ak Net) fee a =00 
Tp NS fof tence ea nom 
u@ mali ZOoOS=s og= 
= NEN Oogrzillll 
=N= td ovos0; 
HU ml Mde|* (SS 
AGNS SEN ZENEN 
fa All ram 
iii S= NERY OES 
Pe tirdil Zilli ZOoZ 
HINES NEN a \ NY seat gilt 
EN SISNES le Ee DOUGLAS 
d AZ CO: 


\ i i 
[J Nonforest land YMAL A 
eae NJ oe EINES 
eeeccs] National forest Pol 
[ele| Revested grant lands 
LEA State land 
County land 


Municipal 


Small timber owners with € 


ZAlll 
YES] less than 3,000 acres 
BEM dividual targe timber 


owners 


cuRRY co. / 
y, 


, 


Ficure 40.—Forest’land ownership map of Coos County, Oreg. 


and the maturing of the second growth on the lands 
they now own. Selective logging of the remaining 
old-growth timber where feasible would greatly 
assist in the establishment of conditions more favor- 
able to sustained yield. For the region as a whole 
the forests are far from being in a normal condition, 
that is, a condition of even representation of the 
various age classes. Figure 41 shows the very un- 
even acreage distribution of the four major size 
classes of timber and figure 9 (p. 24) shows that of 
10-year age classes for the types less than 20 inches 
d. b. h. In general, progress toward sustained 
yield on a strictly private-ownership basis would in- 
volve blocking up of private properties either through 
mergers or through direct acquisition. 

In a large part of the region the ownership pattern 
is so complex that the initial step in establishing 
sustained-yield practice on private lands depends 
mainly upon the integration of policies and pro- 
cedures of the various public agencies administer- 
ing forest land. In the spruce-hemlock coastal 
districts, and possibly in the Douglas-fir forests in 
southwestern Washington, public lands are less 
important and the pattern of private land is such 
that the integrating of public lands and policies 
is not of vital concern. 

A few private owners of forest land who have 
serious intentions of owning and operating their 
lands continuously are selecting the areas of better 
site and second-growth conditions from their cut- 
over land and dropping the remainder. 


Factors Influencing Liquidation of Private Ownership 


The principal reasons given by owners of most 
timberland other than farm land as to why they 
are not interested in holding forest property beyond 
the time when they can liquidate their present 
stumpage are as follows: 


1. Taxes (ad valorem property tax and Federal estate 
tax). 

2. Risk of loss of capital investments through fire, insects, 
wind throw, and disease. 

3. Uncertainty of future markets for wood. 

4. Other investment fields more attractive. 

5. Difficulty of financing. 

6. Extent of public-owned forests 


TAXES 23 


The tax problem of forestry in the Douglas-fir 
region, and elsewhere in the United States for that 


126 


STATE AND 


SIZE CLASS NATIONAL FOREST 


OTHER LANDS 


WESTERN 
WASHINGTON 


20+ in.D.B.H | 
160 + Yeors 


20 iniDIB\H| eon (eee lesen 
O —160 Yeors 


6-20in.D.BH} }------4-------t------ == 


Ok="6)i0 DAB A igen {EP SORCs REeCC Ces Ha Saa 


WESTERN 
OREGON 


20+ in. D.B.H. 
160+ Years } 


20+in DBH 
O - 160 Yeors 


6-20in.D BH.) |-------4------- 


0 - 6in DBH) be------fo---2-- Janene en geo =e} S 


4 3 2 1 ° 1 
MILLIONS OF ACRES 


2 3 4 


Ficure 41.—Size-class distribution of timber in the Douglas-fir 
region 


matter, is concerned chiefly with the property tax. 
The only other taxes which may handicap forestry 
more than other enterprises are those imposed on 
transfer of property at death. Under some cir- 
cumstances, continuity of ownership, which is 
generally conceded to be favorable to good forestry 
practices, may be interrupted by the necessity of 
paying the heavy inheritance and estate taxes 
levied by the State and Federal Governments. 
No systematic study has been made of this subject 
under present conditions, however, and therefore 
further discussion of the forest-tax problem will be 
confined to the property tax. 

The weight of property taxation is in large meas- 
ure determined by the extent to which State and 
local governments rely upon the property tax to 
meet their revenue requirements, the need for local 
revenues as affected by organization and function- 
ing of local government, and the manner in which 
the property-tax burden is distributed among 
classes of property and among individual owners. 
What is the present situation in the Douglas-fir 
region of Oregon and Washington in respect to 
these factors? 


23 For a detailed presentation of the forest tax problem 
refer to Miscellaneous Publication 218, (4). For a brief 
treatment, see Circular 358, (6). 


‘Generally, throughout the country, the ratio of 
the property tax to the sum of all taxes has for 
many years tended to decrease. In the decade 
preceding 1930, however, this decrease was brought 
about, not by any decrease in property taxes but 
by increases in other taxes. Subsequent to 1930 
there has been a marked decrease in the absolute 
amount of property taxes in some States. In 
Oregon the annual property-tax levies, which 
totaled in the neighborhood of $50,000,000 from 
1928 to 1931, receded moderately to about 
$40,000,000 in 1935 and 1936 (79, p. 20). 


Washington there was a very marked recession in 


In 


property-tax levies after 1933, brought about 
largely by the enactment of over-all limitations of 
40 mills on urban and 25 mills on rural property 
(Iniat. Meas. 64, 1932), so that the total taxes 
collectible in 1930 of $81,000,000 became less 
than $54,000,000 in 1934, and only a little over 
$42,000,000 in 1936 (23, pp. 10 and 52). 

This decrease in property taxes in Washington 
was accompanied by a large increase in excise 
In both Oregon and Washington, local 
governments now receive practically all the prop- 


taxes. 


erty taxes and the State relies upon other forms of 
Many duties performed in the past by 
the county are now performed by the State, for ex- 


taxation. 


ample, public welfare activities and the construc- 
Moreover the State has 
taken on new duties such as policing highways and 


tion of primary highways. 


protecting forest lands, including large areas for- 
feited to the counties for unpaid taxes. Neverthe- 
less, the State is turning over to local governmental 
agencies an increasingly large percentage of its re- 
ceipts from various sources, retaining some super- 
vision of their disbursement. Local pressure is in- 
creasing upon State and Federal Governments for 
additional subventions and upon the State for 
additional services. 

In spite of the above-mentioned developments the 
need for local revenues is an important aspect of the 
forest-tax problem. The local governments still lean 
Little has been done 
to simplify the structure of local government in 
these States and to adapt it to the needs of the 
sparsely settled communities where forest lands 


heavily on the property tax. 


predominate. Asa result, the property-tax burden 


on forest lands in certain districts is still needlessly 


127, 


high. The most noteworthy recent advance has 
been the consolidation of certain elementary school 
districts in Washington which has somewhat -re- 
duced costs of administration. On the whole, how- 
ever, Improvements in local government organiza- 
tion and functioning remains a task for the future. 

Uncertainty because of irregularities in distribu- 
tion of the property-tax burden is often more serious 
than the absolute amount of this burden. Inclusion 
of forest lands within special jurisdictions, and arbi- 
trary shifting of the boundaries of these jurisdictions 
to transfer timber values from one district to an- 
other, have encouraged extravagance in some dis- 
tricts and in some others have made very high taxes 
necessary to preservation of the districts’ exist- 
ence. This situation is accentuated by fluctua- 
tions in tax rates made necessary in many instances 
by the narrow tax base. 

Another tax hazard to forest growing is the in- 
equality of assessment in many counties. Piece- 
meal and usually inexpert appraisal of forest prop- 
erties characterizes existing assessment practice in 
both Oregon and Washington. Since many prop- 
erties extend across county lines, the county assess- 
ment system at its best can hardly take account of 
their true economic situation and income capacity 
Failure to 
choose assessors with proper technical qualifications 
and lack of State supervision are also important 
handicaps. While it should be recognized that 
some county assessors, in spite of great difficulties, 


as units of operation or management. 


have done excellent work, there is no question but 
that much remains to be done to improve the assess- 
ment of forest lands, thus removing another impor- 
tant element of uncertainty in the tax system as now 
administered. Other steps in tax administration, 
especially collection, also need strengthening, but 
assessment is the heart of the property-tax system 
and the one step in tax administration which has 
the most direct bearing on equity and certainty in 
forest taxation. 

In January 1937 a report to the Governor and 
legislative assembly of Oregon (78) recommended 
reorganization of local government, with consolida- 
tion of small rural school districts and State assess- 
ment of timberlands under the direct administra- 
tion of the State Tax Commission. 
lation recommended in this report was not enacted. 


However, legis- 


To date no law has been enacted in this region to 
adjust the property tax by removing the excess bur- 
den (in comparison with that of an ordinary income 
tax) which it imposes on deferred-yield forest prop- 
erties. ‘The proof of this excess burden and precise 
definition of deferred yield have been given in a 
previous publication (4) of the Forest Service. In 
1935, an adaptation of the deferred timber tax, one 
of the Forest Service proposals to this end, was con- 
sidered by a committee of the Oregon Legislature, 
but no legislation resulted. 

In the meantime, however, laws were enacted 
(Oregon in 1929, Washington in 1931) withdraw- 
ing cut-over lands suitable for reforestation and not 
containing timber in merchantable quantities from 
the ordinary operation of the property-tax system. 
Lands classified under these laws pay an annual 
tax on the land (at specific amounts in Oregon and 
based on fixed assessments in Washington) and a 
yield tax on the timber products when cut. The 
purpose was to encourage holding and protecting 
cut-over and other forest lands suitable chiefly 
for growing forests and not containing timber in 
merchantable quantities at the time of classifica- 
tion. The specific tax was originally uniformly 5 
cents throughout Oregon but was subsequently 
reduced to 4 cents east of the Cascades. It is not 
yet clear how large a portion of the merchantable 
stand may be left in selective cuttings without 
making the residual property ineligible for classi- 
fication under these laws. So far only insignifi- 
cant amounts of yield tax have been collected. 
In spite of certain inherent disadvantages (4), 
these laws have been beneficial in tending to main- 
tain private ownership of cut-over lands and the 
cooperative fire-protection system. It is too early 
to pass judgment on their effectiveness in attaining 
their other objectives. 


TAX-REVERTED LANDS 


Unquestionably improved administration of the 
laws relating to assessment of property and collec- 
tion of taxes would tend to prevent tax forfeituure. 
It would not entirely prevent such forfeiture in this 
region, however, because some of the cut-over land 
is so devoid of income possibilities that no one is 
likely to hold it and accept the responsibilities of 
private ownership no matter how light the carrying 
charges. 


Tax-delinquent lands in Oregon and Washington 
revert to the county rather than to the State. No 
adequate plans for the management or other dispo- 
sition of these lands have been adopted in Oregon. 
In Washington, county-owned lands may be deeded 
to the State for State forests. A portion of the 
county lands have been transferred to the State 
and are under management. Local opposition to 
the transfer of tax-forfeited lands to the State has 
been voiced in parts of Oregon and Washington. 
Among the reasons given for this opposition are 
the following: (1) The lands should be restored 
promptly to the property-tax rolls and local govern- 
ment is in the best position to do this; (2) surrender 
of this land would be a surrender of home rule; 
(3) the tax equities of local governments in these 
lands would be lost or impaired; and (4) any 
profits in excess of the tax equities derivable from 
prompt sale after county acquisition should go to 
Transfer of these lands to 
State ownership may become more acceptable 
locally when it is realized that (1) some of the land 


local governments. 


is unsuited to private ownership; (2) the State is in 
better position than local governments to classify, 
dispose of, and manage such.lands; (3) legal pro- 
vision can be made for settling the tax equities of 
local governments and for subsequent contributions 
in lieu of taxes on lands dedicated to public owner- 
ship and use; (4) usually, sale of these lands for 
immediate profit is followed by early removal of 
liquidable assets and the land again reverts for 
unpaid taxes; (5) in general, the amounts recov- 
erable from the State settlement of tax 
equities exceed the potential profits from such 
sales as could be made by the counties in short 


in 


order. 
RISK OF LOSS OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT 


The chances of loss by fire have in the past 
loomed large to the average owner of forest land 
in this region. In the section on depletion, it 
was stated that trees killed directly by fire and not 
salvaged composed but a small percentage of the 
annual depletion of saw-timber volume in the 
region during the 5-year period 1926-30, averag 
ing about 179 million feet a year on lands other 
than national forest of which nearly all was pri- 
vately owned; and that with the more mobile 
logging equipment now available much of this 


material could be salvaged. The fire records used 
by the survey did not, however, include any 
catastrophic fires such as the Tillamook fire of 
1933, losses from which have been only slightly 
It is undoubt- 
edly fear of such major conflagrations, which can 
occur in the region at any time, that causes many 
tmberland owners to drop their holdings after 
liquidating their stumpage and that perpetuates 
the practice of many timber companies of scattering 


reduced through salvage operations. 


their holdings over a considerable area. 

No insurance company has offered to insure 
standing timber against loss by fire, but a recent 
study (20) indicates that forest fire insurance is 
feasible and could be a profitable undertaking. 
If forest fire insurance is made available to timber 
it undoubtedly — greatly 
opportunities for timber holding. 

Risk of loss by insects, wind throw, etc. is not 
great in this region, although epidemic losses of 
considerable magnitude have occurred here at 


owners will increase 


long intervals in the past. 


UNCERTAINTY OF FUTURE MARKETS FOR 
FOREST PRODUCTS 


The uncertainty of the chances of selling timber 
10, 20, 50, or more years from now naturally 
bothers the average owner. It appears to him 
problematical how long the Douglas-fir region will 
have a Nation-wide market for its large surplus. 
A large part of the Douglas-fir lumber production 
is shipped abroad; future possibilities of holding 
these markets are uncertain. Owners of timber- 
land not tributary to an open log market are 
particularly concerned as to their opportunity to 
sell their timber profitably to operators. 


OTHER INVESTMENT FIELDS MORE 
ATTRACTIVE 


The belief that other forms of investment will 
bring greater returns than holding timberland to 
grow a second crop has been one reason for failure 
to hold such land in this region as in other parts 
of the United States. 

During the era of rapid development in the 
United States, there was no inducement for a 
timberland.owner to hold his land for a long period 


in order to grow trees. It was more profitable to 


liquidate investments in stumpage and buy new 
stumpage from the Government, timber specula- 
tors, or from homesteaders, in a new region. 
This, therefore, was the usual procedure of private 
timberland owners in all forest regions in the 
United States developed prior to those of the Pacific 
Coast. 
profits in stumpage, although the initial costs 
were low, have been dissipated by the heavy car- 
rying charges, as the period of speculative invest- 
ment was premature by a score or more of years 


In the Douglas-fir region as a whole the 


(as measured by the progress of depletion in the 
East and South). 


DIFFICULTY OF FINANCING 


Obtaining low-cost capital in sufficient amounts 
to carry timber for a sustained-yield operation is a 
The 
capital required for a manufacturing plant averages 
larger than elsewhere. 


particularly serious problem in this region. 


Fire-protection costs are 
high; risk of loss is great. ‘There is no intermediate 
grazing revenue as in the ponderosa pine region. 
With rough topography and much inaccessible 
country heavy expensive equipment is needed for 
logging including transportation. 

of 


markets outside the region results in large pro- 


Dependence wood-working industries on 
duction units, the manufacture of high-quality 
products to offset high cost of transportation, and 
All these factors 


combine to increase the amount of capital neces- 


the carrying of large inventories. 


sary to finance operations in this region. 
EXTENT OF PUBLIC-OWNED FORESTS 


The proximity of publicly owned forest land may 
or may not be an obstacle to private owners in 
setting up sustained-yield plans, depending on 
Neither 
the cut from the national forests in this region nor 


type of public ownership and on locality. 


that from Oregon & California Railroad land- 
grant timberlands has been large enough to influ- 
ence cutting of private stumpage in the past. In 
southern Oregon and even in parts of the Willa- 
mette River district, private owners forming plans 
for sustained yield will have to be guided by the 
policies governing administration of Oregon & 
California Railroad timber under the sustained- 
yield law of 1937. 


policies as to sale of timber on State school lands 


In western Washington future 


will be an important factor in the situation. In- 
creasing county ownership not only of cut-over 
land but, in southern Oregon, of commercial tim- 
berland is one of the obstacles to continued holding 
of land by private individuals. It is impossible to 
foretell at this time the future timber-sale policies 
of the 38 counties in the region. Variation in 
policy among counties is one of the main reasons 
why tax-delingeunt forest land should revert to 
the State rather than to the county. So long as 
counties continue to sell timberland, whether 
second growth or old growth, at prices below the 
average price at which private owners can sell, or 
even below the assessed value of private timberland, 
sustained-yield practice by private owners will be 
hindered. 


Areas Favorable for Private Ownership 


As a general rule the opportunities for sustained- 
yield management of private timberland are greater 
for the pulpwood-producing areas of the coastal 
belt of Washington and Oregon than for areas 
suitable only for growing saw timber. Very prob- 
ably, much more than half the forest land held by 
private owners for continuous timber production 
will be located in the spruce-hemlock zone in 
western Clallam, western Jefferson, Grays Harbor, 
and Pacific Counties, Wash., and in western 
Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln Counties, Oreg. 
Saw-timber areas equally attractive for the invest- 
ment of private capital exist, but are limited in 
extent. Present plans of a few large operators 
indicate that considerable saw-timber area may be 
operated on a continuous-production basis. It is 
likely that much saw-timber-producing land bor- 
dering large agricultural areas will be privately 
operated for continuous production. 

The pulpwood-producing areas are practically 
all of very high site quality, mostly sites I and II. 
They are now covered with good stands of pulp 
species. By and large, the topography and ground 
conditions are such that logging is not difficult, 
and offer better possibilities for light selection cut- 
ting than those of most Douglas-fir areas in other 
parts of the region. The spruce-hemlock zone has 
a lower fire hazard, at least from the standpoint of 
climatic factors, than exists elsewhere in the region. 
Here the opportunity for integrated management 


1S?) 


is good, the better grade high value logs going to 
the saw and veneer mills and the less valuable 
logs used for pulp. 

Until now pulp manufacturers in the Douglas-fir 
region, with few exceptions, have owned relatively 
little forest land in proportion to their investments 
in plants and to their annual wood requirements. 
On the whole, the pulp industry has ridden along 
on the back of the lumber industry so far as obtain- 
ing supplies of raw material is concerned. In the 
course of logging for Douglas-fir and ‘‘cedar’’ sawlogs 
the lumber industry produces more hemlock. logs 
than are needed for the sawmills, and the pulp in- 
dustry has depended to a large extent on these open- 
market hemlock logs. Relatively small areas of 
timberland owned by pulp companies have been 
used as sources of logs with which to depress the 
open-market price of hemlock logs. When the 
types in which Douglas-fir and ‘“‘cedar”’ occur in quan- 
tities sufficient to justify logging for sawlogs are cut 
out—a condition that will soon be reached in north- 
ern Washington—logging for hemlock alone will 
begin: when this time comes the pulp companies 
will probably have to obtain their raw material 
through logging operations of which pulpwood sup- 
plies are the main object, and may find it necessary 
to own and control more timberland than they do 
now. 

Integrated utilization, low fire hazard, high an- 
nual growth per acre, not much agricultural devel- 
opment or many public improvements to date and 
therefore no cause for high-tax rates, make these 
areas in the spruce-hemlock zone more promising 
for continuous production and ownership by priv- 
ate capital than any other areas in the region. 


Current Trend to County Ownership 


Most of the changes in ownership of forest land 
now taking place in this region are resulting from 
county foreclosure of tax-delinquent lands. On 
January 1, 1934, about 657,000 acres of land was 
county-owned, of which 630,000 acres was forest 
land. Since then the area of land foreclosed by 
Oregon counties has been increasing each year. A 
comparison of the county-owned-land situation in 
eight counties of Oregon in 1932-33 and 1935-36 
(table 41) shows that in this short period the acre- 
age foreclosed by the counties more than doubled, 


TasLe 41.—County-owned areas } in selected counties of western Oregon as of 1932-33 and as of 1935-36, by generalized cover type ® 


Se a aa aS SSS ee 


Commercial conllen wires of diameter Hardwoods: 
District, county, and date vo Cut-overs, | noncommer- All cover 
etc.3 cial forest, types 
20+ inches | 6-20 inches | 0-6 inches | nonforest 
| 
Columbia River: 
Clatsop: Acres | Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres 
VIG 51932 eee eee eee he Sa et 4, 500 11, 400 3, 900 4, 900 13, 400 38, 100 
Pui ltys1 93 6 eee enna neers tee ee ee eee 9, 700 17, 100 6, 800 12, 000 16, 100 61, 700 
Columbia: 
April 1932 400 6, 400 3, 000 17, 900 1, 300 29, 000 
uly a1 93 6 eee een err ee ee ee 900 | 10, 800 7, 300 | 61, 800 2, 900 83, 700 
Oregon coast: 
Tillamook: 
ARUDIE HOSP Ye 8 pe er ae ee eae 16, 600 11, 700 22, 600 17, 900 6, 800 75, 600 
October 936i Stara ae sete oe ae eS 27, 800 16, 700 23, 400 | 61, 300 11, 000 140, 200 
Coos: 
Vi aye 933 Scene ree ee ae 5, 300 7, 000 1, 500 1, 600 1, 900 17, 300 
October 1935 15, 700 29, 000 | 8, 000 13, 800 5, 900 72, 400 
Willamette River: 
Benton: 
TAUNAY) SCRA VG os si ae et pare Pee a 2, 000 700 | 1, 500 700 300 5, 200 
Marche) 93 6 see eese eae os ns We Sk ee 7, 700 2, 200 2, 800 5, 400 1, 400 19, 500 
Lane: § 
May 1933___ 7, 900 7, 400 500 6, 600 3, 200 25, 600 
May 1936 30, 200 15, 800 | 3, 000 17, 200 6, 400 72, 600 
South Oregon: | 
Douglas: 5 
Septemberelos2eeesto eee case se a 2 ee ee 25, 600 6, 600 2, 100 5, 800 2, 200 42, 300 
Decembergl 935 wes mesma te ater ees ERS ee yy oe 109, 900 19, 800 | 4, 900 12, 100 5, 200 151, 900 
Josephine: | 
VI ‘es yp. 33 Spepeemee nate cates eats ese ae eae NS 22, 700 | 12, 900 | 5, 600 6, 300 3, 300 50, 800 
Septembersl936Saoeses ss ee aes ee ee ee 29, 100 13, 900 | 6, 000 7, 700 3, 500 60, 200 
| 
Total: 
L932 Bot eee ee aa nas BE mae Eerie Se eee 85, 000 64, 100 40, 700 61, 700 32, 400 283, 900 
LOB 5-3. tere mers tase a IL Va SE) Tetra ad Le i orl 231, 000 125, 300 62, 200 191, 300 52, 400 662, 200 
| 


1 Acreages rounded off to nearest hundred. 


Areas within agricultural zones of Benton, Lane, and Tillamook Counties not included. 


2 For Clatsop and Tillamook Counties, where extensive fires occurred in 1933, new cover-type data were obtained in 1936 for use in the 1936 computa- 
tions shown here. For other counties, cover-type data taken in 1932-33 were used in the 1935-36 computations, no material changes in cover type having 


taken place in the interval. 


3 Lands cut over since 1920, old cut-overs not restocking, and deforested burns. 
4 Data include 32,188 acres deeded by owners to Tillamook County to save costs of tax-forfeiture proceedings, 


5 Data include some small areas situated in Oregon coast district. 


even without counting in the 32,000 acres of tax- 
delinquent land deeded directly to Tillamook 
County by the owners to save the county foreclosure 
costs. In Washington, there were no foreclosures 
between 1933 and 1936. Where the cut-over lands 
are physically unsuited for agriculture the rate of 
reversion will progressively increase as the old- 
growth timber area is reduced and tax pressure on 
it increases. Some counties will acquire consider- 
able areas of merchantable timber through tax 
foreclosure. Unless the States liberalize tax-delin- 
quency laws or county officials drastically reduce 
assessments on cut-over lands, the acreages of 
county-owned land will greatly increase in the next 
two decades. 


131 


Washington has adopted legislation whereby 
forest land acquired by counties through tax rever- 
sion can be deeded to the State and managed by it 
for the benefit of the county, with the provision 
that the State will be reimbursed for the cost of 
protection and management from receipts accru- 
ing through the sale of products raised on these 
So far none of the Oregon counties has 
made any attempt to manage forest land acquired 


lands. 


through tax foreclosure, and probably none of 
them can afford to undertake adequate manage- 
ment. Oregon might well follow the Washington 
precedent. 

If Oregon does nothing to facilitate transfer of 


reverted lands from county to State ownership and 


Washington continues to acquire only part of the 
forest lands forfeited to the counties, there will be 
no reduction in the area of county-owned forest 
land and in fact it will increase in practically every 
county in the region. In Washington and north- 
ern Oregon the areas reverting to the counties im- 
mediately will be principally cut-over lands with 
or without reproduction, and within the next 
decade or two these will be supplemented with 
some remote and low-grade commercial timber- 
land. In southern Oregon the reverting areas will 
include not only cut-over land and second-growth 
land but considerable areas of old-growth timber. 
Extensive public purchases of forest land in the 
near future would probably retard the reversion of 
tax-delinquent land to the counties. County- 
owned forest lands will consist of scattered areas 
for many years but in certain counties may eventu- 
ally be consolidated into blocks. Owing to de- 
creasing tax bases and to the difficulty of adminis- 
tering an irregular patchwork of lands, many 
counties will undoubtedly sell any or all of their 
lands at almost any price, seeing only the oppor- 
tunity for immediate cash return, overlooking the 
greater future county burdens involved in such 
sales. Other counties, more far-sighted, may 
adopt policies designed to hold their lands and 
keep them off the speculative market. Since much 
of the tax-reverted land in the southern Oregon 
counties carries merchantable timber, it is possible 
that these counties will give more consideration to 
holding and managing their forest lands than will 
the northern counties. If the States fail to assume 
responsibility for the county-owned lands, the in- 
dividual counties should direct their efforts towards 
permanent forest management of these lands. 

All county revenue in both Oregon and Wash- 
ington is obtained from the general-property tax. 
Funds raised by this method have barely sufficed 
for carrying on the ordinary functions of govern- 
ment, and at present the only statutory method 
by which counties can substantially increase their 
income is to raise property-tax rates to points that 
in many instances would be confiscatory. Under 
these circumstances it is doubtful that the counties 
will spend very much for administration of their 
forest land, particularly in western Washington 
and in northwestern Oregon where county-owned 


132 


forest land consists chiefly of areas either recently 
cut over or occupied by small second growth. So 
long as counties have to provide road and school 
services and are limited to the general-property 
tax for revenue, it will be increasingly difficult for 
private owners to carry timberland, particularly 
in the counties where there is but little industry 
and the farm areas are so small and so poor that 
the taxes they pay are inadequate to meet the costs 
of government they create. Under these circum- 
stances county spokesmen will continue to assert 
that public ownership of large areas of timberland 
is contributing greatly to county fiscal problems, 
overlooking the fact that if these same areas of 
publicly owned land had been turned over to 
private ownership many years ago they would 
only have aggravated the problem of oversupply 
of private timber, and many of them would un- 
doubtedly have reverted to the counties long ago. 


Integration of Public Lands and Policies Desirable 


Except in the spruce-hemlock districts just men- 
tioned, and possibly in the Douglas-fir forests in 
southwestern Washington, sustained-yield practice 
would be chiefly a matter of integrating policies and 
procedures of the various public agencies adminis- 
tering forest land. 

Although there may be individual instances of 
sustained-yield practice on private land under the 
present conditions of unstable private and mixed 
public ownership, adoption of such practice on a 
complete region-wide basis is impossible so long as 
these conditions prevail. Most private owners will 
find it difficult to practice sustained-yield manage- 
ment unless on the basis of cooperative arrange- 
ments with a governmental agency having timber 
and the authority to enter into long-time agree- 
ments. 

Under a liquidation program an operator might 
prefer that the publicly owned timber upon which 
he partly depends for raw material be controlled 
by several different public agencies; but under a 
sustained-yield program the average operator en- 
tering into a cooperative agreement involving fu- 
ture supplies for his mill and the handling of his 
land would prefer to deal with one public agency 
rather than several. In addition, therefore, to a 
merging of private properties, some consolidation of 


public forest lands would be desirable in the further- 
ance of sustained-yield management in this region. 
Reblocking of federally owned timberland is feasi- 
ble. A merging of State and county-owned timber- 
land under unified administration is desirable. If 
the latter is not possible, at least a uniform set of 
policies, rules, and regulations should be adopted 
for the handling of all county-owned and State- 
owned timberland. 


Public Acquisition Programs 


Because of lack of funds, Federal and State ac- 
quisitions of forest land in this region have been too 
small to alter materially the production policy of 
the lumber industry. Forest Service acquisition 
has been largely a matter of trading merchantable 
timber on national forests for cut-over lands in the 
near vicinity of the national forests, and has been 
scattered throughout the western part of the two 
States. Oregon created the Elliott State Forest by 
exchanging scattered State lands within national 
forests for a solid block of national-forest land. 
Washington has blocked up its two major mature- 
timber areas by the same method, one in Jefferson 
and one in Snohomish County, and is blocking up 
an area of cut-over land in the central part of the 
State. In the latter case the State had purchased 
about 40,000 acres by the fall of 1936, at a cost of 50 
cents per acre, using utility bonds bearing 1 percent 
interest. It is planned that this particular State 
forest shall ultimately be extended to include ap- 
proximately 100,000 acres. Under legislation that 
provides for transfer of tax-reverted land in Wash- 
ington from counties to State ownership, about 
300,000 acres was transferred as of August 1938 and 
an additional 50,000 acres later in 1938. 

The Federal Government may be considered to 
have two purposes in acquiring additional forest 
land, (1) consolidation of Federal ownership within 
the existing national-forest boundaries and (2) 
promotion of sustained-yield management on all 
forest lands. The existing national forests, in the 
region contain approximately 2 million acres of 
alienated land, by far the larger part of which is 
best suited to multiple-use forest management. 
Acquisition of this land would be logical, for ad- 
ministrative efficiency. The second purpose has 
greater significance and should receive primary con- 


sideration in an acquisition program. In many 


133 


cases establishment of new national-forest units 
(both additions to existing national forests and new 
forests) through acquisition will be necessary to ob- 
tain sustained-yield management even on a basis of 
cooperation with private timber companies, unless 
outright subsidization is resorted to. 

Enlarged public acquisition of second-growth and 
mature timber is advocated by many lumbermen 
because it would tend to stabilize stumpage prices, 
check the liquidation of private timber at excessive 
rates of cutting, and tend to hold back the cutting of 
second-growth timber, much of which is now in its 
period of maximum growth and which will be 
needed more in the future, when the present old- 
growth stands approach exhaustion. Overproduc- 
tion because of “‘distressed’’ stumpage has been a 
chronic problem of the West Coast lumber industry 
for the last 15 years; timber purchases to establish 
sustained-yield management will assist in solving it, 
From the public point of view, emphasis should be 
placed on purchases that will make industrial de- 
velopments permanent rather than upon those 
that will merely reduce the quantity of timber in 
unstable ownership. 

The region contains 173 billion board feet of 
timber of availability class I in private ownership. 
If this timber were cut at a rate of about 7% billion 
feet per year, it would last about 23 years. ‘The- 
oretically it will all be cut before much class II 
or class III timber is cut. Actually this probably 
will not happen; but it can be assumed that not 
much class II and III timber will be cut until 
nearly all the class I timber is gone, which would 
mean that timber of classes I] and III would 
have to wait from 20 to 25 years to begin to be 
marketed. At the present time the pressure to 
liquidate results for the most part in cutting of 
class I timber, since that is the only kind for which 
the return is greater than the cost of operation. 
The class III timber in private ownership is so 
limited in extent and so remote from markets that 
it will have but little influence on liquidation of 
private stumpage. It is gradually passing into 
county ownership through tax delinquency, and 
this trend may be expected to continue. Any 
purchases by Federal agencies of class III timber- 
land should be for special purposes, such as recrea- 
tion or stream protection, rather than for manage- 
ment for timber production. 


The 173 billion board feet of privately owned 
timber in availability class I has a market value 
probably in the neighborhood of $400,000,000. 
Complete public acquisition is obviously impracti- 
cable for fiscal reasons. Moreover, any large 
Federal timber acquisitions would disturb the 
sound purchase 
sustained- 


Hence a 
that 
possible through minimum 


tax base. 
one 


counties’ 
program is will make 
yield management 
acquisition. 

Maximum effectiveness can be obtained through 
locating timber purchases (both old-growth and 
second-growth) on areas where there is no con- 
siderable exploitation at present but where major 
exploitation is in prospect in the near future. 
First choices for acquisition under a cooperative 
sustained-yield plan would be in working circles 
where practically all the timber remaining in 
private ownership would be committed to such a 
management plan. Timber purchased could be 
of either availability class I or class II; class II 
timber would cost far less. If owners would agree 
to cut under a sustained-yield management plan, 
which ordinarily would mean an annual cut smaller 
than under liquidation, the plan would schedule 
cutting on their lands first in return for assurance 
that a stumpage supply would later be available 
to them from the publicly acquired lands. 

In any working circle that might be selected for 
such acquisition there would probably be some 
timber owned by mill owners and some owned by 
nonoperating owners. Persons owning both saw- 
mills and timber would be expected to have a 
greater interest in a cooperative sustained-yield 
project than the nonoperating (very often specu- 
lative) owners. Nonoperating owners might not 
be interested at all in such a plan, since under 
present circumstances there is no such financial 
inducement in sustained-yield management as 
Usually their 
timber would have to be purchased, involving 


purchase of both class I and class II timber. 


is offered by prompt liquidation. 


134 


The possibilities of purchase under this scheme 
are greater in Oregon than in Washington. In the 
remaining old-growth timber stands in western 
Washington that are primarily valuable for sawlos 
production, liquidation has gone so far that the 
bulk of the remainder could be bought only at 
high prices including depreciation charges for the 
facilities already installed to cut and manufacture 
this timber at rates materially in excess of sustained- 
yield cutting allowances. This is not true of the 
large areas of pulp-timber types in the coastal 
belt in Washington, but the owners of much of this 
timber may be expected to operate it on a strictly 
private sustained-yield basis. 

Federal timber purchases should be used to con- 
vert existing forest enterprises to a sustained-yield 
basis where this is still possible, and to discourage 
the installation of new liquidating ventures. Pur- 
chases should preferably be made on areas where 
there are definite possibilities for cooperative sus- 
tained-yield management. It is estimated that 
approximately 30 billion board feet could be 
purchased to advantage on this basis at the present 
time. Purchases that would effect complete public 
ownership of forest resourees in a working circle 
should be undertaken only when cooperative 
management has been found impracticable and 
then only if the working circle has particular 
importance for industrial stability. 

Federal timber purchases for the promotion of 
sustained-yield management are an investment of 
Federal funds that would result in substantial local 
benefits in the Douglas fir-region. The counties in 
which such purchases are made will eventually be 
in a much sounder financial condition by reason of 
the industrial stability obtained than if the present 
liquidation process is permitted to run its course. 
However, such purchases adversely affect the im- 
mediate fiscal position of the counties, by removing 
mature timber from the tax rolls. Some plan to 
reimburse the counties, during the adjustment 
period, for tax losses thus caused is apparently 
necessary. 


————— ee 


KROERGE St lhwiReEes7O: UR OC ES 


OOF Sh SHEED E' @OMUirGt Ac Se= 


PalsReigRok Giles ©; N 


A Regional Forest Program 


= 


ERMANENT forest the 
Douglas-fir region might be achieved by (1) 
public regulation, (2) public acquisition of 
forests, or (3) cooperation between public and 
private forest agencies to consummate sustained- 
yield plans. It is extremely unlikely that any one 
of these methods will be used exclusively; probably 
two or all three of them will be combined. Past 
progress toward stable forest-land use has resulted 
principally from legislation piece-meal, an essen- 
tially slow process. 
Permanent forest management will not be at- 


management in 


tained by any of these means until the people of the 
region thoroughly understand the inevitable conse- 
quence of continuing present practices and the 
results to be expected from sustained-yield manage- 
ment. 
program is to make these facts clear to the public, 
pointing out the full significance of sustained yield 
and the problems involved in putting it into effect. 


Therefore, the first step in a regional forest 


This is a task of great magnitude. In view of the 
economic and social values involved, it should be 
the function of a technical organization financed by 
Federal and State forest agencies with the coopera- 
tion of private owners’ trade associations. Existing 
inventory, growth, and depletion data gathered in 
the forest survey are sufficient for all the initial 
calculations. 

Any program for making the forests of the region 
continuously productive, and thereby assuring to 
industrial communities a reasonably stable supply 
of raw material, conflicts with urgent present de- 
Some districts 


undercutting. The overcutting districts possess 


mands. are overcutting, others 
natural geographic advantages, established indus- 
tries, and comparatively large populations; the 
undercutting districts lack geographic advantages, 


135 


Ke 


have few forest industries, are sparsely populated, 
and have timber supplies large in quantity but, on 
the average, of poorer quality than the timber now 
being cut. Owing to the excellent water-transpor- 
tation facilities, most industrial communities can 
draw on more adjacent forest territory for raw ma- 
terial than can communities in inland forest regions. 
This tends toward concentric cuttings around eas- 
ilv accessible and established sawmill communities, 
and as a result, there is extreme overcutting in this 
tributary territory and undercutting elsewhere. 

Sawmills can be dismantled in a cut-over district 
and logging equipment moved without too great a 
sacrifice, but not so community development. 
When schools, water and sewer systems, and other 
civic improvements are abandoned because of the 
approach of timber depletion and industrial disin- 
tegration the taxpayers and in fact the entire popu- 
lation suffer a heavy loss. 

The immediate need is to shift from liquidation 
to sustained-yield forest management on areas 
without 
The wood- 
using industries of overcutting localities endeavor 


where forest conditions are favorable, 
dislocation of labor and commerce. 


to maintain existing rates of production even in 
the face of certain radical curtailment within one 
or two decades. 
immediate application of sustained-yield practices 


The reduction of cut involved in 


seems too sacrificial of local interests, in spite of 
the known consequences of failure to do so. 
Obviously, stabilization of ownership and other 
economic readjustments are necessary before sus- 
tained-yield management can be generally adopted 
in the region. Application of a region-wide sus- 
tained-yield program would be gradual. Most 
of the forest land that should be used for continu- 
ous production of forest crops could, however, 


through concerted action by industry and gov- 
ernment, be put under sustained-yield manage- 
ment during the next 25 to 50 years. 


Future Situation [f Present Trends Continue 


If present trends continue, it is predicted that 
sawlog production will decline greatly during the 
next two or three decades in the Puget Sound, 
Grays Harbor, and Columbia River districts which 
are now being overcut, and will increase corre- 
spondingly in the Willamette River, Oregon coast, 
and south Oregon districts. Determined efforts 
will be made to maintain industries in present 
locations, by drawing on distant localities for raw 
material. 
compete sharply for the remaining old-growth 


Well-established wood-using plants will 
timber within economic transportation limits. 
Logging of large second growth in accessible loca- 
tions when it is making maximum growth will in- 
crease alarmingly. Tax delinquency probably 
will increase greatly on young second-growth and 
recently cut-over areas in the northern and cen- 
tral parts of the region and on old-growth areas in 
the southern part. 
put of lumber and other sawmill products is 
expected for a few years, followed by a gradual 
decrease of such production accompanied by an in- 


An increase in regional out- 


crease in wood-pulp and plywood production. The 
transition from railroad and donkey-engine meth- 
ods of logging to the more flexible truck and tractor 
methods seems certain to proceed at an accelerated 
pace. With all its disadvantages clear cutting will 
undoubtedly continue, but selection cutting of 
Cut- 


ting out of the old growth on private lands in cer- 


various types will become more prevalent. 


tain localities may be expected, particularly in 
north-central Washington and northern Oregon. 
Fire protection upon the increasing acreage of 
highly hazardous cut-over lands will undoubtedly 
become progressively poorer unless State and 
Federal appropriations are increased. 
Fire-protective associations are likely to concen- 


greatly 


trate on protecting the remaining private com- 

mercial saw timber, leaving protection of young 

second-growth and cut-over land to the States. 
The 


efforts to convert forest land to grazing use, par- 


increase of cut-over area will stimulate 


Re) 


ticularly in southern and western Oregon. 


This 
activity may not be confined to deforested lands; 
misguided attempts may be made to convert areas 
of second-growth and old-growth timber to graz- 
ing land. 

Recreational use of public forests, and demands 
for restricting commercial use of recreational areas, 
are increasing greatly, and it may be necessary to 
dedicate additional areas of Federal, State, and 
county forest land to this use. 

Canning and processing of farm products, metal- 
lurgical industries stimulated by Federal power 
projects, pulp and paper manufacture, and other 
industries will undoubtedly expand within the near 
future and absorb some of the workers released by 
the decrease in lumbering in some parts of the re- 
gion. It is expected that an increase will take place 
in local remanufacture of lumber, facilitating dis- 
posal of the lower grades and giving additional 
employment. 

Considerable forest land now privately owned 
will pass into public ownership through tax delin- 
quency. Many counties, particularly in Oregon, 
apparently are reluctant to transfer tax-reverted 
lands to the State or Federal Government, hoping 
that these lands, somehow, may be restored to the 
tax rolls. As time passes and these lands increase in 
extent, county governments will realize that oppor- 
tunities for permanently restoring tax-reverted forest 
to the tax rolls are very limited. 


Stabilizing Forest-Land Ownership 


The following program, although not necessarily 
a complete solution of the problem created by the 
instability of forest-land ownership, would if adopted 
vastly improve the situation: 


1. All Federal forest land chiefly valuable for 
commercial timber production should be managed 
under a uniform policy. 

2. Tax-forfeited lands should be promptly clas- 
sified as to most suitable use and ownership. Forest 
lands judged suitable for public use and ownership 
should be transferred to the State forest agency, and 
those within national-forest boundaries and nation- 
al-forest exchange limits should then be transferred 
to the Forest Service in exchange for Federal lands 
inside State-forest units. 


3. Federal, State, and private holdings should be 
exchanged and consolidated to improve the ex- 
tremely patchy pattern of forest-land ownership 
now common in the region. 

4. Private timberland owners, both operating 
and nonoperating, should be urged to merge their 
holdings so as to form properties of a size and com- 
pactness that will promote sound financing and 
efficient management for continuous production. 

5. Federal loans on private timberlands should be 
made only to those private owners who agree to 
adopt and maintain sustained-yield practices; these 
loans should be made at low interest rates and with 
long term amortization privileges. The loaning 
policies of all Federal agencies should be coordi- 
nated accordingly. All borrowers should be re- 
quired to carry forest-fire insurance if it becomes 
available at equitable rates. 

6. Defects and inequities in existing State and 
Federal tax laws as these affect forest lands should 
be corrected. 
should be given by State and county planning 
boards and by chambers of commerce to recom- 
mendations developed by the Forest ‘Taxation In- 
quiry of the Forest Service (4). 

7. As a basis for intelligent land-use planning, 
classification of rural lands should be undertaken 
immediately by Federal and State agencies, acting 
jointly. Following this classification, adequate zon- 
ing laws should be enacted, and should be effec- 
tively administered. 


With this purpose in view, study 


Public Acquisition of Forest Land 


Because of the instability of private forest-land 
ownership, it appears that the most direct way to 
restore and to maintain forest-land productivity 
in this region is through expanded public owner- 
ship. Theoretically, the Federal, State, and county 
governments should participate in a joint public- 
acquisition program. ‘The financial inability of the 
counties to administer forest. land adequately 
shifts their share of the burden to the other agencies. 
The States of Oregon and Washington have only 
limited funds for acquiring and administering addi- 
tional forest land. In view of this region’s pre- 
eminence in the Nation as regards forest resources, 
the Federal Government is justified, as a matter of 
national welfare, in assuming leadership in acquisi- 
tion of forest land here. 


137 


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 


A guiding policy of Federal acquisition should be 
to acquire forest land unlikely to remain in private 
ownership that could advantageously be adminis- 
tered as national-forest sustained-yield units, in 
cooperation with owners of neighboring land if 
possible, and for which State acquisition is not in 
prospect. 

The program should be well rounded, including 
virgin-timber areas, second-growth areas, and de- 
forested land. Choice of areas to be acquired 
should be governed by the following purposes: 
Stabilization of ownership and encouragement of 
sustained-vield management; consolidation of na- 
tional forests for more effective administration and 
protection; protection of watersheds; prevention 
of premature cutting of second-growth forests; re- 
habilitation of denuded and deteriorated lands; 
and encouragement of better forest practice on 
the part of operators who do not intend to hold their 
lands for continuous production—the last to be 
accomplished by acquiring only the cut-over lands 
left in good condition where this is possible, or by 
discriminating against abused land in the price 
paid for it. 

In planning acquisition, a territorial distribution 
of areas should be made between the States and the 
Federal Government, the latter assuming responsi- 
bility for areas that cannot be handled effectively 
by the States. 

Any Federal acquisition program would be con- 
ditioned on the funds made available. It is highly 
desirable that sufficient Federal money be made 
available to attain all the objectives listed. Land 
now deforested could be obtained very cheaply 
and a considerable acreage of this type of land is 
a Federal responsibility. Second-growth timber- 
land would be more expensive, but would be 
cheap compared with old-growth timberland, and 
should be acquired in large quantity. For the 
most part this would involve purchasing lands 
outside existing national-forest boundaries, leaving 
acquisition of alienated lands inside national-forest 
boundaries to be effected through exchange. 

If Federal funds sufficient to acquire 25 to 35 
billion feet of saw timber within the next 5 to 10 
years are made available, a Federal program should 
be set up to control overproduction in the Douglas- 
fir lumber industry by the methods outlined in the 


preceding section. Up to now there has been 
only one large-scale Federal purchase of old- 
growth timber; most Federal acquisition has been 
by exchange. Exchange of national-forest timber 
for private cut-over land in good condition should 
be continued and expanded. In the long run it 
should result in careful cutting of privately owned 
old-growth timber within the national forests. The 
boundaries of national forests should be extended 
so as to enlarge the working area within which 
properly cut-over private land can be exchanged 
for Federal timber. 


STATE GOVERNMENTS 


An urgent phase of the State forest-land-acquisi- 
tion program is the acquisition by both States of 
timber strips along main highways. This should 
be carried out immediately. Whatever the ulti- 
mate plan for handling tax-forfeited forest lands 
may be, the States should at least insist that such 
county-owned lands as border highways, are 
traversed by good fishing streams, or possess other 
recreational features be transferred from the 
counties to the States. Both States should acquire 
more ocean frontage, not only to reserve more 
beach land for public recreational use but also to 
control development that would destroy present 
vegetative cover and result in serious sand-dune 
encroachment. 

The State of Washington should continue to 
acquire State forests from private owners, by the 
utility-bond method or otherwise. In western 
Washington there are several large areas of cut- 
over land of high site quality, both with and with- 
out second growth, that could advantageously be 
blocked into State forests. The State might adopt 
an exchange system similar to that of the Forest 
Service and trade the timber on some of its scat- 
tered lands for carefully logged land inside the 
boundaries of existing and proposed State forests 
This would involve some changes in existing legis- 
In Oregon 
there does not seem to be much chance that any 


lation governing disposal of State land. 


considerable amount of State money will be allotted 
for direct forest-land acquisition in the near future. 

The prompt setting up, if only on paper, of sev- 
eral State forest acquisition units in both States is 


strongly urged. In many places large areas of 


138 


forest land have reverted to county ownership and 
additional large areas are almost sure to do so. 
Most of this land is obviously unsuited to private 
ownership and use. Scattered among the reverted 
areas are numerous small parcels of private land 
that cannot be operated independently on a sus- 
tained-yield basis. These parcels are held by 
persons interested not in managing the land for 
continuous forest production but in liquidating 
the forest capital; they include forest operators 
winding up their affairs in these localities and 
individuals gainfully employed in nonforest in- 
dustries. Tentative boundaries could be set up 
now around groups of such holdings, each group 
composing an area sufficiently large for an eco- 
nomic administrative unit, say about 100,000 
acres. The boundaries need not be extended to 
include all parcels of land that may soon come 
into State ownership. Such action would impress 
upon the people that the State was planning to 
give these lands a definite management status as 
soon as finances would permit it, thus stimulating 
transfer to the State of county lands within such 
units. 


COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES 


No sound reason appears for recommending any 
county forest-acquisition program other than for 
Coun- 
ties have not evidenced the consistent policy or the 
financial ability that would justify such a recom- 
mendation. ‘The frequent changes in local officers 
and policies and the constant struggle to finance 
existing local public services, owing to dependence 


small parks needed by rural communities. 


upon general-property taxes exclusively, prevent 
the counties from following a long-term, consistent 
program of management such as is required for 
proper forest administration and from undertaking 
the expense of such administration. In this region 
natural operating units overlap county boundaries, 
making it impractical for counties to undertake to 
protect or manage forests. Administration, par- 
ticularly protection, is more economical if spread 
over large areas. In view of these considerations, 
the counties would be better off in the long run if 
they conveyed their tax-forfeited forest lands to the 
State and the State made contributions to the 


counties in lieu of taxes on lands of this category 


dedicated as State forests. However, if the States 
will not assume the responsibility of managing the 
tax-forfeited forest lands the counties will be faced 
with the job. Any county funds available will be 
needed more for protecting and managing present 
and prospective tax-forfeited lands than for pur- 
chase of additional forest land. 

For the same reasons no broad program of forest 
acquisition is recommended for municipalities. 


Public Regulation of Forest-Land Use 


The necessity for public regulation of forest- 
land use results from the failure of private initiative 
to check the abuses that follow unrestricted ex- 
ploitation. For lands that remain hereafter in 
private ownership there must be some regulation of 
methods of cutting and fire protection that will 
protect the public interest. 


Methods of Cutting 


Methods of cutting should be employed that 
provide for prompt and certain reforestation of cut- 
over lands. This involves following the silvi- 
cultural practices embodied in the rules adopted 
under the National Recovery Act and later revised 
and presented in the Forest Practice Handbook 
(71). Adherence of forest owners to the principles 
embodied in these rules should be made obliga- 
tory, as an initial step. 

The choice of method should be determined by 
the physical characteristics of the area and the 
age, composition, and condition of the stand. In 
some instances selective cutting would be chosen 
in others clear cutting. 

In selective cutting, a stand of positive value 
should be reserved. 

Areas clear cut in any 1 year should be limited to 
such size that they can be reseeded by adjoining 
timber. The potential source of reseeding, whether 
it be a strip left along creek, ridge, highway, or 
property line or a body of timber awaiting cutting, 
should be at least 300 feet wide and should be left 
standing until the cut-over area has restocked. 


Slash Disposal 


Better slash disposal on clear-cut areas is needed, 
Approved methods (7/) should if necessary be re- 
quired by legislation. 


139 


The fire hazard must be controlled on areas 
logged selectively. Studies are now under way to 
determine suitable methods of abating the hazard 
from slashings; the results should be put into prac- 
tice as soon as available. 


Sustained Yield 


The ultimate solution of the forest problem in this 
region is institution of sustained-yield forest man- 
agement on all commercial forest land regardless of 
ownership. It is highly desirable that sustained- 
yield plans for all the forest areas be formulated at 
once, because of the possible effect on cutting of 


public timber, mergers of private properties, estab- 


lishment of new industrial plants, State legislative 
action, construction of public improvements, etc. 


Restriction of Cutting 


All timber on public forest lands, Federal, State, 
or county, now reserved or to be reserved exclu- 
sively for intensive recreational use should be omit- 
ted from sustained-yield calculations and reserved 
from cutting except for salvage. A comprehensive 
study of forest-recreation needs is now being con- 
ducted by the Forest Service and is expected to 
indicate future needs for recreation. 

Except for thinnings, no second-growth timber in 
public. ownership should be cut and no privately 
owned second growth that is part of a sustained- 
yield unit should be cut so long as available old- 
growth timber may be supplied at costs reasonably 
comparable to costs of operating the second growth. 

Integration of any measures taken for (1) stabili- 
zation of forest-land ownership, (2) public acquisi- 
tion of forest land, and (3) enactment of regulatory 
legislation would assist in the consummation of the 
sustained-yield plans. 


Forest Protection 


With an enlarging acreage of cut-over land and a 
growing use of the forests by the public for recrea- 
tion, the Douglas-fir region is facing an increasingly 
Particu- 
larly outside the national forests, efforts must be 


difficult problem of forest-fire protection. 


redoubled to keep losses within reasonable bounds. 
The fire codes of both States are very specific and 


with minor additions would be adequate to meet 
present conditions, but should be modified as con- 
ditions change. The great needs in fire protection 
are stricter enforcement of the existing laws and 
more money to finance an adequate protective 
system. 

Some of the specific steps necessary to advance 
forest protection are as follows: 

1. The wild lands outside public forests should be 
classified to determine the major areas chiefly val- 
uable for forest purposes and requiring protection. 
Forest-protective agencies should then confine their 
efforts to these lands, and other agencies such as 
rural fire departments should be held responsible 
for the protection of the intervening agricultural 
and farm-woodland territory. 

2. Following land classification, there should be 
land use legislation to prevent attempts to use forest 
land for agricultural settlement, since such uneco- 
nomic use of submarginal land is sure in this region 
to increase the fire hazard to adjoining forests. 

3. In anticipation that the private timberland 
owners’ contribution toward protection will dimin- 
ish as the area of virgin forest diminishes, the State 
should assume a greater share in the protection of 
county and private lands and ultimately have en- 
tire jurisdiction over all forest protection outside 
Federal holdings. State appropriations should 
therefore be materially increased, to intensify the 
present protection and law enforcement. 

4. Through educational effort and otherwise, 
better compliance with the forest-protection laws 
must be brought about and these laws must be more 
strictly enforced in the lower courts. 

5. Probably the greatest technical weakness of 
the forest protection on private lands is in the 
methods of burning slashings and subsequently pro- 
tecting logged-off lands. There is need for much 
progress here, particularly in developing methods 
for abating the hazard, without detriment to forest 
productivity, on lands that have been selectively 
cut. Alarger force of year-long trained fire wardens 
is needed to give expert help and supervision in in- 
dividual slash-burning and land-clearing operations. 

6. The Civilian Conservation Corps has been so 
helpful in fire suppression and prevention and has 
been so integrated with the regular fire-control or- 
ganizations during the last few years that a sudden 


140 


reduction or withdrawal of its help would be up- 
setting to the protective agencies. This or equiva- 
lent assistance should be given. 

7. Adetermined effort should be made to have in- 
surance companies offer, and timber owners pur- 
chase, insurance for forest lands. The general in- 
suring of forests would give financial security and 
stability to forest ownership and have a salutary 
effect on fire prevention. 


Reforestation of Denuded Lands 


Large-scale forest planting in this region cannot 
be justified economically until areas reforesting nat- 
urally are better safeguarded. The money that 
would be required to plant extensive areas where 
natural reforestation is impossible would bring far 
ereater returns if spent on improving methods of 
cutting, slash disposal, and fire protection. 

A program for permanent C. C. C. work should 
include planting of deforested burns on national 
forests and State forests that will not restock natu- 
rally in a reasonable period. 


Forest Research 


Forest research as now carried on by the Forest 
Service, the forest schools, and industrial organiza- 
tions is giving beneficial results and should be con- 
tinued and expanded. The industry itself should 
make more intensive studies of its industrial prob- 
lems, either through its trade associations or other- 
wise. The States themselves are doing very little 
research, though there is a field for State activities 
as a supplement to Federal activities; their research 
might best be conducted through their forest schools 
and should be well coordinated with the Federal 
experiment station’s program. 

Expansion of the present forest-research program 
is needed particularly along the following lines: 

1. Silvicultural and economic aspects of selective cutting. 

2. Improved methods of slash disposal and of protecting 
logged-off land, particularly areas selectively cut. 

3. Further intensification of the Forest Survey to develop 
basic policies and principles for forest-land use and to de- 


termine how forestry fits in with other major types of land 
use. 


4. Basis for distinguishing areas chiefly valuable for forest 


purposes from areas chiefly valuable for agricultural use or 
pasturage. 


5. Relation of forest-land management to floods, erosion 
and quantity and regularity of stream flow. 

6. Economics of multiple land use, particularly of stock 
grazing, game management, and recreation, in relation to 
~ timber production. 

7. Economics of private sustained-yield managemcnt of 
forest lands, especially in relation to public finance and 
taxation. 

8. Improvement of logging equipment and methods to 
meet requirements of good silviculture and protection. 

9. Search for new uses for forest products, new markets, 
and better methods of conversion, with a view to making 
highest use of each tree. 

10. Principles and plans to meet problems of declining 
communities that result from overcutting of tributary timber. 


The experimental forests, both of the Forest Serv- 
ice and of the forest schools, are serving well as 
proving grounds and demonstration areas, but there 
is need for more large-scale trials of new methods 
and new equipment on representative commercial 
areas. The scope and importance of the forest 
problems in this region are such that a great deal 
more intensive research would well be justified. 


Forestry Extension and Forestry Education 


The pre-eminence of the forest resource in this 
region’s economic life makes forest utilization and 
forest conservation of vital concern to every citizen; 
but the general public has not been sufficiently im- 
pressed with the necessity of keeping forest land 
permanently productive. The following program 
of forestry extension and forestry education is 
recommended: 

Despite many years of effort, forest extension ac- 
tivities among both farm and industrial forest own- 
ers have failed to convert forest owners from a liqui- 
dation philosophy to one of timber growing. Great- 
ly increased activity is needed not only in forest 
growing extension but also in forest utilization ex- 
tension. Legislative authority and administrative 
machinery exists in the Department of Agriculture 
for extension work in both industrial and farm for- 
estry. 
islation supported by adequate appropriations 
should be provided for extension in the fields of 


Increased appropriations are needed. Leg- 


timber utilization and marketing of forest products. 
The entire responsibility does not rest on the Fed- 
eral Government; the States of Oregon and Wash- 
ington, forest owners, and forest industries should 
greatly increase their own activities. 


224146°—40——10 


141 


The Public Responsibility 


Management of Public Forest Land 


All cutting operations on public lands should be 
on a sustained-yield basis. 

All public forest land chiefly valuable for recrea- 
tion should be reserved from cutting except to sal- 
vage timber killed by fire, insects, disease, or wind 
throw. 

All public forest land chiefly valuable for water- 
shed protection should be reserved for that use, 
conflicting uses being prohibited. 

So far as physical conditions permit, strips of tim- 
ber should be left along all public highways and 
stream courses. 

Full use of forest land under the principle of mul- 
tiple use advocated by the Forest Service should be 
the policy wherever practicable. 

The present policy of using sales of national-forest 
timber to encourage the practice of sustained-yield 
management on private land and refusing to make 
sales that might add to the established mill capacity 
or precipitate liquidation of private timber should 
be continued. All public agencies conducting tim- 
ber sales should adopt similar policies. 


Improvements 
HIGHWAYS 


The remarkable expansion of truck logging in the 
past few years has greatly complicated transporta- 
tion planning in this region. The requirements of 
the forest industries should be considered in plan- 
ning the location and construction of new highways. 
Furthermore, future highway development should 
be integrated with sustained-yield plans wherever 
possible. 


WATERWAYS AND HARBORS 


The bulk of the freight traffic on rivers and 
harbors of this region consists of forest products. 
Public development of waterways and harbors is 
based to a great extent on quantity of tributary 
timber. Future work should be integrated with 
sustained-yield plans. 

Future exploitation of timber south of the 
Columbia River district depends chiefly on im- 
provement of shipping facilities. Some projects 


now under consideration by the United States 
engineers, for example, canalization of the Willam- 
ette River the 
Umpqua River, would stimulate logging in terri- 


and improvements on lower 


tory now undeveloped. In time, improvement of 
certain harbors in southern Oregon will be needed 
to remove some of the geographic disadvantages 
now holding back the timber in that territory. 


Legislation 


To vitalize the forest program recommended in 
this report certain State and Federal legislation 
will be required. Some has recently been enacted, 
several bills are pending, and on the whole progress 
is encouraging. It is not within the scope of this 
report to list specifically the remaining legislation 
needed. 


The Private Owners’ Responsibility 
Control of Overproduction 


It would be very advantageous both to the 
public and to industry if overproduction of forest 
products in this region were controlled by volun- 
tary cooperative action of owners, including 
mergers, support of trade associations, and better 
financing. Failing this it may be necessary, in 
order to protect the public interest, for the Govern- 
ment to step in. The most effective way to control 
overproduction is curtailment of the log supply, 
and this should originate in the woods through 
Pub- 
inefficient, or 
excess sawmill capacity would be unnecessary if 
At best, it is difficult 
to determine with exactness what units are obsolete, 


inefficient, or superfluous. 


prompt adoption of sustained-yield practice. 
lic action to retire obsolescent, 


woods control were effective. 


Installation of additional sawmill capacity in 
western Washington and northwestern Oregon 
should be discouraged by associations of timber 
owners and lumber manufacturers and by banking 
interests, unless it can be shown that a definite 
Any additional plants should be 
located with consideration of available raw mate- 
rial and marketing facilities, and should be so 


need exists. 


constructed that successive physical changes to 
improve operations and meet demands for new 


products could be made with a minimum of 
expense. 


Logging Practice 


{t is the responsibility of the private owner to 
leave his land in good condition after logging and 
to discontinue practices that leave larger areas 
The method 
of cutting may be clear cutting, stage cutting,** or 
selective cutting of some sort, 


without return cuts for long periods. 


depending on 
In all cases an 
adequate seed supply should be provided for re- 
stocking, 


physical and economic conditions. 


and satisfactory fire-control measures 
should be taken during and immediately following 
logging. Detailed recommendations are given in 
the Forest Practice Handbook (77). Technical 
advice is available from associations and public 
agencies. In cases of contract logging the land 
owner should insist that the logger leave the area 
in good condition. 

A change from power logging to trucks and trac- 
tors would permit of flexible cutting methods and 
automatically leave the forest in better condition 
for regrowth. 

If private owners do not voluntarily adopt such 
a program, public regulation is invited. Existing 
laws regulating forest protection should be scrupu- 
lously observed. 


Utilization of Minor Species 


A definite campaign should be initiated, using 
the results of research and trade extension, to 
increase the utilization for lumber and pulp of 
the so-called minor species, particularly hemlock 
and the balsam firs, and low-grade material of the 
major species. 


Manufacturing Practice 


Great improvement in manufacturing practice 
has been made by the lumber industry in the past 
few Further improvement is needed in 
milling, seasoning, grading, and preparation for 
The development of marketable prod- 


ucts from sawmill waste should be given greater 


years. 


shipment. 


24 A form of cutting which has clear cutting as its final 
objective. The stand is cut in two or more steps or stages. 


2 Lena 


attention by the industry as a whole. In the large 
centers of production sawmill waste is now used 
chiefly as fuel. Some of this waste has potentiali- 
ties for higher uses which would give greater re- 
turns and more local employment. Many smaller 
mills do not market sawmill waste even for fuel. 
Cooperative action is needed to make available to 
the small mills facilities for converting their waste 
to saleable commodities. 

The industry should make every effort to reduce 
the volume of logs and rough lumber shipped out 
of this region and to increase local remanufacture. 
Industrial and financial agencies should encour- 
age and support the establishment of local re- 
manufacturing plants for which a definite need and 
opportunity exist. 


Industrial Expansion 
PLYWOOD 


There is some question as to the desirability of 
further expansion of the plywood industry in its 
present locations. It has expanded rapidly at 
tidewater points in the Puget Sound, Grays 
Harbor, and Columbia River districts, apparently 
without any definite plans as to future supplies of 
raw material. There is no shortage of material for 
core stock and innerplies, but plywood manu- 
facturers are already going far afield for the higher 
quality of peeler logs needed for outer surfaces of 
panels. It is a problem to the industry whether 
to ship in peeler logs from the central and southern 
parts of the region to augment the supply avail- 
able on the open log markets or to set up subsidiary 
veneer plants nearer the source of raw material 
and then ship veneer to the existing tidewater 
plants for final fabrication into plywood. This 
industry, in addition to obtaining supplies from 
the open log markets, should acquire lands sup- 
porting high-quality old-growth timber for a re- 
They 
should also encourage the practice of selective 


serve supply, and thereby protect its future. 


logging. 
PULP MILLS 


There is sufficient raw material in the region for 


143 


additional pulp mills. The available raw material 
is suitable for the highest quality of pulp, and any 
new pulp mills installed should be designed for 
production of the higher grades. This would 
tend to induce local establishment of remanufac- 
turing industries using pulp for purposes other 
than paper, such as rayon and other textile mate- 
rials. 


Road Development 


Logging roads should be financed independently 
by timber owners and logging operators, where 
there is no public responsibility for the construc- 
tion of such roads. On some areas supporting ex- 
tensive undeveloped bodies of virgin timber in 
mixed ownership there are possibilities of develop- 
ing main-line truck roads to the nearest public 
highway through organization of cooperative road 
districts. The timber owners participating would 
pay for the construction of the main-line road in 
proportion to the anticipated benefits and would 
construct their own spur roads. Some of these 
roads would eventually be suitable for inclusion in 
In such cases the 
State highway departments or county road de- 
partments should have some voice in locating the 


the public highway system. 


roads and assist in their construction, even though 
the roads might be closed to general public use 
for the first few years of logging in the area. 


Sustained-Yield Management 


The Douglas-fir region, with its enormous re- 
maining supply of virgin timber, still has the op- 
portunity of adopting sustained-yield management 
without drastic curtailment of present production 
for the region as a whole. Other forest regions, 
in advanced stages of depletion, must greatly re- 
duce cutting if depleted growing stocks are to be 
built up to normal. It is the private owners’ re- 
sponsibility to support, and to share the leadership 
of, a coordinated program of private and public 
action that will make the forests of this region per- 
manently productive and furnish the forest indus- 
tries a stable supply of raw materials. 


Conclusions 


Progress in accomplishing the program herein 
presented does not depend upon simultaneous per- 
formance of all the recommendations. The pro- 
gram is multilateral, and although overlapping in 
some particulars it can be approached from several 
angles at once and thus be attained through a 
step-by-step process. 

Prompt action must be taken on key sections of 
the program if the disastrous consequences that fol- 
lowed unrestricted exploitation in other forest 
regions are to be averted. The most critical prob- 


144 


lems are: Stabilization of ownership, including 
removal of some of the economic obstacles to 
private ownership and better distribution of 
private and public ownership; recognition of the 
urgency of doing something about the localized 
overcutting around the Puget Sound, Grays Har- 
bor, and Columbia River districts; adequate pro- 
tection of all forest land against fire; and provision 
for a sufficient seed supply on cutover land. 
Achievement of these objectives will stimulate 
action on the remainder of the program and con- 
tribute greatly to the institution of region-wide for- 
est management. 


He OmRoe best. gRe iS. O GU. RY CBs 


ORR Fe erHe Ene Dae OcUnG tay Sc = Sh Mie Re Reb Gs eO) <N 


Literature Cited 


Doom 


(1) Brat, J. A., Kimmey, J. W., and Raprarcer, E. F. 

1935. DETERIORATION OF FIRE-KILLED DOUGLAS FIR. 
Timberman 37 (2): 13-17, illus. 

(2) Boyce, J. S. 

1932. DECAY AND OTHER LOSSES IN DOUGLAS FIR IN 
WESTERN OREGON AND WASHINGTON. U. S. 
Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 286, 60 pp., illus. 

(3) Burrter, A. S. 

1935. LAND USE PROBLEMS IN OREGON, AND ABRIDGED 
REPORT. Oreg. State Planning Bd. 64 pp., 
illus. 

(4) FarrcHitp, Frep Rocers, and associates. 

1935. FOREST TAXATION IN THE UNITED STATES. U.S. 

Dept. Agr. Misc. Pub. 218, 681 pp., illus. 
(5) Fercuson, Joun W. 

1935. TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE 
FORESTER OF THE STATE OF OREGON. 86 pp., 
illus. Salem, Oreg. 

(6) Hari, R. Ciirrorp 

1935. THE FOREST-TAX PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTION 
SUMMARIZED. U.S. Dept. Agr. Cir. 358, 18 
PP: 

(7) Hopeson, ALLEN H. 

1929. LOGGING WASTE IN THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION. 
West Coast Lumberman 56 and 57 (Sup.), 
40 pp., illus. 


(8) 


1931. THE PRESENT UTILIZATION OF SAWMILL WASTE IN 
THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION. ‘Timberman 32. 
(9-12), illus. 

(9) INcram, Douctas C. 

1931. VEGETATIVE CHANGES AND GRAZING USE ON 
DOUGLAS FIR CUTOVER LAND. Jour. Agr. Res. 
43: 387-417, illus. 

(10) Jonnson, Herman M., Hanzirk, Epwarp J., and 
Gippons, WILLiAM H. 

1926. RED ALDER OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: ITS 
UTILIZATION, WITH NOTES ON GROWTH AND 
MANAGEMENT. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bul. 1437, 
46 pp., illus. 

(41) Jor CommitrrEe on Forest CONSERVATION. 

1937. FOREST PRACTICE HANDBOOK... 31. pp., 
illus. West Coast Lumbermen Assoc. Seat- 
tle. 

(12) McArpre, Ricuarp E., and Meyer, WALTER H. 

1930. THE YIELD OF DOUGLAS FIR IN THE PACIFIC 
nortHWEsT. U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 
201, 64 pp., illus. 


145 


(13) 


(14) 


(15) 


(16) 


(17) 


(18) 


(19) 


(20) 


(21) 


(22) 


(23) 


(24) 


Meyer, WatrTER H. 
1937. YIELD OF EVEN-AGED STANDS OF SITKA SPRUCE 
AND WESTERN HEMLOCK. U. S. Dept. Agr. 
Tech. Bul. 544, 86 pp., illus. 


1938. YIELD OF EVEN-AGED STANDS OF PONDEROSA 
PINE. U.S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 630, 60 
pp., illus. 


1930. A STUDY OF THE RELATION BETWEEN ACTUAL 
AND NORMAL YIELDS OF IMMATURE DOUGLAS 
FIR FORESTS. Jour. Agr. Res. 41: 635-665, 
illus. 
Muncer, THorNTON T. 
1927. TIMBER GROWING AND LOGGING PRACTICE IN 
THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION. U.S. Dept. Agr. 
Bul. 1493, 42 pp.., illus. 
Munns, E. N. and Brown, R. M. 
1925. VOLUME TABLE FOR THE IMPORTANT TIMBER 
TREES OF THE UNITED STATES: I. 
species. U. 
159 pp. 
OrEGON SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TIMBER TAXATION 
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. 
1937. OREGON TIMBER TAXATION 
RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARD THEIR SOLUTION. 
40 pp., illus. Salem, Oreg. 
OreGoN STATE Tax Commission. 
1937. THIRTEENTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 


WESTERN 
S. Dept. Agr. Unnum. Pub. 


PROBLEMS AND 


SHeparp, H. B. 

1937. FOREST FIRE INSURANCE IN THE PACIFIC COAST 
US.) Dept; Agr.’ Tech: Bull 551, 
168 pp., illus. 


STATES. 


SupworTuH, Greorce B. 
1927. CHECK LIST OF THE FOREST TREES OF THE UNITED 


STATES: THEIR NAMES AND RANGES. U. S. 
Dept. Agr. Misc. Circ. 92, 295 pp. 
Unitrep STATES Forest SERVICE. 
1933. A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTY. 


(U. S.] Cong. 73d, 1st sess., S. Doc. 12, 2 v 
illus. 


<3 


WASHINGTON STATE Tax Commission. 
1936. sIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 
West Coast LUMBERMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
1937. WEST COAST LUMBER FACTS. 25 pp., illus. 
Seattle, Wash. 


EROOR] Eas 2 oRGE eS vORUERECIESS: 


(Oy | AY Bebd) > 1D) O) AW KEP 1G VN. By Ia IL Re 


REGION 


Appendix 


ss 
Inventory Methods and Sources 


Volume Tables 


Several existing Douglas-fir volume tables had given 
satisfactory results for certain localities, but comparison with 
measurements of felled timber showed that they could not be 
used regionally. Accordingly, a form-class table was de- 
veloped and checked against measured volume of 1.6 million 
board feet of felled and bucked timber in different sections of 
the region. In nearly every instance this table checked with- 
in 0.5 percent of the actual measurements, and in no case did 
it deviate more than 2.6 percent. 

A western hemlock volume table was constructed in the 
same way, and was proved to be accurate. For western red- 
cedar a volume table made on the Quinault Indian Reserva- 
tion by Henry B. Steer, then of the United States Indian 
Service, was used. For Sitka spruce, table 80 of Volume 
Tables for the Important Timber Trees of the United 
States: Part I, Western Species (77), was accepted after ad- 
Table 79 from the 
same publication was adopted for silver fir and white fir, 
after it had been adjusted to a 12-inch top diameter and ex- 
tended to include trees as large as 70 inches in diameter. 

Table 77 in the publication just mentioned, prepared by 
R. H. Weidman in 1917, was accepted for noble fir. A table 
made by Henry B. Steer on the Quinault Indian Reservation 
was used for western white pine. 
structed for ponderosa pine. 
red alder was prepared on the basis of an existing table (70) 
made by Griffin and Wilcox. 
wood table (table 11) in Volume Tables for the Important 
Timber Trees of the United States: Part III, Eastern Hard- 
woods, was found to be suitable for other hardwoods. 


justment to a 12-inch top diameter. 


A form-class table was con- 
A table for use in estimating 


The second-growth cotton- 


Organization of Field Work 


More than 40 percent of the region’s total forest-land area 
This portion, 84 
percent of which is in Federal ownership, includes the most 


is within the boundaries of national forests. 


mountainous, rugged, and inaccessible lands of the region. 
When this work was started, national forests either wholly or 
chiefly within the Douglas-fir region numbered 12; since 


146 


2 


then, without any significant change in total area, the num- 
ber has been reduced by consolidations to 10. These na- 
tional forests now range in gross area from about 700,000 
to 1,850,000 acres each, averaging approximately 1,200,000 
acres. 

A greater part of the national-forest lands than of the 
The 
procedure followed on them was influenced not only by 
the ruggedness of the many mountain areas but also by 


other lands had to be covered by field examination. 


It was 
decided that the work on national-forest areas that had not 


scarcity of roads and shortness of field season. 


been intensively cruised should be an intensive reconnais- 
sance. Men familiar with the national forests of the region 
were selected from the local forest organizations to do this 
work. 

For lands outside the national forests a permanent organi- 
zation of 5 type mappers and 3 check cruisers was formed. 
This was augmented by field assistants during the field 
season and computers during the winter months. In peak 
periods as many as 40 or 50 men were employed on the 
survey of these lands. 


Collection of Existing Information 


The sources of information already in existence for na- 
tional-forest areas included intensive timber cruises cover- 
ing about 15 percent of their total; records of an extensive 
reconnaissance made in 1909-10 and amended in 1922, of 
examinations of cut-over land, of planting reconnaissance 
work, of land-exchange examinations, of appraisals, of 
settlement cases, of trespass cases, and of fire damage; aerial 
and panoramic photographs; 
Of the land outside national forests about 30 per- 
cent had been covered by intensive cruises. 


and miscellaneous other 
records 
Collecting 
information on areas outside national forests involved in- 
vestigation of the records of all counties and consultations 
with lumbermen, public officials, foresters and engineers in 
ptivate employ, and many other persons. The principal 
sources of information found were private timber cruises in 
the hands of timber owners or their agents, county cruises 
made for taxation purposes, and cruises of State-owned 
lands, Oregon & California Railroad revested grant lands, 
and Indian reservations. In cases in which county cruises 


were sufficiently complete and appeared to be reliable 


} 


enough to use, no attempt was made to collect private 
cruises. 

Private timberland owners contributed materially to the 
success of this undertaking. With very few exceptions and 
reservations they tendered the use of their cruise data, 
which in the aggregate are estimated to have cost them 
more than a million dollars. Each cooperator was assured 
that private cruises given would be kept in strict confidence 
and that cruise data from private sources would be made 
public only in such combinations as would safeguard their 
confidential character. It was emphasized also that the 
type maps would not indicate density of stand for the mature 


types. 


Field Procedure 


The intensive reconnaissance method applied on national 
forests consists in mapping areas that are uniform as to type 
conditions and estimating the average volume per acre for 
each of these type areas. Type boundaries were deter- 
mined by working along trails, roads, and ridges, by using 
high points for lookouts, and by running random strips, 
and were placed directly on base maps. For each saw- 
timber-type area, estimates of average volume per acre 
were made ocularly and were checked by use of data taken 
on a number of well-distributed sample plots. Sample 
plots were either quarter-acre circles (58.9-feet radius) or 
1-acre strips (66 by 660 feet). For all trees of saw-timber 
size on these plots species, height, and diameter were 
recorded and volume was computed. For second-growth 
areas, that is, areas occupied by stands less than about 
150 years of age, averge age of timber and average stocking 
were recorded. At frequent intervals site observations were 
taken and recorded; the age of the stand was determined 
with an increment borer, average height of the dominant 
and codominant trees was determined with an Abney 
level, and site values were read from a curve of height over 
age. 
ured where the Douglas-fir classification was used, and only 
ponderosa pines were measured where the ponderosa-pine 
classification was used. 

In the Cascade Range, the Siskiyou Mountains, and the 
Olympic Mountains, because of the distinctness of the 
topography it was possible to determine type boundaries 
largely by observation from vantage points. On the Sius- 
law National Forest, in the Coast Range, mapping was 
seriously impeded by numerous small canyons and short 
ridges with no definite topographical pattern, by luxuriant 
brush and tree cover, and by poor weather. Here aerial 
photography was used as an adjunct to ground work. 
Oblique rather than vertical pictures were taken, because 


In determining site only Douglas-fir trees were meas- 


of lower cost and greater ease of orientation, 

For areas outside national-forest boundaries the first step 
in preparing type maps was to record the collected type 
data on transparent vellum plats fitted over base maps. 
Each type mapper visited the county seat in search of addi- 
tional information and familiarized himself with the county 
in a general way by driving over the roads. Having 


147 


selected an area on which to begin work, he mapped as 
much as he could from the roads and trails. Picking points 
that would give the best view of the country and using as a 
control the roads, streams, and other features on the base 
map and the type areas already entered on the vellum 
from office records, he oriented himself with a compass and 
mapped all that could be seen. Each type area was 
viewed from several vantage points to determine its exterior 
boundaries. In this region of dense cover and irregular, 
often rugged topography, once under forest cover it is 
difficult to see out, and great care was necessary to avoid 
overlooking any small farms, pasture lands, burns, or small 
second-growth areas. On areas of mixed types it was cus- 
tomary to map the smaller type areas first, thus fixing the 
boundaries of the larger types. 

For areas not covered by existing data, which were princi- 
pally second-growth areas, land cut over prior to 1920, 
burns, woodland areas, farm woods, agricultural lands, 
grassland, brush areas, and barrens, the field examiner 
located, and sketched on the map, the boundaries of each 
type. 
age class of the timber, its species composition, and the 
degree of stocking. For areas occupied by merchantable 
timber he estimated the board-foot content of the stand 
by species. For all coniferous types except lodgepole pine, 
noncommercial rocky, and subalpine, he made site deter- 
minations at frequent intervals. 

Several large agricultural areas contain scattered forests 
and woods that are too small to be shown on the type map 
but that in the aggregate constitute a forest resource too 
large to be ignored. These agricultural areas are fairly 
well defined; an example is the Willamette Valley of 
Oregon. To get a statistical expression of the extent and 
character of their forest stands, they were covered by a 
linear survey. Type and volume data were taken on tran- 


For second-growth areas, he determined also the 


sects at intervals of 3 miles or less. 

Lands shown by county and private records to have been 
clear cut since the beginning of 1920 (type 36) were not 
classified in the field but were examined in the field to verify 
that they had been clear cut. These areas cannot satis- 
factorily be classified as to restocking, because of the 
periodicity of adequate seed crops, the practice of slash 
burning, high fire hazard, and the nature of logging practice 
in the region. However, a statistical expression was ob- 
tained of the condition of those logged prior to the period of 
general seed-crop failure that began in 1924. A linear sur- 
vey was made of the areas logged in 1920-23, transects 
being spaced 2 miles apart or at the rate of 1 mile of strip 
for every 1,280 acres. 
four 13.2-foot quadrats were examined, and each of these 
was Classified as stocked or nonstocked according to whether 
it contained one well-established seedling (the stocked- 
quadrat method). 

The site map was made on a skeleton vellum overlay map 
of the county, scale one-half inch to the mile. All the site 
determinations made were plotted on the map and by inter- 
polation site-class boundary lines were sketched in. This of 
course, gave only a generalized picture, but by referring to 


At 1-chain intervals on these transects 


topographic features and using his knowledge of the country 
the field examiner was able to make a sufficiently accurate 
map for an area as large asa county. The site maps were in- 
tended to show not the site class of specific small areas but 
the area of each site class in the county. 

The final field job was “adjustment cruising”’ of contrib- 
uted cruise data. It was impossible to adjust these data to 
survey standards without resorting to field work because (1) 
specifications were often incomplete or lacking and (2) errors 
made by cruisers might have caused considerable inconsist- 
ency in a given cruise. The adjustment cruising consisted 
in cruising well-distributed sample areas according to the 
specifications adopted for the forest survey and comparing 
the results with the original cruise data. The size chosen for 
the individual sample was 160 acres. 

Volume was recorded for quarter-acre circular plots at 
214-chain intervals, or for 16 such plots on each 40-acre 
tract; in other words, a 10-percent cruise was made. The 
circular-plot system was admirably adapted to the purpose, 
and speeded up the work. Locations of all doubtful line 
trees were determined with a tape, all trees apparently more 
than 60 inches d. b. h. were measured for diameter, and a 
considerable percentage of the smaller trees were measured. 
Heights were measured with the Abney level and by taping 
a number of windfalls each day. Deductions for breakage 
and defect were calculated for each 40-acre tract. These 
deductions were carefully checked, for each tract cruised, by 
examining felled and bucked timber on neighboring logging 
operations and by interviewing superintendents, foremen, 
check scalers, and managers of logging operations in the 
vicinity. 

Per-acre volume of the hardwood stands, usually not in- 
cluded in commercial cruises in the region, had been deter- 
mined by the type mappers, but information was lacking as 
to the volume of the hardwood timber occurring as an under- 
story in mature coniferous forests. As a part of the adjust- 
ment-cruising project, therefore, data on this hardwood un- 
derstory were collected. 

Each check cruiser compiled his data currently and made 
frequent comparisons with the original cruise until he was 
satisfied that the results were consistent and that reliable ad- 
justment factors could be computed. Usually 3 to 4 percent 
of the area included in the original cruise was check cruised. 


Compilation of Data 


In many counties a year or more elapsed between the com- 
pletion of the original field work and the beginning of com- 
pilation. In such cases the status of areas logged and burned 
in the intervening period had to be investigated. This in- 
volved a check of cutting and fire records, and in some cases 
additional field mapping. 

Before type acreages could be computed it was necessary 
to determine the exact land area of each township, each 
county, and each national forest. General Land Office plats 


were used for townships for which they were available. 


148 


Areas of unsurveyed townships were determined by plani- 
metering the most accurate maps available. 

Information as to ownership was obtained from county 
records for county-owned and municipal lands, State records 
for State-owned lands, Department of Interior records for 
national-park, Indian, and revested grant lands and for un- 
appropriated public domain, and Forest Service records for 
All land not shown by public records to be 
public property was considered private. 


national forests. 


Acreage for each of the various types and for divisions of 
some types by age class and degree of stocking was deter- 
mined for each section and for each ownership class from the 
field maps. For each national forest this was done by com- 
partment, block, and working circle and also by county. 
Acreage was determined by use of the planimeter or by 
counting squares. 

Site-class acreages were compiled for each county and 
Percent- 
ages of total acreage in each site class represented were 
determined for each township in the same manner, for use 
in computing volume of second-growth stands. 

Volume data for national forest areas were compiled by 
applying to type areas the stand-per-acre values determined 
in the field. Volumes were compiled by compartment and 
were summarized by block and finally by working circle. 

For areas outside national forests, the adjustment factors 


national forest from site maps by planimetering. 


determined by check cruising were applied to the volume 
figures taken from existing cruise records and the corrected 
totals, recorded by section, township, and county. Vol- 
umes for areas of merchantable timber, including hard- 
woods, not covered by previous cruises were compiled by 
applying to each area the figure for stand per acre shown by 
the type map. Commercial cruises had omitted a large 
majority of the second-growth stands in which the average 
breast-height diameter was below a standard ranging, ac- 
For uncruised 
second-growth stands in which the trees averaged 16 inches 
d. b. h. or more, volumes were obtained from tables adapted 
from the Douglas-fir yield tables (72). Volume data for 
second-growth areas were segregated from the others. 


cording to species, from 20 to 24 inches. 


Depletion-Study Methods and Sources 


Cutting Depletion 


The data taken on depletion by cutting covered the mate- 
rial removed not only as sawlogs but also as so-called minor 
timber products. 
material actually taken out of the woods, omitting sound 


The records used included only wood 


material left by operators on the ground as nonutilizable. 
This sound unused material entered the study only when 
future depletion was being estimated. Its quantity had 
been accurately determined in a previous study (7). 

The study of annual log depletion was based on the 9-year 
period 1925-33 because more and better data were ayvail- 
able for this period than for any other. It is true that in this 
period sawlog production reached a peak that it may never 
reach again, but the period included some years of extremely 


low production; all things considered, the data are believed 
to be representative. 

The log-production data used were taken from several 
sources but principally from the biennial lumber- and log- 
production censuses of Oregon and Washington for the 
years 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, and 1933 taken by the 
Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station in 
cooperation with the Bureau of the Census. Sawlog pro- 
duction as reported by the independent loggers and logger- 
manufacturers was used in preference to lumber, lath, 
shingle, veneer, and pulpwood production because in this 
way the material could be traced to its sources and classified 
Data for 1926, 1928, 1930, and 1932 
were obtained partly from records of the Portland, Oreg., 
regional office of the Forest Service and partly by inter- 
viewing officials of timber companies and lumber associa- 
tions and other individuals having personal knowledge of 
lumber operations. 

A check of the sawlog data was made by comparing the 
sum of the county totals with a regional total obtained by 
combining census and other official figures. The differ- 
ences found were 3.7 percent for western Washington, 2.1 
percent for western Oregon, and 1.9 percent for the region 
as a whole. The errors for survey-unit totals were esti- 
mated to be well within +5 percent. 

The study of depletion for minor forest products had to be 
based on 1930 production alone, as data for previous or sub- 
sequent years were either missing or too incomplete for satis- 
The basic data were obtained through field in- 
vestigations and by means of questionnaires circulated to 
producers and consumers. 
curacy was obtained by this method for all items except 
round and split fence posts. Since posts are produced in 
small quantities and by many individuals, largely by farmers 
for their own use, it was impossible to canvass the field 
thoroughly. A figure was obtained by adding to the output 
reported by the large-scale commercial operators an estimate 
of annual farm requirements. 


by county and unit. 


factory use. 


Information of satisfactory ac- 


Fire Depletion 


The study of depletion of the forest capital by fire was much 
more complex than the study of depletion by cutting. 

The two sources of information available were Forest Serv- 
ice reports covering burned area on the national forests and 
State foresters’ reports covering burned area on all other 
forest lands. 
those for national forests being treated separately from those 
for all other lands. 

The basic data used for the analysis of depletion by fire on 
the national forests were the reports of all class C fires (fires 
10 acres or more in area) on the national forests of the region 
in the 10-year period 1924-33. Site and type before fire 
were determined by superimposing on the forest-survey site 
and type maps the outlines of the areas reported to have been 
covered by the fires. Each fire was classified and the essen- 
tial data regarding area, location, type, site, and volume 
were separately recorded. These were compiled by county 


The data were summarized by survey unit, 


149 


A field check was made of about 
25 percent of the total area reported to have been covered by 
class C fires, and from the data thus obtained correction fac- 
tors for both area and volume were computed. No blanket 
deduction was made for salvage. 


and summarized by unit. 


In the few cases in which 
material was known to have been salvaged this material was 
deducted from the loss. When the 10-year totals of area 
burned and timber killed had been adjusted, they were con- 
verted to average annual-loss rates. 

Reports made to the State foresters on individual fires in 
the region in the 5-year period 1926-30, which had been 
analyzed in connection with the forest fire insurance study 
(20) recently made by the Pacific Northwest Forest and 
Range Experiment Station, formed the basic data used in 
computing fire-depletion rates for land other than national 
forests. Supplementary reports on nearly all the fires cover- 
ing 50 acres or more were obtained from the fire wardens, 
and checked in the field, for all counties except San Juan and 
Island in Washington and Hood River, Jackson, and Jose- 
phine in Oregon. ‘The areas covered by the supplementary 
fire reports were classified as to site and type by reference to 
the forest-survey site and type maps, and the volume loss 
estimated. ‘These data were recorded by county and the 
totals combined by forest-survey unit. The data were then 
compared with the State foresters’ published reports of total 
area burned in the same period in the same group of coun- 
ties and were adjusted to them. They were next converted 
to an annual loss rate. This procedure automatically in- 
cluded Island, San Juan, and Hood River Counties. Jack- 
son and Josephine Counties were covered by a separate 
analysis of individual fire reports to the State foresters for the 
period 1926-32. Finally, annual loss rates were calculated 
for the entire region by survey unit. Salvage rates for lands 
outside the national forests were computed on the basis of 
data obtained in the forest fire insurance study, and were 
applied to volume-loss totals. 


Future Depletion 


No specific formula could be evolved for making estimates 
of future depletion from cutting. The economic forces that 
‘The 
Douglas-fir region is farther removed than any other forest 
region of the United States from the large markets of the Mid- 
western and Eastern States. What quantities of lumber will 
be shipped from it will depend somewhat on the extent to 
which the other forest regions can fulfill the requirements of 
On the other hand 
this region is favorably situated in relation to Asia, Africa, 
and the antipodes, the world’s largest undeveloped markets 
for softwoods. 


could influence the situation are many and complex. 


the country’s heavily populated sections. 


The depletion estimates are pure assump- 
tions, based on careful analysis of cutting records and of cur- 
rent trends in lumbering, not only regional but national, and 
all other known influences. 

Future depltion from fire, while not subject to so many 
dynamic economic forces as cutting, was equally difficult of 
prediction. 


Periodic Saw- Timber Growth 


In order to estimate board-foot timber inventories for the 
Douglas-fir region as of the years 1943, 1953, and 1963, 
periedic annual board-foot growth was computed for each 
of the three decades following 1932. Advance in age and 
differences in type areas because of depletion were the 
only changes taken into account; no changes from the 1933 
conditions were assumed in either species composition of 
stands or stand density. 


TasLe 42.—Periodic conifer saw-timber growth in the Douglas- 


fir region 
Periodic growth of trees 15.1+ inches 
d.b. h 
District and unit 
1933-42 | 1943-52 1953-62 
Million | Million | Million 
Puget Sound: board feet | board feet board feet 
North Puget Sound_-___- 1, 146 | 1, 294 1, 499 
Central Puget Sound_-- 1, 288 | 1,615 1, 906 
South Puget Sound____------- 2,491 | 2, 289 1,731 
TRotaletes aes aes ea 4,925 | 5, 198 5, 136 
| 
Grays/Harbor=2- = 2ess-ss5eoes 1,905 | 1,779 1, 462 
Columbia River: 
Columbia River Washington _ 2, 270 2, 433 2, 283 
Columbia River Oregon__-_-_- 1, 568 | 2,081 2, 482 
Total: oe 34 oes See eee 3, 838 4, 514 4, 765 
Willamette River____..----------- 4, 216 4, 540 4,799 
| 
Oregon coast: 
North Oregon coast 3________- 2, 805 | 2, 698 2, 303 
South Oregon coast 4_-_----__- 2, 946 3, 256 3, 435 
Total seese soe eee a 5, 751 5, 954 5, 738 
South Oregon: 
UmpquadRivers2 23 222s 2, 414 2, 396 2, 286 
Rogue: River-2222s22s--- 22-6 192 296 462 
Totalsseses oes cee ee 2, 606 2, 692 2, 748 
Region totals ees ae | 23, 241 24, 677 24, 648 
Summary by districts: Percent | Percent Percent 
Puget,Sound=-a.0).28 252!) 22 21. 2 | 21.1 20.9 
Grays Harbors}. == 8.2 7.2 5.9 
Columbia River____ 16.5 18.3 19.3 
Willamette River__.___.__--__ 18.1 18.4 19.5 
Orezonicosst. === ~ ee 24.8 24.1 23.3 
South! Oregousss22 2 ee eee 1b) 10.9 11.1 
Totals = es ceee eee ne 100.0 100.0 | 100.0 


1 Data are shown only for stands 160 years or less in age, on commercial 
conifer forest land. 

2 Estimated in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, Scribner rule. 

3 Data exclude growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land 
temporarily occupied by hardwoods. 

4 Data exclude growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land 
temporarily occupied by hardwoocs. 


150 


This process resulted in the periodic net conifer growth 
figures shown in table 42. Because relatively little incre- 
ment is contributed by hardwoods, periodic growth was 
computed only for the conifer types. 

It is estimated that those of the existing conifer stands 
that survive to 1943 will put on a net growth of 23.2 billion 
board feet during the decade 1933-42, those that survive 
to 1953 will grow 24.7 billion board feet during the decade 
1943-52, and those that survive to 1963 will grow 24.6 
billion board feet during the decade 1953-62. According 
to the estimates of decadal volume increment and those of 
depletion (shown in table 20), the 1933 net volume inven- 
tory of 546 billion board feet, log scale, for the region will 
be reduced to 492 billion board feet by 1943, to 431 billion 
by 1953, and to 381 billion by 1963. 


Method of Computing Realizable 
Mean Annual Growth 


For those who are interested in the detail of the technique 
employed in computing realizable mean annual growth, a 
sample computation is given in table 43. Calculations for 
type 6 (Douglas-fir old growth more than 40 inches d. b. h.) 
appear in the first three lines. Type 6 is assumed to be 
nongrowing, and accordingly no stocking value is shown 
for it. ‘The value in line 2, column 13, was calculated on the 
assumption that 80 percent of the area depleted in 1933-42 
will restock by 1948. The assumed average stocking of this 
area is indicated in line 2, column 5, and the estimated 
average age attained by the second-growth stands is shown 
in line 2, column 15. The entry in line 2, column 19, is 
55 percent of normal mean annual growth per acre for 
Douglas-fir stands to age 85 years. The entry in line 2, 
column 24, is the product of those in line 2, columns 13 
and 19. Since growth is calculated only from the middle 
of the period 1933-42, half this amount is entered in line 2, 
column 26. Since it is assumed that the second-growth 
stands will continue to grow during the whole of the period 
1953-62, the total value is given in line 2, column 27. 
The entries in line 3 were calculated in the same way as 
those in line 2. 

Calculations for type 8 (Douglas-fir second growth, 22 to 
40 inches d. b. h.) appear in lines 4, 5, and 6. The growth 
rate applied for the first decade (Jine 4, column 16) is the 
periodic annual growth rate for ages 90 to 94 years, inclu- 
sive, of normal Douglas-fir stands on sites of a quality mid- 
way between II and III multiplied by 0.60, the estimated 
average stocking for type 8. Growth is assumed only to 
the middle of the decade 1933-42. The growth rate ap- 
plied to the type 8 area assumed to be depleted during the 
decade 1943-52 is the periodic annual rate for ages 90 to 
104 years, similarly adjusted for stocking. Growth is as- 
sumed only during three-fourths of the 20-year period 
1933-52. In calculating growth on the area assumed to 
be depleted during the decade 1953-62, the equivalent of 
0.833 of the 49,000 acres was assumed to be growing during 
the entire 30-year period 1933-62 and the normal periodic 


TasLe 43.—Sample computation of realizable mean annual growth 


| | | | 
Assumed depletion, 1933-62, Part of Areas assumed to restock 
Iv erealwacverse leACrer: by decades rene | Eooaed in 1933-62 
‘ age age age Area in ype aera 
Line No. Type site age in | stock- 1933 peek Nes site | 
it 1 i emain- Ss | 
quality mp1983/5)/fSing 1933-42 | 1943-52 | 1953-62 | ingin | in 1963 | 1933-42 | 1943-52 | 1953-62 
1963 
(@)) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) 
| | | 
Years |Percent| Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres 
HU Je 5 sei tore ee a ae bas 300,000 | 120,000} 100,000) 60,000] 20,000] 18,000)... | 
6 


A Total annual growth on areas depleted Total Distribution of total annual 
t IN t p stribution of total annu 
ears en Dr sl eT OwUn iT ave) Der acre during— annual growth by decade— 
Line No. attained TE ee 
by tends A ik assumed 
pleted | iy ter verage verage 
after 1962 | 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 life 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 life ere: 1933-42 | 1943-52 1953-62 
(1) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (28) (24) (25) (26) (27) 
Cubic Cubic Cubic Cubic M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic 
Years feet feet feet feet feet Jeet feet feet feet feet -| — feet feet 
4, 608 9, 216 
pee eee 3, 960 
4, 805 3, 980 
1, 009 2,018 
Re uae 783 
35, 998 33, 170 
487 974 
Peo ee a 1,032 
18, 561 17, 391 
768 1, 536 
eee 594 
30, 080 30, 080 
| 95, 964 104, 734 
| | 
| 


annual growth rate for ages 90 to 119 years, inclusive, was 
similarly adjusted for stocking. 

In line 4 the entry in column 25 is the sum of those in 
columns 20, 21, 22, and 23; the entry in column 26 is the sum 
of those in columns 21, 22, and 23; and the entry in column 
27 is the sum of those in columns 22 and 23. 

In the calculations for type 8 area as in those for type 6 
area, 80 percent of the portion depleted each decade is 
assumed to restock by the midpoint of the following decade. 


The growth figured on the restocking areas is mean annual 
growth for the period from time of restocking until 2032. 
Results of this computation are shown in lines 5 and 6. 

The procedure in growth calculations for the other types 
is essentially similar in detail to that already described. 

The sums of columns 25, 26, and 27, shown in line 15, 
are realizable mean annual growth for the decades 1933-42, 
1943-52, and 1953-62, respectively, for the aggregate of 
type areas in the sample unit. 


ti ihy 


Supplemental Tables 


Supplemental estimates of average annual fire damage 
are shown for the national forests, for other lands, and for 
all lands in the Douglas-fir region as follows: Forest-land 
area covered and timber volume, log scale, lost by fire, by 
type and site quality, table 44; area deforested by fire, by 
type and survey unit, tables 45, 46, and 47; and timber 
volume, log scale, lost by fire, by type and survey unit, 
table 48. 

Net average annual rate of depletion from causes other 
than cutting, used in calculating assumed future depletion, 
is shown by type group in table 49. Assumed future decadal 


depletion from all causes is shown by district and owner- 
ship class in table 50. 

Rates used in calculating potential annual growth on 
conifer timber are given in table 51. 

Saw-timber data for some forest regions of the United 
States have been published in lumber tally rather than log 
scale. In order to facilitate comparison with those data, 
saw-timber volume for the Douglas-fir region is given in 
lumber tally in table 52. Lumber-tally values are given 
for cutting depletion in tables 53 and 54, for fire depletion 
in table 55, for assumed future depletion in table 56, for 
current annual growth in table 57, for potential annual 
growth in table 58, for realizable mean annual growth in 
table 59, and for periodic growth in table 60. 


TABLE 44.—Estimated annual averages of forest-land area burned over and timber volume } lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, 
by type and site quality 


ON NATIONAL FORESTS 


Type) Type Site IT | Site III Site IV Site V Total 
NO. | 
i 
M board | M board | M board M board M board 
Acres feet | Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres fect 
Douglas-fir, large old growth__-_--------------- 35 1,351 | 487 8, 132 215 2, 784 46) eee 783 12, 267 
Douglas-fir, small old growth___--------------- 9 272 | 784 13,998 | 3,546 38, 562 232 190 | 4,571 53, 022 


Douglas-fir, large second growth_-_------------- 
i Sitka spruce, large: = eee senaaaeeee nee cn es 
Western hemlock, large!=222224 2-22 eacaaae 
Western redcedar, large-_--------------------- 
Port Orford white-cedar, large-- 
Ponderosa pine, large__-------- 
Fir-mountain hemlock, large_--- 


Douglas-fir, small second growth_-_------------- 
Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings_------------ 
Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings-_---------- 
Western hemlock, small__-_-_-------------- 

Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings | 
Ponderosa ,pine, small: Sass ee eee anne eee ae eee 
| Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings 
Fir-mountain hemlock, small 


28_____| White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small 
322 || REG WOOd: =a Nee See ee 
oo Oak-madrone woodland ._-_----------- 
3) eee | Hardwoodss=— ---2=_ fae ee 234 
Bo Se Old cut-overs, nonrestocked 194 
36222 | “Recent cut-Overs === = = 2 == eee wen ene 1889 | Seeeee ee 1339 |aeooeeeee 680). sea as | eee | eae 15,0395 |e 
Riese Previously deforested burns------------------- Bh Pa eae 1S 228) nose 215440) ese eS 203) | Seas l= 349783 oetoeeeners 
33k oe Subalpine! sees eee eee see ew See | eee | Ee | ee oobi een Sree ae |)! Si eas [Re eno 21) 020) | easeemncme 
3822222 | Noncommercial rocky areas-__------------------|--------]---------- Se SS | ee | ee | eee | Rees | Cee eee (2210665 | pena 
| 
re’ ie ew i Mae Sr 3e2| 2,562 | 7,209| 32,112] 11,441| 58,672 | 1,529 444 | 23,710! 93,790 
ON LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS 
Type Type Site I Site IT Site III Site IV Site V Total 
M board M board M board M hoard M board M board 
| Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres feel Acres feet 
Guaees Douglas-fir, large old growth__-_-___-_- 95 543 | 6,041 | 61,925 | 8,474 | 31,47 103 216s | eee ee | erase 14,713 | 94,154 
(iP ae Douglas-fir, small old growth-_----_..--]________]___-_-=- 274) 2,744 | 7,555 | 23,989 | 2,847 | 9,571 917 | 2,751 | 11,593 | 39,055 
Sure Douglas-fir, large second growth____---_|________|_______- 652 | 8,541 | 3,649 | 13, 653 624 | 1,450 98 294 | 5,023 | 23, 938 
ath Sitka spruce; large! 92202 Sues Tes aan | ee 9 7B) Rees a | nee | see 2724 es | Recast IRN Soeeacs 9 7 
14urere | Western hemlock, large_-__------------- pees oe eee 259 466 120 845 17 330)! (Mets 2a eee 396 1, 641 
7... | sWestern-redcedar: larges boi 2a ucts |e eae al Eee fare es Wet 42 3010 saree |e sae WW nietegee| fo Astrea | 42 301 
ig: Port Orford white-cedar, large___ 230 12080! |f5 <= eel Be cee ee neces |[is cette a | Maesreons Bere 230 1, 080 
| eee Ponderosa‘pine; largeso2c2 2s 2 oes 18 |e | ee |S e ee | e 281 459 | 1,829 | 5,447 662 | 1,986 | 2,772 7, 892 


See footnotes at end of table. 


TasLe 44.—Estimated annual averages of forest-l 


ON LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS—Continued 


and area burned over and timber volume lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, 
by type and site quality—Continued 


Type Type Site I Site IT Site TIT Site IV Site V Total 
=} | - 
M board M board M board M board M board 
Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet 
20 AWE Sugarspineslaree eases tens Seren | ele Bo S| ey ek | Ae | ee | ee 103 309 80 240 
23 taeae Hir-mouUntainpnemlock- vlaree sera ss oe oaks Eee |e PR if hc eee 67001) 959808 | See es | ee 
ee ers Douglas-fir, small second growth ______ 325 |eraeae LS 5888] betes Sha | ees ae O28 7 eee 
1s Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings_-____ SLD) a(S eee sh T6632; EN. 22. 3 23:5 70U| ees - oak Biel ees 1787s 
ippess Sitkarspruces sme) ll eee ee eee ae me | we ae |e ae Be G1 ee a ln ae 1G lc Fe eee See 
13 eee Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings____|--______]________ TUG} | es ied ee ee Sl ee En ol ee 
1 see aVVieSternunemlock small essa ss se 2.2 the |e e nee |e es 229 ul) by ee ee Pe) le erential a = Sa0| | ea 
16ee Western hemlock, seedlings and sap- Lj) ee eee 3 253 PHS ASL a. ee G6N eo 2k a eee 
lings. 
1QLEaeS: “led Are GInal | stesee ee pee ee a eae eel ee 2 NEN) Bush ys > P| WSS Se ao ko) Rape Fete epee Yee i Ad Lag lees Ml bee A ey ote RON 
2 eee IRonderosaipiicy smalls eee eee || Sat ee (eee alee ee ete Se 5613 | eeu se = 70h | pee 2 21 | Se 872 |_ 
22 nce Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings__|________|________ COTY Weel en Se CBU | Serene DIAG TR eee a | bee eS aNO07 sleet eee 
PANE oe Hir-mountainmemlock small vee (soe bas lew oo oe ee | casas 5 yi ee Boe AS a ee 2 en (aoe ae 149} ||, ogre ste 
26m Lodgepole pine, small_________- 2575 a| a aeeee 
5l6____| Ponderosa pine woodland S304 52u Mae eee 
Ge ae Oak-madrone woodland_____----- 2140815) == Seas 
Slinee PET early OO Seen eta ee an ees a ee ot | | ee net ee [Pete oe a ato ee (Cees 3325203), |aoaereer 
Bowe ae Old cut-overs, nonrestocked_________--_ CY fi) |e eens SOE: eer G6 R567 ee—= 25020) eee Se |pteseees 12, 440 |_ 
36% een IRECeNt CUL-OVeTSE =a eee eae ioe | ee Banoo |) == 37 30Ty pee: 1H A0453 | bso S see 1564 e ees 83, 797 | 
Bynes iPreviously;deforested. burns: <2. -22. 222 ./=-= es S/b - 2s 180901 S eee 854901 Beek oe 2; 498ei =e 65 7ai| sane ae aWib ee 2 2) Cee 
33euee STP ea a re ae ee ce pe | ee Caen ene eee RE (eed ee ee Se |e 2 194A eae 
SReo ms INoncommercialirocksyiareas tes ea | es ee ee ea eel ee |e eee ee ee | en ee ee tee 25. GN |e se es 
FD ot a] Seiten ee oe | 2, 060 543 | 66,518 | 74,829 |108,317 | 70, 717 | 37,673 | 27, 253 4, 867 5, 271 |229, 446 | 178, 613 
ALL FOREST LANDS 
Ge Douglas-fir, large old growth___________ 95 543 | 6,076 | 63,276 | 8,961 | 39, 602 318 | 3,000 46. | fear 15,496 | 106, 421 
(eae ede Douglas-fir; smallioldssrowth 2252-2 =|_2242__- |b 22 283 3, 016 8, 339 | 37,987 | 6,393 | 48, 133 1, 149 2,941 | 16, 164 92, 077 
Rime os Douglas-fir, large second growth_- | STA 2 a Pree ce a 659 | 8, 722 3, 713 | 14, 481 638 1, 453 98 294 | 5,108 | 24, 950 
na Peet Sitka spruce, large_______---_-__- 3 Eee S| eee ce 17 EO espe orn (aR Me ok Baath BE eae 17 | 505 
Te ee Western hemlock, large________- S| oe are | ee ete 269 782 389 | 8,942 578 | 13, 281 182 |_ 1,418 | 23,005 
iI /fape re AWieSsterniredcedardlarcera sso 2s ee a eee SL ee 3 10 (etl ee LA | | pee Shc Is ees 70 | 1,154 
geen Port; Orfordiwhite-cedar large. .22 922 |e AT 230 TORO N|E eee. Fe Cees: 16 | el NEM es a Noe 246 1, 084 
D0 een onderosaspine Marcos sae ss ener ag ee ries Tl ste er | 366 550 8, 119 
20 een NOUgar pine larcess tesa ee een |S eee |S Pee Laer fe See ae a: 549 
23 Hir-mountainghemlock-largecess sss sa| bs 2 ears ee cer ree 43 123 14, 373 
Yi Ges White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large.______|________ ee named s panmme | ved ore 166 
ees Douglas-fir, small second growth______- 3260 | Saas ee Ome aac [eee 
ORSESe Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings --___ SDDS | ereeten |) 1G 57210 ee soe [eee 
Loews Sitkayspruceysmallzs 238 = 22 2 Sa ee eee ae Sees (1 eee eae Seen |e Ae Pa 
Ry ee Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings_-__|--_-____|----____ OG | Sa [ee Ma er ed ee ee ee Lis] eee eee 
5 eaters awWrestemmphemlockstsmall= =. 282 ete ee =: 220) eo ooo 133|| Seo Pl ae eae 360 | ro 604 pee 
iss Western hemlock, seedlings and sap- | | 
208) |oaes sees 160 |eae2eeet 18),| 22322 ya ec 5075 |e eos 
LOW 2 |e 80 a eases ot Pacem ee 8 Ee. x 82 | ‘ 
Phe e fete eel Phe ae as 561 eae 797, |= DLE ieee os YES) ee See 
22am Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings _|--______ Se) ee ADRESSE Lae BoB 4) ere oe 2):0105 |Poeesee A Bt fel (ae eer A028 2. see 
Oy sashes Hir-mountainshemslock:, small. 222-22 |225 5. s|b_ ele ae, ee. Slgleetsrs se 982: ;|=e aes AS: | peseose i 1060 Soe ees 
26caas odgepolespine, small _- 8 22-2 tee eo Pee eee eeeeee bee ey eer (See ip fear | (ee as MR eee 2563) esate 
Doe White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small_______|--______|----____ SS Visre = EA ee (ce el mated 11. |S eet BE LoS: Les | Saker ao 
Boe ee FRG WO OG Bae se teres tees a ee ee OY | eee alll Seen oe Sa ee eee | ee ie me | eee | So< eee 
Deen LE ONGeELOSarp Ne smOOG lands 222 aur an sae ee aes |b See wee oe ee Se ete en =a eee |p a aeeeallenn sees |- = soe ss |ze es -— a [ee ee = |S, 452 oe 
An IG Oak-madrone woodland_____- BOG Aa ie eee 
Sule ef ardiwo0d See ee eee ere eee re oa | eet oe |e seamen Lao Seo |ES Sale ene | Re eee | errs | are |e eee PL PSY (| er 
Syleses Old cut-overs, nonrestocked GrorGulsoseee DE 202) |b eae Eye ieee ae DOGS I fe ae eer, 
BOR ae VecentCubcoVerSeeees— 8a ee L7i2) | sean S38 ATA bases oo 38), 084) |= 2 2-22 18 0 io ee L5G Sosa se 84,836) |b == x 
Sy Previously deforested burns___.__.-____}--__.-__|----__-- IgE) ee 917185 |e 570427] oe Se 860 ))| See 1734320) ees es 
Sota FSH oye apa ha a Pa a a (ee ee ee PE 2 (ed ee ee Pee 3597106) see 
SLs Noncommercial rocky areas___-___--_-- [ee eis | = Sees | eee ee | eee eee | aateeee eee eae (Soeeeeee | poaeeees eens aA 0825 |e = 
owl a a ee 2, 060 543 | 66,880 | 77,391 |115,526 |102,829 | 49,114 | 85,925 | 6,396 | 5,715 253,156 | 272, 403 


1 Data for national-forest lands were averages for 1924-33; data for other lands were averages for 1926-30. 
1 Unclassified; total of these items: national forests, 3,169 acres; other lands, 10,011 acres, aggregate, 13,180. acres. 


153 


Taste 45.—Estimated annual averages of area burned over on national forests in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, by type and survey unit 


| Western Washington 
| 
= | | | 
Re Type forests | LNoretoe| Gereein| meeerreal| * pas 
Puget Puget Puget H pat he Rive me Total 
Sound Sound Sound 
| 
Acres Acres Acres Acres | Acres Acres Acres 
Gizs2= Douglas-fir, large old growth_-____--------------------- 783 54 24 | 149) eon 347 | 439 
y (ene Douglas-fir, small\old'growthies =o 2- as aes oe 4, 571 1, 619 7304| =o S22 eel |S eee 84 2, 436 
Soe Douglas-fir, large second growth_-__-------------------- 85 | 7 7 nL SS] ees Oe re eer ll 26 
af lee Sitka spruce; largess == ae sae ee ee ee oe aee 8. |S. 2S ss% oe | ee ee |e ee (| eee 8 
[4a ‘Westernjhermlocklarges=2sse 25 - eea 1, 022 711 282 2 11 4 1,010 
ify fae Western'redcedar} large 222. -== esos sea ee 28 25 By Ee ee |e ee | i ree 28 
ipo Port.Orfordswhite-cedar, lare@ns-< 292 see ee 16})) 222-5 = See eT ESS SPOS | AS Se ee aes | Ree ae | ere 
2022 |: Ponderosa pine; ‘large: =.= esuo wees Seats oon nee ese L526) Se ee ae a |e em ee | | ee | Cn | 
20A\222|_ Sugari pine largess es 2 Se see Ce ee ae ec ere ee | eee een | ne Se ee eee oe oe re eae | meee 
3 eee Fir-mountainjhemlock; large--2=. - =) 2-2-2222 ase ee 678 211 264 | 47 2 27 551 
DY fetes | White fir-larch-Douzlas-fir, large___.------------------- | S| eee | ee et [Seay See eS | eee ne 8 8 
Oe es Douglas-fir, small second growth___--.--------------_-- 756 155 46 063 |E oe eee ee 20 277 
10s2s=0) Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings-_-_-___-_-------------- 5, 845 | 258 551 | (ty) See 3, 294 4, 205 
125555 Sitkaispruce; smaller en ne eee | ee oes eee eee ee | eee pore SSS == A 2a GSS eee | ee Ss | ey eae 
1 Fs Penge Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings-_------------------- D4) of ee we Ss ae 
162 Wrestern*hemlock;/smallic22= Seek. toes See ee | in OO 2a | eee reee ces 
1622 Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings__--__--- 
19:22 nr Ceodarcy sins] ieee ee emer oe Sn eine 
Zisas Ponderosaipine, small elec ee ee eee 
7 ae Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings_--------_- 
DALES 23 Fir-mountain hemlock, small_-__-___----_--_----- 
2oue=s* Modgepole pines smallivei a= Sis See eee 2 
2 White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small___-__-____----------- 
32 ea=en Red wO0ds Soc = Se eae ee oe ee ee 
536-- | (Ponderosa ‘pine wood land 2-9-2) as oe ee See ee See 
Y eee | Oak-madrone: woodland! = -=- 22s eee oe ee ee | G60 aoe yn 23] eo Sh ae | ee eS a ae ee Ree eee | Dern rlae a 
Ej ae Hardwoods sve ees Boece re co ee Bh pee petetee Bolg SSSR | |S See ees Se 5 
Shrssoy Old cut-overs, nonrestocked _.----------------------_- 1942 |) eee eee [ieee 2a ee 12 12 
8622-2 Recent/cCut-OVer sis = ae oe ee eee een eee | 1, 039 37 625 15 179 67 923 
872_2=-|pPreviously, deforested: burns! === -2se2-=s sees sen | 3, 978 90 144 abi re ee 1, 142 1, 387 
332 | Subal pine === 22 eae eat ee eee er eee 1, 922 | 1, 654 227 Q's 2: MR Soe 1, 890 
3822 Noncommercial rocky areas__--------=----_-.-_-=------ 1, 066 | 331 24 (iis ee ok 303 664 
Total S52) Seen on ee ee See eee ee 23, 710 5, 300 3, 307 264 201 6, 168 15, 240 
i} 
| Western Oregon 
Type p | 
No. | sh Columbia | Willamette Owen Umpqua Gon Rogue Total 
River River Gat River COaSE River 
Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres 
(ae | Douglas-fir, large old growth______-_------------------- 26 254 3 23 16 22 344 
Y pe | Douglas-fir;smallold:erowth so 222 2a ee ee ae 141 Sateen a ee 573 1,070 298 2, 135 
Se22-2 | Douglas-fir, large second growth__---_----------------- 10 19 20 pS es ga 9 59 
1h Sees | Sitkaispruce; largess == === *22L == 22 = an a | ae | | a | a en ee | ee eee 
14-2224 Wiestern hemlockjylarge:. === See 9 5) (ee a ce ee | | as fh 12 
phy apes, i. Western): red cedars largen ase. Se See arrears ame eh Se eR i NEE ATR eee | Fe eee | RS Re a 
ARaewes Port: Orford-white-cedar, large: 2222 ee os || ote as A aes | eee | Ree aen 1G | settee eee 16 
20 se= 22 Ponderosa pine; laree-. =. === ee [Soa ele ou |S! eee | See eS 22 iP 58 152 
Q0As-cieSugarpine:tlargess-=.-2-5ln~ sae Oe ee ee | fa SE ere A att Lal oR ea | ae cena | Me eal | oe 4 SOLES | BE ne er | eae 
Dake | Fir mountainihemlock, Jarge._-2 2 = ee |e 42) See naan Q's | irate reas BS 76 127 
Vie | “White fir-larch-D ouglas-fir, large: <2 === = 2. Se a | a | es | cen | eee ear | (ee 
Ores Be Douglas-fir, small second growth___-_-_--_-------------- 118 201 | 22 64 47 27 479 
10:2" Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings__________-__________ 70 184 | 48 169 1, 089 80 1, 640 
12 Sitkaksprtice;;smmall atc 2 058 Ste Pere i | eee ne | MC | reer ea RS | eenereney yenetest een se |e oe tt 
132-2 SitKaisprices seedlings'and Saplings satete = ss see eect | /oRae ee tee | eee ee Dee ees re HES CS vod | ere ear 2 
a eee |) Western‘hemlock,;smalli 2. 3228 ae ee Qt) See SS Se eee ee eS |e a a | Eee ae ipe | ace eee 4 
162-23 Western heinlock, seedlings and saplings_______________ Dy | ho Ne | a Sas | SE im | ae eee ih | WI oe 2 
19.2222 “Gedar,’’ small_. ..—2=-255 32222 sece ives scscke ane n Sete a) ese | a SS | eee | perme ton | eee noe eee | See 
Qieet Ponderosa pine, ‘Smaqly sy -- Soe Sa | a | lad CE eo | | | Lage aN 2 2 
22 hee Ponderosa:pine; seedling s/and' saplings += se ae a ae ee | ee eee | eee 7) | ee 14 21 


TABLE 45.—Estimated annual averages of area burned over on national forests in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, by type and survey unit— 


Continued 
Western Oregon 
Type T 
No. ype Columbia . North + South 
: Willamette Umpqu ou R 
River 2 ipqua ogue 
Ny River preson River Orecon River Total 
e Acres 
242 Rare Fir-mountain-hemlock, small_-_-.___-------------------- 23 
26 eel odgepole;pinessmall-sseseen as eke See Oe 18 
28 White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small______------------___- 11 
CPAs, RCC. W00 Cees ew ee ee ee nee 5 
5 oe BE OTLCeLOSA SP INe nw OO GA TI eae s matare ate eh et teen Sed | es =e eee | ne os 2 es SO ee aoe | k e e 
hy Seo Oak-madrone}woodland essere. Se aL eae ee 66 
31ea = Hl andiw0Odssmetece ese en sakn ee ena eee Mi Se 20 
35s Old cut-overs, nonrestocked 182 
Sse Recenticut-Overssssees = no aa aoe a = no 116 
SYS Previously deforested burns___---_- 2, 591 
BB 5 oe Subal pine seams ee eee oo ae eae Ssh soe 32 
Ci esee iNoncommiercial'rocky:areas=_-——-_--- --------=-<<-=---- 402 
HA DYOY eM be ek ON ee Pe A ee 676 1, 021 291 1, 180 3, 889 1, 413 8, 470 


TABLE 46.—Estimated annual averages of area burned over on lands other than national forests in the Douglas-fir region in 1926-30, by type 


and survey unit 


Western Washington 
Type | ! 
Noe Type faceata North Central | South G : 
Puget Puget Puget Tay Columbia Total 
Sound Sound Sound Harbor River 
Acres Acres Acres Acres 

Greet Douglas-fir; largeold' growth! :-2 ~~ 2-22 22 se. 
{ieee Douglas-fir, small old growth 
i awe ed Douglas-fir, large second growth 
be Sitkalspruce-tlargesetecs-. oe pee Se ne ese ssest-8 
ieee sWWieStermehemlocksplarges = seat a ne ae oe te Ea Se 
sly (aes iWesternuredcedarmlanrgetes sen Sees we ss 
TSoeeee Port Orford white-cedar, large_-._-.._-_-__-.-._------- 
20 eee Pond erosaypinew@largeseaasste = eel ee 2 ES ee 
20 ASesleSuganpine larger sass wn eee. oss Oe ose 
DR eee Fir-mountain hemlock, large 
OY fea White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large__-___-_-_------------- 
Gears. Douglas-fir, small second growth-_--__------------------ 
10 we Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings_-_---_-_-----------_- 
Dire Sitkavsprucessmal lees =o aoe ot aS Eee 
135s Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings______-_-----_---_--- 
15a Wresternbhemlock small. 8-2 = = oer ee ee 
LG ieaue Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings_- 
3G peste ““@edar small ssoe 2 S25 2 
PA Uae Ponderosa pine, small 
22 Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings__-______-_------- 
py ieee iMir-mountain hemlock;;small=_=_-> 2 22 2s Sos ase. 
26m ans Wodgepolespine-small =... 2--— eee es 
DRESS White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small 
Byes ais Red wood tes (etter aoe Uo zins Sets 
514____| Ponderosa pine woodland 
AE CCRT Oak-madrone woodland __-_ : 
GES Se PEA nGiw. COG S=aee eee aren tere mae le nd SS Saat 2, 203 | 743 | See eA | ee es 2,012 
Cif Oldicut-overs; nonrestocked_--=__-_---_--------=------ 12, 440 190 831 1, 437 10, 534 
30e ae IRECENTICUL-OV.CLS ee eee eee ee eee eae ee 83, 797 8, 575 9, 084 6, 659 52, 537 
By (seed iPreviouslydeforested) burns= === _ -2 = -=-_-_ -=2--25--= = 13, 454 10) | ees eee 2, 363 2, 396 
suse ee Su bal pinessseemer = sees meres cn. OE Sa | Rapes he | ae ae pL Raat ie et Anes oll ee een ee ees See 184 
3c Noncommercial rocky areas LG's |e re 5a a EA l= UP Sean eee eee Lae eee ese ela a 

Total Sees enn ce eee eee i eee se 229, 446 18, 442 36, 302 | 15, 089 11, 991 42, 238 124, 062 


155 


TasLe 46.—Estimated annual averages of area burned over on lands other than national forests in the Douglas-fir region in 1926-30, by type 
and survey unitt—Continued 


Western Oregon 
Type | | 
No: gue Columbia Soe ae Umpqua Gane Rogue | Total 
River River AoaSt | River eanet River 
Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres 
Douglas-fir dargevold: grow, these ee sees ee ees 1, 149 5, 436 975 865 3, 080 2 11, 507 
Douglas-fir, small old growth_________-_-----_-_-_- 892 5/159 10 | eee 1, 461 552 2, 675 | 11,172 
Douglas-fir, large second growth_______--_-__--_- whete 332 322 | 19 2, 509 518 417 | 4,117 
Lhe 2 Sitka spruce; large:- _ =.= 22-2220 ee es Sa Se on | ee ee | See ene | eee eee Ox | eee ee 9 
[45°58 | Western hemlock, large_._..__-..--.------=----------_- | 182) |eeee eee 446 | 5S eS | eee ee 226 
1 72Oe Western redcedar:larges=* 5-5 ios2s Sse ee es | eee Soc A as Oe a al | Pee ne nee SS EE eae | a 
18 --_|! Port: Orfordswhite-cedar; large: = === ss Sa ee | ee ee eee | ne ee | ee nena | Eee ea 2.30) eee oe 230 
20-224 |\sPonderosapine large: ss=sstee see = aan ae ne es | eee an | eee eee ees | ee ee name 1453) a. 2 eae 2, 627 2,772 
204:.-_ =) ‘Sugarpine; larges--=- oe ee ee ee beeen ea S| Se Ses | eS | ec | eee ee 183 183 
2ioeee Fir-mountain hemlock; large .22- == sss oo ee ees | eee we Os ee oe ed | ESP ee eet | eee ee 
Pyke White firlarch=Douglas-firslarges ose) ou eee el | Bree ee nce | eee Se 25) te BE et lle ke | EA eat a [RO | ee 
9______| Douglas-fir, small second growth__---..__-.---------_-- 732 3, 632 | 345 2, 450 | 2:27 2, 947 12, 383 
10 Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings..___-_____--__--___- 1, 559 | 3, 216 21 | 684 300 221 | 6, 001 
12 Sitka:spruce;smial] aes Se eee a a ere se (eee | ent eee Gls | PRAe ee eee 14) |e Stee See 75 
13 seen Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings_________----__-___- | eS Fal 2 een |S eee See PR | S| en oe ee | ee 
1a ae Wiestermyhemlock ssmall ee ss ee en ee 12 | beeen 24 eee Jo 24 | Ree ee 64 
16.=_--|| Western hemlock: seedlings'and' saplings: <= soe ee ea ee | eee | ce ee | a ee | ee 
19%aeae “@edar,?? small == a = oe a se ee | Bee er wee | en enna ns | ae ae ee | See ee | ee ae |e ee eee | ee 
pee ‘Ponderosaypines; Smal lisence = eee ee 872 
22_____| Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings. -_______________ 4,007 
2D Fir-mountain hemlock, smallse- 0 2: 225 ooo ee ee ee ee | er ee | eee ene | Eee | ene | Seen 
26._ || Bodgepole:pine;;smallls So ee eee 5 
28. _22.|/“Wibite:fir-larch=D ouglas-fir;: small oo = = Seo | es re | oe Se ee ee | ee eee ee | Pee ene | a 
322— 2 Red wood ions oa 8 ae ee ee = or Se ee en | eee ae |e aes | eee eee | ee ee es | oe | ee | aa 
56022 3).:Ponderosa;pine:woodland. S222" 2276s cee eee 3, 452 
pete Oak-madrone;woodland e222 isa see rena ee 3, 878 
312.88 Hardwo0ds= 22-2) | ae ee See eee eee 191 
3523 Old! cut-overs; nonrestocked) -=-2--__-__- = 22-1 2 = 1, 906 
36-62 =| SRecentiCut-o versie ses == ee eee eee ann eee 31, 260 
37__---| Previously deforested burns__...__-------------------- 11, 058 
Sh amare Subalpines <2. 52 se 2 So a a ww ee | ew ce ee a re | eee | nee ee 
38:.---|-Noncommercialirocky.areas=-2------ -- == =-- ee 16 
AR 8 ec ee eR ee eer et 105, 384 
Tasie 47.—Summary of estimated annual averages } of area burned over in the Douglas-fir region, by type and survey unit 
Western Washington 
REL Type ne Northinll miCentealle lmasouth | 
NG: | ore Puget Puget Puget | ASEM | Coluxbia Total 
Sound Sound Sound 
Acres | Acres Acres | Acres Acres Acres | Acres 
68x53 Douglas-fir, large old growth________----_-_--------=--- 15, 496 | 270 | 818 | 901 187 1,469 | 3, 645 
Y (ete Douglas-fir; smalloldigrowth!- —+-2.-- se see enone 16, 164 | 1,619 | 1152 Of ba eRe Bs | 84 2, 857 
822s Douglas-fir, large second growth_______________________ 5, 108 24 | 422 | 2684 |Seeea eee | 218 | 932 
rh ese Sitkaisprucenmlareess. tos eee ee re AL 7} eee eee mel |e eaer el | Sees eee 8 pease ea 8 
14RD iWesternthemlock: ‘large! 222-22 2s ee 1, 418 825 286 35 23 | ll 1, 180 
ay Se iWeestern-red cedarwlargessseee= =~ eases er eee 70 | 67 | 3), | Se eS ee 0) DPS eon 70 
1s | Port Orford white-cedar, large_________-_-_-__-___-___-- QAG fn aia |S RS DE SS | Ee cl pee | eee! 
OOnesall Ponderosa pine sarge 2-2 s- - == eee ee eee 
20 A202) ‘Sugar pine argess-2-- -22 525 eet ee eee 
235-208 | Fir-mountainihemlock, large-_.-2- 2:22 2222-222 2-2 
74 ea | White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large _______- 
Quests. | Douglas-fir, small second growth _________ 
Ome | Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings 
12a jESitKaisprucessmallo=. tases ee ee eee ee 
13ers | Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings___________________- 


1 Data for national-forest lands were averages for 1924-33, data for other lands were averages for 1926-30. 


156 


Tape 47.—Summary of estimated annual averages of area burned over in the Douglas-fir region, by type and survey unit—Continued 
TTTTTTTT9tziqgg 


Western Washington 


Type Type All Nl 
No. forests North | Central | South Guiee Golampi 
Puget | Puget | Puget Harbor River 18 Total 
Sound | Sound Sound 
| Acres Acres | Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres 
Geese Wiesternvhemlock, smallo2 2222 22-86. 07S. pees 604 ll S60 i eae ee 165%] eet eee 536 
‘Geese Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings 
1K s. es Codannysinall ise ae eon Seo ee 
PAN Ponderosaypinessmalless sen eee ee ee 
PP Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings_________________ 
DAS ee Fir-mountain hemlock, small_____-___________________- 
26s InWodeepolempinesmall@ssuems. lob ne Wha love 
DR ete White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small___ a ll 
32 Eeene Red wi00 Gee ames aera ae A 5 
51%4____| Ponderosa pine woodland___________ is 3, 452 
Canoes Oak-madrone woodland_-______-_-----------_-------_- 4,147 
3 eae ET andi God Seems sneeial is Wes a eae pe oe 2, 237 
Chee Old cut-overs, nonrestocked _--_------------------------ 12, 634 4, 028 4, 048 190 | 831 1, 449 10, 546 
SOne == Recent cut-OVersuases) eaee a0 Sie Soe ie ie 84, 836 | 10, 087 18, 794 8, 590 9, 263 | 6, 726 53, 460 
Sie Previously deforested burns 17, 432 90 167 Ohlkd meee eee © 3, 505 3, 783 
BEE SUbal pine Se ewemeses esha eree Ue ne 2, 106 1, 654 411 Ol Seas Se SMA SOE ee 2, 074 
382-2 Noncommercial rocky areas 1, 082 331 24 Gi eee see 303 664 
Dota ie grees see ee ane te 2 eee 253, 156 23, 742 39, 609 | 15, 353 | 12, 192 | 48, 406 139, 302 
| | | | 
Western Oregon 
Type p | 1 
No. Mae Columbia | Willam- | North | pmnoua | South R 
River | ete | Oregon | “River | Oregon | River | Total 
Acres Acres Acres 
Gre Douglas-fir, large old growth______---------------------- 
Ue pes Douglas-fir, small old growth-_____--------------------- 
Cero Douglas-fir, large second growth--_-_--------_----------- 
Leer Sitkalspruce anges sens oe ee a ees 8 
WAN oe Wiesternthemlock larger 9! 2822" SoS eses ess 2 ete 
sli Westermredcedarslange: ia oe es eee eo ee 
Leaps Port. Orford white-cedar, large__.____------_----------- 
20 eee Ponderosa pine, large 
20Aes|sSugenipinevlarcewiae eames eee bee os aoe 
PB re Fir-mountain hemlock, large. __.---------------------_- 
PA (aaorem White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large______---------------_- 
9_..___| Douglas-fir, small second growth____----+-------------- 
10ses== Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings_______----_-------__ 
eases Sitkatsprucessm allie sexo soo en eee eee eee 
Loueee Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings___ 
15 eeeoe iWesternvhemilocks small! 22" 2-2-2251) 2) 222. 
16 manes Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings 
LO upeees i Codar wisi al lesen ee ee a ee 
2a iPonderosaspinewsmall =. -=12 22s 222s ee 
Do ee eee Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings__________-_----- 
24 Tae Fir-mountain hemlock. small____---------------------- 
26 eee lelcodgepole;pinesmall 22.225 225) 252 eso ae ee 
28 ae tats White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small z Dp | Eee es | eae erate rl | ree ee auth pe 4 | rs et ANG ee Ieee lee 11 
2 Ee ae REdWw00 dame Mem na eee at 5 
5%____| Ponderosa pine woodland 38, 452 
(eee Oak=madroneswoodlandis. <2 02 222) aes bol - 3, 944 
Beers Se EVardiwOOdSseie srs = Ses os Woe Se See Soe Eee 220 
See Oldicut-overs, monrestocked!!=--=-_.---_U 2-2-2 s22_- 1, 632 144 52 7 182 4 2, 088 
BOE IRECentiCul-OVerse sane eee See ee 13, 068 7, 405 3, 958 554 5, 071 1, 320 31, 376 
BY oaevnce Previously deforested: burns: —_.-_--.-..22.--.2------=2 570 4, 905 1, 206 1, 672 1, 976 3, 320 13, 649 
pRoae Subalpine eee | te eerie es B2h | Demense h Sees | ae Poe ee eee eee oe | ee 32 
BSiee Noncommercial rocky: areas == 325-2 ee See 6 1M pestle ae eae 5 397 13 418 
MIRO FE se Ss SIN a MNS pe an a On 20, 557 31, 566 6, 834 11, 321 17, 006 26, 570 113, 854 


224146 °—40——_11 


TasLe 48.—Estimated annual averages of timber volume } lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region? in 1924-33, by type and Survey unit 


Type | 


ON NATIONAL FORESTS 
a 


Western Washington 


= Type All forests = | : Rates 
o Puget | Puget | Puget | Grays | Columbia] 5.5) 
Sound | Sound | Sound Harbor River 
— | | 
M board Mboard | Mboard | M board M board M board M board 
feet feet feet feet feet feet feet 
(ess. ‘Douglas-fir, Jargeiold/growthis22 = eee 12, 267 918 676 243 
Y Pere Douglas-firsmallioldierowth™=-s- === =e 53, 022 18, 419 198869 | ss eee 
Sa Douglas-fir, large second growth...________-__--___--___ | 1,012 | 232 | 98 | 1 
Tiliees we Sitka'spruceilarge: 22s re ee ee eee 432 Bee ee ee |S ee 
1K Ge iWesternthemlock, largess oe Sees we ere 21, 364 | 16, 395 | 4, 360 145 
[ene iWiesterniredced ars largesse = as ee re ee ner | 853 843 | 107) Bee 
1S See Port: Orford): white-cedar, largesse o eee ee eee 4 |-------4----|=-----=---=-|-----2=----- 
D0 aes l#Ponderosaipine: largess sssaee ee ean eee ee | 227 |------------|------------|------------ 
20A___| Sugar pine, large_____- ee a rae ey te ee [see ose |------------ |------------ |--==--=-==- 
Bin eon | Fir-mountain hemlock, large__.--.______-_---.-2-_-=-_- 4, 443 1,069 | 489 | 1,152 | 
Or fog White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large_________--_---___-____ 166 )1| Secs. Coens | ae eee ee |ESeere pues 
Total: =-2 <2 ea ee 93, 790 37, 876 25, 502 1, 541 804 7,779 73, 502 
Western Oregon 
Type Type - 
No. 4 Columbia | Willam- North J: South cm 
River | ette River | Crezon Ves : Oregon Heeue Total 
| 
| | 
M board M board | M board M board | M board M board M beard 
feet feet feet feet | feet feet feet 
622 Douglas-fir, large old-growth_________-_----.---_--_-__- 793 5, 800 10 27 | 232 62 6, 924 
7A Douglas-fir, small old growth_____________-__--_--____- 603 | 787) | eee on ietar 8, 163 | 1,105 | 1, 557, | 12, 215 
ee Douglas-fir, large second growth_______________________ [peti eit BOO) era sete eee |e aera ae eas ee rare 20 | 610 
1 Te ae Sitkaispruceslarg cha ssssn tie eee ee ee |e | eee eae | ene ne ee | | Se [eee te eee |------------ 
1 4 eae Western hemlock-large = seea ete. Se See en eee eer 528] keene eee a | ne eee [D2 Sen SS eee ae Lee 52 
172: ‘Western red cedar} large:2-= = 22. 222 Sea a a a ee a Se | ee SB ae | Bar| fae eae | 
soe Port; Orford -white-cedar; large. 2 2== ==) a ee |e ae Se | ae | ieee el | Ee eee 4 |------------ | 4 
2 Ponderosa; pine, largess es eas eo cee ee ee Ce | es | ee ee [poemasceciaes Ce ee ee | 166 | 227 
WA || Suganpines largess h. ek eS ee Le ees | ee | eee ee Jee CRT ak 2 [lear ee OE || s . AS | a [eee 
Pas a Fir-mountain hemlock, large mises see = es ees see ae | ee ea SE DAG E Eins SERC CI W es | ORT Re se | Wea ease teen! 7 256 
27 een ‘Wihite firlarch=Douglas-fir large soos = sae meee ees | ee ee | nn ee ee | ee ee el | EO [cali 2p Mt Mav ae | aS aeaes 
Total= 222 3 se Se Fe ee eee | 1,396 7,478 10 8, 251 | 1, 341 1, 812 | 20, 288 
ON LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS 
| Western Washington 
Ete Type All forests North | Central South Grave Golumbi 
Puget Puget Puget Harbor | Rivers Total 
| Sound Sound Sound | 
M board | M board M board M board M board M board M board 
feet | feet feet feet feet feet feet 
Bi snes Douglas-firlarge‘old arowth:==-s2 52-80. - see eee eee 94, 154 2, 586 1, 523 6, 386 2, 069 3, 846 | 16, 410 
(eae | Douglas-fir,.small'old' growthw__-22-==-_2 22 - ee 3950555 | -=sseeoeeees| 5 1, 060 
See | Douglas-fir, large second growth_-______-_--------_----- 23, 938 | 8, 369 
PEE ee laSitkalsprucey large =< 2¢ sss 23 oes eee BR | at ES SII I HNN se eige| SI Soa pe | ea en | 
1452 I. Westernshemlock, large sseo= meee eee ene a eee) 1, 641 1, 620 
yi iWiestern:redcedar, large: 2 oe ee ee eee 301 | 301 
18iaeee Port\Orfordwhite-cedar, larges=s2 os saaae = ee T;080))|). 2-255 - SS2| ee See ae Sane ee re eee 
203 Pondercsaipine, Wargele == see amee 7,892) 25 2a 8 | ate ee al 
DAS ele Sugarpines large se ssee ere ae ene BAO Ya a oe | re re eel | aoe et ee | ace | 
23 Wir-mountain! hemlock: \largete=—— == eae 9, 920 9, 930 
= | | | 
Total 178, 613 | 4, 068 | 20, 118 7, 399 | 2, 090 4,015 | 37, 690 


1 Log-seale basis. 


158 


? Data for national-forest lands were averages for 1924-33; data for other lands were averages for 1926-30. 


Tas_e 48.—Estimated annual averages of timber volume lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, by type and survey unit—Con. 


ON LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS—Continued 


SSS 


Western Oregon 
Type Tp 
No. ype 4 : North Soutt 
Columbia | Willam- Umpqua ouu Rogue 
= « Oregon . Oregon gu Total 
River ette River COnSE River east River 
M board M board M board M board M board M board M board 
feet feet feet feet feet feet feet 
(Jess Mouglas-firslares‘old!growth=2---= 20-2 ee ee 10, 209 39, 339 4, 300 1, 778 22,112 6 77, 744 
Y se Dougias-firsmalllold’growth=*__ 2.22222 8 8, 720 LS sge | ee eee 5, 188 2, 290 8, 025 37, 995 
Sit Su Douglas-fir, large second growth______________________- 1, 325 415 38 11, 426 1,114 1, 251 15, 569 
1 Tse Sitkarspruceplarme fae state cx ea sete sted arose ee eee ee |S ee Se ARSE Ee SF le 8 a RE 139 \ ee ae 73 
Ue ee iVesternenemlockalarge tee eae St a eek Mc eeeranete ox) +E Sun anes [le ee DAE | ees Se Paice ieee clement | A ee See Po 21 
py ee iwresternired cedar plareessssss 2 sete wa aoe meara ye eee |S oy tees ae eben es Se aay eee ee || etd 2 elle emi ee ee 
1Szesee BortOrfordtwhite-cedarhlanrge eas awe saws ues hn ee S| eS | es | ee elle A NOSOue ster a: 1, 080 
20 Sess Ponderosajpine? large: -— = 22-2. 2-2 25-_-.2 I es See 7, 881 7, 892 
ZO ACRES UIP STADING Arye Meee em te erie nee Se ee SRP DIE Nene ete Ea een TE | Ree |e he 549 549 
OF eee Hir-mountainyhemlock-Warge wes oun ese ene See OE Poe 2 te Se Se Ea |e 3 Sea | ahs REN Ee eee 
= | 
TROD aca Sc eee eee 20, 254 53, 526 4, 359 18, 403 26,669 | «17,712 140, 923 
ALL FOREST LANDS 
Western Washington 
Type 
No. Type All forests North Central South ae a 
= Grays Columbia 
Puget Puget Puget Harbor Riv Total 
Sound Sound Sound i) ct 
M board M board M board M board M board M board M board 
feet feet feet feet feet feet feet 
6252 Douglas-fir, large old growth____-_-.------------------_- 106, 421 3, 504 2. 199 6, 629 2, 069 7,002 21, 753 
(fees Douglas-fir, smal] old growth_______- a2 92, 077 18, 419 20, 927 2) (loses ee 2, 519 41, 867 
8_______| Douglas-fir, large second growth ae 24, 950 259 7, 527 7184; hese ae aes 201 Sera 
lee SItKalsDnuce plang e tees ate eee one en | ate See SOON Rete are se eae A ol Pome ae one CS P-fal eee epee 432 
4earee eWiesternuhemlockolargelesss== Sari 6 eee 2 eee ees 23, 005 17, 549 4, 538 373 393 79 22, 932 
esas iWiestern’redcedarslaroes=— 10 see a en Poet sles 1, 154 1, 144 LC eet (ee era eel beeen ee 1, 154 
1S ies Port Orford white-cedar, large___________-_-_-----___-_- SOB 45] ee oes Ses eer ns oe Sl ae oe NE OP Se ae en | 
20_...__| Ponderosa pine, large_-_--.------------ = BU OF ese pee | ee a | Meee = oe eras ae 2 ee eae eee 
20 A= sSugar pine wlargem tas 228 = Ss = 2 540) hee sete eo Roee a Noe Sh en) eee eral eee ers | Ee ee 
ORY Fir-mountain hemlock, large________ 2 14, 373 1, 069 10, 419 152) | ose SS 1, 477 14, 117 
272) |\=Wihite:fir-larch=) ouglas-fir; large s 22.222. ==-=-s--2-~ =. - 166) aoe Bose Soils eee SN ee | eS A 166 166 
| 2S \\e 
Ota Seeee eh een Sen See ees ot BS Se eet 272, 403 41, 944 45, 620 8, 940 2, 894 | 11, 794 111, 192 
Western Oregon 
ape Bene North South 
No. Columbia | Willam NOE Umpqua Sout Rogu 
: pate Oregon Pd Oregon oeue Total 
River ette River mani: River eonet Riv er 
M board M board M board M board M board M board M board 
feet feet feet feet feet feet fett 
(Git Douglas-fir, large old growth____--_- 11, 002 45, 139 4, 310 1, 805 22, 344 84, 668 
eS S=5 _| Douglas-fir, small old growth_____- 9, 323 14 550\ ios eee 13, 351 3, 395 50, 210 
Sues | OuUgI aS-fir sarge second growth... -._222-2--2_--_ 22. 1, 325 1, 005 38 11, 426 1,114 16, 179 
bl eet Sitkayspruceslorceeerstes enue ower ne Sl a ee Se oe ee ee ee |S aoouseut ale tet ceote 73 73 
WC ee WWiesteLngnemllockmlangewe en aa eu enews eee 2S 2 Ee 52 7 UE |e es so a Wi age ae 73 
Lares Wiestenmyredcedarslargess- oo ee ee eee ee eee 
1ge Port Orford white-cedar, large 
20_..__.| Ponderosa pine, large. -___-__-_------- 
20AR eSucarpine large 22-2 
23ee==— Fir-mountain hemlock, large 
27a see aah te -or-larch-Douglas-fir,, large. =.= -.-+-----=--_222|-==-_=-2-=_- -~----~- ----]-=---~------|------------|------------]------------]------------ 
Ota rei renaa a UM tems A ee EN 21, 659 61, 004 4, 369 26, 654 28, 010 19, 524 161, 211 


159 


TasLe 49,—WNet average annual rate of depletion from causes other than cutting, by type group 


nnn 


| | Annual loss per 100,000 acres from— 
Net annual 


Ownership, State, and type group Total area 


fire loss NI =| | | 
mmophicies| phiesece | Wind | Total 
| | 
| | | 
National forest: | | 
Washington: Acres Acres Acres Acres | Acres Acres 
(Saree lt peer ope eer a A ee DM AE a: 488, 704 1,152 236 | 30 11.5 | 277.5 
Peer erie nee Ree MOR ee are | ele ee ee Mar ene 218, 216 10 5 30 1.5 | 36.5 
FI 14S 11718220 s20An 2342 7/an Gt20 beeen een ee Ee 1, 644, 072 1, 044 64 30 11.5 | 105.5 
Qi SVD T'S earn ht DD se sere Sa ce ee ee 215, 216 379 51°76 |p ah | a | 176 
139163 195120:24-98 Sand '30 See ae ee nee ne eee 167, 624 714 | 426i) 2332 sos. i See ee 426 
QUE eau aa ee I, A Pia ee cle ec een 271, 903 2, 817 THOSG} eee ee |S 1,036 
45516525. 2620N CoS se esas eeees ese eee eee eee 191, 822 711 371p css Se See ee 371 
BE eae a ie eae ee ae eet Ee ee 946, 004 1, 890 200 |e eR | | 200 
35365 and :3 (ee ose see ee nn eae wae eee ee eee 205, 533 2, 322 1130) Ee a ae | eee 1, 130 
nt alot Ee Apa A eee a ee 6, 301 4 G3 | estes see miei | Eee ae 63 
Oregon: 
Rear hy (en a ea 2, 124, 340 990 88.5 
Site FO Rae ek Sie SS eee 511, 832 24 36.5 
11, 14,117, 18, 20, 20A, 23, 27, and 29________ a 858, 663 120 55.5 
ORT 2 5 yandi2le esses ee een ee ne eee - 418, 279 196 47 
13, 16, 19, 22, 24, 28, and 30 | 142, 725 35 25 
10 OMe ee ee Oe | 295, 748 1,099 372 
40516425 426 and\SSeee onan e eens 469, 455 963 205 
gatuaaeise se Ue oes Rs eens: pe 64, 360 33 51 
35, 36, and 37__ 399, 342 2, 881 721 
Boa) SH UT SO ee teat eet se ee, eae oe 80, 779 21 26 
All other forest land: 
Washington: 
Gia Zhe Ae Ue Aare ee eek eer rte bm raeere OT oe 1, 207, 589 893 74 30 11.5 115.5 
EE EN SRN Se ST SON one OL RO or Ss Ser eee res | 512, 538 227 | 44 30 1.5 75.5 
1114510171820 520A S232 7 5a 20 eae ee lee erences Sm --| 1,788, 127 | 119 7 30 11.5 48.5 
QS12 515 han dD see eer Sn re ee ee ee | 1, 488, 406 | 2, 768 | 186) [Ecce ete ene) | eee 186 
1316419 420694128" sini dO ee sere Caen en Te ee eee | 236, 365 412 1:7 44 | Seen pl | eaecoeee eee 174 
1 (eee a Pale Mee iad He oe aie er eee Oe Pe | 1,073, 642 28, 730 25676) | eect econ los st ee 2, 676 
PSV ASD YAM) Sess tole eae eis at aks a a eee aN ls | 139, 235 | 53 38), Sasa wes ee | eee ee 38 
iY ee Se eee et en 5 At RE AS 1395922 1| eee rae 200)! ES ee |e ee 200 
B5ABOCANG S7ccn tee eee es DA See ree De Se 2, 123, 787 65, 467 3) 083)| Gate lee Nee nee 3, 083 
SCS RR eR AT ane Lee 346, 550 1, 510 436) |e eee a | Cae ae 436 
Oregon: 
kar 47a sea er ie 6 ee eS 3, 055, 581 6, 768 221 | 30 11.5 262.5 
Te ee aly Ed BR rege 92 Se SRI P ge no se 1, 398, 937 | 1,412 101 | 30 1.5 132.5 
TT 145151751 820% 20 A 23427), AN tO ea ee ee ere 721, 066 818 | 113 | 30 11.5 154.5 
OSI 2STB San deal soc eee eee aR nese = alr cere 2, 020, 303 5, 236 250M (boa tenons | ae eee 259 
13581 65/1922 24. 28" en ds 30 seen ne ee cee eee 214, 950 | 927 43 10 Ee Ae ASAE ae ees 431 
QD Sata Re CEI SILO, AO pn a IEE 469, 222 | 4,021 35 7a | ere ne ea 857 
4) B64 25.026, ANG Sin eee eee oe wee ee ee ce ae 390, 969 | 7, 409 (2) jnaciloi2...-|. se | eee 
Fy Mie eee et ie omer iach na eat hs alee Pn ce ey 5p 1025 | ne eee Bit are wae |e 51 
B55 36M ANG (81a es See te ee eo ona Ee ie a a ieee ee 1, 627, 022 | 43, 587 2 670g] beta ore Fe Sees 2, 679 
SUA ee eS eS AE Se eee SL a en 293, 630 | 148 | 40) | Aeie ta ste pial Was 49 
| | 


1 For type 14 the annual looper-damage loss rate per 100,000 acres, not included in the rates tabulated, is 53 acres. 


2 For the Columbia River Oregon, north Oregon coast, Willamette River, and Umpqua River units, 20 acres; for the south Oregon coast unit, 1,100 
acres; for the Rogue River unit, 2,700 acres. 


160 


TasLe 50.—Assumed future decadal depletion,’ by district and ownership class 


| 


1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 
Ownership and disrtict ; 
Cutting Other Total Cutting Other Total Cutting Other Total 
, Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million 
National forest: board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet | board feet 
IRUZet SOUDCeeea mee se eae ae 1, 020 1,019 2, 039 1, 950 959 2, 909 3, 000 773 3, 773 
Grayseelarboreese tee eee eas see 250 224 474 1, 000 204 1, 204 1, 500 170 1, 670 
ColumbiatRivers= =e see 250 431 681 400 420 820 800 358 1, 158 
\WillamettevRiver2oss-—-——--2---— 450 357 807 1, 150 344 1, 494 2, 250 325 2, 575 
Oregon\coastiaasees= seen eee 50 133 183 80 132 212 105 122 227 
SouthiOreconsseese = =e 125 253 378 400 255 655 650 242 892 
Ota are ee es eS aS 2,145 2,417 4, 562 4, 980 2, 314 7, 294 8, 305 1, 990 | 10, 295 
Other ownerships: | 
Buget Sound eee eee 26, 800 835 27, 635 25, 350 394 25, 744 | 12, 600 284 12, 884 
Graystbiar bores eaene ae eee a 8, 980 332 9, 312 8, 000 218 8, 218 | 10, 000 132 10, 132 
Columbia Rivernts ss se. 2 22 17, 400 612 18, 012 15, 500 139 15, 639 4, 000 143 4, 143 
\WillametteyRivers22sseere ses) T= 7, 200 1, 228 8, 428 13, 000 767 13, 767 14, 000 460 14, 460 
@regonicoas teeta eee eee 6, 600 942 7, 542 11, 300 597 11, 897 14, 000 387 15, 387 
SouthiOregon "sss ees = ase - 875 1, 121 1, 996 1, 870 1,121 2, 991 6, 095 989 | 7, O84 
Ue eee 67, 855 5, 070 72, 925 75, 020 3, 236 78, 256 61, 695 2, 395 64, 090 
All ownerships: 
Puget Sound__ 27, 820 1, 854 29, 674 27, 300 1, 353 28, 653 15, 600 1, 057 16, 657 
GraysiHarborsss-2s=— 9, 230 556 9, 786 9, 000 422 9, 422 11, 500 302 11, 802 
ColumbiajRivers==2 22 2=- 2". =. 17, 650 1, 043 18, 693 15, 900 559 16, 459 4, 800 501 5, 301 
Willamette River_______--___- 2 7, 650 | 1, 585 9, 235 14, 150 1,111 15, 261 16, 250 785 17, 035 
@regontcoast=s== estes et ee ae 6, 650 1,075 7, 725 11, 380 729 12, 109 15, 105 509 15, 614 
South Oregon 1, 000 1, 374 2, 374 2, 270 1, 376 3, 646 6, 745 1, 231 7, 976 
BOY MS a ey pep ae 70, 000 7, 487 77, 487 80, 000 5, 550, 85, 550 70, 000 4,385 | 74, 385 


1 Figures given are log scale, based on Scribner rule. 


TasBLe 51.—Rates 1! used in calculating potential growth of conifer 
timber, approximate technical rotation ages 


Trees 3.1+inches | Trees 15.1+inches | Trees 11.1+inches 
dvb-h? d. b. h.? d. b. hs 


Site- 
quality 
class Mean Mean Mean 
annual Rota- annual Rota- annual Rota- 
growth | tion age | growth | tion age} growth | tion age 
per acre per acre per acre 
Cubic Board Board : 
feet Years feet | Years feet Years 
if 155 | 60 or 70 675 100 875 90 
II 135 | 60 or 70 500 120 675 100 
Ill 105 | 60 or 70 300 150 475 110 
IV 75 | 60 or 70 125 180 275 130 
V 45 | 60 or 70 30 +200 100 150 
VI 208 60lOrs 70g) meen eres 2 2s be es aa Cee eee a |e2 oe eee 


1 Approximately 75 percent of mean annual growth rates of normally 
stocked stands of Douglas-fir in western Oregon and western Washington. 
The normal rates for site classes I to V appear in Technical Bu'letin 201 
(12). The rate for class VI was derived by extrapolation. No allowance 
is made for breakage and defect. 

2 Estimated by Scribner rule in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top. 

3 Estimated by Scribner rule in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top. 


161 


Tasie 52.—Volume of timber, lumber tally, in the Douglas-fir region, by species, State, and forest-survey unit 


Western Washington 


Sonn me. Total l | 
“bol SEECICS for North | Central | South eet Colum- 
Tee100 Puget Puget Puget is he 7 yee Total 
Sound | Sound Sound | | Stvectne 
| | | | 
| | Million Million | Million | Million | Million | Mlliion | Million 
board | board board | board | board | hoard board 
feet |) afeeER Ninn wifeet eae cet maul ue feetanns lms) cetauen Mmm ece 
DA Large old-growth. Douglas-fir 2220 sao ae ee eee 166, 124.9 5, 989. 3 | 16, 379.8 | 14, 331.0 | 10, 248.8 | 15, 795.6 62, 744.5 
DB Small'old-erowth:D ouglas-firSo= se en eee aac 116, 585.2 | 2,420.3 | 11, 651.4 | 4,714.8} 1,185.6 2,972.6 | 22, 944.7 
DC Large second-growth Douglas-fir 78, 512. 2 | 2, 460. 5 | 3, 718.7 | 9, 233.3 | 1, 282.5 5,351.3 | 22, 046.3 
DD Small second-growth Douglas-fir 19, 833. 7 | 626.0 | 1,674.4 | 1, 483.3 | 191.5 2,652.5 | 6,577.7 
SA argeiSitka spruce: 2-2 2 eee ance ee eee eee 12, 453. 0 | 142.8 | 2,125.5 79.0 | 4,530.3 261.8 | 7,139.4 
SB Small Sitka‘spruces= =s22s)==s--— == === 985.4 | 12.7 | DBRS | |e 533. 5 41.2 | 598. 7 
ES ingelmann/Sprucess-- 2s sese= se eae 256. 4 | ail -6 16) |e secs een 36. 8 39.1 
HA Large western hemlock 105, 399. 3 | 14, 185.5 | 28, 654.6 | 6,939.8 | 22,892.6 | 7,504.8 | 80, 177.3 
HB Small western hemlock 14, 844.4 | 2,209.7 | 2, 765. 1 1, 168.8 4, 461.4 1,186.2 | 11, 791.2 
MH Mountain hemlock -______---_-------- 6, 198. 9 704. 2 511.3 | 229. 6 65.0 | 92.3 1, 602. 4 
C Western redcedar, live 28, 358. 2 6,105.2 | 5, 983.7 2,494.4 | 6,516.5 2, 006. 1 23, 105.9 
PC Port Orford white-cedar, live | 1535052 | | 
YC) |-Alaskavellow-cedarslive: = -2 2s" soe ee ee ee ee 629. 8 
IC California:incense-ced af! 28 sa a ne ee eee 2, 056. 
KPC.) Port:Orford white-cedat) deado-- a. ee ee 28. 
KC | (Others cedar??(dead 2222 22 Senne ne ee eee 1, 224. 
YA | Large,ponderosa (and! Jefirey):pine=2 22" <= 22 - = Saeeeeeee 4,851. 
YB Small ponderosa (and Jeffrey) pine> 2-~- 22222." a eae 485. 
SP Sugars pine =< ec oe meee at UNE en eee ee Le ee 3, 837.3 | | 
Ww Western’ white: (andwhitebark)) pines. -=* 22225222 se ee 3, 045. 1 | 199.5 564.9 175.0 150. 6 527.5 | 1,617.5 
LP Lodgepole: (and: knobeone) ‘pine:--—— 2 = = Sara oe eee 87.7 | -2 4.9 mF | -4 | 4a 6.1 
WE Wihitetfir:and'erand:firssset cee es ee ae ee ee ee | 7,343.1) 40.0 49077) 338. 6 | 407.4 | 159.5 995. 2 
NF Nobiesand Shasta red fits — = a eee ee | 9, 978.1 | 1.0) 1,093.7 | 910. 5 | 24.7 | 1,143.2) 3,173.1 
A- || Pacific/sil ver fir 22: 2. ee ee eee 37, 863. 0 | 9,098.4 | 10, 318.0 2,772.1 | 7,773.2 | 4,403.9 | 34, 365.6 
AE | VAlpine firs: = 22S coe a Se RO ee ee se eee 113.8 | 4.9 28.9 4° 84| Reena (2) 38.6 
WL ‘Western larch. 20.2 noe en 3 a aia S © a Se vee Se arn sree 145. 7 | Sees Set alle ale eR ee ee ae ese 30.5 | 30. 5 
R DRY h, Zee Peewee a eae Rel Meee a oe OS a GER0 9 Seat ee | ears | Bese \Exieeee eee [so JS See Eee 
RA Redialdert242. Stes ie et ee ee 2, 563.1 | 120. 2 186. 1 47.4 216.3 122. 2 | 692. 2 
0O Oregon white: Oaks22-0 2S = ot Sere oes o eae eee eee ne eens T1OS5n)| 2 Sten icine ee | acres Vila a2 a aa ieee 
co California black oak =. 2-2-2 Scres- oe oe ee eee TQ. Be Mee la IAT Ey See |e Cae || 
CLO: | Canyon live: cakes = 2222-26 (a2 Sea es eee ae 452))| oe at es (Ca | Se See | Sanne oe | ea cee | eee 
DOysle Pancakes 22 Me 2) See ae 2_ SL eae ire oe ee ie AQ 738 Sap oe [eee ean | one [2222 oc |e ee eee 
BC Northern black cottonwood (and aspen)-_--_---.----.-------------- 341.9 79.3 32.7 14.3 16.4 36. 2 | 178.9 
OM Bigleaf:maple: 27.) 22-3. es Be se ee ee eee ee 919.0 | 55. 4 41.3 151.3 48.9 11.0 | 307.9 
MEA Dy |UiViadrones 922 ee eee 8 ee eee BOBS Oi) So ce See eS | OE ed | | eae |= eens 
ASH) il Oregoniash-22* 222252 - ee tt a eee 56.7 | 3 4.0 S56h ioe eae 1.6 | 14.5 
MiY> (|e @alifornia,Faurel soo oeedely miran tt ore eater eee a 73.5 | 
CH Chinquapin: 22 .=- 2 25-. see ee er ees 83.6 
WPB | Western and northwestern paper bireh__._--____--_-_-------__---- .3 
Tobales eS 2 oo Fe RE ARS ret eel SOS 627, 748.6 | 45,124.8 | 86, 224.1 | 45, 257.0 | 60, 931.5 | 44, 489.3 


1 Less than 50,000 board feet. 


162 


| 282, 026.7 


q 


Tae 52.—Volume of timber, lumber tally, in the Douglas-fir region, by species, State, and forest-survey unit—Continued 


—__ Fee...” _mknknnmX _=<=S=_ gg 


Western Oregon 
Sym- Species Colum- ae | South 
bo bis Willa- IN Orth et aan n ct alliOceconalieR 
xiver, Bie Oregon River a Gpeet Rives Total 
Million Million | Million | Million | Million | Million | Million 
board board | board board | hoard | board board 
feet Jeet, Aen ifect.” |e feet~ “esefeetiem| = sefeet feet 

DA | Large old-growth Douglas-fir__-_..........-..--------------------= 11, 929.0 | 41, 150.5 | 9,238.8 | 18,676.9 | 17,478.3 | 4,906.9 | 103, 380. 4 
DB Smalliold-growthiDouglas-firz=)2-- =. See ee 11, 372.5 | 34, 189.3 1,970.2 | 25,893.8 | 9,689.5 | 10, 525. 2 93, 640. 5 
DC Large second-growth Douglas-fir__________-_-_-..-..----__--_--.-. 4, 292.5 | 18,421.4 | 9,684.5 | 14, 253.3 | 8,663.8 | 1,150.4 | 56, 465.9 
DD Smallisecond-growth Douglas-fir: 2-2-2 2-8. = ss tS 1,111.7 | 4,366.0 689.5 | 3,484.3 | 2,617.9 | 986. 6 13, 256.0 
SA Whale CLS IbKars DIU COs eee eens Cece ee ee Ren pe Sa a aes ee 1, 399. 4 Ce 2, 431-8) || Boe Set es 47023" |baoe eee 5, 313. 6 
SB Small Sitka spruce________- 24; 2 2 | 30026: senes ee GIRTe ee Beas 386. 7 
ES Engelmann spruce____-_-_--- 150. 3 | 1.3 15.0 217.3 
HA Large western hemlock____ rere tf 1, 041.0 84.6 | 25, 222.0 
HB Smalliwesternphemlocks=== =o ssa bo wea ee Lone ee en eS 8 | 86.3 9.4 3, 053. 2 
Vice eVountainshemlocksncsseeeas - eeu an oly eee ee . 5 |Saieesn ore .6 4, 596.5 
Cc iWresterniredcedarwlive ss == Mone oy ae ee eet 3 . 9 ; Nae 46703) | ascent 5, 252. 3 
PC PortyOrfordawhiteicedarwiive® 2.45622 jenc sos Sek eo otal = | .6.| 1,208.1 | 37.5 1, 350. 2 
yc mAlaskanvellow-cedarylivess. sts 2k clo oe ae A eee ee i De] eA ee es |---------- 14.0 
IC Carifornighincense: ced are see beta ten ee Sane eeu Se eS . 4 | 55.4 | PN 759. 2 2, 056. 8 
KPC | Port Orford white-cedar, dead__________ 28560 Bien oe a 28.6 
KC | Other “‘cedar,’’ dead 110.1 
NON, Large ponderosa (and Jeffrey) pine____ | | .2] 4,744.9 
YB Small ponderosa (and Jeffrey) pine____---------------------------- 2.4 | 35,21 al E | 483. 0 
SP SUS Arp D LTC eee eee ts Ss ei SE a ce 3 ' 8 | 7.6 | 3,837.3 
W Western white (and whitebark)’ pine--=-----2_--._-.--_-.---_--__. i el 6 : : 5 1, 427.6 
LP sodgepolei(and:knobcone) pine! 2.2 222_ 2s. 22 se 5 P a 5 , A 81.6 
Wake VVibitefiranderan ds firs ose 5 os ee ws Sean es kd ee le 5 | 5 , 587. . i 6, 347.9 
Nig eNO blevan dushastasred chine sts cs eee owt Se : . 8 | i Y 0 | ; 6, 805. 0 
A Pacific silver fir 3, 497. 4 
AF PAN PIM ey fi ree oes eee rs Le .0 | 5 75.2 
AVVeli7geulmVVeSLeEny anc hse nn spn seer clad? Sar a Ne Wala ala os See 3 i 115. 2 
R KRG Cy 00 dee sae ee ee eee ee I ss 66. 0 
RA Re dial cl erzxwera enarereren soe S80 Ss Na ae VRE ee ees s 4 0 1, 870. 9 
(oye) Orezontwhite;o ak saa we sn Ne eee ae ee 5 : f 3.6 20.0 110.5 
co C@aliforniasblacksoake sien se es a nose Cae ae Se : 6.7 34.8 79.5 
CLO 33) 3.9 4.2 
TO 541.9 7.4 549. 3 
BC_ | Northern black cottonwood (and aspen) __ z c eal 5.1 163.0 
OM iBicleafema plese teres eae ee he eee hE a ee ; 9 | E KS 153. 4 2 611.1 
MEAUD IVa dr One Seamer ears eae tek eS es : 32.9 8.1 308. 9 
PNG IEles (MOreconsasheesosscee ee eee Sree UE: Te Nie eS 2 10 42.2 
IViYer|s@aliforniatlaurels="s-2 ose es. a eee (REGE) Re ee 73.5 
CH Ohin gua pineeswsas nee a te seks 2a ee Pe eee F 15.9 9 83. 6 
NABER MVVesterngandenorthwestermipapen Dirchewss tase n sae eee ee eee EN Sn | Seon foal Rete ene nS aen ae ee eee Uae See ees | hoo eee 
PROT a Beene ee eee Fe ee ee Sse ee 46, 722.8 ‘9, 622. 6 32, 630.9 | 71,945.3 | 45, 034.6 | 29, 765. 7 | 345, 721.9 


163 


TasLe 53.—Annual output, lumber tally, of timber products cut from trees of saw-timber size in the Douglas-fir region, by Staie and 
forest-survey unit 1 


Forest-survey unit Sawlogs Fuel wood 2 | Pulpwood : Tener | Single | Posts Total 
| 

es = | 
Western Washington: | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet 
North Puget Sound 3222-2 see ase | 781, 974 | 27,111 | 18, 193 2, 542 9, 200 | 521 $39, 541 
Central Puget Sound....__-_-.-------.------- | 1,973, 636 | 98, 900 | 25, 110 13, 812 2,012 | 1,188 | 2,114, 658 
South: Puget/Sound ee =2 2 eee ee 644, 510 | PAE ty ee ee 11880); Saeae aa eeeeel| 638 685, 203 
Grays Harbor 20. sono se eee 1, 673, 891 | 6, 992 | 3, 162 1, 782 288 85 1, 686, 200 
ColumbiazRiverss0 Sees) sea nee 77, 524 | 28, 635 | 350680 |e ts cetes Resbetas t=F es Sui 294 710, 421 

| | 

Totals - se as eee ee } 5, 751, 535 189, 813 50, 433 | 30, 016 11, 500 | 2, 726 | 6, 036, 023 

Western Oregon: | | 
ColumbiagRiversetes aes eee nese 1, 276, 764 97, 440 672 | 1, 377, 584 
WillamettecRiver 22. oe ee ee | 795, 298 73, 951 1, 760 | 888, 736 
North! Oregontcoast sees eee eee | 293, 505 10, 752 162 319, 541 
South Oregon coasts ee eee 320, 116 9, 200 | 115 | 329, 454 
Umpqua River | 25, 001 11,069 | | 293 | 36, 363 
IROgUeER AV er so so a ene | 78, 737 TB SEY AY: | eae eee sie eceebeeoasced 170 | 92, 477 

| | i= 
Troe] eens ser a ae eas, Seer eS hae 2, 789, 421 215, 982 | 35,5803 | Sess ee a ee BHI PS I 3, 044, 155 
| | | 
} 

Region:tota] ase ee ee 8, 540, 956 405, 795 86, 013 30, 016 11, 500 | 5, 898 | 9, 080, 178 

| 


1 Data for sawlog production are averages for the period 1925-33, other data are for 1930 only. 

2In addition to the quantities of material shown under this heading, considerable quantities of slabs, edging, mill waste, and sawdust were sold for 
fuel. 

3 In addition to the quantities shown under these headings, some sawlogs were used to manufacture paper pulp, veneers, panels, plywood, and shingles. 


Tasie 54.—Average annua! sawlog production, lumber tally, in the Douglas-fir region in 1925-33, by State, forest-survey unit, and species 


Be he i Western | Western Port Orford | guy 
Forest-survey unit Douglas-fir hemlock | redcedar white-cedar | Sitka spruce | Balsam firs 1 
=| 
Western Washington: M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet 
Northebucet;Sound 2a: 5 ae ee eee 536, 932 119, 844 | 1084920) |Baaee= = ane 9, 268 | 2, 301 
Centralkbuget|Sound S222 eee 1, 320, 116 394, 233 2025475 | ee eee 39, 160 11, 692 
SouthvPuget Sound setts eee eee en eee 523, S07 | 64, 229 | 490456 | seen corte 1,912 | 2, 508 
Graysib arborea se ao et ae ee ee os een | 1, 006, 485 328, 027 194} (08H | Seeeec 2 ee 138, 875 4, 122 
ColumbiseRiver 22s.) eee eee ee eee | 547, 735 65, 012 SLR 346) | Lee eee 3, 810 8, 530 
| | 
Totaless i Sea eee as eS Se ee ee ee ee 3, 935, 175 | 971, 345 | 606;,9057)| eee se ees | 193, 725 29, 153 
| | 
Western Oregon: | | 
ColumbiatRiver® a= 22s 2 a eee eee ee eee | 1, 159, 329 72, 034 10/197/'| se Se See <= 20, 530 5, 834 
WillamettecRiver:.2s-2* 23a. S55 tae eres =| 713, 561 56, 855 | 95519) oe ee rel rou 12, 308 
NorthiOres on Coast eet eee eee eee Re oe Le noe 188, 022 28, 796 653669) beeen on | 68, 591 | 413 
South: Oregon: coaste "SS Ses a ee eee 206, 631 7, 836 | 3, 455 55, 842 | 43, 786 2, 324 
(Wimp quasRiverjce 22 S22 Foo Se eee se eee 22, 062 155 165) | eee £3) a SiS 140 
RONCHI Vere see a. AU Sar ee a See nee ee 23, 842 21 4e Pe ee eee 100 /3| ses aoa Oneal 2, 240 
| i | | 
Totale> st a Se ne ee ee eee 2, 313, 447 | 165, 890 29, 692 55, 942 132, 978 | 23, 259 
| 
Region:totals: 2.-<22-2: -_ 32-5. ee ee 6, 248, 622 | 1, 137, 235 | 636, 597 | 55, 942 | 326, 703 52, 412 


1 Including all species of Abies. 


164 


Taste 54.—Average annual sawlog production, lumber tally, in the Douglas-fir region in 1925-33, Dy, State, forest-survey unit, 
and spectes—Continued 


Forest-survey unit 


Western Washington: 
North Puget Sound 
Central Puget Sound 
South Puget Sound 
Grays Harbor 
Columbia River 


Western Oregon: 
Columbia River 


North Oregon coast 
South Oregon coast 
Umpqua River 
IROPUCHR Vers see ae eee ete oe re see ee toe ee 


Ponderosa a A Western California : 
pine Sugar-pIne white pine | incense-cedar Hardwoods Total 
DEE ae is Bae AD SiMe se ee 3, 551 781, 974 
ye als Sa eS O30) |Get ese tee oe 4, 030 1, 973, 636 
2,498 644, 510 
699 1, 678, 891 
735 677, 524 
2649 | sees te Bpaobr ics see eae a eee 11, 513 5, 751, 535 
x Uy fal (epee nee a bY a Ween See ay 8, 081 1, 276, 764 
795, 298 
293, 505 
320, 116 
25, 001 
78, 737 
47,020 8, 103 950 980 | 11, 160 2, 789, 421 
47, 284 8, 103 4, 405 | 980 | 22, 673 | 8, 540, 956 


Tasie 55.—Estimated annual averages ! of gross forest-land area covered and timber lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region, lumber-tally basis 


National forests Other land All land 
Type group and type No. = to 
Area Volume Area Volume | Area Volume 
Acres M board feet Acres M board feet Acres M board feet 
Conifer saw timber (6, 7, 8, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, 20A, 23, 27, and 32) __ 7, 356 107, 858 35, 631 205, 405 42, 987 318, 26 
Conifer second growth, 6-20 inches d. b. h. (9, 12, 15, and 21)___ 1, 120 (4) 20, 157 (2) 21, 277 (2) 
Conifer seedlings and saplings, 0-6 inches d. b. h. (10, 13, 16, 

BNG22) ete eee eee nes rere wee ee ee Se eS 5RS86p|Ree eae EE PIN bee ere SONG I GIS aoe ee ee 
Conifer second growth, 0-24 inches d. b. h. (19, 24, and 28)______ 968 (2) 231 () 1, 199 (2) 
‘Noncommercial i(4;7534;:26), 33, and'38)---_2 .=..-2_--__2_-----2--=_ CHB Eafe [aes eee 15 S08 | ee ee 1059433)|b 5 sssee Vee Ses 
IREcen MCUb-OM CIVALCASh (30) seen tees ee a ea Te es INOSOR| beast 8347970) |Ses Se Sees 845836 yee eee 
Old cut-over areas, nonrestocked, and previously deforested 

LTS (GR Evel BY) ) ac soe Se a ee ee Ci bet eS eee sie 25, 894 
Hardwoodstimberi (oi) er sa 2 see a ee = eee Dag eres shee 2, 203 
iINontforestplandacciandes) mee ewene ec cea sansa inti Nit oannners Re a | perm oe ee Mee | Ns eee ipa Tea, ate 

ARRON a I a 23, 710 107, 858 229, 446 205, 405 253, 156 313, 263 


1 For national-forest lands, fire-loss data were averaged for the period 1924-83, for other land, data are for 1926-30. 
2 Small amounts of saw-timber volume were lost by fire in these types, but fire reports either include them with loss in saw-timber types or ignore 


them. Quantities involved are negligible. 


Tasie 56.—Assumed future average annual forest depletion in the Douglas-fir region, lumber-tally basis 


a —____ 


Cutting depletion Other depletion Total depletion 
eeeuper ce N: ] | Oth | National Oth National Oth | 
ationa er ationa er ationa er 
forests land Total forests land Total forests land Total 
Million Million Million Million Million Million | Million Million Million 
board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet | board feet board feet board feet 
O03 3=4.2 Ratente sek Am Sree ere SE ee se 247 7, 803 8, 050 278 583 861 525 8, 386 8, 911 
573 8, 627 9, 200 266 373 639 389 9, 000 9, 839 
956 7,094 8, 050 229 276 505 1, 185 7,370 8, 555 
| 


en eS UUUU UES IEEE SISSIES SSSSSSSS SSS 


165 


Tasie 57.—Current annual growth 1 in the Douglas-fir region, lumber-tally basis 


Conifer types 2 Hardwood types ° Total 
District and unit 2 allem B oR l 
urrent an- urrent an- 2 Current an- 
Area nual growth Area nual growth Area nual growth 
Thousand | Millionboard| Thousand | Million board Thousand | Million board 
Puget Sound: acres feet acres feet acres feet 
North Puget Sounds —- 2. - -= 68-6. ee ee ee 787 131 134 8 921 139 
Central Puget Sound: ---2-° 52 22222 a ne oe ae ea 1, 412 146 104 tl 1, 516 153 
South Puget® Sound 2228s 2 Soe ee ee eee 742 300 36 2 778 302 
| | 
Tot pls Set Hees SNES ated ORE Nee ML BORO me 2, 941 577 274 7 3, 215 | 504 
Grays; Har borsse oe ooo aa eon a e en cee eee naan nee see 554 190 | 61 3 | 615 193 
Columbia River: 
ColumbiacRiverawashineton=2==-: na ee = 900 256 20 | 3 920 259 
GoliumbiapRiver: Oregon sess ase eee eee 1, 088 | 179 66 3 1, 154 182 
TG al es ik eee RRR Ee clear 10 Sear SO : 1, 988 435 | 86 | 6 2,074 | 441 
| | 
Willamettel River ese ieses Cotes nenesee sunset see keene eee 1, 684 485 121 | 6 | 1, 805 491 
Oregon coast: 
North Oregon coast---- 614 325 22 47 840 | 372 
SouthiOregon\coast se sae se ee eae ees 765 342 120 3 885 | 345 
| | 
Totaloze sce 5 i oe ee eee ee 1,379 667 346 50 | 1, 725 717 
| | 
South Oregon: | | | 
TOA WRIVer se a= hacer eae nae ek es SE 921 283 | 77 | () | 998 | 283 
Rogue: Riverisee: 222 es Se a a ee ee 450 | 19 | 152 fia] 602 | 20 
| | | 
TOGA ete ecko 8 ee SN ore leet tee 8 eee ne 1, 371 | 302 229 | 1 | 1, 600 | 303 
| | 
| | | 
Regionitotal fac sass Pees Se ee ae ee ee 9, 917 2, 656 1, 117 83 | 11, 034 2,739 
Summary by districts: | Percent | Percent Percent Percent | Percent | Percent 
‘Puget)Sound=2-- 2 aes 2k ne See Es a eee 29.7 21.7 24.5 20.5 | 29.1 | Deer 
GraystHarb orses2 2S. a ans 22 ee 5.6 Telat 5.5 3.6 | 5.6 | 7.0 
ColumbiatRiver:2220et ee Se eee 20.0 16. 4 731 7.2 | 18.8 | 16.1 
Willamette Rivers. i225 222s a a ees eee 17.0 18.3 | 10.8 7.2 | 16. 4 17.9 
Oregon coasiieleio=. cme ui as oe eee eo JS eee eee 13.9 25.1 | 31.0 60.3 | 15.6 | 26. 2 
South: Oresone - eee nt ea ita a suteee Us te are ster ne 13.8 | 11.4 | 20.5 | 1.2 14.5 | 11.1 
| See 
Motal sz se see en Se be en eee | 100. 0 | 100.0 | 100. 0 100.0 100.0 | 100.0 


1 Growth in board feet is shown for all conifer trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or more, calculated by estimating volumes in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, by 
Scribner rule; and for all hardwood trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or more, calculated by estimating volumes in 8-foot logs to 10-inch top, by Scribner rule. 
These values are converted to lumber tally by multiplying by 1.15. 

2 Data are shown only for stands 160 years or less in age, on commercial conifer forest land. 

3 Data shown are totals for hardwood timberland (type 31) and oak-madrone woodland (type 4). Data for north Oregon coast include 182,060 acres of 
potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods, and those for south Oregon coast include 14,520 acres of such land. 

¢ Less than one-half million board feet. 


166 


Taste 58.—Potential annual conifer growth} of trees 15.1-+- inches d. b. h. in the Douglas-fir region, lumber-tally basis 


Unit 


Annual 


Puget Sound: 
North Puget Sound_______------- 
Central Puget Sound______------- 
South Puget Sound_-_-_-__-------- 


GraysiblarDore ease eee ee 


Columbia River: 
Columbia River, Wash__________- 
Columbia River, Oreg___-------_- 


Annual 
growth 


District 


growth Unit 
Million 
board feet || Willamette River 
700 
1, 164 || Oregon coast: 
750 North Oregon coast? 
South Oregon coast? 
2, 614 
1, 073 
South Oregon: 
Umpqua River 
695 Rogue River 4 
842 
1, 537 |] 


Million 
board feet 
1, 423 


741 
852 
1, 593 
694 
547 
1, 241 


9, 481 


Puget:Soundsses2-2— si ees 
Grays arbor ec... anaes 
Columbia River 


Oregon coast! 2 s2a=2 -4 Sosa 
South Oregon 


Distribu- 
tion of 
regional 
esrowth 


Percent 
27.6 
11.3 
16. 2 
15. 0 
16.8 
13.1 


100. 0 


1 On commercia! conifer forest land. Calculated at annual growth rates given in table 55, and converted to lumber tally by multiplying by 1.15. 
2 Data include growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 
2 Data include growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 
4 Data exclude growth on 6,510 acres of pine woodland (type 5!4) considered noncommercial forest land. 


167 


TABLE 59.—Realizable mean annual conifer growth! of trees 
15.1 + inches d. b. h. in the Douglas-fir region, 1933-62, lum- 
ber-tally basis 


District and unit 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 
| 
Million Million Million 
Puget Sound: board feet | board feet board feet 
North Puget Sound_-_-__-_-_- 245 | 292 | 306 
Central Puget Sound-____-_-_-- 356 461 | 499 
South Puget Sound__-__------ 361 435 | 471 
| 
Total® :-< sss seers ea eee 962 1,188 | 1, 276 
Grays Harborisess-ceses esos 300 395 433 
Columbia River: 
Columbia River, Washington- 378 437 | 453 
Columbia River, Oregon ---_-- 396 | 481 498 
Totalea--o =) aoe ee eee 774 918 951 
Willamette River__-_--.---------- 642 705 739 
| | 
Oregon coast: | | 
North Oregon coast 2?________- 363 425 435 
South Oregon coast 3________-_- 394 434 | 455 
Totaless sesso a eae eee 757 859 | 890 
South Oregon: | 
Umpqua River 276 | 285 | 288 
RoeuerRivers 2222 ee 91 | 99 | 98 
| 
Total-/222-222- 2252 367 | 384 | 386 
| | 
Regiontotals\ oss see 3, 802 | 4, 449 | 4, 675 
Summary by districts: Percent | Percent | Percent 
Puget Sound’: (2.7. ose | 25.3 | 26.7 | 27.3 
Graystilarbors.-sss=seeo == | CR) | 8.9 | 9.3 
Columbia River_-._..-..------ 20. 4 | 20.6 | 20.3 
16.9 | 15.9 15.8 
19.9 | 19.3 19.0 
9.6 | 8.6 | 8.3 
100.0 100.0 100.0 


1 Growth that, according to calculations described in the text, may be 
expected if growth and depletion trends indicated by the survey continue 
through the designated period. Growth values shown were calculated by 
estimating volumes in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, by Scribner rule, and 
converted to lumber tally by multiplying by 1.15. 

2 Data exclude growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land 
temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 

3 Data exclude growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land 
temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 


168 


Tasie 60.—Periodic conifer growth! of trees 15.1+ inches 
d. b. h. in the Douglas-fir region, 1933-62, lumber-tally basis 


District and unit 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 
| 
Million | Million Million 
Puget Sound: board feet | board feet board feet 
North Puget Sound____--____ 1, 318 | 1, 488 | 1, 724 
Central Puget Sound_-__-_-_-- 1, 481 | 1, 857 2,191 
South Puget Sound____-___--- 2, 865 | 2, 632 1,991 
Mopaleca eae ee ee 5, 664 | 5, 977 5, 906 
Grays: Harbors2=-2---=--=- 2, 190 2, 046 1, 682 
Columbia River: 
Columbia River, Washington_ 2, 610 2, 798 2, 626 
Columbia River, Oregon_____- 1, 803 2, 393 2, 854 
Motallstetse ween eater } 4, 413 5, 191 5, 480 
Willamette River_....-.--------- 4,849 | 5, 221 5, 519 
Oregon coast: | 
North Oregon coast ?_____--_- 3, 226 | 3, 103 2, 648 
South Oregon coast 3_________ 3, 388 3, 744 3, 950 
Total ease. 1 ot eines eae 6, 614 | 6, 847 6,598 
| 
South Oregon: | 
UmpquarRiver—-----—— = 2,776 | 2, 756 2, 629 
RogueiRivers=-e se seseee 221 | 340 531 
otal: 2s See eae Een 2, 997 | 3, 096 3, 160 
Region:total-eesss.2 ses ee eee 26, 727 | 28, 378 28, 345 
| 
Summary by districts: Percent | Percent Percent 
Puget Sound sass ees a ees 21.2 | 21.1 20.9 
Grays) Harbors neers 8.2 | 7.2 5.9 
Columbia River_____..-.-.--- 16.5 18.3 19.3 
Willamette River__.__...--_-- 18.1 | 18.4 19.5 
Oregonicoast®=--- = 24.8 | 24.1 2353 
South. Oregon = t= soe ease 11.2 | 10.9 11.1 
Total! <2 see eee ea 100.0 | 100.0 100.0 


1 Data are shown only for stands 160 years or less in age, on commercial 
conifer forest land. Calculated by estimating volumes in 32-foot logs to 
12-inch top, by Scribner rule, and converted to lumber tally by multi- 
plying by 1.15. 

2? Data exclude growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land 
temporarily occupied by hardwoods. 

3 Data exclude growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land 
temporarily occupied by hardwoods. 


ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WHEN THIS PUBLICATION 
WAS LAST PRINTED 


Sadia OF AGED So Scan ObO OO ROO DA ObOe Gon ode ocae oo Ae ee oa erro Craupe R. Wickarb. 

hack SEGRE eco e018. 616 ard BiH OTEIEED OOS ORICA ERS Is OIE Eoin Pam AE Pe nr Pau H. Appiesy. 

A\SSICETDS SUGARY 5 0) 5:8 0.168 BADD AS DBA OOD AE BD Ran ee ore tale in ieee enn kari CaCI roe GROVER B. HILt. 

IDERBHOR. Of GORE ODG > 190. Pa OS COBO O ODOC ES Co Gn DOC O OSE a toma ens one ere M. S. ElisENHOWER. 

IDCs Of TELATOR VVC Pao 3.010 6 COR PAP EOD OCTETS Cor IR PORT CMTE ICO M. L. Witson. 

DOC? Of TERED SS OS 6 OO BASS OPO DEO CO RE IMCS CAI Ier cae Ei cre ea ea eee W. A. Jump. 

ID FREE? Of IATA! 3: &:6- 60 LORS ORS Ae EOI IIa ee Re Ree eS eer Roy F. Henprickson. 

IDGGAR Of IEBBTTOLS 5.906 SOSA ae bLd COMER ene ME ENO Fine LI ain O erent eta ee James T. JARDINE. 

DEGRA Gf MUCH TARE 6 8) 0.5:6: OC SAA LAS OA A ED OTe AR Peo OS oe eS Mito R. Perkins. 

INMUIUGRIOP? 0.6 5:9;61'3-0°636/0.0°0. 6 80, OR URE Tce CREE ONO ISI ENOTES RET RT: rey Sareea Mastin G. Wuite. 

Nga! (YS RCRA os a GG OPEN DOES OO ETOP OOO RS EO CR ERO et eee M. S. E1sENHOWER. 
Oficclojpiantzandh penation spacer utes tke teyate et ees are ol ev Tes ae a ese oe ARs oleate does ARTHUR B. THATCHER, Chief. 
Oijiae of G; Gs. Go LGRTEB 0.6 SA OBO MED EO SED RAIS tic Oi ya eet rat re OR Rae Frep W. Morre t, Chief. 
Officenojmlxperzmen ty Stationsyesas us ctse.  srovstet se rahe  efais) Sones cle ye) oo oke, cctis) a) eh ho ab ay aile) 2 508 ale eve James T. JARDINE, Chief. 
OficcnojponcvonwAcriculiuraleRelatzons, x..uelen=)sye= cies sjisus Ales se os © se ajsuai = eid 405 ageeus eel slayer Leste A. WHEELER, Director. 
PACT iCULeuraIMACIUSTINERUEA CiNtntStr ALLO sesh Teen oxsys¥susis).s. =) ols cetesegeo staaca sie ithe: Sve! af'aKel ey fysbentvetars R. M. Evans, Administrator. 
Bureawiof Agricultural-Chemistry and: Engineering oo. 0. fs cs coe wieieia ele ee ete ise eee nee es Henry G. Knicut, Chief. 
IBireaUM mA a TeCuLtien QUE COMOTICS seve vsley steeper Ue lameteus) seis: 2) cusla\eic nog iel's eas av Gteievalteione ete leter isis tie H. R. Torrey, Chief. 
PAlgricultur alm VAT elim SCN UCC esr Ae cay ay reder keke aie Pe Seis lei sahe} stetsievs) @2kcvnan lace! ts stereo sgaleuee C. W. KircHen, Chief. 

Senco Of AGERE) IGLOS oso Sabha Coon ed 6 DOU GOA Oe e BOOP DENA Oooo oa amome ctr Joun R. Mouter, Chief. 
GormmodityhCredrig Gor porarromsiey wats ee ietea) tne e et onns sacra nace ryotcueliens ets) hate conarataya tere aera evel ashes Cart B. Rossrins, President. 
@ommodityelxchangemA dimimistratton rer A hve Sievers ere iaie oieVe wus ei oven cele se 2 sisvshorei erates JosreH M. Ment, Chief. 
BTA Of JLLAD HPT oo 8S rie 6 enw Be os PHU GD DE DA Ob eB OOo Ue Une ube Soro meray ce O. E. REEp, Chief. 
BurcaugojelntomnolocjeandablantsOuanantenesy.. « a.) cui voles ieee one Cist eee sav ei2in! oPSese. 2. yeh e ates yee Lee A. Stronc, Chief. 

lage. GOH ACT ESOLDDE GGG SCANS BS OD OCIS OS OS RS CCRT OIC ECA ROT SERIA ER te?” A. G. BLack, Governor. 

HLOTITES ECUTEL A CIOMUSETALLOME eicte rch @ Se Alsi sae Yo ch eye e Shy Nieeoeee # cise ese wales a) ee eleva eee is eases C. B. Batpwin, Administrator. 
Heder aia G10 pel isUrances GOTPOT ALOT ena cise sneere\c verse 4,68) os) 9s i.e rn sckeh whe, © oilehn trio sPoanch.ces| eqiehau -me ee ehet= Leroy K. Smiru,.Manager. 
OES pS CHU LOC I GR EMG E ANT Ee oats Crate tat as ch fies ada’ she oteheyel sda = le ekeiS oe, 2) cy ehieeGhiene! sus vels obeys alecdiies= Earte H. Crapp, Acting Chief. 
Bre CRO melL ONC RIL CONONULGS ANT =atts Piensa stsfaeay Seaton few ey ey ees sepa e o6 6) oft 0,8 oueveriens oi cuseheus) oie 432 LoutsE STANLEY, Chief. 

LGC s 6. 5.50 bb. VEER UH SALE POO. DOO SORE G AED SOR pC oe OCU AG USO ono Sea tion CriarigeL R. BARNETT, Librarian. 
Bogan Gf UGE IDSs SBR dn rae BODO e be cia Be Ob 6 OU OO Ua nee Om curr doce E. C. AucuTer, Chief. 

Reina UELLect it CALLOMPACMINTSL ALLO 2) site iolie Ais for Tale tensfetaiaisiecsls iG 4 ¥)e sie eae Side ielel else rwe © oeelnii= Harry SLATTERY, Administrator. 
Seal Comareanon SHBG 3.6 Soh So 6 ROE DDE OnDn os oO OO. Ao One aad Oren rion nie H. H. Bennett, Chief. 

WSL LUSP MT RELI CA CimenestateOn cree el cdercy sisters efesetuisiovsyetoueualedekeue lay sisrristate eicusve sfeiwlel dretaieis aye = Mito R. Perkins, Administrator. 


FR OTES Eg S C1016 COMMER STMT PS cae te a cra foray se nS este Fei/S Snes Hie ah eralone, au 4 ho¥e sa. stel 3fcls iovelai.s ens)sioiele eos sieve /e18 Earve H. Crapp, Acting Chief. 
PRESCCTC/MED) (UES7ON SEAR pet STN epee aay ras Chee sTeyehelase SS aerate, ecole) s oheoleleliels aleja: share laiesiais C. L. Forstine, Assistant Forester, In 
Charge. 
DD) FoSLOMMO UOT CSEMELCOMONIUICS). Weectehon teh itcussehs ictags ta lantovehsteusi eke, eis) aioe Ys elellevelletelie elses ois R. E. Marsu, Acting in Charge. 
TORE SHI sf dk So eA ae RH OPE Hoe OD La Doe aUD pp omeenos oo aa reroC OC R. D. Garver, Director. 
Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station... 0... 0000+ eee cece eee ees S. N. Wycxorr, Director. 


169 


| | Nonforest land includin 
[| }sagricultural land 

A 

GF Douglas-fir saw timber 


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Nati) 


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NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON — FOREST TYPES OF THE DOUGLAS-FIR REGION 


. N 


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Douglas-fir saw timber 


EES Old nonrestocking and recent 


+ 
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e* e**?, 


Douglas-fir second growth 


Other conifer saw timber 


SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON — FOREST TYPES OF THE DOUGLAS-FIR REGION 


~~ 5 | Other conifer second growth 


pee Nonforest land including ei, 
agricultural land Seen: 
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NORTHWESTERN OREGON — FOREST TYPES OF THE DOUGLAS-FIR REGION 


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SOUTHWESTERN OREGON — FOREST TYPES OF THE DOUGLAS-FIR REGION 


nae 
td 


F. | 


ech 


ALN A SCNT asset