The timber supply of the United States

Historic, archived document

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

Issued July 10, 1909.

Lo DEAR LMENT OF. AGRICULTURE:
FOREST SERVICE-—Circular 166.

GIFFORD PINCHOT, Forester.

THE TIMBER SUPPLY OF THE
UNITED STATES,

By

R. S. KELLOGG,

ASSISTANT FORESTER.

85874—Cir. 166—09——L WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1909

CONTENTS:

a")
mm
nO)

Introduction. 2 2.....2-. Geos ese bois oe ee 2 eee 3
Forest regions... ..' 3-2... <2 a22 = foe ne eo = ans oe ee ee eee 3
Original forésis.2 22222222 (So Sa se ee 3
Present forests: 2. 22 2... e022 2 eS 6
stumpage estimates... ....6 2. 05.2232 ee ee 8
Yellow pie. ticcc.e. 5.2 222. hse cds See os eee 8
Douglasfirs. J. oui scs2 sun 2 5. See ee ee 8 EAE 8
White pine... 202 00. bo 2 ses SG Se 8
Hemlock. 2.220. scc 2. 2 So See Cee Sew. 9
Spruce. 22.054... 22. 02.2 tose Se Oe ee 9
Western pine. ....25..: 22 2... = 5. SEES ee eae ree 5
CY Presses one oe Soe ae ee Sn a Sig Siler er 9
Redwood... 2.22025 .. 22 2226 dos Sel ee ee ee 10
Westem- cedar: --.. . 2. 22. sce Re ee 10
Western firsf.¢ 3... 1. 3). Bee ste ee eee ee eee 10
Sugar pme {fo 5..02...6. 2 2 2 Be kit Se Soe ee ae ee 10
Other contferss.- .. 2... 2.00 be oe ee a 10
Hardwoods... 22.6 93/32/02. 3d). 34 Uo = eae ee Se eee 12
Forest ownership. ...2<. 042.8. 808 Bodo) Se A ee eee 12
Forest products... . 22.25.2522. <. sec Seccee Se eee ee 14
Tsumiber! 500 ss. oo eae ee eee sok ail ee eee 15
Shingles: ..0..0i.0500 5. 524 ese GR eee oe 20
Lath ols eb. oo 8 oe ee eee 20
Mirewood 5... 02. 2 5 dole se See eee i ee 20
Poles; posts, and rails... 22222. 3.2 <ogaeee oe pees | eee 20
Hewed cross-ties. .. 20. 2005 02). Ue ek 21
Pulpwood 2: 222-020... soe Re EOE ed Se er ree 21
Cooperage stock... ...20.5.0 noo ae Se ee ee 21
Tanbark and ‘extracts: -.. <2 2.25. se 22
Round mime timbers... . 2.22: = 22 25S ee 22
Naval stores! ..22. 0206 2.2. el 2 hes 22
Miscellaneous products... .<. 52.4 255282 eee eee see See ae eee 23
The future supply.:.02. 2. hcs.0d se ee a ee ee ae 23
ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page
Fie. 1. Forest regions. ...22.-. 055025282 seo oe eee 4
2. Public forest lands:25.232 0220022 11
3. Forest products in 19075252... jiboducst Eee a eee 14
4, Lumber cut by: species, 1907... .-so2u:22 22.2 ee ee 15
5.. Lumber cut by States, 1907- = 22-2 2s. Do 16
6. Relative lumber production of ten States, 1880 and 1907..........--- Ey

{Cir. 166] ; (2)

Din il

THE TIMBER SUPPLY OF THE UNITED STATES.

INTRODUCTION.

The object of this circular is to answer, so far as present knowledge
permits, many questions which are constantly arising concerning the
extent of our forest resources, their ownership, the rate at which they
are being cut, and the outlook for a future timber supply. The
data here given have been drawn from every available source. The
bulk of them are based upon statistics collected by the Bureau of
the Census, the Forest Service, and the Geological Survey, supple-
mented by reports of State foresters and conservation commissions,
State and national.

The statistics of the cut and value of lumber and other forest prod-
ucts, except naval stores, are for the year 1907, because at this writing
such statistics are not yet completed for 1908, and also because the
1908 figures in several instances, as the result of the business depres-
sion, are not as high as those for previous years, nor as high as they
will be again with the return of better times.

The estimates of the original and present forest areas and stands
are at best only approximate. They are offered tentatively, and
any information which will make them more accurate will be gladly
received. Great as is the need for it, there has never been a timber
census of the United States, nor, with one or two exceptions, any
close estimate of the forest resources of any individual State. Such
a census must eventually be taken to furnish the basis for permanent
forest conservation.

FOREST REGIONS.
ORIGINAL FORESTS.

The original forests of the United States exceeded in the quantity
and variety of their timber the forests of any other region of similar
size on the globe. There were five great forest types: the Northern,
Southern, Central, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Coast. Their bound-
aries are roughly sketched in figure 1.

The Northern forest ran from Maine through New England, across
New York and most of Pennsylvania, through central and northern
Michigan and Wisconsin to Minnesota, with an extension along the
high Appalachian ridges as far southwestward as northern Georgia.

[Cir. 166] (3)

In this forest the cone-

bearing trees predominated. It was the home of the white pine,

Roughly it covered 150 million acres.

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pine, spruce, hemlock, cedar,

, birch, cherry, sugar maple, and several other hardwoods

and associated with that tree were red

balsam fir

[Cir. 166]

5)

/

of minor importance. The total stand of timber of all kinds in the
Northern forest was originally not less than 1,000 billion board feet.’

The northern extremity of the Southern type was in southern New
Jersey. From there the forest widened out southward and westward
through Virginia, and covered nearly all of North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, portions
of eastern Texas and Oklahoma, and southern and western Arkan-
sas, with a small extension into southern Missouri. This, too, was
a coniferous forest. The yellow pines predominated heavily. Inter-
spersed with the pines in localities suitable for their growth were
cypress, oak, gum, magnolia, yellow poplar, and a variety of other
hardwoods. The total original area of this forest was about 220
million acres, and it contained at least 1,000 billion feet of timber.

The Central forest stretched between the Northern and Southern
types from the Atlantic Coast to the Plains. There were no sharp
demarcations between it and the others, and it was extremely irregu-
lar in shape. It was the only forest region of the United States in
which the hardwoods predominated, and they grew in extreme
abundance. Walnut, oak, elm, hickory, cottonwood, maple, bass-
wood, chestnut, sycamore, red gum, ash, and many other trees here
reached their maximum development. It is conservatively estimated
that the original area of the Central hardwood forest was not less than
280 million acres, and that the amount of timber standing in it
before clearing began was at least 1,400 billion board feet.

The Rocky Mountain forest, as its name indicates, was typical of
the Rocky Mountain region, from Idaho and Montana through
Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado to Arizona and New Mexico. It was
separated by the Plains from the eastern forests and by desert areas
from the Pacific forest. This forest grew chiefly on the higher
plateaus and mountain slopes and was almost entirely coniferous.
Western yellow pine occurred throughout, while lodgepole pine,
Douglas fir, larch, spruce, western red cedar, and other softwoods
were abundant in many localities. The broken character of this
forest makes an estimate of its area extremely difficult. It is prob-
able, however, that the original extent was at least 110 million acres,
with a stand of not less than 400 billion board feet of saw timber.

The Pacific type of forest prevailed in Californ’a, Oregon, and
Washington, reaching its maximum development along the Sierras
and west of the Cascades. So far as saw timber was concerned, it
was almost exclusively a coniferous forest, and consisted chiefly of
Douglas fir, western yellow pine, redwood, western red cedar, sugar
pine, and various other firs and spruces. The original area of this
forest was at least 90 million acres, and it contained not less than
1,400 billion board feet of timber.

[Cir. 166]

6

It is safe then to estimate that the original forests of the United
States covered 850 million acres and contained 5,200 billion board
feet of saw timber according to present standards of utilization. In
addition there were probably 100 million acres of scrubby forest and
brush land, chiefly in the West, which has been and still is a source
of much post and fuel material.

PRESENT FORESTS.

The original forests of the United States have been reduced by
cutting, clearing, and fire from an acreage of 850 million to one of
not more than 550 million, with a total stand of some 2,500 billion
board feet. The Northern forest now contains perhaps 90 million
acres and 300 billion feet of timber, or 60 per cent of its original area
and 30 per cent of the original stand; the Southern forest, 150 million
acres and 500 billion feet, or 68 per cent of its former area and 50 per
cent of its stand; the Central forest, 130 million acres and 300 billion
feet, or 46 per cent of the original area and 21 per cent of the stand;
~ the Rocky Mountain forest, 100 million acres and 300 billion feet, or
91 per cent of the original area and 75 per cent of the stand; and the
Pacific forest, 80 million acres and 1,100 billion feet, or 89 per cent
of the original area and 79 per cent of the stand. The stand of
timber in every region has been reduced in even greater proportion
than has the actual forest acreage. This is particularly true in the
Central States, where the hardwoods predominated. They occupied
much rich agricultural land and were consequently cleared to make
way for farms more than they were cut for lumber.

Table 1 brings together in comparative form the preceding estimates
upon the original and present forest acreage and stand.

TABLE 1.—Estimate of the area and stand of the original and present forests of the United
States.

Original forest. Present forest.

Region. Per cent | Per cent

Area. Stand. Area. Stand. | oforigi- | of origi-
nal area. | nalstand.

Million | Billion | Million | Billion

acres. feet. acres. feet. Per cent. | Per cent.
Narthertia:. o22)-: exaese) a= Bea yee creck 150 1,000 0 300 60 30
Roa@thcrne soso tan eee es 220 1,000 150 500 68 50
Central......- Pee ee ere ee 280 1, 400 130 300 46 21
GCI YO MPOUMEAU s. <0 cc oot eet ns eee 110 400 1 300 91 75
Ney iT hy eens FOE, See ee ee eee 90 1, 400 80 1,100 89 79
etabs 5 ovis: [Bee sens. bag oe ae 850 5, 200 550 2,500 65 48

; een ee

i
‘

7

Table 2 gives the total land area of each State and estimates of the
original and present forest acreage.
is submitted mainly for purposes of discussion and correction.

This table is only tentative and

TaBLE 2.—Estimate of original and present forest areas, compared with total land area,
by States.

CahilOrmmiak se See ae eee acs wee cwe we
COlOLAd Ose teats Soe eee ee

IG OUMISIAM Des eae aes ao ets corse A ate e
MAIN CR y re 8 on ee ae ee hi ok
Manylan dios scccee cocci ces ee ok exes

MUINHESOLAY 22 sce eeee enc ew ce ees oes

Mississippi

MISS OUT Set se oot ae eee es se

ING WAG Ses teas oe tne le eres See
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico

New York

Pennsylvania
Rhode Island

SURO ee ere i ee re ioe ecole sc
Washington

West Virginia

OCS ETT Se Se
Oia 2 ee ee a

[Cir. 166]

eee e eer t ee see eee eee ee ee eee e es

ee es

Land area.

Acres.

32, 818, 560 |

72, 857, 600
33, 616, 000
99, 898, 880
66, 341, 120

3, 084, 800
1, 257, 600
35, 111, 040
37, 584, 000
53, 618, 560

35, 841, 280
22) 966, 400
35,575, 040
52,335, 360
25,715, 840

29,061, 760
19, 132, 800
6, 362, 240
5, 144, 960
36, 787, 200

51, 749, 120
29,671, 680
43,985, 280
93, 296, 640
49, 157, 120

70, 285, 440
5, 779, 840
4, 808, 960

78, 401, 920

30, 498, 560

31, 193, 600
44, 917, 120
26, 073, 600
44, 424,960
61, 188, 480

28, 692, 480

682, 880
19, 516, 800
49, 195, 520
26, 679, 680

167, 934, 720

52, 597, 760

5, 839, 360
25, 767, 680
42,775, 040

15, 374, 080
35, 363, 840
62, 460, 160

1, 903, 423, 360

Original forest area.

Extent.

4, 630, 000
33, 110, 000

28, 460, 000
26, 700, 000
26, 390, 000
23, 320, 000

1, 470, 000

3, 510, 000

27, 450, 000

29, 630, 000

450, 000
23, 470, 000
13, 330, 000
30, 590, 000

27, 260, 000

1, 480, 000
24, 010, 000

41, 980, 000
7, 890, 000
5, 550, 000

24, 480, 000

25, 670, 000

14, 610, 000
26, 520, 000
12, 490, 000

856, 690, 000

Present forest area.

Per cent 5 Per cent
of land Extent. of land
area. area.
Acres.
90 20, 000, 000 61
20 14, 000, 000 19
95 24, 200, 000 72
30 24, 000, 000 24
25 12, 000, 000 18
95 1, 600, 000 52
90 350, 000 28
85 20, 000, 000 57
95 22, 300, 000 59
45 20, 000, 000 37
35 2, 500, 000 7
85 4,000, 000 17
15 2,500, 000 7
3 1,000, 000 2
90 10, 000, 000 39
90 16, 500, 000 57.
95 14, 900, 000 78
90 2, 200, 000 35
90 2, 000, 000 39
90 15, 500, 000 42
55 15, 500, 000 30
90 17, 500, 000 59
60 18, 300, 000 42
25 18, 000, 000 19
3 800, 000 2
5 5, 000, 000 Zh
95 3, 500, 000 61
90 2,000, 000 42
20 12, 000, 000 15
90 12, 000, 000 39
95 19, 600, 000 63
1| 450, 000 1
90 | 4,800, 000 18
30 | 8, 000, 000 18
50 27,000. 000 44
95 | 9, 200, 000 32
95 250, 000 37
90 | 12,000,000 61
3 1,200,000 2
90 | 15,000,000 56
25 | 30,000,000 18
15 6, 000, 000 11
95 | 2,500, 000 43
95 14, 000, 000 54
60 25, 000, 000 58
95 9, 100, 000 59
75 16, 000, 000 45
20; 10,000,000 16
45 , 544,250,000 29

8
STUMPAGE ESTIMATES.

It is impossible with the data now at hand to make close estimates
of the stumpage of the principal species, but Table 3 gives the best
guesses that can be hazarded under the circumstances. In the table,
the species are arranged in the order of total stands, while in the dis-
cussion that follows the order is that of present lumber production.

TABLE 3.—Stumpage estimates.

| Billion Billion
Species. | board Species. board
| feet. feet.
Wouelas firssocss cose ose sone s ceases se 525:7||) Western SpEUCC: << none sauce toes
Southern yellow pine................... 300)! Bastern 'Sprucesa 2.355 eee ono eee
western yellow pines. .3255-.2-2.-2-2225 27541 WICSEGEN TITS 3525 Saws toee o eee
BUC WOOG aoe eae oe en ee are 100°} Sagar pine 252.4225. 2 eee
iWiesternsnemlocks: 2s pemeeee na sre eae 100 ie Cypresseso-h Sse co os ee eee eee
Western cedar (ee a. ee. eee 1007|| Other Coniiers 4253 5-35 25 ssn eee
Bodrepole pine! oes... ses a. Sw eee 90°} Hard woodst.-as445 3545s a eae
White and Norway pine...-............. 75
astern hemlock: 4... o55..--.-cdacees 75 Total sce Fone) Sis ic ae eater ae ASE

YELLOW PINE.

The total stand of yellow pine in the Southern States may be 350
billion feet. The cut in 1907 was about 13 billion feet. Many of the
large operators say that they will cut out their supplies within the
next fifteen years at the present rate of sawing. The center of yellow-
pine production has moved westward rapidly in recent years. Georgia
was the leading State in 1900, with nearly 12 per cent of the total out-
put of yellow-pine lumber, while in 1907 it ranked ninth, with an
absolute decrease in cut of nearly 500 million feet over 1900. In 1907
Louisiana ranked first, with nearly 18 per cent of the total; Texas
second, with more than 16 per cent; and Mississippi third, with nearly
13 per cent.

DOUGLAS FIR.

The total stand of Douglas fir, the bulk of which is in Oregon and
Washington, is probably not less than 525 billion feet. It is the prin-
cipal timber tree of the Pacific coast, is abundant in Idaho and Mon-
tana, and occurs in some quantity throughout much of the Rocky
Mountain region. The annual cut now is about 42 billion feet. The
output of Douglas fir will increase rapidly in the near future if the
market conditions are such as to encourage operations in the many
large holdings of virgin timber in Oregon and Washington.

WHITE PINE.

The total stand of white pine and Norway pine in the Eastern and
Lake States is perhaps 75 billion feet. The greatest white-pine pro-
[Cir. 166]

.
.

3.

duction in the Lake States was in 1890, when the output was over 84
billion feet. With few exceptions the decrease has been steady since
that time. The cut in 1907 was 2} billion feet in the Lake States and
4,192,708,000 feet in all States, which included a small quantity
of western white pine. in Idaho, Montana, and Washington.

HEMLOCK.

It is very difficult to approach a correct estimate of the total stand
of hemlock, because it grows so largely in mixture with other woods.
An estimate of 100 billion feet of western hemlock and 75 billion feet
of eastern hemlock seems to be reasonable. The annual cut at present
is more than 34 billion feet, chiefly from the eastern and northern
States. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan supply more than
two-thirds of the total. Western hemlock, principally in Washington
and Oregon, contributes about 75 million feet.

SPRUCE.

The total spruce stumpage may be estimated at 50 billion feet in
the Hast and North and 60 billion feet in the Rocky Mountain and
Pacific regions. Several species of spruce enter into this estimate, of
course. The output of spruce lumber has been slowly increasing for
some time, and it is now about 1? billion feet yearly. Maine has
always been far in the lead as a spruce-producing State, and more.
than 30 per cent of the spruce lumber is cut there. About one-sixth
of the total cut is now supplied by the Rocky Mountain and Pacific
Coast States, of which Washington furnishes much the larger
proportion.

WESTERN PINE.

The total stand of western pine, including under this designation
western yellow pine and lodgepole pine, may be estimated at 365
billion feet. Western yellow pine occurs throughout the Rockies and
reaches its best development in California. The stumpage is about
275 billion feet. Lodgepole pine is most abundant in Colorado,
Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, with an estimated stumpage of 90
billion feet. The cut of western pine lumber is steadily increasing,
and is now about 14 billion feet annually. More than one-fourth of
it is supplied by California and about one-sixth each by Idaho and
Washington.

CYPRESS.

~ Much of the cypress is in Louisiana, though there are considerable

quantities in Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, and other Southern

States. A very liberal estimate of cypress stumpage is 20 billion
85874—Cir. 166—09——2

10

feet. The annual lumber cut is about three-quarters of a billion feet,
of which Louisiana supplies two-thirds. Nearly 14 billion cypress
shingles are manufactured yearly, and also a considerable quantity
of poles and ties. |

REDWOOD.

The commercial supply of redwood is practically limited to a small
strip of territory in California close to the coast, north of San Fran-
cisco. The estimated stand is 100 billion feet. The normal cut at the
present time is approximately one-half billion feet of lumber and 7006
million shingles.

: WESTERN CEDAR.

il the Pacific coast and northern Rocky Mountain cedars are
grouped under this head. The most important species are western
red cedar, which occurs in greatest abundance in Washington, and
incense cedar, of which there are heavy stands in California. The
total western cedar stumpage is, perhaps, 100 billion feet. The annual
cut is less than 200 million feet of lumber and about 7 billion shingles.
Most of the lumber and practically all of the shingles are of red
cedar.

WESTERN FIRS.

This term is used to cover alpine fir in the Rocky Mountains, white
fir in the Rockies and on the Pacific coast, and noble and other
Pacific coast firs. The total stumpage of these species is very
difficult to estimate. It may amount to 50 billion feet. So far these
firs have been little used for lumber. Nearly 150 million feet of
white fir was cut in 1907, more than half being supplied by California
and most of the remainder by Montana and Idaho.

SUGAR PINE.

The total stand of sugar pine may be 30 billion feet. Nearly all
of it is in the California Sierras. The annual cut is slightly more than
100 million feet.

OTHER CONIFERS.

Other less important softwoods, for which sufficient data for indi-
vidual estimates of stand are lacking, are eastern cedar, western
larch, eastern tamarack, balsam fir, western white pine, and several
other western pines. The total stand of these woods may be in the
neighborhood of 100 billion feet. The annual cut is less than 400
million feet. Larch and western white pine are cut chiefly in Mon- -
tana and Idaho, tamarack in the Lake States, and balsam fir in
Maine.

[Cir. 166]

ro

y
NINN ASM
@ = @)

“> V/A NATIONAL FORESTS
KY INDIAN RESERVATIONS
i STATE FORESTS

» [EI NATIONAL PARKS

. © MILITARY RES.

>
C)

Fic. 2.—Public forest lands. Forests in the unreserved public domain and unreserved state forest lands are not shown,

[Cir. 166]

12

HARDWOODS.

The total amount of hardwood timber is extremely difficult to
estimate, and the scattered and mixed character of growth makes
it still more difficult to estimate the stumpage of any one species.
The complexity of hardwood stands is well shown by the result of a
careful study of the forests of eastern Kentucky recently made by
the Forest Service in cooperation with the State. The average per-
centage of each species in that region is about as follows: White oak,
20; chestnut oak, 18; beech, 15; maple, 13; black oak, 10; chestnut,
6; yellow poplar, 6; hickory, 4; basswood, 2; ash, cucumber, locust,
pine, hemlock, walnut, black gum, and cherry combined, 6.

Taken as a whole, the hardwood stumpage of the United States
is probably not less than 500 billion feet. The total hardwood lum-
ber cut in 1907 was 9} billion feet. Of this, the oaks supplied 40 .
per cent; maple, 10 per cent; yellow poplar, 7.9 per cent; red gum,
7.5 per cent; chestnut, 7.1 per cent, and the numerous other hard-
woods smaller amounts. Large quantities of hardwoods are also
used for cooperage, veneer, cross-ties, posts, poles, firewood, and
other purposes.

FOREST OWNERSHIP.

Most of the forests in the United States are privately owned.
Approximately 20 per cent of the standing timber in the country is
held by the Federal Government in National Forests, Indian reser-
vations, National Parks, and on the unreserved public domain, and
by the States in state reserves or other state lands. These public
forests contain more than 100 million acres of saw timber. Their
location is shown in figure 2.

A rough estimate of the amount of standing timber in the posses-
sion of the Federal Government is given in Table 4. The most of
this timber is of course in National Forests. In addition to the
timber shown in this table, there are perhaps 75 billion feet held
by the States either in reserves or upon state lands of various classes.

[Cir. 166]

13

TABLE 4.—Estimated amount of standing saw timber controlled by the Federal Govern-

Total.

M board feet.

51, 500

11, 550, 000

4,018, 000

ment.

State National | Indian res- | National Military Unreserved

: Forests. | ervations. Parks. reservations. | public lands.

M board feet. | M board feet.| M board feet.| M boardfeet.| M bourd feet.

JSP DGS et Oe SESS S NB ESES Rigel 2 oO | seeks See ee ee eee eee 1,500 50,

ATIZON aoe 6, 500, 000 es OOO) nore 505000) ssssce scat

Arkansas........- ASOD SOUR ens ee ee ec OS Se one 634, 000

California. ........ 94, 800, 000 3500: 000: |) 8,000,000 }. 22-0228. :. 3, 216, 000

Colorado.......... TOAD TTA ul tee een an | oI Raa AO PG 2 1, 200, 000

iBIOATS GY 22 8 FL 2 SR, Zh ee eet | See | Rea ee nee 8, 400 80, 000
COT UA oe yee yea arse eels eae, ARES Te laser a etism hese AS LOO Se Se a ee
hdahe =< sFeeee 34, 600, 000 | 2, 000, 000 ERR eee Sl ae te ee 2,000, 000 |
endian ste eae ess hae. RAAB AO Seance Bese seer Sareea (ih Weremrerncesce
HC RNISEIS ee one ee ae pe Se es SF | Merrett cio aes ac A440 We ecens ott ee

RGUNSISN At so Sle ee ene cc cic | S Senate tees Peete SNe Cae ne omic cic sists £5 55, 000
TUTE a i GRA [ee erage eee ee Pa 1 at indie Pelee as
Mine viand ss bs | Sate RE LA a ik eae eee BIO [eens 2 eee

DS EVEN TEEN De ng | Sh nk a ee tO he A | CRU el ee (a 36, 000
MEMINGSOEA NS eM Eo BOTT EGT) coeieit ieee apeee Cae AR met 500, 000 |
LA RSUISSTT RTD ee Ree I a A a PI are A aad) |e Se a aa | 21,000 |

ASSO Eee tes pcr eh. (eae mi a PN caicica cic sete c's Se cas oases 13, 000

Montana <2 2:35. 5. 35, 900, 000 2 AOR OOO esse So eae 12, 000 1, 200, 000
LG SS a6. cea 2 ae Bee Bese | 2 eee ae See eae 10, 000 |

Nevada..........- 75,000 |...--------+-+ see seer eee Bee ees soa 100, 000
|

New Mexico....-- 11, 200, 000 | 1700; OODs aces e oe ooo 5 a= 40,000 | 800, 000
TENE Wu retype ete el ee ard ii ye ee ge 2 EY (1 Bane Seen se
NOR Cara lin as: = [ates ad: IB er Pea et SON ee ee ese
Oklahoma........ PENI or 4. CO OO ee LE ROD og Sn eet eae Sie Oe
Oreconss: Joo oes 90, 075, 000 3, 900, 000 562, 000 600 2, 500, 000 |
South Dakota..... 2, 256, 000 | "U1 1 La eke a jaeesgtc heen aon 443, 000 |
ce eee 940,000 | foes ae a ee. +000 |
RYATyLAST TE rere es rm (ciple teeta SLE otf aera Boe (|| Bia ae oe ee 1) eee eee Soe

Washington.......| 89,954,000 6, 100, 000 1, 475, 000 75, 000 672, 000

BISCOPISHS 2 fou oh Ph) a 2 OOO O00 dl see See [eccaeamteae st , 000
. Wyoming...._._.. 4,700, 000 | . 680, 000 | ETT (asepeeicine see

ANTE ees ee 390, 018, 000 34, 089, 000 10, 717, 000

|
|

198, 595 | 13, 838,000 | 448, 860, 595

The private forests are of two distinct classes, (1) farmers’ woodlots

and (2) large holdings, either individual or corporate.

The farmers’

woodlots are chiefly scattered and detached remnants of the original
forests, which as a rule have been severely culled. They are mainly
in the eastern half of the United States and cover some 200 million
acres, with a stand of perhaps 300 billion board feet of saw timber and
14 billion cords of wood. Aside from their protective and ornamental
value, they furnish much firewood, many posts, poles, and cross-ties,
and some lumber and cooperage stock.

The larger private holdings contain about 1,700 billion feet. These
holdings generally include the best timber in the regions in which they

[Cir. 166]

occur, since private capital always seeks the best possible investment.
They are the principal sources of the lumber which is used to-day, and
upon the manner in which they are managed depends in a large degree
the timber supply of the future.

So far, true forestry has been practiced to only a slight extent, or not
at all, upon the forests in private hands, and, because of lack of funds,
it has not yet been possible to apply right methods of forest manage-
ment to all public forests, though such methods will eventually be
used in handling them.

14
FOREST PRODUCTS.

The value of the forest products of the United States in 1907, the
last year for which detailed data are available, was appproximately
$1,280,000,000. The principal items are shown below. The value in
every case is stated in round numbers, and is estimated at the point of
production.

umber shingles; and lath:<222 2225-260 soo cee $750, 000, 000
Firewoodie: 2 2. Seas o.oo eee a ere eee ‘... 280,000, 000
Poles: posts; and arls 2-3 ce 2 ats see ene ae ees eas 100, 000, 000
Hewed :cross-ties S52 oi ca. c ek sea ee 0 eae eee 60,000, 000
Cooperage stock.bs3. 2.85. es eet i creer eee 35, 000, 000
Naval stores? 2.0 ase. acces 30, 000, 000
Pulpwood.2 ss 25. S38 00 a Ye Seep ele reer 20, 000, 000
Tanbarkand extracts: .2. jc3-20- 50sec eee eee 15, 000, 000
Roundimine timbers-2. 29.02 ee eee ee 10, 000, 000
Miscellameous: .2 .iccose ccs. 1 ee Ree ee 10, 000, 000

Motalier tree acek ces ei crcttetescsse ses eee eee 1, 280, 000, 000

FOREST MATERIAL REQUIRED

CLASSES BILLIONS OF CUBIC FEET
oO i] 2 3 4 5 6 7/ 8 9 {o!
LUMBER AND SHINGLES........c¢c25.:.2..-, Pe
REREWOOD Ss oie. Gk | cos Sai ea

POLES, POSTS, AND RAILS
HEWEO CROSS-NIES.
GOOPERAGE STOCKn.2 bose es
RULER WOOD. 0 eee

OISTILEATION WOOD... 0... ee
Fic. 3.—Forest products in 1907.

Nearly three-fifths of the total value of our forest products is made
up of lumber, shingles, and lath, and a little less than one-fifth of fire-
wood. No other group of products contributes as much as 10 per
cent of the total value.

The quantity of forest material required for these products under
present conditions of logging and manufacturing is shown graphically
in figure 3. The total exceeds 20 billion cubic feet. Of this, lumber
and shingles take a little more than two-fifths; firewood, one-third;
posts, poles, and rails, about one-twelfth; and hewed cross-ties, about
one-sixteenth; relatively small quantities are required for the other
products.

[Cir. 166]

15
LUMBER.

The cut of lumber, by kinds, in 1907 is shown graphically in figure
4, the total being 40,256,000,000 board feet. Yellow pine was in the
lead with 32.8 per cent of the total; Douglas fir ranked second, with
11.8 per cent; white pine third, with 10.4 per cent; oak fourth, with
9.2 per cent; and hemlock fifth, with 8.4 per cent. Spruce and west-

SPECIES _ BILLIONS BOARD FEET

Olt 263.4 5.6 7 8 8 31080) 2 Be
YELLOW PINE a ae ee ee nes ee
DOUGLAS FIR
WHITE PINE
OAK
HEMLOCK
SPRUCE
WESTERN PINE
MAPLE
POPLAR
CYPRESS
RED GUM
CHESTNUT
REDWOOD
BEECH
BIRCH
BASSWOOD
COTTONWOOD
ELM
ASH
CEDAR
LARGH
HICKORY
WHITE FIR
SUGAR PINE
TAMARACK
TUPELO
SYCAMORE
WALNUT
ALL OTHERS

Fig. 4.—Lumber cut by species, 1907.

ern pine furnished 4.3 and 3.8 per cent, respectively. These seven
are the only woods which annually produce more than a billion feet
of lumber each, and, taken together, they furnish more than four-—
fifths of our annual lumber supply.

The softwoods as a group supplied 77 per cent of the lumber cut
in 1907, and the hardwoods 23 per cent. The softwood cut, there-
fore, was nearly 34 times as great as the hardwood cut. In 1900

[Cir. 166]

16 :

the hardwoods supplied nearly 25 per cent of the total. The increase
of more than 14 per cent in the total lumber production from 1900

WASHINGTON es
LOUISIANA
TEXAS
MISSISSIPPI
WISCONSIN
ARKANSAS
MICHIGAN
PENNSYLVANIA
MINNESOTA
OREGON

NORTH CAROLINA
VIRGINIA
WEST VIRGINIA
CALIFORNIA
ALABAMA
MAINE
KENTUCKY
TENNESSEE
GEORGIA

NEW YORK
FLORIDA

NEW HAMPSHIRE
SOUTH CAROLINA
MISSOURI
OHIO

iDAHO

INDIANA
VERMONT
MASSACHUSETTS
MONTANA
MARYLAND
1OWA
ILLINOIS
OKLAHOMA
CONNECTICUT
COLORADO

NEW MEXICO
ARIZONA
DELAWARE
NEW JERSEY
SOUTH DAKOTA
RHODE ISLAND
WYOMING

UTAH

Fig. 5.—Lumber cut by States, 1907.

to 1907 was due chiefly to very heavy increases in some of the soft-

woods. During the seven years the output of yellow pine increased

approximately 37 per cent, that of western pine 62 per cent, that of
[Cir. 166]

17

cypress 53 per cent, that of redwood 58 per cent, and that of Douglas
fir 173 per cent. These increases far more than counterbalanced the
decrease of nearly 46 per cent in white pine. On the other hand, the
cut of the two leading hardwoods, oak and yellow poplar, decreased
16 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively, during this period. Re-
markable increases took place in the output of some of the minor

Is80 1907
23% fag
| PA. eee |
4.3%
WIS.
857 goa
iah NN,
7 2.1%
& TEX.
1.8%
re
1.0% fe
: WASH. [aaa
a 9.4%
§ MISS.
oe 5.2%
3 LA
7% ee
| ORE.
10% Tas

Fig. 6.—Relative lumber production of ten States, 1880 and 1907.

hardwoods; the gain in maple, for instance, being 48 per cent, in
red gum 142 per cent, and in chestnut 216 per cent.

The lumber cut by States in 1907 is shown in figure 5. Washing-
ton, which ranked first, supplied 9.4 per cent of the total; Louisiana
came second, with 7.4 per cent; Texas third, with 5.5 per cent; Mis-
sissippi fourth, with 5.2 per cent; and Wisconsin fifth, with 5 per cent.
These five States are the only ones which cut 2 billion or more feet of
lumber in 1907, and, taken together, they furnished nearly one-third
of the total production.

[Cir. 166]

18

Table 5 gives the lumber production of the United States by States
in 1880, 1890, 1900, and 1907, together with an estimate of the total
cut from 1880 to 1907 and the percentage supplied by each State.
The cut in each of the four years specified-is taken from Census
bulletins.

TaBLe 5.—Lumber production of the United States, by States: 1880-1907.

Estimated total cut,
1880-1907.
State. 1880. 1890. 1900. 1907. :
Amount. Per cent.
M board feet.| Mboard feet.| Mboard feet.| Mboard feet. | M board feet.
PAULA ana eee 251, 851 589, 480 1,101, 386 1, 224, 967 20, 803, 221 28
ATIZOR A cee oes 10,715 -5, 320 36, 182 72, 134 666, 791 aa
INTKANISAS He Ene ene 172, 503 537, 884 1, 623, 987 1, 988, 504 27,005, 009 3.5
Caliorniass = =e 304, 795 517, 781 737,035 1, 345, 943 17, 677, 383 20
Colorado23=) = eas 63, 792 79, 951 133, 746 134, 239 2,725, 148 4
Connecticut: -<.. 222 64, 460 48, 957 108, 093 140, 011 2, 220, 699 .8
Delaware. - 2-52... 31, 572 23, 466 35, 955 50, 892 876, 260 Su
INA Oba hes. 22 Some 247, 627 411, 869 790, 373 839, 058 15, 011, 699 1.9
GeOreiaes epee 451, 792 575, 152 1,311, 917 853,697 | ° 22,149,714 2.9
Tdaho eee eee 18, 204 27,800 65, 363 513, 788 2, 722, 864 =:
Tilingis=: oe eee 334, 274 221,810 388, 469 141,317 7, 686, 066 1.0
in@iana 25a 917,900 755, 407 1, 036, 999 504, 790 22, 724, 827 3.0
ROWS sa ee 412, 578 571, 166 352, 411 144, 271 11, 274, 992 1.5
Kentuckyan asset eee 306, 067 423, 185 774, 651 912, 908 15, 541, 897 2.0
EOUISIana = se eee 133, 472 303, 726 1,115, 366 2,972,119 23, 587, 648 3.1
Maine. eae 580, 082 597, 481 784, 647 1, 103, 808 19, 408, 048 2.5
Mary lan Ges: eee ee 127, 336 82,119 183, 711 213, 786 3, 767, 665 iS
Massachusetts-........- 205, 816 211, 588 344, 190 364, 231 7,345, 384 1.0
Michigans=s= oe 4,178,610 - 4, 300, 172 3, 018, 338 1, 827, 685 95, 947, 541 12.5
Minnesota............ 563, 974 1,084, 377 2, 342, 338 1, 660, 716 39, 386, 019 5.1
IMISSISSIPDIe she seen 168, 747 454, 417 1, 206, 265 2,094, 485 22, 971, 855 3.0
MISSOULI-N See eee 399, 744 402, 052 723, 754 548, 774 14, 091, 858 18
Montana.css 55.2.6 2 21, 420 89, 511 255, 685 343, 814 4, 378, 882 6
New Hampshire. .._.. 295,339 277,063 572, 447 754, 023 11, 752, 205 1.5
New: Jersey - snes 110, 562 34, 052 74,118 39, 942 1, 663, 130 a%
New Mexico. ........- 11,195 26, 112 30, 880 113, 204 975, 789 ai
ING WwW YOrkao2 2 ee 1, 185, 223 925, 417 878, 448 848, 894 25, 618, 222 3.3
North Carolina......_. 243,075 514, 692 1, 286, 638 1, 622, 387 22,977,073 3.0
1055. 5s 910, 857 565, 315 990, 497 529, 087 20, 478, 464 2.7
Okjlahomas i5 Saspeee | eee e 2, 552 22,104 140,015 703, 457 ak
OTrefontt es Be eee 177,171 446, 483 734, 538 1, 635, 563 17, 318, 724 2h
Pennsylvania......... 1, 734, 170 2, 133, 316 2, 333, 278 1, 734, 729 55, 908, 425 7.3
South Carolina....._.-. 185, 772 198, 764 466, 429 649, 058 9, 152, 850 2
South Dakota......... a 29, 286 @ 28, 233 @ 33, 734 34, 841 837, 443 a
RENNeSSEE Seo sees 302, 679 460, 261 950, 958 894, 968 17, 331, 536 2.3
BRERA - se eal 328, 968 842, 648 1, 232, 404 2, 229, 590 28, 350, 319 3.7
WMerniont) 25 -3.-0 2222 323, 357 384, 476 375, 809 373, 660 9,963, 732 1.3
Mireiniae ss cacs 5s ae 316, 739 415, 512 959, 119 1, 412,477 18, 834, 996 2.4
Washington . PANS SEA 160,176 1, 063, 584 1, 429, 032 3, 777, 606 36, 805, 113 4.8
West Virginia......... 180, 112 301, 958 778, 051 1, 395, 979 15, 419, 500 2.0
NV ISCONSIN = 2 3S 1, 542,021 2, 866, 153 3, 389, 166 2,003, 279 72,191, 023 9. 4
Alothersos ens. aso. 121, 399 40, 968 59, 084 70, 915 1, 852, 092 .2
Motaletys 2 sof. 18, 125, 432 23, 842, 230 35, 067, 595 40,256,154 | 768, 105, 563 100. C
aTncludes small quantity in North Dakota.
+ Includes Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Utah.
Some striking things are shown by this table. Since 1880, for

instance, Michigan has produced nearly 96 billion feet of lumber, or
one-eighth of the entire cut of the United States
furnished more than 72 billion feet, and Pennsylvania nearly 56

(Cir. 166]

Wisconsin has

19

billion feet. The cut of all these States is now decreasing, though
the falling off has been most striking in Michigan, where the output
in 1907 was less than 2 billion feet, the smallest in nearly forty years.
The changes which have taken place in the relative lumber pro-
duction of ten of the leading States are brought out graphically in
ficure 6. In 1880 these States furnished 53.8 per cent of the total
cut, and in 1907, 52.4 per cent, practically equal proportions; but the
changes which have occurred in the output of individual States are
most significant. Michigan, for example, furnished 23 per cent of the
total in 1880, and only 4.5 per cent in 1907. Louisiana supplied only
0.7 per cent of the total in 1880, and 7.4 per cent in 1907. Wash-
ington cut only 0.9 per cent of the total in 1880, and 9.4 per cent in
1907. This diagram shows in vivid fashion the manner in which,
with the cutting out of the virgin timber in the North and East, we
have turned to the forests of the South and West for our lumber.

TaBLe 6.—Lumber production, lumber prices, and stumpage prices in the United States,
by species, 1900 and 1907.

Mill price of lumber, Stumpage price,
ERD Bs Oe = M feet. M feet. wee
eae ree ae Re eee 2k ae | a ee ER AE EASE Ls NE price im
Species. per cent
Per Per Per | of mill
1900. 1907. centin-| 1900. | 1907. |cent in-| 1900. | 1907. | cent in-| price in
crease. crease. crease.| 1907.
M board fi.| M board ft.
Witte. cGacnes = 38, 681 41, 490 7 |$36. 49 |$43. 31 0 CC) eee etl ty | See ees PS ere
ICKOTYic costs 96, 636 203, 211 110 | 18.78 | 29.50 Tf dete $6): GOV 23
JLa\C] TPs ee eee eae » 269, 120 252, 040 a6 | 15.84 | 25.01 58 |$3.03 | 7.58 150 30
Yellow poplar..... 1,115, 242 865, 536 a22 | 14.03 | 24.91 78 | 2.81 | 4.64 65 19
CGPECSS =o se2 oes 495, 836 757, 639 53 | 13.32.) 22.12 66 | 1.58 37 177 20
CSI Sane taka 4, 438,027 ; 3,718,760 216 | 13.78 | 21.23 54 |03.18 BEY. 105 31
Basswood......... 308, 069 381, 088 24 ; 12.84 | 20.03 56 ; 1.50 | 6.79 353 34
Sugar pine........ 53, 558 | 115, 005 115 | 12.30 | 19.84 1 Ll | Abe i Bae RE Fae Se eee
White pine........ 7, 742, 391 4,193, 787 a 46 | 12.69 | 19. 41 53 | 3.66] 8.09 121 42
a0 i ee eee ee 232,978 251, 002 8 | 10.91 | 19.14 75 | 1.32 | 4.63 251 24
PLIES 456, 731 260, 579 a 43 | 11.47 | 18. 45 61 | 3.30 | 4.94 50 27
Cottonwood....... 415, 124 290, 574 230 | 10.37 | 18. 42 78 | 1.45 | 3.97 174 22
Redwood........- 360, 167 569, 450 587] LOnt2 ti 70 TNs || CEE 122 13
ID SU ea ee aS 132, 601 387, 614 192 | 12.50 | 17.37 oy Migsee ce BAG hee Soe 25
SPEC eee 1, 448,091 1, 726, 797 TG) | P70 || Uae 53 | 2.26 |c5. 49 143 32
hestnut.........- 206, 688 653, 239 216 | 13.37! 17.04 27 | 2.71 | 4.97 83 29
LGN) Gia S Seige 633, 466 939, 073 48 | 11.83 | 16.84 42 | 2.66 | 2.50 ad6 15
Tamarack......... 8, 225 HES, ABS) boss 2925) 8.73 | 15.71 Tl ee ed | ee ee -aaneane
Western pine. ..... 944, 185 1, 526, 116 62 9.70 | 15. 67 GQrRe Aosta 1 AS 0; 0 i) (eee 11
Hemlock. ......... 3, 420,673 | 3,373,016 al 9.98 | 15.53 56 | 2.56 |e4. 51 76 29
_ ODS rt eae es |e TAGS DOS see oso e 154 leocness [see Ae ces Bebécead eaccase-
Lic a Sees: eres eee Boe nd eee eee ee | 14. 48 |.......- cree ey © eee 8 9
Lc ae eee AROS OOGI ccs oe Ieee oe WACO Eee rosea ltesee. SubO! [eeecuees 25
Douglas fir......-.- 1,736,507 | 4,748,872 173 | 8.67 | 14.12 63 | .77 | 1.44 87 10
Redem.... = sa. - 285, 41 689, 200 141 9.63 | 14.10 46 | 1.68 | 2. 46 46 17
Yellow pine....... 9, 658, 923 | 13,215,185 37 | 8.51 | 14.02 65 | 1.12 | 3.16 182 23
rmerete co 42, 394 211,076 398 | 8.00 | 13.07 1555 | EN | eee BB os
meacrace will peice of all Wusriber in 1900.0) ..222...21 222.2. o lence neck tbe eke ce cee ene eee $11.10
Reamer pricetoiall lumilier in 1907. .-...2...---~~--sqc-----2--.--2--n-non-nansecemene sn na--=- 16. 53
Bentereineicaatall ctompace my t000 0 622000 1k ek eh cee. Ts 8 2.13
Average price of all stumpage in 1907........-.------ SB SEES Sage se Gas Sas SPS: Pee See ee 4.12
Stumpage price in per cent of mill price, 1907, all species..........-...----------+-+++e2 2222 eee ee 25
a Decrease.
b White oak.

¢ Eastern spruce. :

d There was evidently some mistake in the calculation of the average value of maple stumpage in 1900
or in 1907, since there is no reason to think that a decrease actually occurred.

eEastern hemlock.

[Cir. 166]

inl ae oO)

20

Table 6 presents an instructive comparison of the total cut of each
species in 1900 and in 1907, the average value of the lumber at the
mill, the average stumpage price in each year, and the ratio of stump-
age to lumber prices in 1907. The order is that of the value of the
lumber per thousand feet in 1907. The percentage increase has been
much greater in stumpage prices than in lumber prices, but, on the
other hand, the actual increase in lumber prices has been greater
than that in stumpage prices.

SHINGLES.

Many woods are used to some extent for shingles, but the market
is dominated by cedar shingles, of which there are two kinds, the
white cedar, or arbor vite of the Northeastern and Lake States,
and the western red cedar, or giant arbor vite of the Pacific coast.
Of the production of 11,824,475,000 shingles in 1907, the western
cedar supplied over three-fifths, and the eastern cedar about one-
tenth. Ten per cent of the shingles were of cypress, and 7 per cent
and 5 per cent, respectively, of redwood and yellow pine. Much
more cedar is used for shingles than for other purposes, while with
other woods shingles are frequently a by-product of lumber manu-

facturing.
LATH.

Lath are usually a by-product of lumber manufacturing, and so
do not of themselves constitute an additional drain upon the forests.
While some lath are made from nearly every wood that is cut into
lumber, most of the 3,663,000,000 lath manufactured in 1907 were
of white pine, yellow pine, hemlock, Douglas fir, spruce, and cypress.

FIREWOOD.

It is estimated that approximately 75 million cords of wood,
exclusive of mill waste, are consumed annually for fuel in the United
States, most of it, of course, for domestic purposes upon farms in
the regions where wood is relatively abundant and cheap and coal
dificult to obtain or high in price. A great deal of wood is burned
everywhere, except on the Great Plains, where, since there is almost
no timber at all, such a use is impossible. Much of the firewood is
cut from farmers’ woodlots, and has little value for other purposes.
On the other hand, good once timber which could be used for
lumber or other purposes is often cut into firewood.

POLES, POSTS, AND RAILS.

Some 34 million round poles exceeding 20 feet in length are used

annually by telegraph, telephone, and other electric companies. Over —
[Cir. 166] a |

21

three-fifths of these poles are cedar, and more than one-fourth of
them chestnut. Relatively small amounts of pine, cypress, and red-
wood poles are also used.

Perhaps 1 billion fence posts and rails are used annually upon the
farms and ranches in the United States. The data so far collected
upon this subject are very unsatisfactory. While the cedar posts of
the Lake States are shipped long distances, most of the posts and prac-
tically all of the fence rails are cut in the locality where they are used,
and consequently the kind of timber which is used for these purposes
varies greatly, the effort always being, of course, to cut the kind that
is the most durable. Wherever it grows, chestnut is a favorite wood
for both posts and rails. Many posts are made from young, round
timber. Rails are generally made from straight timber, of larger
size, which splits well, and many posts are also split.

HEWED CROSS-TIES.

The steam and electric railway companies of the United States pur-
chased some 153 million cross-ties in 1907, more than three-fourths of
which were hewed. Since sawed cross-ties are classed as lumber, they
are not discussed here. The oaks, and chiefly the white oaks, supply
more than 45 per cent of the hewed ties. The making of hewed ties
from young oak trees is, with the exception of lumber, the heaviest
drain upon our oak forests. More than 22 per cent of the hewed cross-
ties were supplied by the southern pines, about 7 per cent by cedar,
and about 5 per cent by chestnut. Spruce, tamarack, western hem-
lock, and redwood are used in lesser quantities.

PULPWOOD.

More than 3 million cords of domestic pulpwood were used in 1907,
and, in addition, some 925,000 cords were imported from Canada.
Of the domestic pulpwood, nearly three-fifths was spruce and almost
one-fifth hemlock. Most of the remainder was poplar, with small
quantities of several other woods. Nearly as much spruce is used
for pulp as for lumber.

COOPERAGE STOCK.

Cooperage stock is of two distinct classes, tight and slack. While
the production of the former is much less in quantity, it requires
much higher-grade timber. In 1907 there were manufactured
385,232,000 tight staves and 27,692,994 sets of tight heading. The
slack cooperage output amounted to 1,175,977,000 staves, 106,074,000
sets of heading, and 490,570,000 hoops. Probably 90 per cent of the
tight cooperage stock required the best quality of white oak for its
production. A large number of woods are used for slack staves

(Cir. 166]

22

and heading, the most important being red gum, pine, elm, beech,
and maple. Because of its strength and toughness elm is almost
the only wood used for hoops, and probably as much of this wood
is used for staves and hoops as for lumber.

TANBARK AND EXTRACTS.

The tanneries of the United States in 1907 used nearly 1,200,000
cords of hemlock and oak bark and more than 400,000 barrels of
tanning extracts made from domestic bark and wood. ‘Two-thirds
of the bark was hemlock, and the rest oak. Two-thirds of the
extract was made from chestnut wood, and most of the remainder
from hemlock and oak bark. Nearly 130,000 cords of hemlock and oak
bark were also used in making extract.. The manufacture of tanning
extract from chestnut wood has increased rapidly in recent years,
and at least 250,000 cords of that wood were used for that purpose
in 1907. In the earlier days of the tanning industry a great deal
of hemlock was cut solely for its bark and the wood was left to rot
in the woods. This was also true, to a lesser extent, of oak. These
practices are not general at the present time, however. | !

As the domestic supply has diminished there have been marked
increases in the importation of tanning materials, the most striking
being that of the wood and extract of quebracho, a South American
tree. More than 290,000 barrels of quebracho extract were used by
the tanneries of the United States in 1907.

ROUND MINE TIMBERS.

Statistics collected by the Forest Service and the Geological .
Survey in 1905 show that the annual consumption of round mine
timbers exceeds 165 million cubic feet, and that hardwoods consti-
tute more than half the total. Like the making of hewed cross-ties,
the cutting of round mine timbers takes large quantities of young
timber, and in many localities constitutes a serious drain upon the
forests.

NAVAL STORES.

The production of naval stores in 1908, according to data recently
gathered by the Forest Service, exceeded 36 million gallons of tur-
pentine and 4 million barrels of rosin, of which Florida and Georgia
supplied two-thirds. About one-half of the product is exported.

While the production of naval stores does not necessarily destroy
the forests, the methods so far used in the majority of the turpentining
operations, coupled with subsequent fires and windstorms, have

resulted in the destruction of a great deal of saw timber.
[Cir. 166]

23

MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS.

Under this heading are included such forest products as maple
sugar and sirup, timber which is exported in the log, and wood used
for distillation, the annual value of which, all together, is easily
$10,000,000. More than 1,280,000 cords of wood were used for
distillation in 1907. With the exception of about 60,000 cords of
pine, this wood consisted of hardwoods, chiefly birch, beech, and
maple. No detailed information is available upon either the kind
or quantity of logs exported, though the reports of the Bureau of
Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor, show their value to
be more than $3,000,000. Probably more walnut than any other
timber is exported in this form.

THE FUTURE SUPPLY.

As is shown in the preceding pages, the total yearly drain upon
our forests, not counting losses from fire, storms, and insects, is
some 20 billion cubic feet. Our present forest area of 550 million
acres may be roughly estimated to consist of 200 million acres of
mature forests, in which the annual growth is balanced by death
and decay, of 250 million acres partially cut or burned over, on
which, with reasonable care, there is sufficient young growth to
produce in the course of time a merchantable, but not a full crop
of timber, and 100 million acres of more severely cut and burned
over forests, on which there is not sufficient young growth to pro-
duce another crop of much value.

Taken as a whole, the annual growth of our forests under these
conditions does not exceed 12 cubic feet per acre, a total of less
than 7 billion cubic feet. That is, we are cutting our forests three
times as fast as they are growing. There is menace in the contin-
uance of such conditions. While we might never reach absolute
timber exhaustion, the unrestricted exploitation of our forests in
the past has already had serious effects, and it will have much worse
if it is allowed to continue unchecked. White pine, for instance,
which was once considered inexhaustible, has fallen off 70 per cent
in cut since 1890, and more than 45 per cent since 1900. The cut
of oak, our most valuable hardwood lumber, has decreased 16 per
cent since 1900, and that of yellow poplar 22 per cent. The same
story will be told of other woods if they are not conserved.

_ The fact that timber has been cheap and abundant has made us

careless of its production and reckless in its use. We take 250 cubic

feet of wood per capita annually from our forests, while Germany
uses only 37 cubic feet, and France but 25. On the other hand,
(Cir. 166] |

24

Germany, who has learned her lesson, makes her state forests pro-
duce an average of 48 cubic feet of wood per acre. We have as fast-
growing species as Germany, or faster, and as good or better forest
soil if we protect it.

The necessity for more farm land may eventually reduce our total
forest area to 100 million acres less than it is at present. Itisentirely |
possible, however, to produce on 450 million acres as much wood
as a population much greater than we have now will really need if
all the forest land is brought to its highest producing capacity and
if the product is economically and completely utilized. But to reach
the necessary condition of equilibrium between timber production
and consumption will take many years of vigorous effort by indi-
vidual forest owners, by the States, and by the National Govern-
ment. None of them can solve the problem alone; all must work
together.

Approved:
JaMES WILSON, Secretary of Agriculture.

Wasuineton, D.C., May 10, 1909.
(Cir. 166]

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