160 Atiierican Hordntltural Society. 



The /w'tnojrt/ aspect of this source of wealth may be stated thus: The 

 present annual innrket value of foro.st jtroducts at primary jx^ints of prtxluc- 

 tion exceeds j;l,()(l(),l»0(),Ul»t>, viz., in round ligures, not less than $.5(X),(.HX),000 

 for saw-lumher, $1(XX(XX),00() for railroad construction, |oO,(XH),CKX) for fence 

 material. Smaller wood-consuming manufactures demand a raw protluct 

 of $10,(X)0,0()0, fuel consumes $GO(),(RKVMK >, and naval stores over $5,00(),(W. 

 The exports of wood and wood nianufacturcs have lately ranged from $30,- 

 OOO.tXH) to .*40,0(X),()00 ; the import.s from .*lL',(»0(»,(lOO to :?](•),( )W,0(X). 



It appears that there is no product in the country which compares in 

 magnitude of annual value to that of the forest. For if compared with agri- 

 cultural products, of which one or two seem to equal or exceed the wood 

 production, it must not be overlooked that in making up the value of forest 

 products no cost of production is charged, only cost of harvesting and pre- 

 paring for market the raw material, and to some extent soil rent. If we had 

 to add the cost of producing the lumber by artificial forestry, as we shall 

 have to in time, the values of agriculture and forest products would be more 

 nearly comparable. Compared with the values of mineral production, 

 although the present year's output is enormous, yet the forest products yield 

 from two and one half to three times as great a value. 



If we inquire into the condition of forest areas and into the methods by 

 which the products are obtained, we find that there is but a comparatively 

 small part remaining which has not been cut over; that in the eastern, 

 northern and central portions of the country the most valuable timber has 

 been renujved; that almost nowhere is any regard paid to keeping fire out 

 of old or new growths; that the young natural growth is mostly inferior in 

 value, on account of neglect; that on large areas no reproduction of value 

 takes place ; that on account of ignorance as to the qualities and adaptations 

 of various timbers, but still more on account of enormous comjtetition,. spec- 

 ulation and other avoidable or unavoidable causes, a frightful waste of raw 

 material is going on, so much so that it would not be an overstatement to 

 say that, under present conditions, at least twice as many trees are cut as 

 would sufhce for the same wood production. 



Thus we see that merely as an important factor of national wealth, which 

 is being immoderately consumed, the question of lumber and wood supply' 

 should attract the interest and possibly call for the activity of communities 

 and states, so as to insure a regular lasting supply of one of the most useful 

 staples. 



The function of the state in iniluencing industrial activity is still a mat- 

 ter of controversy, and while, if a serious detriment threaten the interest of 

 the community owing to the neglect of any industry, the community should 

 be justified in tsiking measures against such detriment, just as we take pre- 

 cautions against detriment from other sources, it might be argiied that in- 

 dustries are apt to take care of themselves under the inlluence of the law of 

 supply and demand, and that private interests will be sufficient to guard 

 against any but temporary injuries. While this may be quite true with re- 



