92 FOREST commissioner's report. 



amount about 40 millions, exclusive of some mill waste, is at the 

 present time used for pulp. 

 Final con. Puttiui^ these figures alongside those for growth 

 elusions, recently derived, it is found that according to our 

 statistics and estimates about half the yearly spruce cut of 

 the Kennebec is balanced by growth, while the yearly pro- 

 duction is more than sufficient to stock the pulp mills. As 

 these are now the strong mills in bidding for the lumber, the 

 mills too that by reason of the labor and capital employed 

 are of greatest value to the country, this conclusion has great 

 practical importance. 



Now it is certain that of the great rivers of the State the 

 Kennebec is that whose timber condition is most critical, the 

 only one about whose immediate supply there has been any well 

 grounded doubt. True the cut has in general for many years 

 past been increasing steadily, but it has been uncertain whether 

 it could be long maintained. Some pressure has indeed already 

 been felt. Some wood has l)een hauled b}^ rail to the pulp mills 

 of the Kennebec. Within three years a chain carrier and 

 sluice have been built at Northwest Carry on Moosehead 

 to convey to Kennebec mills timber that grew on the Penob- 

 scot. Another very significant sign of the last two years is 

 the hauling of spruce pulp wood by the Canadian Pacific from 

 Canada to be thrown into the river and floated to the mills at 

 Madison and Solon. These movements seem to be true signs 

 of the times, for pressure in the market and shrinkage in the 

 yearly cut of the Kennebec is not far distant. What the 

 steps of that shrinkage will be, how much pressure and dis- 

 turbance will accompany it, remains to be seen. Personally, 

 I cannot believe there will be much, for reasons that have 

 already been partlj^ indicated. The process will probably be 

 slow, and largely offset by developments in entirely new 

 directions. Some of our saw mills no doubt will have to be 

 abandoned, but many of them are old and cheap affairs. . To 

 labor I cannot think the loss will be sireat. To convert a 

 thousand feet of spruce logs into pulp or fiber costs in labor 



