322 



arid predict. The vast possibilities of our great future will 

 become realities only if we make ourselves, in a sense, re- 

 sponsible for that future. 



"The planned and orderly development and conservation 

 of our natural resources is the first duty of the United States." 



MORE. EXPERT EVIDENCE. 



In a report on the timber supply of the United States, made 

 by R. S. Kellogfg- of the Federal Forest Service in April, 

 1897, he makes the following statements : 



"The lavish manner in which the United States has con- 

 sumed the products of its forests and the rapidity with which 

 our timber supply is melting away are wholly unappreciated 

 by those who have never given the matter more than passing 

 consideration. "^ '■' ^'' 



"Rapidly as the population of the United States has in- 

 creased the lumber consumption has increased still more 

 rapidly. In round numbers, the lumber cut in 1880 was 18 

 billion feet; in 1890, 24 billion feet, and in 1900, 35 billion 

 feet. The increase in population from 1880 to 1900 was 52% 

 but in lumber cut 94%. 



"The original stand of white pine in the Northeast, is almost 

 entirely cut out. The present stand in the Northeastern States 

 is mainly spruce, second-growth white pine and hemlock. 

 * * * 



"It is well known that the days of white pine are rapidly 

 passing and >!= ^ >5^ jt will in a few years cease to be a 

 large factor in the timber supply of the United States. 



SAW MILLS GO' OUT OF BUSINESS. 



"At the last annual meeting of the Northern Pine Man- 

 ufacturers' Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the sec- 

 retary, presented the following statement: 



" 'Since 1895, 248 firms, representing an annual output of 

 pine lumber of 414 billion feet, have retired from business, 

 due to the exhaustion of their timber supply. Plants rep- 

 resenting approximately 500 million feet capacity which 

 sawed in 1906 will not be operated in 1907.' 



"The amount of hardwood stumpage is rapidly decreasing. 

 The hardwood cut in 1900 was 8 billion feet, in 1904, 6 billion 

 feet, and the present annual cut of hardwoods is about 5 bil- 

 lion feet. 



"As an instance of the timber shortage in the East it is 

 stated that in New England 6 inches is now a common cutting 

 diameter for white pine, while formerly, and where lumber- 

 ing is intellig'ently done, 18 inches is the minimum limit. 



