240 JOURNAL OF FORKSTRY 



The rapidity with which price fixation, regulation, and embargoes, 

 building restrictions, etc., have been discontinued indicates the inten- 

 tions of the Government to proceed along the lines indicated. 



There are signs that post-war developments in the way of a national 

 policy in respect to essential raw materials may be expected, but there 

 is no present indication as to how such legislation or such policies may 

 afifect the lumber industry. Today the industry is, to a very large 

 degree, in status quo ante. The amount of the purchases by the allied 

 governments and their desires in this matter will, doubtless, in a large 

 degree, determine the amount and form of Government control during 

 the next few years. 



LUMBER EXPORT 



The possibilities of export business are being canvassed by American 

 and Canadian lumbermen with great enthusiasm, and interest in the 

 forest conditions of foreign countries is widespread. Various organi- 

 zations, as notably the Northern Hardwood and Hemlock and the 

 American Hardwood Associations, have already fairly detailed plans 

 for the development of export organizations. Perhaps no other subject 

 has been so generally discussed by the trade journals diu'ing the mid- 

 winter months. This interest seems to be derived from the idea that 

 domestic markets are failing or at least inadequate to absorb the cur- 

 rent production of lumber and the idea that foreign trade may be 

 expected to be more profitable than domestic. Detailed evidence or 

 cogent reasoning on either point seems generally wanting. 



The Lumber Trade Journal, however (December 9, 1918), expresses 

 itself unequivocally, as follows : 



"For nearly three years we have been confronted with the stubborn fact that 

 we actually import more lumber and timber products of all kinds than we export. 



"There is an even chance that this situation will continue to grow upon us 

 until, instead of seeking an outside market for timber, we will be seeking an 

 outside supply to help supply our domestic needs. . . . 



"All authorities agree that, at the rate we have been going for a number of 

 years, we will eventually reach a point where there will not be enough timber 

 stumpage to supply domestic needs, unless the needs are cut down or some way 

 is discovered to make the stumpage go much farther. . . . 



"This is a situation which should furnish food for much thought on the part 

 of those prominent in lumber production in this country." 



The Atlantic City meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the 

 United States, in December, 1918, made somewhat vague reference to 

 the desirability of paying attention to essential raw materials, but for- 



