232 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



The lumber industry is reported to be in good condition, having re- 

 covered from the serious setback in the early days of the war. The 

 high freight rates on lumber from the Pacific coast of the United States 

 to the Philippines, China, and the Far Eastern countries have to a large 

 extent eliminated competition of Douglas fir with native Philippine 

 species and has made possible the development of a large domestic and 

 export trade. The trade with Hongkong, for instance, trebled during 

 1916 as compared to 1915, with an increased average value. 



The formulation of grading rules for lumber is still under discussion. 

 The rules for Philippine woods adopted by the National Hardwood 

 Lumber Association of the United States are not regarded as practi- 

 cable, being the same ones used for African and Mexican mahogany, 

 with some slight modifications. So far, local lumbermen have not 

 formulated rules. 



One would scarcely look in the report of a tropical Bureau of For- 

 estry for a discussion of "The Fuel Situation," which is of such keen 

 interest to the United States today. Yet during the latter half of 1916 

 the fuel situation in the islands became acute, due to a marked advance 

 in the price of coal. The United States Army and railroads and fac- 

 tories in some parts of the islands were forced to the use of wood as 

 fuel. An increase of 37 per cent in the wood cut from public forests 

 occurred during the last three months of 1916, with a saving of $4 

 to $5 (gold) per ton for each ton of coal for which wood was sub- 

 stituted. 



Statistical tables in the appendix show a larger lumber cut in 191 6 

 than in any previous year of American occupation, with a correspond- 

 ing increase in revenue. Timber sales were approximately $250,000 

 (gold). The expenses of the Bureau of Forestry were 58 per cent of 

 the receipts, as compared to 64 per cent in 191 5. Lumber exports for 

 the year were 38,776 cubic meters, valued at $490,644 (gold), and lum- 

 ber imports 11,766 cubic meters, valued at $159,952 (gold). Exports 

 of gums and resins were valued at $157,031 (gold). The chief lumber 

 exports were to the United States and China; the chief gum and resin 

 exports to the United States. Imports of forest products were very 

 largely from this country. 



A report of a forest reconnaissance of Samar Island constitutes a 

 portion of the appendix. This island is south of Luzon and to a large 

 extent is in an unsettled condition, 82 per cent of the area being cov- 

 ered with a commercial forest. The stand per acre in different com- 

 partments runs from 17,000 to 43,000 feet per acre over large areas, 

 the prevailing species belonging to the family Dipterocarpacese. The 



