282 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



moderated it. For immediate application it has, in fact, pretty nearly 

 thinned down to the idea of the value of permanent industry. 



That is surely a valuable idea, one that we ought to^ work toward. 

 My intention in the present connection is simply to see that too much in 

 this direction is not expected of the lumber industry and to point 

 out advantages which have accrued to the public because of the in- 

 dustry's pursuit ai the course it has taken. Nor should we neglect the 

 real interests of the laboring men. This is for prosperous industry in 

 the first place, industry that can pay wages because economically 

 profitable. Mr. Goodman, for instance, meeting, as he must, current 

 prices for forest products, may not be able to plan his operation so 

 tliat it shall run at a profit continuously in a steady volume. If not. 

 it is clear where the interest of his help lies. Perhaps the territory' 

 after a rest will again support a successful business. I have seen 

 that work out at various points in my native country. 



Of the advantages which the public reaps from the traditional 

 course of the industry, the first is cheapness of production due to con- 

 centration and work on a large scale. A large industry affords com- 

 petition and stimulus within itself and work is efifective and cheap in 

 consequence. Cleanness of work, also, as a rule reduces operating 

 costs in the departments of transportation and construction. The 

 result in lumber price the public appreciates and it will want to see 

 clear reasons for so doing before surrendering it. Recently, for in- 

 stance, I figured on the cost of logging operations in Douglas fir, and 

 from a base price of $4 per thousand reached figures all the way up 

 to $11.50 for conservative or salvaging work, according to the suppo- 

 sitions. 



On the other hand, we have frequently seen demonstrated the riski- 

 ness of thinned timber, and for purposes of repair the force of natural 

 reproduction and growth in what looked like unfavorable conditions. 

 What these avail we are already experiencing. Florida, already re- 

 ferred to, is in point, and the biggest illustration I can think of is the 

 South Atlantic pine l^elt. A large industry there located works on 

 second growth, while it has been recently stated by foresters of stand- 

 ing that there is more timber now in the States from Virginia to Geor- 

 gia, inclusive, than stood there at the time of the Civil War. 



This last point, and indeed the whole trend of the paper, leads 

 up to a consideration of growth, supplies and use, and that subject 



