1056 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



STATISTICS AND HISTORY 



According to A. J. Sack, Director of the Rus- 

 Russia's sian Information Bureau, New York City, during" 



Timber the year 1915, owing to the war, the debit balance 



Trade of Russia's foreign trade amounted to 385 mil- 



Hon dollars. During 1916 it rose to over one bil- 

 lion dollars. It will be imperative after the war that the balance of 

 trade be turned in favor of Russia. That the export of timber, which 

 now holds second place, is capable of great increase as compared with 

 other countries is shown in the following table : 



Timberland (acres) Export of timber 



Russia 1,125,000,000 $89,250,000 



United States 603,000,000 134,437,000 



Scandinavia 81,000,000 129,489,000 



Austria-Hungary 63,000,000 79,203,000 



The new Russian Government and the Russian people understand 

 that after the war the need of timber in the European market will open 

 wonderful prospects for the Russian timber industry. By proper de- 

 velopment of this industry, Russia will be able to deliver the bulk of 

 the timber necessary for the European countries. It is very possible 

 that in this line Russia will not meet serious competition, either from 

 Scandinavia or from the New World. As to Austria-Hungary, she 

 will have her own needs, and aside from this a big part of her rich 

 Galicia was destroyed during the war. 



The development of Russia's timber industry and the export of Rus- 

 sian timber to the European market means for Russia the practical 

 solution of most of her financial difificulties that are bound to arise after 

 the war. The development of the timber industry will create a favor- 

 able foreign trade balance and will assist in the payment of the national 

 debt. American capital is familiar with the problems connected w'ith 

 the development of the timber industry, and American capital should 

 therefore play a great part in the proper development of the timber 

 industry in Russia. There is an opportunity in this connection for 

 American timber interests, and every effort should be made to assist 

 Russia in the development of her timber industry in order that Amer- 

 ican capital can share in the rewards. 



The Timbernian, October, 1917, p. 486. 



