Comment. 305 



Outside of State and Federal timber properties commercial con- 

 ditions will continue to rule the manufacturing methods and 

 market for wood material. On the one hand, we have a large 

 body of public spirited citizens who preach forest conservation, 

 and in this way they are joined by a considerable percentage of 

 the operating lumbermen. One of the most obvious means of 

 conserving our forest resources is to cut down the consumption 

 of timber. Few, even of those who preach conservation, make 

 a serious attempt to practice it when their personal needs are con- 

 cerned, and strangest of all, the use of substitutes for wood is 

 vigorously fought by some of the same people who are preaching 

 conservation. The producers of wood at the same time are usu- 

 ally justified in securing as broad and profitable market as pos- 

 sible for their product. One wide awake and progressive lumber 

 trade journal absolutely refuses to exploit, either editorially or 

 in its advertising columns, any substitutes for lumber ; yet in its 

 declaration of policy lists forestry, conservation, and wood waste 

 among its tentes. Consistency evidently is a jewel when it does 

 not interfere with the credit balance of the individual. 



Lumber goes on the free list in the new tariff schedule despite 

 the argument of forest conservationists who contend that cheap 

 Canadian lumber will keep down prices in the States and prevent 

 close utilization and long time management. Agreeing that in- 

 tensive forestry is possible only with higher stumpage and lumber 

 values, it is very doubtful whether free Canadian lumber will 

 materially influence the situation. The fast growing western 

 provinces and the export trade are taking all that can be cut in 

 western Canada, and there is little likelihood of the United States 

 being made a dumping ground, even for low grades. In fact, 

 about half billion feet of American lumber went across the border 

 last year. Moreover, spruce is about the only species which is 

 cheaper in Canada than in the United States. Operating costs 

 are about the same and the cost of marketing higher. 



The first sale of Appalachian timber acquired by the govern- 

 ment under the Week's law, was a bill for seven dollars' worth of 

 logs sold to a farmer- The total acreage purchased for the 

 Appalachian and White Mountain reserves now aggregates about 

 500,000 acres. 



