176 Forestry Quarterly 



results, thinnings carefully executed from a technical point of 

 view will undoubtedly prove even more satisfactory. 



The supply of Lodgepole in the Lodgepole region is very largely 

 in the possession of the United States on the National Forests. 

 Some timber of this species has passed from the Federal Govern- 

 ment by grants to the States and to the Union Pacific and North- 

 ern Pacific Railways. Very rarely did any individual consider 

 Lodgepole sufficiently valuable to secure it at $2.50 per acre under 

 the Timber and Stone Act, although Forest Service sales are now 

 frequently bringing in a stumpage return ranging from $50 to 

 $125 per acre. The stand of Lodgepole on the National Forests 

 is estimated at approximately forty billion board feet, of which 

 a little more than one-half is in the Lodgepole region. 



The wood of this species is slightly heavier and slightly more 

 resinous than that of White pine. It is soft, easily worked, and 

 fairly strong. In the Inland Empire its lumber is frequently 

 mixed with White pine or Western Yellow pine, and is not sold 

 under its own name. When properly manufactured it makes an 

 excellent grade of common lumber. 



For the year ending June 30, 1913, the total cut of Lodgepole, 

 as nearly as it can be determined, was 82 million board feet or 

 its equivalent, consisting of mine timber 25 million, saw timber 

 20 million, cordwood 16 million, standard ties 14 million, and 

 fencing 7 million. Of this cut 77 per cent came from the Na- 

 tional Forests. Of the total amount over one-third was cut in 

 Montana, while Colorado and Wyoming cut a fifth each, and Utah 

 an eighth. It is probable that the present annual cut of Lodgepole 

 from the National Forests may be increased 9 or 10 times without 

 danger of over cutting. The market ordinarily requires that about 

 70 per cent of the timber have a minimum top diameter of eight 

 inches; the average well-stocked stand at 140 years contains less 

 than 40 per cent of such material. With the decline in the avail- 

 able cedar it is probable that Lodgepole will, in the future, be 

 largely used as a pole timber, especially in the country between 

 the Rockies and the Mississippi, where the comparatively short 

 haul will ofifset the greater weight of Lodgepole. It is also suit- 

 able for pulp. 



The forests of the Lodgepole region occur in the mountains, 

 where the precipitation is much above the average for this part 



