THE OUTLOOK OF THE WORLD'S TIMBER SUPPLY. 373 



The total wooded area is given as 700,500,000 acres, being equal 

 to 37 per cent, of the total area, and giving an area of nine acres 

 per head of population. The timber standing on this immense 

 area has been estimated, and it is given by one of the foremost 

 authorities as equal to 3,450,000,000 tons (reckoning a ton equal 

 to 400 feet board measure), which gives not quite five tons per 

 acre all round. In France, Germany, and Austria this would be 

 called about one-tenth of the average full stocking : hence the 

 United States forests would, as regards their yield-capacity, for 

 the next half century be equal to about 70,000,000 acres in France, 

 Germany, or Austria. 



The lumber cut in 1890 is given as equal to 63,000,000 tons, 

 and it was calculated that the existing stand of timber would 

 last for about fifty years. For the year 1899 the cut is given as 

 follows : — 



Coniferous timber, . . . 75,000,000 tons. 



Oaks and other hardwoods, . . 25,000,000 ,, 



Total, . . . 100,000,000 „ 



At this rate the available stand would last only about thirty-four 

 years. If during the next ten years the annual cut increases at the 

 same rate as in the past ten years, it will amount to 137,000,000 

 tons, and the remaining stand will be consumed in about twenty- 

 five years. Again, the annual production has been estimated at 

 75,000,000 tons, so that the present annual consumption exceeds 

 it by 33 per cent. It is stated that besides the cuttings, large 

 quantities of timber are destroyed annually by fire and other 

 sources of loss, so that it is altogether probable that the annual 

 growth is considerably less than the annual destruction. This 

 means that the United States consume annually not only the 

 legitimate growth or increment, but also a portion of their capital, 

 a process which must inevitably lead to bankruptcy if it is not 

 stopped at an early date. The seriousness of the position has 

 fortunately been recognised, and efforts are being made to intro- 

 duce more conservative lumbering, and to protect the forests against 

 ravages by fire and grazing. 



First an enlightened man here and another there drew attention 

 to the matter. Soon numerous people took up the cry, societies 

 were formed, which collected information and made it available 

 for the general public. The State Governments next took steps to 

 prevent destruction by fire, and to save certain areas from ruin V>y 



