55 



man on the other hand, is tied to tlie soil. His heavy investment makes 

 him fearful as to future supplies. For this reason, with commendable 

 foresight, some of the pulp men are buying the land with the timber, and 

 are beginning to work the woods in such a way that future supplies may 

 be assured." It is foolish to suppose that our natural forests under pres- 

 ent management and weak attempts at planting will furnish a supply of 

 pulp wood for the future use of the people. Extensive correspondence 

 Avith paper pulp manufacturers in several States, including Minnesota, 

 Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, 

 reveals the fact that all agree that the supply of our best pulp timber 

 must shortly give out, but few consider the matter seriously enough to 

 suggest any definite plans or directions for the present. At this date, 

 however, the author is informed that the United States Forest Service has 

 begun the investigation of the wood pulp industry, but have not yet pro- 

 ceeded sufficiently far to warrant a report on the subject. Our own State, 

 too, according to the statement of the secretary of the State Forestry 

 Board, intends to demonstrate on the Forest Reservation in Clark County 

 that growing timber for pulp industries would be a profitable thing on the 

 cheap lands of the State. Indeed, laud fitted for agricultural purposes 

 could not profitably be used for any branch of forest culture. Such waste 

 lands as could be profitably utilized in growing pulp wood exist in thou- 

 sands of acres all over our country. There are the numerous burnt-over 

 slash lands of our pine States; the arid wastes of many of our South- 

 western States; the unused agricultural lands of the New England States, 

 and the innumerable other tracts of unused, low-lying, light-soiled areas 

 throughout the A-alleys of the Missouri, Ohio and Mississippi rivers. As 

 nurse trees, in shelter belts, sand fixers, windbreaks, etc., trees which 

 make good pulp might also be grown. 



In view of the facts: (1) that the demand for pulp timber has in- 

 creased wonderfully in the last few years, (2) that the price of raw mate- 

 rial, according to a well known authority, has increased 150 per cent, 

 within the last seven years, (3) that the native supply is limited and can 

 not last many years, (4) that the importable supply is inadequate in those 

 countries from which we could ship it profitably, and in countries such 

 as Canada, blessed with a great abundance of pulp timber, the prohibitive 

 tariff is so high (over $4.00 per cord) that we can not possibly afford to 

 have it brought in, (5) there is only a small probability that an abundant 

 and successful substitute can be found for the use of wood pulp in papers; 



