274 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



location, and everyone familiar with the region knows that there 

 are hundreds of woodsmen who are stagnating and degenerating 

 in consequence of a lack of work. 



The fourth condition relates to the quantity and quality of the 

 materials the region is capable of producing, and since I shall 

 refer to this later under the head of Silvicultural Suggestions, it 

 is sufficient to say in this connection that owing to its peculiar 

 soil and climate South Jersey has and is still able to produce 

 just those kinds of forest produce which are most in demand. 



The fifth condition relates to the possibility of the establish- 

 ment of local industries which may consume the products of 

 the forest or which may convert these products into less bulky 

 and more salable form. 



When certain industries may be established within a region 

 it is, of course, a great advantage in many ways. It increases 

 the working population, the value of property and improves 

 the standard of life. Labor is at the base of pleasure and intel- 

 lectual development. 



At present large quantities of wood are supplied to glass and 

 brick factories throughout South Jersey. The fuel question, 

 however, is of little importance, and will always take care of 

 itself in this country. In fact, even the woodsman, when he can 

 afford it, will burn coal because of its convenience. 



The first industry which would flourish on the production of 

 saw-stufF would be the saw-mill. And if only the increment is 

 cut, as should always be the case, many small mills, instead of 

 a few large ones, woiild result. The condition might be similar 

 to that of parts of Germany where many small mills are con- 

 stantly at work year after year cutting the well-earned incre- 

 ment. The big mill with its elaborate, costly equipment, work- 

 ing with feverish excitement half the time and idle the rest, 

 did not develop however in this country until after the timber 

 resources of South Jersey were practically exhausted. Even in 

 the great lumber districts the large mill, when our lumber 

 resources have been exhausted to such an extent that these 

 voracious monsters cannot be fed, will be replaced by smaller 

 establishments which will for some time to come operate on the 

 leavings and the young timber as rapidly as it becomes mer- 

 chantable. The time is not far distant when the great lumber 



