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to $15 now, according to quality and location, for lots within 

 a two-trip haul of the railroad, and will probably never go far 

 back from those figures. More distant lots, or very small or 

 difficult lots, are worth less than that. Chestnut, hemlock and 

 spruce are worth from $2 to $3 less. Hardwood has about half 

 of the value of pine. Oak and ash are worth more than pine. 



Government Control. 



The chief energies of the nation are to-day centered on the 

 war. The government is slowly but surely heading all our 

 forces so that they may directly contribute to the winning of 

 the war. The lumber business must be prepared to do its share, 

 if not voluntarily, then perhaps under government control. 

 The recent embargo on the shipment on the railroads of all 

 lumber and forest products is probably a step toward that end. 

 It is now impossible to ship forest material (cordwood not in- 

 cluded) on the cars without a permit, except to the govern- 

 ment or to the railroads. At this writing the cause and effect 

 of this embargo are not known. It may last for the duration 

 of the war. Its effect will undoubtedly be to check the pro- 

 duction of lumber for unnecessary uses, its shipment long dis- 

 tances, and the hoarding of lumber supplies. It will certainly 

 stimulate the production of lumber for direct government use,, 

 and may result in lower prices and lessened production. The 

 lumber producer must be prepared for anything. It is no time 

 for speculation. Forest products are vital at this time, and the 

 government will do nothing to hinder their production, but it. 

 will probably guide this production along necessary channels. 



The Need of Forestry at the Present Time. 



There never was a time when the need of forestry, of forest 

 conservation, was greater than it is at present. We are un- 

 doubtedly, due to the impetus of the war, overcutting our for- 

 ests, especially our pine forests here in Massachusetts; that is, 

 we are cutting the lumber faster than it is growing. That 

 means a shortage of lumber later, and the loss of wood-using 

 industries which will go where they can get the raw material. 

 Furthermore, we are cutting destructively, with no idea of the 



