92 A NATIONAL PLAN FOE AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Provided efforts comparable to those in behalf of many other mate- 

 rials are exerted to make wood serviceable and to educate consumers 

 in its use, the demand for wood may even increase. Such efforts 

 will be futile, however, unless provision is also made for meeting the 

 demand with continuous dependable supplies at reasonable cost. 

 We have sufficient forest land to meet an increased demand, providing 

 it were all well stocked with growing timber and carefully managed. 

 The stock of growing timber, however, is already so depleted that no 

 amount of careful management within the next 60 or 80 years will 

 enable even the present output to be maintained, let alone increased. 

 Moreover, the process of depletion is still going on. 



It is clearly the soundest public policy to fill the manifold needs 

 for wood, as far as possible, with our own native products. Economic 

 self-sufficiency, in this sense, has characterized the Nation's history. 

 Except for relatively small quantities of special tropical woods and 

 forest products, we have been able to supply our own requirements in 

 peace and war. Wood is employed for thousands of specific uses, 

 for many of which particular kinds or grades are essential, and for 

 many more of which substitution of other materials is impracticable. 

 Particularly in time of war an undue dependence on other nations for 

 wood products would place us at a serious disadvantage. 



Heretofore the great variety of our native woods, and their tech- 

 nical adaptability to most of our wood needs, have not only been a 

 great economic asset, but have accustomed us to assuming a continu- 

 ation of supplies. Already, however, many special kinds and grades 

 are becoming scarce and costly. Requirements for many of these 

 can be met by importation, but at added cost, and by losing the 

 advantages of manufacture within our own borders. 



WOOD FOR EXPORT 



Many of our native woods possess technical qualities and uses 

 which fit them for export to other countries. One of the principal 

 reasons why this country has enjoyed a favorable position in inter- 

 national trade has been the wide variety of its products. The greater 

 the number of different products, the more numerous are the oppor- 

 tunities for profitable trade, and the smaller is the dependence on a 

 single article. In agriculture, manufacturing, or commerce, the single 

 product farmer, factory, or nation is quickly and often adversely 

 affected by fluctuations hi demand for the single product. 



With diversified products, there is less likelihood that all will be 

 out of demand at a given moment. The manifold kinds of wood and 

 wooden articles that are suitable for export are thus an important 

 balancing factor in helping to maintain the foreign business of the 

 Nation. It is, therefore, worth while to maintain and perpetuate 

 the native woods, wholly aside from the desirability of economic 

 self-sufficiency. 



FORESTS AND CONSERVATION OF WATER AND SOIL 



During the pioneer period forests were valued mainly as a source of 

 wood. As long as the mountain sides and the river bluffs and the 

 headwaters of the rivers were clothed with dense forests, the bene- 

 ficial effects of forest cover in regulating stream flow and preventing 

 soil erosion did not become strikingly evident. 



