REASONS FOR CREATING A DIVISION OF FORESTRY. 



11 



coniferous supply in the States east of the Kocky Mountains to 400,000,000,000 foot. I!. M.. with 

 which to satisfy ;i yearly demand of about. : > >0,OOH,000.(IOO feet, 15. M.' 



"While these figures, referring to log material, represent that portion of the forest growth 

 which is the most valuable and has taken the longest time In grow, there is. besides the 

 consumption for fuel, an immen.se amount wasted by lire, improper use. necessary and unnecessary 

 waste. 



The consumption of fuel to the extent of probably 180,000,000 cords, of fence material, etc., 

 the waste in the woods and at the mills and loss by lire, bring the total annual wood consumption 

 ot the United States easily to i'."),! 100.000,0110 cubic feet, or since the area under wood has been 

 ascertained to be about 500,000,001) acres, the consumption is at the rate of 50 cubic, feet per acre, 

 a figure nearly corresponding to the yield per acre realized as annual growth in the well kept 

 forests of Prussia, where the reproduction is secured by skillful management. 



The consumption, now ;>.">0 cubic feet per capita, increases from decade to decade in greater 

 proportion than the population; and new industries, like the wood pulp industry, add constantly 

 to the demand. 



J'.xtimates of ralue of fort*' j/rudm-ln used in /*'/'", AO', anil 1880. 



[ Including ;tll r;t\\ . i>;trt hdly maun far ttin-d, u 'holly inannlac.tun-il \\ -ood jinnlHc-ls fuel, and naval stores; estimated upon the basis of census 



liiiiin:s, and other ^nitres of information.] 



a Probably 25 per cent underestimate. 



This would show an increase of over 30 per cent in our consumption from decade to decade. 



Other statistics bearing on this phase of the subject and a fuller discussion are to be found in 

 the Appendix. 



From these statements, the compilation of which has become possible through the existence 

 of the Division of Forestry, even if they were overdrawn to a considerable extent, it would appear 

 that the first reason for the existence of a Government agency to look after the forestry interests 

 is well founded. 



Some ignorant people ignorant both as to the requirements of the wood industries and as to 

 the condition and character of our forest resources have claimed that the natural growth of 

 young trees, without any attention, following the operations of the lumbermen, would suffice to 

 replace that which is removed and would continue to furnish the required material. 



The observant student, not to speak of the professional forester, can readily see that culling 

 the valuable kinds and leaving the inferior tree weeds in possession of the soil prevents in many 

 (rases any reproduction of the valuable species. 



In other cases where the production of valuable kinds does take place, as, for instance, with 

 the Southern pines, where the young growth is not killed by lires, the development is so unsatis- 

 factory that where with proper attention a new crop might be available for the saw in seventy 

 to one hundred years, twice the time will be required to make clear lumber of good quality. In 

 most cases recurring fires retard this natural regrowth still further or prevent it altogether. 



There is at least one State, the State of Wisconsin, for which it became practicable, for the 

 Division of Forestry to secure more accurate data as to the conditions of the forest resources and 

 as to the results of the rough exploitation to which it is subjected in the absence of forestry 

 methods. 



This survey is published in Bulletin Xo. 10 of the Division. The conditions are typical of a 

 large part of our lumbering regions, and a brief resume will accentuate the need of attention on 

 the part of the Government: 



The State of Wisconsin, with a population of .-ibont. 2,000.000, a taxable property of about $600,000,000, lias a 

 home consumption of over 600,000,000 feet IS. M. of Iniiilicr, l.csiili-s mormons quantities of other wood niato.rial, 



1 See Senate Uoc. No. -10, first session Fifty-littli ( 'i>nj;rrss, and fuller discussion in Appendix. 



