THE FOREST AS A RESOURCE. 27 



from fire, it having been found that in case of fire 

 iron beams and posts are twisted out of shape by 

 the heat, causing the collapse of the whole build- 

 ing, while with wooden posts and beams the chances 

 of keeping the walls intact are much greater. 



Coal has largely displaced wood as fuel, yet ac- 

 cording to the census of 1880 more than half of 

 our population relied still on wood for fuel, and 

 there is no reason to believe that the proportion 

 has changed measurably. In fact, if we may be 

 allowed to consider the figures of the census of 

 1880 still proportionately true, as far as bulk is 

 concerned, our fuel consumption represents about 

 three-fourths of our total wood consumption, and 

 even in value this part represents nearly one-half 

 of our entire enormous consumption of forest prod- 

 ucts, and exceeds in bulk more than ten times the 

 iron and steel handled in this country. 



Very interesting statistics regarding the displace- 

 ment of wood by coal in Germany show that from 

 the beginning of the last century, when coal began 

 to be generally used as fuel, the consumption of 

 wood increased in the same proportionate rate as 

 the consumption of coal. 



The development of the cellulose and wood pulp 

 industry, with the consequent extension in the use 

 of paper made from this material for all kinds of 

 purposes where elasticity and durability combined 

 with strength and lightness is demanded, from 

 collars and cuffs and combs to car wheels, has 



