FOREST POLICY. 



The yalue of the output of the saw mills, since 1850, shows 

 unexplainable fluctuations. It was in 



1850 $13,100,000 



1860 9,700,000 



1870 21,200,000 



1880 14,300,000 



1890 17,100,000 



1900 15,800,000 



New York stepped down gradually, as a lumber producing 

 State, from first rank in 1850 to I2th rank in 1900. 



The cut in 1900 consisted of: 



Hemlock 314,000,000 feet b. m. 



Spruce 256,000,000 feet b. m 



White pine 122,000,000 feet b. m. 



Other conifers 6,000,000 feet b. m. 



Maple 51,000,000 feet b. m. 



Oak 43,000,000 feet b. m. 



Basswood 30,000,000 feet b. m. 



Elm 16,000,000 feet b. m. 



Chestnut 14,000,000 feet b. m. 



Birch 13,000,000 feet b. m. 



Ash 9,000,000 feet b. m. 



Hickory 1,000,000 feet b. m. 



Stumpage is worth $3.12, and logs at mill are bought at 

 $7.75 on an average. 1,742 mills report an average investment 

 of $6,163. The shingle production is valued at $342,000; the pro- 

 duction of miscellaneous stock at $1,101,000. In barrel and box 

 manufacture, further, in the manufacture of baskets and wooden- 

 ware, New York occupies first place amongst the States. 159 

 box factories turn out $7,900,000; 413 barrel factories, $6,500,000; 

 180 basket and woodenware factories, $1,000,000. 



The expense of logging in the Adirondacks averages $4.50 

 per 1,000 feet b. in. Horses only are used in skidding and sleigh- 

 ing. Logs are driven down the rivers, frequently with the help 

 of splash dams. 



The average growing stock in primeval parts of the Adi- 

 rondacks shows, per acre. 31.5 spruces, 4.5 hemlocks, 4 balsams, 

 O.2 white pines, o.i cedar. 14 birches, 10 beeches, 6 hard maples, 

 2.5 soft maples and a few ash and cherry, making a total stand 

 of 73.4 trees of over jo-inch diameter per acre. 



67 



