226 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION May 



It is a matter for congratulation that in the carrying out of the provisions of the National 

 Irrigation Act of June, 1902, the actual supervision of the building of the great irrigation 

 works falls into the hands of such a capable engineer. Mr. Newell has an intimate knowledge 

 of the arid regions of the United States, and through j'ears of study and investigation he is better 

 prepared than any man in the country to locate and direct the building of great storage 

 reservoirs. Mr. Newell has considered the problem not only from an engineering standpoint, 

 but has also made a deep study of its economic and sociologic features. In addition to his great 

 skill as an engineer, Mr. Newell possesses a keen insight into business matters, and the people 

 are assured a careful and wise administration of the reclamation work. 



Mr. Newell has rendered valuable service through his writings on irrigation subjects. His 

 annual reports on the hydrographic work of the Geological Survey have been of great value. 

 More directly connected with irrigation has been the series of Water Supply and Irrigation 

 Papers, prepared under his direction. These touch the question of irrigation and water supply 

 from every side, the results of experiments by the most capable engineers of the Geological 

 Survey. His most recent publication, "Irrigation in the United States," is the book of 

 authority on general irrigation matters in this country. 



THE OUTLOOK OF THE TIMBER SUPPLY 

 IN THE UNITED STATES.* 



BY 



DR. B. B. FERNOW, 



DIRECTOR NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF FORESTRY. 



PART II. 



IN the first paper we have seen that 4. We are within measurable distance 

 the United States will have to rely of the time when, with the exception of 

 for its timber supply upon its own re- spruce, as to wood, and British Co- 

 sources and whatever its neighbor, lumbia, as to provinces, Canada shall 

 Canada, can spare. cease to be a wood-exporting country. 



If, as we shall see further on, it is As the statistician had, before the in- 

 difficult to estimate our own home re- quiry, held rather different views re- 

 sources, it is still more difficult, with so garding the situation, it is not likely 

 vast and largely unsettled a country as that these deductions are radical. 

 Canada. Yet a mere knowledge of phys- As to the spruce supply, it may be 

 ical geography and of the relation of stated that an immense area to the north- 

 plant production to climate suffices to ward and westward, as far as Alaska, 

 discredit the extravagant claims some- contains this class of timber, but, as is 

 times made regarding the natural timber to be expected from soil and climate, it 

 supplies of that country. occurs mostly in scattered open groves 



The statistician of the Department of of inferior development, and, while most 



Agriculture, at Ottawa, making a report important for home consumption, unfit 



on the " Forest Wealth of Canada," in for export and use in the arts, being in 



1895, sums up the conclusions based on that respect largely on a par with our 



a more or less exhaustive inquiry as own Alaskan possessions, 



follows : In fact, in the eastern provinces the 



1 . The first quality pine has nearly true timber-producing area is bounded 

 disappeared. toward the north by the Height of Land. 



2. Of second quality pine there is a Beyond this natural limit there are only 

 considerable supply. along water-courses and in limited areas 



3. Of other timber woods there is a stands which are capable of furnishing 

 large supply. lumber trees; the rest is posisbly pulp- 



* Reprinted through the courtesy of the Forestry Quarterly. 



