American Forest Congress 169 



planned, they arrange to produce even less than their 

 average, until their visible supply is reduced to normal 

 proportions. 



.After deciding on a course of action for the coming 

 year, they fall into general conversation for a few 

 minutes, when a new line of thought is opened by the 

 questions ''How many acres of timber did we cut this 

 year?" and "How much timber have we standing?" 

 Here is need of more statistics and the manager con- 

 sults maps and records, and soon reports the exact 

 conditions. As the amount is large, some one asks 

 how much timber is there in the State, and what 

 per cent, of it do they own? They call for statistics 

 on this particular feature, but as the manager has not 

 promoted an association for this purpose, he cannot 

 answer. One of the directors has anticipated such a 

 question, and produces Volume IX of the twelfth 

 census, containing special reports on selected indus- 

 tries, lumber and timber, covering pages 805 to 897. 

 In this he finds, on page 840, the estimated total 

 amount of timber in the State, and the percentage of 

 their holdings is determined. 



Having discussed the operation in the first circle, 

 and noted the answers given, and the stock conditions 

 at the mills in the second, we naturally advance into 

 the third circle and put the question ''How much?" 

 as applied to the entire industry. 



Before answering this, let us notice how the elabo- 

 rate statements of the individual operation, in the first 

 circle, are condensed for use in the second circle. All 

 of the figures and reports used in producing the first 

 exhibit of total cut, total shipments, and stock on hand, 

 are discarded, and these three items from every plant 

 in the second circle, form the basis of the answer we 

 are now seeking. 



