THE PRODUCE OF FORESTS. 13 



forest produce, following the construction of the railway and 

 the development of steam navigation, are causes of the 

 exhaustion of Siberia's forest richness. The principal causes 

 of destruction are, however, forest fires. Year by year 

 enormous extents of the finest pine forests are ruined by fire. 

 In the arrondissement of Altai one can see every year tens of 

 thousands of acres of forest burnt, and these fires uncover the 

 sand, which has already commenced to become moving sand. 

 In consequence of this enormous destruction of forests, the 

 climate of Siberia is actually deteriorating, and this is probably 

 the cause of the famine which reigns since two years in the 

 Altai. For these reasons it is absolutely necessary to introduce 

 at once a proper forest organisation into Siberia." 



After such testimony by the Kussian Finance Minister, 

 Siberia may just as well be struck off the list of countries 

 upon which those relied, who have as yet doubts regarding 

 the coming shortness of timber supplies. Let us hope 

 that matters are less serious in other parts of the Kussian 

 Empire. 



On the whole, there can be no doubt that the pressure 

 in Europe is increasing and is likely to continue doing so 

 in the future. This is indicated by the course which the 

 average price of timber has followed. From about 1870 

 to 1888 the price of timber fell, chiefly owing to the great 

 development of the means of transport by sea ; from 1888 

 to 1894 prices were steady, but in the latter year a gradual 

 rise set in, which in 1899 amounted to 18 per cent. The 

 South African War brought some disturbance, but in 1902 

 a further advance occurred, so that the total rise during 

 the 8 years, 1894 to 1902, comes to 20 per cent. There 

 can be no doubt that we shall never again see the low 

 prices of 10 to 15 years ago, because the more accessible 

 forests in European exporting countries have been heavily 

 worked, if not exhausted, so that the timber for export has, 

 year by year, to be carried over longer distances before it 

 reaches the sea. 



F. B 



