CHAPTER XV 
THE OUTLOOK FOR FUTURE SUPPLIES OF TIMBER 
WirtH the advent of iron, particularly in its adoption 
for shipbuilding, in its use for girders and framings for 
buildings, and for innumerable other purposes, it was 
long ago foretold that timber would not be necessary 
to the same extent in future, and the foreboding was 
again freely expressed, but in a somewhat less positive 
manner, on the introduction of re-inforced concrete 
as a constructive material. Notwithstanding all these 
prophecies, however, timber has emerged triumphantly ; 
it has withstood all competition, and, although the 
demand has fallen away, or lapsed entirely in some direc- 
tions, other channels for its uses have been discovered, 
and the volume of consumption has grown year by year 
in magnitude, in all countries where civilization has 
progressed. 
As showing this growth in the demand it is estimated, 
on good authority, that, in England and the United 
States alone, the consumption has doubled during the 
last half century. 
The question therefore arises how this ever-increasing 
demand can be supplied. A timber famine has been 
talked about in a casual way for years past, but little 
heed is paid to the matter, the subject being a sort 
of perennial one that springs up from time to time 
when a shortage occurs. Varieties at intervals fail 
to meet the demand, and gradually cease to arrive on 
the markets, but others are found to take their place, 
and in time become established; and although there 
are fluctuations in the imports, due to labour disturb- 
ances, weather conditions, and other extraneous 
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