American Forest Congress 171 



illustrated by relating the experience of manufacturers 

 of one kind of lumber, who for several years have made 

 a systematic collection of figures. During a period 

 of nine months stocks among 200 mills increased 

 150,000,000 feet. 



These figures were obtained in two ways — ^by a 

 record of the excess of cut over shipments, showing 

 a steady increase each month, and a semi-annual in- 

 ventory compared with the inventory of January ist. 

 These statistics revealed a serious situation, and were 

 the cause of an early meeting, at which it was decided 

 that less lumber should be produced until the visible 

 supply was reduced to normal amount. 



The argument is used by some that such conditions, 

 as were revealed by the figures just quoted, should be 

 allowed to correct themselves — let the disease run its 

 course — ^but in these days of growing scarcity of 

 stumpage, with only one crop in sight, the majority 

 believe that reliable statistics, showing a heavy accu- 

 mulation of stock, should serve as a danger flag, and 

 the speed of production be reduced until the rough 

 part of the road has been passed. 



To continue production up to full capacity, when 

 undisputed evidence is produced that a large surplus 

 already exists, is unwise and unprofitable, and an un- 

 necessary sacrifice of stumpage, which on account of 

 our steady increase in population and consuming 

 territory, is becoming more valuable every year. 



The importance attached to statistics in other com- 

 modities is well illustrated by the annual report of the 

 statistician for the Department of Agriculture, for the 

 fiscal year 1903-1904, published in the December issue 

 of the Crop Reporter. The fact that our Government 

 has made the Census Bureau continuous in its organi- 

 zation, and reduced the period of census returns from 



