420 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
get the forest back, but they will get it back very slowly, because vast 
areas have already been burned over repeatedly for many years. 
Mr. Bowrr. The growth is very slow there? 
Mr. Price. Yes, sir; not so rapid as in more favorable localities. 
Mr. Havcen. How long will it take a tree to grow large enough to 
cut it into lumber? ; 
Mr. Price. Second growth large enough for pulp, say thirty to 
forty years; for lumber nearly twice as long. 
Mr, Havcen. How large a tree will you get in thirty years? 
Mr. Prics. Six to eight inches at the most. That would be rapid 
growth. 
Mr. Haveen. The tree would not be large enough for lumber? 
Mr. Pricz. No, sir; unless smaller sizes were used than are used 
now. ‘ 
Mr. Haueen. It would take at least fifty years for lumber? 
Mr. Price. Yes, sir; at least fifty years. 
Mr. Bowrz. Would it pay to grow it! 
Mr. Price. In many cases. It would not generally pay the lum- 
berman unless there were the basis for a. second crop on the ground. 
Practical forestry for the lumberman does not require him to plant 
trees in order that his grandchildren may get the benefit of them. As 
a matter of fact, if in cutting off the first crop he would protect the 
trees which are slightly below the size of those he cuts, for instance, 
if he is cutting 10-inch trees, if he would leave the 7, 8, and 9 inch 
trees and take care not to injure them, it would generally not be long 
before he would havea second crop. But if he cuts carelessly he dam- 
ages these small trees so greatly that their future value is practically 
destroyed. If land is lumbered carefully and protected from fire, it 
will yield in most cases a second crop of sufficient value to return a 
good interest on the value of the land, sometimes as high as 6 per cent. 
Mr. Havucen. Under present conditions, how long will it take to 
exhaust the timber? 
Mr. Price. Under the present conditions, how long would it take 
to exhaust the timber in this region that you have been speaking of? 
Mr. Haucen. Yes. 
Mr. Price. That is a question which it is exceedingly difficult to 
answer, because of the character of the sources of our information. 
All that we have to go on are estimates of the crudest sort. 
ne Havern. Yes, I understand; but I wanted information on the 
subject. 
Mt. Avams. It is estimated that the timber of Wisconsin will be 
exhausted in twenty-five years, anyway, and possibly sooner. 
Mr. Price. I think that is a safe estimate. 
Mr. Haucen. Would not that apply to Minnesota and Michigan 
also? It is already exhausted in Michigan. 
ae Price. Practically so, except the little remaining in the far 
north. 
Mr. Haucen. What suggestions have you for supplying the North- 
west with lumber in the future? ~ 
Mr. Pricx. It will inevitably have to tide over its bad time by get- 
ting timber elsewhere. No method known will enable them to get a 
supply in time from its own lands. 
r. Bows. To keep up with the home consumption? 
Mr. Pricer. Yes, sir. 
