172 Fourth Annual Repoet of the 



poses that not only will not further increase in value or volume, 

 but will deteriorate and become a total loss if not utilized within 

 a few years after reaching maturity. When these trees die they 

 fall to the ground and greatly increase the fire hazard. The lands 

 containing mature timber are not accumulating wood growth be- 

 cause, on the average, decay equals growth. 



The proper use of this great area is a matter of vital import- 

 ance. The constitutional inhibition practically prevents any 

 direct use, except for camping, hunting and fishing- The entire 

 wood production on the mature areas is at present a total loss 

 because there is no utilization of the larger trees. If we assume 

 that the average annual growth should be 200 feet per acre per 

 annum then the annual growth on the merchantable forest areas 

 alone would approximate 240,000,000 feet B. M. Once the land 

 is placed under systematic forest management, this amount could 

 be secured annually without reducing the forest itself. It means 

 taking the interest on the wood principal. The quantity would 

 be further increased by ultimate growth on what are now non-mer- 

 chantable areas and through reforesting of denuded lands. 



Figures, e. g., 240,000,000 feet B. M., as such, do not convey 

 their full significance. This represents nearly one-third the en- 

 tire lumber cut of the State. If cut into inch boards there would 

 be sufficient lumber to build a board walk 150 feet in width from 

 Albany to Buffalo. 



The present system does not best provide a future supply of 

 timber. If the annual increment were utilized it would tend to 

 increase forest preservation by reducing the demands upon other 

 areas. Price is regulated by supply and demand; therefore, de- 

 creased production of timber causes higher price, and the in- 

 creased price tempts the owner to harvest his forest crop. 



The timber cut of the State is decreasing. It has been reduced 

 from one and one-quarter billion feet in 1908 to less than one 

 billion feet in 1912. The cut of spruce in one of the largest 

 counties has decreased from approximately 24,000,000 in 1910 

 to less than half that amount in 1912. The present lumber cut of 

 the State is an enforced one. The portable mills are manu- 

 facturing what the larger operators are unable to secure. The cut 

 is approximately five times as much as the annual growth, and 



