to be cut at all, $hould probably be cut under a 

 selection system in order to maintain their water- 

 shed-protection values. On poor soils the oak 

 stands could be managed to increase the proportion 

 of pitch pine, which is valuable for construction 

 timber. 



Forest Growth 



The ultimate growth of managed stands would 

 amount to about 650 million board feet of saw timber 

 annually. In addition there would be an annual 

 growth of about 2 million tons, or 70 million cubic 

 feet, of smaller material. This constitutes an in- 

 crease in annual growth of 500 million board feet 

 of saw timber but little increase in the tonnage of 

 other material. These estimates are based on current 

 knowledge of potential yields. Further experience 

 with management practices designed for optimum 

 yields may reveal possibilities of an even higher rate 

 of production. 



Future Forest-Products Industries 



Full benefit can be derived from the increase of 

 available timber in the region only if finished products 

 are manufactured from it. Manufacturing industries 

 that can make the fullest and most profitable utiliza- 

 tion of the timber grown should be encouraged. 



The needs of the mining industry for low-quality 

 material are even now more than balanced by forest 

 growth. If good forest practices are generally 

 adopted, it should soon be possible to establish other 

 industries that use low-quality timber and gradually 

 to expand them as the available supply increases. 

 Pulp mills and hardwood-distillation plants fall into 

 this category. 



The prospective increase in high-quality timber is 

 much greater than that of low-quality timber; and 

 efficient utilization of this is the principal future need 

 of the region. The existing wood-using industries, 

 especially the furniture plants, could use much of this 

 material. Ultimately, however, the available quan- 

 tity of high-grade timber could be much greater than 

 these industries can use, so that a considerable expan- 

 sion is possible. 



At present relatively little wood is wasted in the 

 Anthracite Forest Region because all sizes are used 

 for mine timbers. But as the forests are built up, a 

 larger proportion of the volume can be sawed into 

 lumber and made into other products. Then the 

 establishment of industries to utilize waste wood from 

 manufacturing would add to the total value of the 

 forest products of the region and would require more 

 men. Cellulose products and plastics are among 

 these possible byproducts. 



Ultimate Employment and Income 



The increase in timber volume will enlarge the 

 number of products that can be made in industries, 

 and more labor will be required. It is safe to say 

 that the development of fully productive forests 

 throughout the region will make possible the em- 

 ployment of 30,000 persons in woods work and de- 

 pendent industries, and provide an approximate in- 

 come from the forests, at 1943 scales, of $75,000,000. 

 This is in contrast to 1943 employment of 7,000 men 

 and returns of $17,000,000 from the forests. 



The progress of the last 20 years in the development 

 of new wood products has been so great, and the 

 promise of further progress in the future is so good, 

 that definite predictions are impossible. There ap- 

 parently will always be a demand for high-quality 

 boards and planks and timbers. Each year brings 

 the discovery of new uses for wood, and the economic 

 consequences of these discoveries may be great. The 

 valuable new molding wood, hydroxylin, which is 

 made from hardwood waste and could be. produced in 

 considerable quantities in the Anthracite Forest 

 Region, is but one example of the changes in wood 

 utilization that are taking place. The future of any 

 wood-producing area may be different from any- 

 thing that is now foreseen. "Wood today is no longer 

 just boards and planks and timbers — however im- 

 portant these still are. It is food, clothing, and 

 many things, the list of which is daily lengthening 

 . . . The potentialities are vast and challenging." u 



11 Winslow, C. P. Wood's Role in Today's World. 

 American Lumberman 3260: 144-149, illus. 1943. 



A PROGRAM FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION 



The attainment within a reasonable period of fully 

 productive forests and the benefits they yield requires 

 aggressive action now. Although increases during 



the past decade in measures designed to improve the 

 forest situation are encouraging, much more needs 

 to be done. The prevention and control of forest 



28 



Miscellaneous Publication 648, U. S. Department of Agriculture 



