REMAINDER OF 

 NORTHEASTERN 

 DIVISION 



|gf Allowable cut I 1 Actual cut 1953 



( ihousond cords) 



Figure 46. — Jack pine surpluses were confined to Superior District. 



Spruce Unevenly Used By Locality 



For spruce, the actual cut in 1953 was 6 percent 

 less than the estimated allowable cut. However, in 

 in the districts outside the Superior, the actual cut 

 was 183,000 cords compared with a recommended 

 132,000 cords. This 39 percent overdraft is serious. 

 On the Superior District a 62 percent increase is 

 possible (fig. 47). 



Surplus Balsam Fir Available 



.-\ctual cut of balsam fir in 1953 was 167,000 cords 

 compared with 225,000 available. The main surplus 

 was in the Superior District. However, many of the 

 public forests and some private lands elsewhere have 

 isolated tracts of mi.xcd timber where balsam fir is 

 going to waste for lack of use. Like aspen, this 

 species cannot be stored indefinitely. If not harvested 

 when mature, balsam fir will deteriorate rapidly. 



Tamarack and Cedar Accumulating 



Under good management, the swamps and swamp 

 margins in Minnesota could yield 65 percent more 

 tamarack and 133 percent more cedar than was cut 

 in 1953. Most of the surplus is small trees obtainable 

 from thinnings and partial cuttings. This surplus 

 would be suitable mainly for fence posts, small poles, 

 mine poles, and lagging. 



REMAINDER OF 

 NORTHEASTERN 

 DIVISION 



I j Allowable cut | | Actual cut 1953 



( thousond cords ) 

 Figure 47. — Spruce is overcut except in Superior District. 



New Industries Needed 



The forests unquestionably are able to support more 

 forest industries; however, they will not support 

 indiscriminate expansion. 



Present sawmill capacity is more than adequate to 

 take care of timber of saw-log size and quahty. Some 

 readjustment in mill location would be desirable. 

 A few mills, sawing more efliiciently and producing 

 a better grade of lumber, no doubt could operate 

 profitably. Further growth of the pulpwood in- 

 dustry is possible. Expansion of existing plants and 

 addition of one or two new pulp or fiber mills would 

 be desirable if they can be adapted to utilize the 

 available aspen and other hardwoods, and some 

 presently inaccessible softwoods. 



Surplus tamarack is now available for posts, small 

 poles, mine poles, and lagging. With the gradual 

 increase in size, the species can be used in larger 

 volume by the local sawmill and mining industry for 

 mining and structural timbers and railroad ties. 

 Tamarack is a potential pulpwood. As for cedar, 

 present operations could be expanded, especially in 

 the northeastern section of the State where the 

 resource is now largely going to waste. 



A more diversified industry, closer integration of 

 plants, and closer wood utilization will help to bring 

 the annual cut into balance with the growth capacity 

 of the forests. 



40 



Forest Resource Report No. 13, U. S. Department of Agriculture 



