THE EXTENT AND RESULTS OF FOREST FIRES. 



13 



for hardwoods as the supply in the Central and Lake States becomes 

 more nearly exhausted: 



Table 8. — Cut of hardwoods in New England States compared with other States, in 1899 



and 1907. 



State. 



1899. 



1907. 



Increase. 





M board feet. 

 28, 730 

 23, 468 

 50, 423 

 3,988 

 77, 594 



M board feet. 

 72,620 

 58, 107 

 99,297 

 18,617 

 99, 406 



Per cent. 

 153 



New Hampshire 



148 





97 





367 



Connecticut 



28 







Total New England 



184, 203 



348,047 



89 









765,578 

 1,392,636 

 2,689,848 

 8.634.021 



1,095,328 

 1,309,300 

 3, 477, 225 

 9, 254, 929 



43 





c6 



Total eight Southern and Central States d 



29 



United States 



7 







a New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. 



b Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 



c Decrease. 



d Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. 

 All States in this group show an increase in the cut of hardwood, which is largest in North Carolina (159 

 per cent), except in Tennessee, which shows a decrease of 15 per cent. 



Table 8 shows that the hardwood supply is decreasing in nearly 

 every part of the United States in which large bodies of hardwoods 

 have been standing, except in the States of the Northern and Southern 

 Appalachian Mountains. This decrease of supply that comes in a 

 time of ever-increasing demand means the beginning of exhaustion. 

 Heavy inroads into the mountain forests are now being made, par- 

 ticularly in northern New England. The increase in the amount 

 cut in Maine and New Hampshire from 1899 to 1907 is about 150 

 per cent. The hardwood forests of the White Mountains are still in 

 excellent condition, with many virgin stands and many that have 

 been only lightly culled. To lumber these without a plan and to 

 allow them to be destroyed through bad methods is unintelligent. 

 In view of the very important place in the national economy which 

 these forests can fill, if properly cared for and conservatively cut, 

 no time should be lost in placing them under adequate care. Every 

 month under the present lack of system adds to the deficiency which 

 is approaching. 



THE EXTENT AND RESULTS OF FOREST FIRES. 



Fire has been more destructive than the ax in the White Mountain 

 forests. The mountain soils contain much material of vegetable 

 origin which is inflammable, and when it is consumed the result is 

 unfavorable to the growth and character of another forest. Single 

 fires have swept over as much as 10,000 acres, and have exceeded 

 30,000 acres. A total of 84,255 acres were burned over in one year, 



[Cir. 168] 



