4 COMMEKCIAL IMPORTANCE OF WHITE MOUNTAIN FORESTS. 



and populous cities in New England has depended upon the devel- 

 opment of water powers on these rivers, so that it may be said that 

 the financial well-being of New England hinges upon them. More- 

 over, each summer the mountain forests afford rest and recreation 

 to many thousands of people from all parts of the country. 



Fire and the ax have made destructive inroads upon the White 

 Mountain forests, and have profoundly changed their natural condi- 

 tions. 



These several considerations lead to a study of the mountain forests 

 as sources of timber supply for New England and the northeastern 

 United States, and of their value in the protection of stream flow. 

 This publication treats specifically of the White Mountain forests 

 under the following heads: (1) As a source of timber supply; (2) their 

 protection from fire; (3) as an influence on water power; (4) as an 

 influence on navigation; (5) as a place of health and recreation. 



THE TIMBER SUPPLY. 



The rise in the price of timber has been general throughout the 

 country and continuous through a period of years. Table 1 shows 

 the increase in the prices of raw material in each of the New England 

 States from 1900 to 1905, and gives the average increase. It also 

 shows the same facts in groups of lumber States in different parts of 

 the country and the average increase in the United States. 



Table 1. — Stumpage and log values by States, a 1900 and 1905. 



State. 



Maine 



New Hampshire 



Vermont 



Massachusetts 



Rhode Island 



Connecticut 



Average in New England 



Average in 4 Middle Atlantic States' 



Average in 3 Lake States d 



Average in 3 Pacific States e 



Average in 8 Southern States / 



Average in United States 



Standing timber (value per M 

 board feet). 



1900. 



§2.52 

 2.68 

 2.09 

 2.64 

 3.02 

 2.90 

 2.65 

 3.38 

 3.32 

 .87 

 1.94 

 2.18 



1905. 



$3.70 

 4.28 

 3.93 

 4.19 

 4.12 

 4.15 

 4.06 

 4.39 

 4.19 

 1.14 

 2.74 

 2.59 



Increase. 



Per cent. 

 46.8 

 59.7 

 88.0 

 58.7 

 36.4 

 43.1 

 53.2 

 30.0 

 26.2 

 31.0 

 41.2 

 18.8 



Saw logs (value per M board 

 feet). 



1900. 



$8.15 

 6.96 

 5.80 

 9.49 

 7.15 

 7.88 

 7.57 

 6.89 

 7.63 

 4.74 

 6.02 

 6.28 



1905. Increase. 



$9.66 

 8.79 



10.00 

 8.94 

 6.86 

 9.32 

 8.93 

 9.71 

 9.95 

 6.20 

 7.87 

 7.51 



Per cent. 

 18.5 

 26.3 

 72.4 

 6 5.8 

 6 4.0 

 18.3 

 18.0 

 40.8 

 30.4 

 30.8 

 30.7 

 19.6 



a Derived from Table 8 of Bulletin 77. Bureau of the Census, U. S. Department of Commerce and Labor. 



6 Decrease. 



c New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware. 



d Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota. 



« Washington, Oregon, California. 



/ Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee. 



The rise in price of standing timber during these five years has 

 been greatest in Vermont, though the price there in 1900 was the 

 lowest in New England. The two next greatest increases are in New 

 Hampshire and Massachusetts. The rise in New England is greater 

 than in any of the other groups of States (although in the Southern 



[Cir. 168] 



