10 FORESTRY INVESTIGATIONS U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



While by the methods and on the basis of the census it is possible to arrive at an approximate 

 statement of the consumption, it is much more difficult to arrive at a statement of the quantity 

 growing in the virgin forest, especially since with the reduction of supplies the method of use 

 changes, and what was not marketable before becomes available. 



The really valuable portion of the natural forest growth forms only a fraction of the whole 

 wood growth, and the amounts of such valuable material per acre vary within exceedingly wide 

 limits, from nothing at all to the 200,000 feet B. M. or more per acre occasionally to be found in the 

 Pacific coast forests. 



The acreage, therefore, under forest cover gives no idea of the available supplies 5 the condition 

 of this cover is the important factor. 



There was never at any time sufficient money appropriated to the Division to venture even on 

 a partial investigation of this condition, except in one case, when circumstances made it possible 

 to ascertain with tolerable precision the forest conditions of Wisconsin. Nothing less than a 

 thoroughly organized canvass, which might cost $230,000 to $300,000, would promise any reliable, 

 practically exhaustive information. 



In the absence of such a canvass a very rough and probably very liberal estimate of the amount 

 of the timber standing in the various regions of the country ready for the ax would give the 

 following figures: 



FEET B M. 



Southern States 700,000,000,000 



Northern States 500,000,000,000 



Pacific coast 1,000,000,000,000 



Rocky Mountains 100,000,000,000 



Total 2,300,000,000,000 



In comparison with the supply on hand we must place the total annual cut of material requir- 

 ing bolt or log size, which is estimated at about 40,000,000,000 feet B. M., more or less. That is to 

 say, there is at best not sixty years' supply in sight, a shorter time than it takes to grow a tree 

 suitable for milling purposes. 



In this cut the various regions participate in about the following proportions: 



FLE r B M. 



New England and Xor th Atlantic States 0,000,000,000 



Cenlial States 5,000,000,000 



Lake Region 13,000,000,000 



Southern States 10,000,000,000 



Pacific States 1,000,000,000 



Miscellaneous 2,000,000,000 



Segregating the cut by kinds, we may make the following divisions: 



TEETB M. 



White pine 12,000,000,000 



Spiuceandiir 5,000,000,000 



Hemlock 4,000,000,000 



Longleaf pine 4,000,000,000' 



Shoith af and loblolly pines 3,000,000,000 



Cypress 500,000,000 



Redwood 500,000,000 



All other comfcis 1,000,000,000 



Total comfeis - 30,000,000,000 



Oak 3,000,000,000 



All other hardwoods 7,000,000,000 



Total 40,000,000,000 



From this statement it appears that three-fourths of our consumption is of coniferous 

 material. Ifc is, therefore, of interest to know more precisely how the supply of this most 

 important portion of our requirements stands. 



In reply to a resolution of the Senate dated April 14, 1897, the writer canvassed the 

 probabilities in this direction, at least for the Eastern States. The results are still less assuring 

 than the above statement of total supply and consumption; for this canvass brings the available 



