REASONS FOR CREATING A DIVISION" OF FORESTRY. 



11 



coniferous supply in the States east of the Eocky Mountains to 400,000,000,000 feet, B. M., with 

 which to satisfy a yearly demand of about 30,000,000,000 feet, B. M. 1 



^ While these figures, referring to log material, represent that portion of the forest growth 

 which is the most valuable and has taken the longest time to grow, there is, besides the 

 consumption for fuel, an immense amount wasted by fire, improper use, necessary and unnecessary 

 waste. 



The consumption of fuel to the extent of probably 180,000,000 cords, of fence material, etc., 

 the waste in the woods and at the mills and loss by fire, bring the total annual wood consumption 

 oi tbe United States easily to 25,000,000,000 cubic feet, or since the area under wood has been 

 ascertained to be about 500,000,000 acres, the consumption is at the rate of 50 cubic feet per acre, 

 a figure nearly corresponding to the yield per acre realized as annual growth in the well kept 

 forests of Prussia, where the reproduction is secured by skillful management. 



The consumption, now 350 cubic feet per capita, increases from decade to decade in greater 

 proportion than the population ; and new industries, like the wood pulp industry, add constantly 

 to the demand. 



Estimates of value of forest products used in I860, 1870, and 18S0. 



[Including all raw, partially manufactured, \\ holly manufactured wood products, fuel, and na\al stores; estimated upon the basis of census 



nguies, and other sources of information.] 



Articles. 



I860. 



Mill products, rough, and paitly finished $155,000,000 



Cut on i arms for home use " "" """ 



In manufactures using wood 



Railroad building 

 Fuel 



45, 000, 000 

 50, 000, 000 

 6,000,000 

 135, 000, 000 



1870. 



$340, 000, 000 

 52, 000, 000 



100, 000, 000 

 14, 000, 000 



210, 000, 000 



Total o391 ? 0U0,000 



716, 000, 000 



a Probably 25 per cent underestimate. 



1880. 



$400, 000, 000 

 55, 000, 000 



110, 000, 000 

 30, 000, 000 



32S, 000, 000 



923, 000, 000 



1890. 



$438, 000, 000 

 50, 000, 000 



150, 000, 000 

 40, 000, 000 



350, 000, 0O0 



1, 028, 000, COO 



This would show an increase of over 30 per cent in our consumption from decade to decade. 



Other statistics hearing on this phase of the subject and a fuller discussion are to be found in 

 the Appendix. 



From these statements, the compilation of which has become possible through the existence 

 of the Division of Forestry, even if they were overdrawn to a considerable extent, it would appear 

 that the first reason for the existence of a Government agency to look after the forestry interests 

 is well founded. 



Some ignorant people — ignorant both as to the requirements of the wood industries and as to 

 the condition and character of our forest; resources — have claimed that the natural growth of 

 young trees, without any attention, following the operations of the lumbermen, would suffice to 

 replace that which is removed and would continue to furnish the required material. 



The observant student, not to speak of the professional forester, can readily see that culling 

 the valuable kinds and leaving the inferior tree weeds in possession of the soil prevents in many 

 cases any reproduction of the valuable species. 



In other cases where the production of valuable kinds does take place, as, for instance, with 

 the Southern pines, where the young growth is not killed by fires, the development is so unsatis- 

 factory that where with proper attention a new crop might be available for the saw in seventy 

 to one hundred years, twice the time will be required to make clear lumber of good quality. In 

 most cases recurring fires retard this natural regrowth still further or prevent it altogether. 



There is at least one State, the State of Wisconsin, for which it became practicable for the 

 Division of Forestry to secure more accurate data as to the conditions of the forest resources and 

 as to the results of the rough exploitation to which it is subjected in the absence of forestry 



methods. 



This survey is published in Bulletin No. 16 of the Division. The conditions are typical of a 

 large part of our lumbering regions, and a brief resume will accentuate the need of attention on 

 the part of the Government: 



The State of Wisconsin, with a population of about 2,000,000, a taxable property of about $600,000,000, has a 

 home consumption of over 600,000,000 feet B. M. of lumber, besides enormous quantities of other wood material, 



See Senate Doc. No. 40, first session Fifty-fifth Congress, and fuller discussion in Appendix. 



