FORESTRY BUREAU. 



139 



amount of lumber cut in 1883, including 388,5G1,000 shingles and 183,- 

 740,000 laths, is 1,848,304,000 feet. These estimates are based upon 

 the returns of correspondents. 



In 1870 the percentage of woodland in the State was about 32 per 

 cent. In 1880, 29 per cent. 



According to the census of 1880 Pennsylvania stands second as a 

 lumber-producing State, Michigan being the first. 



From the returns to the circulars sent out by the Forestry Bureau, 

 it is estimated that 95 per cent, of the area of the State was at one time 

 covered with original forests consisting of oaks (all species), hickories, 

 chestnuts, black walnut, ash, white pine, hemlock, birch, beech, maples, 

 basswood, tulip. 



Fully 70 per cent, of the original forests have been cleared, leaving 

 about 30 per cent, in woodland, which corresponds with the census re- 

 turns of 1880, or very nearly so ; the census report shows 29 J per cent. 



The clearing has been mainly for agricultural purposes, and while a 

 large percentage of the timber cut off has been used for lumber for 

 milling purposes, fuel, fencing, railroad ties, telegraph poles, tan-bark, 

 and other domestic and manufacturing purposes, still very much that 

 was valuable has been wasted, just to get it off the land. That which 

 is now standing of the original growth consists mainly of jack pine, 

 rock oak, birch, beech, maples, chestnut, hemlock, basswood, white 

 wood, cucumber, ash, oak, and some pine. 



The use of coal for fuel and the introduction of wire fencing stops a 

 heavy drain on the forests, but the increased demand for railroad ties 

 and lumber for milling purposes exceeds the saving for fuel and 

 fencing. 



The great demand for milling timber is causing much which is of an 

 inferior quality to be cut, and as the future supply is from the natural 

 growth only, which springs up voluntarily, it is not difficult to see that 

 the supply will be exhausted in the near future. 



The second growth is mainly oak, chestnut, hemlock, and pine. 



Tree-planting is done but very little, except for shade and ornament. 



There is no doubt that trees would grow and do well, but the money in 

 an investment of that kind places the profits too far in the future for 

 the average farmer. When people put money in an investment they 

 hope to reap some of the profits during their lives, and seem to think if 

 they have timber enough to serve them the generations following must 

 look out for themselves. There is no kind of doubt but chestnut, 

 locust, and black walnut would grow admirably, and soon make val- 

 uable timber, besides affording protection to the country by the increase 

 of moisture, breaking of high winds, &c. 



If the legislature, in order to encourage tree-planting, would offer a 

 premium or small bounty for planting so many trees and keeping them 

 alive for three or five years, and then exempt all woodlands from taxa- 

 tion, many would be induced to plant trees. 



Forest fires do considerable damage, but not so much as formerly ; 

 more young timber, however, is destroyed by fire than any other cause. 

 Fires originate in various ways, some by hunters from carelessness, and 

 by sparks from railroad engines. 



Timber growing now deteriorates much sooner than it did formerly ; 

 oaks stop increasing in value at 80 years, hemlock at 75, white pine at 

 120, chestnut at 30, locust at 25, poplar at 60, and the annual deteriora- 

 tion after these ages is from 1 to 5 per cent. 



The suggestions as to what should be done by the General Govern- 



