THE USE OF WOOD FOR FUEL. 9 
On the farms alone the total area of woodland in the eastern 
United States is approximately 148,392,000 acres. The first tier of 
States just west of the Mississippi has a great deal of timber, espe- 
cially northern Minnesota, southern Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, 
southeastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas. In the West the 
wooded areas are for the most part restricted to the mountains. An 
average of 10 cords per acre, which seems reasonable, would give 
one and one-half billions of cords for the region east of the Missis- 
sIppl. 
At the average rate of consumption on the farm itself, 12.6 cords 
per year, 739 cords will last 58 years. On the average this would 
be ample time to replace the stands and thus continue the supply 
indefinitely. As a fact, however, the woodland area is in many re- 
gions constantly shrinking as a result of land clearing for agricul- 
tural use and grazing. Thus unless care is taken of that which 
remains the future supply of fuel wood will be materially reduced. 
The supply of wood fuel in any particular locality depends on 
more than the total amount of timber. Part of it will be on the 
land which is suitable for clearing for agriculture, and which will 
be cleared and improved in the near future. Obviously, the timber 
on such tracts can all be cut. More will be found on land which 
should be retained in woodland, and here the question is how much 
can be cut out safely. As a rule, only a certain percentage can be 
cut without jeopardizing the forest resources of the future. There 
is the further question of how much of the wood cut is available 
for fuel. The trees which are cut may be suitable for lumber, ties, 
telephone poles, and other higher uses. Therefore, it is essential to 
know not only the total amount of wood but the amount of fuel 
wood which can come out without injury to the forest. Only by 
means of a survey covering these points can a practical and compre- 
hensive plan be developed to coordinate the supply and use of wood 
fuel within a given region with other forms of fuel which may be 
available. 
PRODUCING AND MARKETING WOOD FUEL. 
STUMPAGE. 
The first item of cost in producing wood fuel is the price reckoned 
or paid for stumpage. Stumpage for this purpose ranges in price 
from nothing to $5 per cord, depending somewhat upon the region, 
the kind and quality of timber, and the ideas of the owner. In remote 
districts where land is being cleared the standing cordwood material 
is sometimes given away. Slash from lumbering operations is also 
frequently given away for the cutting or is sold at a nominal price. 
Timber of better quality than cordwood material may naturally be 
expected to sell for higher prices than seems justified when compared 
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