Arizona's Lumber Industry

(Continued from Page 90) output of the Arizona mills is shipped out of the State, only about forty per,cent being used in Arizona. In addition tb the retail yards some of the largest pur,chasers of the Arizona Pine are: The Santa Fe Riitroia, United Verde Mining Companl, C. & A. Copper Co., and the Magma Copper 9ompa1f. In a recent talk given t"y Mr. E1ter, of ihe Santa Fe Railroad, at a meeting of th-e Arizona Industrial ate holdings. The state of Arizona itself with its forty-six thousand acres of timber lands owns approximately two hundred and thirty million feet, making atotal of about eighteen billion feet for the Arizona stand.

It may be surprising to you to know that the average age of the pine tree in the Coconino forest is from two to four hundred years old. If you wish to satisfy yourself as to the age of any particular tree, just count the rings in the old stump and figure one year for each ring. Thiswill S1r'e you the age, and when you find a ring wliich is hardly discernible you will know that tl-rat rvas a lean year in moisture, whereas the heavy rings indicate bountiful moisture, warmth, and generally favorable growing conditions.

Fartial aieat of plant of the Anizona Lum,ber & Timber Co., Flagstaff, Arizona. Shozas d,ele gates ready to leave f oV the camp diring Lumbermen's Conaention hetd there seteral yrorc ogo.

Congress at the Biltmore Hotel he stated that last year the Santa Fe Railroad purchased around thirty million feet of ties and timbers frbm the Northern Ariz-ona mills. The local box factories are_a.lso large purchasers of our product, using about fifteen million feet eich year.

Arizona possesses in standing timber under government control about twelve billion feet. under the United States Indian Department about five billion feet, and there are approximately three hundred and fifty million feet in priv-

Professor Douglas, of the University of Arizona, who has for years made a study of the Arizona forests, and who is considered one of the best authorities in the countrv. has secured some spe,cimens of the native trees taken from the rooms of some of the old pueblos in the northern and northeastern part of the State. Three of these in particu- lar are very interesting, they were taken from'ceiling beams used in the adot'e buildings, and show that they were cut with a stone axe. On one of these specimens Professor Douglas has determined that the tree wls cut in the year 1130, on another in the year I37O, and the other in the year 1770. These three specimens are still in good sound ,condition; the outside, or sap portion, showing only very little deterioration, the center, or heart wood, is practically in as good condition as it was the day it was cut.

It is not generally known, but it is a fact that Arizona contains the largest body ofvirgin forest in the country. This forest extends northfrom the rim of the Canyon torvards Utah, and some day in the very near future wi expect it rvill be logged from ihat side.