Interesting to California Lumbermen

Facts Concerning South and West Timber Supply

A well knowrr wholesaler of western wood.s in the Califorriia market, has asked us for facts concerning the timber supply in the South, and since we note much interest in this subject, 'we answer to all our readers, giving facts gathered from close observation.

J. E. Rhodes, of The Southern Pine Association, reeently estimated that production of Southern Pine for several years to come will run from 8 to 10 billion feet annually.

The high tide of Southern Pine production was in 1914 when 20 billion feet were manu-factured.

Mr. Rhodes estimates that there were 230 billion feet of Southern Pine standing in the South the first of the present year.

At the American I.rumber Congress in April, held in Chicago, a leading Southern Pine manufacturer predicted that in five years the Southern Pine production would be down to 6 billion feet annually.

'We believe this to be an excellent estimate.

There are some interesting phases of this proposition well worth considering. The question really is NOT, how soon will Southern Pine be exhausted, but rather when will it cease to dominate the lumber markets of the country in competitive territory. The northern white pine is still far from exhaustion. However, many years ago it became a selective wood, and ceased its once complete domination of the conpetitive markets of the country.

Some of the biggest manufacturers of the South will be still cutting pine in great volume twenty years henee. They will be few, of course, but they will exist'

But the number of big pine mills in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and the other Southern States that n'ill eut their last log and d.isappear from view during the next five years, is a perfectly trenendous array.

Some time within five years from today, quietly and without a ripple on the surface of the Iumber river to marl< a really great epoch in the life of the industry, the domination of the consuming and. competitive lumber market of the United States will swing from the South to the 'W'est, there to remain uatil the "last grand stand." has also bowed to the ax and saw. Just a few years ago Westem shingles swept across the continent to the shores of the Gulf and the farthermost beaches of the Atlantic, and became a material of common usage even in the towns where wood.en shingles of other species once were made, so will Douglas Fir, some d.ay in the not distant future, sweep across the continent in like manner.

Not only is the production of lumber in the South going to reduce amazingly in a few years' time, but the consumption of lumber in the South itself, increasing by leaps and boirnds every day until it has become a distinct factor in the Southern Pine markets, will play a most important part in stabilizing the Southern Pine consumption of the future; and taking great prod.uction from competitive territory.

Texas, a great producing State for thirty years, consumes far more lumber than it produces, and the disparity grows with every year. Louisiana, the great timber State of the South, is filling up with retail yard.s, and the consumption of lum,ber shows Cteady growtrh. Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, all great lumber prod.ucing States for the past generation, aro now becoming great lumber CONSUMING States, with retail lumber yards springing up by the score everywhere, and. retail lumber associations growing active. Farther east the situation is even more pronounced in that direction, retail yards replacing sawmills everywhere.

In another two, three, and at most five years, the lumber industry of the South will have to be entirely re-charted to cover these new and rapidly d.eveloping conditions.

Washington still has 334 billion feet of virgin timber, which it cuts at the rate of about 4,000,000,000 feet annually. This production may increase some, but not greatly.

Oregon has the big stand, the latest Government estimate being 493,000,000,000 feet in that State, and the recent years' average cutting a little over 2,500,000,000. This prod.uction rate will increase mightily, it is certain. Oregon will probably be cutting 6 billion or more annually in another five years, as she is called upon to replace the Southern Pine supply in general territory.

The Unitecl States Forest Service estimates the standing co-n"ercial timber of California at 313,000,000,000 feet, and. this state has never yet cut more than L,500,000,000 annually. There will be a huge increase here. Big mills are being built at present, and enormous mills are in prospect. This will be a big mill State, on account of the very nature of the situation. The prod.uction in this State might easily be doubled, and leave a hundred years' cut ahead of the mills then.

MAR.rET EFFECTS

'We have been asked the question: "-Won't the local consumption of Southern Piue in the South take care of the Southern Pine output in a few years?"