WASTE OF TIMBER SUPPLIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9573, 20 August 1909, Page 7

WASTE OF TIMBER SUPPLIES.

In the United States of America, and, indeed, in this country, and most other places where timber is easily accessible, the most wasteful consumption ha» been tolerated without hindrance. Like the spendthrift who gets rid of his capital when he should have lived upon the interest, and fkds himselt facud with the stern necessity for retrenchment, so the United States is feeling the iffect of reckless extravagance in the past, and the pincn of approaching exhaustion in the future. Profusion led to waste, no doubt but the i great increase of the population has required more land for agricultural purposes, and has necessarily diminished the area upon which timber can be profitably grown. This cause, which tenda to restrict the output,,, is operative tnoie or less throughout the globe, and with the growth of civilisation will be more apparent. as a sign of approaching scarcity, it is mentioned that greater latitude is now allowed in spjcificaiions l for lengths and scantlings, and an American authority is quoted to the efftct: —"We are down to rock bottom, and require every sound piece of timber that can be put upon the market." The anxiety of the authorities is ' shown by the extent and accuracy of the inquiry that has been made into <■ the existing supply. The result ofthe examination, so far as hard woods are concerned, is not reassuring. A conservative estimate, says "Engineering," puts the total amount of hardwood timber ready to cut as not more than sufficient to last fifteen years. Some few years ago the life of timber suitable for pulpwood was stated to be 21 years, but now., notwithstanding the large quantities of timber for pulp manufactories that are brought from Canada, the visible supply is shortened to thirteen years. Of course, facilities for transportation of a bulky article of small value have to be considered carefully. Scarcity of supply will, no doubt, furnish a corrective to past extravagance, but the disappearance of the once apparently . limitless forests of America affords I a lesson the significance of which will not be lost on nations whose anxiety is now fully aroused. The remedy at best partial and expensiv is in afforestation, and statistic show an awakened interest in this provision for the future.