Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/634

 510 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal [Feb., calculation gives us five billions, two hundred and forty-one millions, six hun- dred thousand feet, which it would take seventeen years and a fraction to cut, at the rate of three hundred millions per annum. But we have already shown, that in 1867 there were nearly four hundred and twenty-four millions cut, which shows very clearly, that — even though we make no account of the usual per- centage of increase — all the Pine re- sources must he exhausted before the seventeen years shall have elapsed. Probably the most abundantly sup- plied of all the districts in the State, is the Alpena district, including Devil Eiver. The estimated stock of timber, on the ground, is 2,880,000,000 feet, a supply for over twenty-eight years, at the rate of 100,000,000 per year. Many other districts have not over five or six years supply, at the present rate of consumption. There are, doubtless, many people, who will say, that Michigan is not the United States ; and that, therefore, our arguments prove but little. To such persons, we would reply, that our Pine resources, without Michigan, would be &ey much like "the play of Hamlet, without the Prince." Immense quantities of timber are growing in other States, without doubt, but their supply is used up in the same proportion. Indiana, which, not long ago, was thought to contain an " inex- haustible" supply of Black Walnut, will soon be obliged to import it, for her own use, if she wants it. So with adjoining States. Our prai- ries, certainly, are not blessed with a soil so fertile as to give us much hope from them, and so we discover, after all, that, notwithstanding our enormous area, we are likely to be sorely puzzled, ere long, for a supply of lumber. Surely the statistics above given fur- nish food for serious reflection, inasmuch as they demonstrate certain facts of grave importance, and induce some very pertinent suggestions. They demon- strate : — 1st. That the commodity of Pine lum- ber is one of great comparative value, not only on account of its adaptation to uses so innumerable, but as an article of commerce, by whose production, ship- ment, and sale, so many thousands of our countrymen find an honorable live- lihood. 2d. That the demand is increasing in a greater degree than is the population. oil. That the acres of new growth are totalty disproportioned to those annu- ally cleared of their timber. The' induce the following sugges- tive queries : — 1st. If we wish, to continue the manu- facture and sale of lumber, does it not behove us to give our attention to the increased production of Pine Forests, and to endeavor to render them somewhat adequate to the demand? 2d. If the relative increase, in demand and population, continues to differ more widely, how long will our present and prospective stock of growing timber last? 3d. If the time arrives when our tim- ber is exhausted, where shall we go to find a commodity to take its place ? These questions, often asked, still await a satisfactory response. Comparative "Weight and Strength of Timber. — Scarcely any thing can be more important, than definite and reli- able information, concerning the com- parative weight and strength of the dif- ferent kinds of timber ; but the ascer- tained facts are few and widely scattered. The Government should take „up this matter and pursue it to an exhaustive conclusion. With respect to Compara- tive Weight, we have collated quite a number of authorities ; and, where the data varied, have equated the various items, having finally had the advantage of revision, by a competent gentleman of this city, thoroughly conversant with timber. Upon this basis we venture to present the Table on our ensuing page.