The twelve mills reporting the largest amount of lumber sawed in 1907 were:

The total number of mills reporting to us in 1907 was 1,382 and they are classed according to production as follows:

PRODUCTION, 1907, IN FEET B. M.

7,000,000

6,006,000

5,995, 206

The following are the twenty towns producing the most lumber in 1907,

and the amounts sawed at each place:

The foregoing chart shows the lumber cut of the Great Forest of Northern New York for the past eighteen years. In these figures the output of the following sections is included: The counties of St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Hamilton, Herkimer, Fulton, Lewis and Oneida.

It is interesting to note that the annual output is increasing rapidly. The decrease in spruce lumber does not mean that less spruce is being cut, but that a very large part of the cut is going into pulpwood. The large cut of spruce in 1892 does not show the real facts. These figures are given us by the various mills as showing the actual amount of lumber sawed each year. On account of a drought in 1891 many operators were unable to drive their logs down the stream, and hence their stock did not reach the mills that year. This produced a small output of lumber in 1891, with a corresponding greater amount the next year. A fair average for these two years is indicated by a dotted line. It is interesting to note the steady increase in the output of hardwoods. The utilization of our hardwoods is beginning; but as they cannot be floated down the streams other means of transportation must be secured before they can be marketed to any great

extent.

To the average citizen the figures showing the output of lumber or other wood material are rather uninteresting and meaningless; but a statement showing the value of these products may be more intelligible. If we assume

the following values for lumber on the stump the value of our 1907 lumber cut in the woods will be as follows:

This enormous sum of $5,800,000 represents the approximate value of the product in the woods, standing in the tree without any labor included.

In addition some interesting figures showing the cost of cutting, skidding getting logs to mill and manufacturing the product can also be drawn. Such figures are of interest because they represent the employment of a large number of laborers, the consumption of vast quantities of food-supplies, and materials purchased from other industries. If we assume it costs on the average $6 per thousand feet B. M. to take this product from the tree to the mill, and $2 per thousand feet in addition for labor only to manu

* Exclusive of spruce used for pulp.

facture it, we have $9,300,000 as representing approximately what is expended in the lumber industry.

If we calculate the value of this material at the mill we will obtain a good idea of the value of our forest product.

A large part of this rough lumber is further manufactured within the State, furnishing employment directly or indirectly to thousands of people in many trades and industries.

* Most of the prices given here are those used by the United States Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Census. Others have been received from lumbermen, etc.