It is almost idle to attempt an estimate of the timber still standing ready for the axe; not only are the data for such an estimate too scanty, but standards of what is considered merchantable change continuously and vitiate the value of such estimates. The writer’s own estimate, made some years ago, of 2,500 billion feet, which by others has been treated as authoritative and forming a basis for predicting the time of a timber famine, and which was lately sustained by an extensive official inquiry, must nevertheless be considered only as a reasonable guess, ventured for the purpose of accentuating the need of more conservative treatment of these exhaustible supplies, in comparison with the consumption which represents around 45 billion feet B.M., and altogether 23 billion cubic feet of forest-grown material, the ultimate value of all forest products reaching the stupendous sum of around 1,250 million dollars. And, as in other countries, this lavish consumption of forest growth, from five to fifteen times that of Europeans, has shown in the past a per capita increase of 30 per cent. for every decade. The bulk of the standing timber is to be found along the Pacific Coast, in the Sierra, and in the Southern States with their extensive pineries; the Northern and Eastern sections are within measurable time of the end of their virgin supplies of saw timber. The practice of culling the most valuable species has changed the composition in the regeneration, making it inferior, and large areas have been rendered worthless by fires. The loss by fire, the bane of American forests, as far as loss in material is concerned probably does not exceed 2 or 3 per cent. of the consumption, and may be valued at say 25 million dollars per annum. But the indirect damage to forest and soil, changing the composition, baring the soil, and exposing it to erosion and washing, turning fertile lands into wastes, and brooks and rivers into torrents, is incalculable. There is no doubt that at the present rate of consumption the bulk of the virgin supplies will be used up in a measurable time, which will force a reduction in the use of wood materials; a more or less severe timber famine is bound to appear,--indeed, has begun to make its appearance; and all recuperative measures will not suffice to stave it off, although they may shorten the time of its duration. 2. _Early Forest History._