FORIST AND FOREST PRODUCTS. The forests of Oregon are scarcely exeeetled in extent and value by those of any other State. Except fur limited districts already cleared, almost the whole of the region included between the Coast Range and the western slope of the Cascades is covered with forests, as is also a considerable portion of the eastern slope of the Cascades and the north eastern part of the State. The total woodland area has liven estimated (1900) at 54,300 square miles, or 57 per cent, of the area of the State. Lane C ounty has more timber than any other county, hut is greatly exceeded by the earre spunting area contained in the four counties in the northwest earner of the State. The coast forests are famous for their great density and the enormous growth attained by certain species of trees. Stands of 100,000 feet per acre for entire townships have been reported. The Douglas fir (red fir), which is one of the prevailing species of this section, sometimes attains a height of 300 feet. The average diameter of these trees cut is from 60 to 72 inches. ltrid7e timbers 110 feet in length and free from knots and other imperfeetion, are obtained from these firs. The
great strenoth of these timbers makes them very valuable for bridge 11q0 and also for spars or for framings for buildings. This sproies produces more eommereial timber to the acre than any other tree on the continent. TI is estimated that over five-sevenths of the timber is of this variety. The lumber product is constantly increasing in amount and value, the product for 1000 being I worth $10.352,167. 'the pines and cedars are the most inqiortant species, hoth being ' trees, and highly prized for lumber cut in 1900 was estimated at 776, 978,000 feet, as compared with 470,146,000 in 1890. The increase in value was proportionate. The remoteness of the region from the large lum ber markets necessitates heavy freight expendi ture and has tended to minimize the price of the product, and therefore limit its exploitation. The I United States Oovernment has recently set off over 4,500,000 acres as a forest reserve.