'The principal demand is for timber of large dimensions fit for sawing and shipbuilding. The development of our foreign trade, increasing navigation, and ship • building, increases rapidly the prices paid for the larger dimensions; and after this, though somewhat slowly, the prices of other sorts rise, and in the meantime the possibility of satisfying the want of forest materials, particularly of large dimensions, is diminishing from year to year as the forests get exhausted. The renovation of the Black Sea fleet will very likely take place soon, for one cannot suppose that this fact will belong to the distant future. With every rumour of this event the prices for large dimensions rise even now, when these rumours have no foundation, but when they become real then the rise of prices will be immense. Some wood dealers, buying estates with large timber, put off the working of them waiting for this event as likely to occur at least within the next ten years.
' The Dnieper forests present the chief source of the most convenient and profitable supply of forest materials for our shipbuilding in the Black Sea. If such a calculation be not considered unprofitable for wood traders, then the more so in imperial forest economy must one reckon on the possibility of a change in the demand for forest materials, depending on political events which have taken place, or which may take place in the future. Even if we do not calculate on this temporary rise in the prices, in any case the forest economy in the Dnieper forests being directed principally to the attaining timber of large dimensions, promises very profitable results, because the sales from private estates of firewood and small timber is increasing every year. By increasing the mass of felled timber private individuals try to COVIT the deficiency of income arising from the exhaustion of timber of large dimensions. The sales of timber of large dimensions from private estates is visibly diminishing, and with regard to them crown forests meet every year less and less competition.
' Forest materials floated down the Dnieper to Kherson are taken by sea to the ports of the Crimean peninsula, almost to Theodosia, principally timber for sawing, and fit for shipbuilding, To Nicolayev wood of all sorts goes, and from thence higher up the Bug to Vojuesensk, principally boards and building timber, and Odessa is supplied with wood of all sorts. Asa characteristic of the dearness of forest materials in Odessa may be mentioned the sale of firewood, which is sold in such small quantities, that in the wood markets, kiziah (dried dung), reeds, and other fuel, is sold. A few billets are sold for 5, 10, and 15 kopecs to the poorer classes, to serve as chips to light the fire. In such a sale a fathom of wood produces not less than 35 roubles, and such a price exists in a town where the consumption of coal is much developed.
' To Kherson, from the upper parts of the Dnieper, wood is floated down only by wood dealers, and here it is purchased wholesale by other dealers for sale in the Kherson, and in the ports of the Dnieper, or for shipping by sea to the above-named places.
' The principal demand is for timber for sawing, and as workmen are dear, two sawmills have been erected at Kherson. Their importance is not the same here as in the forest country: there they facilitate the sale of forest materials, whereas here they only facilitate the cutting of these, which evert without this have a ready sale; therefore the sawmills of the government of Kherson do not form a necessity of the wood trade, but are hired to saw up the logs, as workmen are hired generally, and this limits the importance of sawmills in the wood trade. With regard to the influence of cartage on the wood trade I must say that in this respect the government of Kherson is very similar to the government of Ekatherinoslav.
' The railway in the Kherson government passes principally near those parts where the crown forests are grouped, and where the foresters reside, viz.: — Tiraspol, Ananiev, Novomirgorod, and Krilov. In consequence of this the forests of the above-named forest districts are of great importance, and the forest districts themselves, from the convenience of life for the foresters, deserve the particular consideration of those that wish to become foresters.
' The government of Kherson is divided into the five following forest districts: —
Forest On To Under area. lease. foresters, appurts. Waste.
Desatins. Desatins. Desatins. Desatins. Desatins.
Odessa-Tiraspol,- - 4,698 15,321 113 3,267 758
34,768 15,209 1,054 5,648 1,516 With regard to revenue there are the following data: —
Roubles.
Roubles.
Roubles.
Roubles.
Sold,
Sold at £
i reduced price,