Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-03-20

TmE TIMBER BusiNEss.--An Osceo-
Ia correspondent has contributed to the Belleionte
Rsppslican the following ssnsiblc suggestions on
the timber question. y y AZ tft-~ ~Dtu
OscnoIA, March 9th, 1879.
Mn. Epfroa:-- being obliged 10 wait hero soy
eral hours for the train, feel inclined to say a
few words to the lumbermcn On the Wcs; branch
Of the Susquehauua, on asuelect of co,ntaon In
tcrest.
reside in ono Of the lumber States, and have
ihorc been connected with timber land and lumber
for thirty years, and have seen the remainder Of
the old growth Of pine cat on and am therefore
the mprcdcepiy Impressed with the saormous ,pasie
Of timber iaroised IL your present 'y.rm n stock
ing toys.
When 4 art becsmo Interested among lhe.e
mouniaihs, the stumpagc of pino, on the banks u
streams down which logs could DO noatcd. was
worth from hiiy cents TO dollar thousand. II
was then natural and scnsble 10 leave In tho
woods oil the logs which had defect. The butts
which had only little shake, the tops which
would make only coarse boards, and all That had
any knots, were of course left.
Now, the stumpage on streams, which have to
10 made driyable ut great expense sells for from
five to eight dollars and judging from tho price Of
boards Is worth more. Yet 'As mcSe ofenifiag
logs remains The sane. Tho last llieen'or twenty
years have increased the value df the pine trees
ton hundred per cent, bl; haze produced no cor
responding economy in saving the timber.
but there are some men who stock and saw their
own logs, who in general take the whole tree from
the stump TO where II will cut of ten inches,
leaving to waste on the ground or for the fire. only
the butts that are very shaky, the top logs whom
the knots are rotten or very large and the knotty
logs which at least half rotten BY cutting the
butt log u feet long, and manufacturing Il care
fully with single saw generally ono-half Of the
boards win be the best in the tree, worth from
thirty to sixty dollars thousand, aud the other
half will be cus, which will pay all the expenses.
II costs but ten dollars thousand to take the log
that is half rotten from the ground, when II Is IN
the way, and put II In seasoned boards on the mill
yard. The sound half Of the boards .sill be worth
twenty dollars thousand, or more, and 80 will
nav .ihe wh"i- -, '--'i-s A. i-s-.sivo half,
worth from six to twelve dollars thousand nj
profit. But, believe, II Is not usual now to haul
a log in Ia which any rot eau be discovered. The
top log, IL the knots are sound aud not very large
will make boards worth moderate stumpagc,
over and above all the cost. tL4
The manufacture Of lumber has been very prof
liable, but that profit cannot continue after the
lumber Is gone, II h for the interest Of the mill
owner to unite with the land owner, in framing a
now set of rules, adapted to tho present price Of
humber and the present system of waste The
movement ought 10 be general. II will bo diff
cult foi ouc man to adopt rule of economy while
others are continuing in the old way. II the
"Lumberincn's Exchange" now in contemplation,
should be organized, this would bc very proper
subject for its early consideration. Tn land own.
ers, mill owners and operating lumbcrmen on the
West Branch ought in some why to move in this
matter, for their own interest, and in justice ia
their fellow citizens and 10 the generations that
are to follow.
To the timber lands Of Pennsylvania in partic-
ular the principle has great force that the owner
OF property mas no moral rightto destroy or waste
II, but should consider himself only as trustee
for his racc, bound to take the best Of il and
mauass !. In the most judicious manner, applying
i to hil own use only with economy aud modera-
ton. LuuBEnMAN.