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

TuE TIMBER BusiNEss.--An Oscco-
la correspondent has contributed to tho Dcllofonto
Republican the following Sensible Suggestions 90
the timber question: " tRt-i~ aAl
osoroLA, March 9th, 1872.
Mn. EprroR:-- Being obliged to wait hero sew
oral hours for the train, feel inclined TO say a
few words to the lumbermcn on the West Branch
Of the susquehanna, on asublcct OF co,nlnon in
torest.
/ reside in ono OF the lumber Statcs, and have
there been connected with timber land and lumber
for thirty years, aud have seen the remainder of
the old growth Of pine cut OH aud am therefore
the more deeply Impressed with the enormous ,pasfe
Of timber iapoired il yoHr present ysfem Of stock
ing toys,
When I drt becsnc Interested among thcse
mountains, hc stnmpagc Of pine, On the banks Of
streams down which logs could be loatcd, was
worth from fifty cents to dollar thousand. II
was then natural and sensible to lcnve in the
woods all the logs which had defect The butts
which had only o 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
be made driyable at great expense, sells for from
FIVE TO eight dollars, and judging from the price Of
boards is worth more. Yet The mode ofcuifing
logs remains The same. The last lItecnfor twenty
ton hundred per cent, but 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 Oh ten inches,
leaving to waste on the ground or for the fire. only
the butts that are very shaky, the top logs when
the knots are rotten very large, and the knotty
logs which are at least half rotten. By cutting the
butt log IL feet long, and manufacturing II care
fully with single saw, generally ono-half Of the
boards will be the best in the tree, worth from
thirty to sixty dollars n thousand aud the other
half will bc 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 it is in
the way, and put il in seasoned boards on the mill
yard The sound half of the boards viii beworth
twenty dollars thousand or more, and so will
nav the Who'd ---., is~-i-s 49, i-f~ative half,
worth from six to twelve dollars thousand n,r
profit. But, believe, 1t is not usual now to haul
a log in in which any rot eau be discovered. The
top log, IL the knots are sound and not very large,
will make boards worth moderate sumpagc,
over and above all the cost e.
The manufacture Of lumber has been very prof
liable, but that profit cannot continue after the
lumber gone, It is for the interest Of the mill
owner TO unite with the land owner, in framing n
new set of rules, adapted to the present price OF
lumber and the present system Of waste. The
movement ought to be general II will be diff
cult for one man to adopt rule Of economy while
others are continuing in the old way. II the
"Lumbermcn's Exchange now in contemplation,
should be organized, this would be very proper
subject for its early consideration. Tn land own
ers, mill owners and operating lumbermen on the
West Branch ought in some way TO moyo in this
matter for their own interest, and in justice to
their fellow citizens aud to the generations that
are to follow.
10 the timber lands Of Pennsylvania in partie-
uar the principle has great force, that toe owner
Of property mas no moral rght.to destroy or waste
il, but should consider himself only as trustee
for his race, bound TO take the best Of It and
manage it in the most judcious manner, applying
il to his own use only with economy and modern
ton. LunBrnMAS.