Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-07-29
Miscellany.
What Wood Is Used For.

The last census, referring to the
business of 1869. reports 63. .92S estab-
lishments manufacturing articles made
entirely of wood, employing 393, ,3S7
persons, and using materials worth
S309, 921, ,403 annually.
There are besides, 109, ,512 industries
in which wood is an important part; for
example, carriages, furniture, bridges,
ships, ETC., employing 700 915 persons,
and using materials worth S4SS, $50. 844.
If we assume that half of the latter
class of mixed manufactures are en-
ployed upon wood alone, we have a
grand total of 11S.6S4 establishments,
employing z, 439, $40 persons, and using
wood valued at 1854, 1S6, ,S25 annually.
We cannot conceive the consequences
that would happen to our civilization
were the supplies for these great indus
tries consumed. While no one would
wish to see the consumption of wood,
for use in these arts, reduced below the
proper wants of the country, we may
Justly hope that the economies of for
estry and manufacture may be most
carefully studied, and that there may
no longer prevail that wasteful disre-
gard of material which is now every
where observed. 1t is hoped that the
important lesson may be clearly learned
that timber culture is in many cases
the most profitable investment of labor
and capital, when viewed simply as to
the value of the material, to say nothing
of the incidental benefits resulting to
agriculture in the protection which
woodlands offer to insectivorous birds.
Although costly experiments have
been made to find inorganic materials
for the roadbed of all railways, nothing
has yet been found that will supply the
place of wood; nor have we reason to
hope that the demand for ties will ever
be less per mile than at present.
At the end of 1873, there were re-
ported II ,564, 8 miles of main lines, and
13, ,512 miles of sidings and double
tracks, making S5.0779 miles of rail-
roads within the United States. OF the
main lines, 5,462 3 miles were in the
New England States, 14,209 in the
Middle States, 33, 905. 9 in the Western
States and 2,6S1.3 in the Pacific States.
Upon these roads locomotives were rum
ming, and a large proportion of them
used wood for their fuel. The number
of ties used varies from 1900 to $500
per mile. If we take $500 as a mean,
we find that 212, 692, 500 pieces of tim
ber, eight feet long, and from six to
eight Inches between upper and lower
surfaces, are required to supply this
single item.
The durabilities of ties vary with the
kind of timber, soil, climate and. use,
ranging from four to ten years. TAX
ing six as an average, the amount re-
quired for annual supply must be 35,-
AS, $50 pieces, or "a, $50, 900 cubic feet.
In considering this, We must remember
that large amount of waste occurs
from hewing and from leaving the upper
parts of trees, some of which are used
as tirewood. the remainder being to-
tai loss. 1t must also be borne in mind
that the demand for timber by rail-
very great. including fencing, bridges,
buildings and structures of various
kinds; that the risk from fires is ex-
ceptionally great, and our requirements
in this direction are increasing even
more rapidly than our supplies are
wasting.
We are intirely without official data
for presenting statistics of the amount
Of wood used for fencing, and we only
know that it is enormous, and to the
asst degree wasteful and imprudent.
When we have learned, perhaps from
necessity, but better from reason, that
L e.
cheaper than wooden fences, and espe-
,ially that it is better to keep farm
stock within the range they are allowed
han out of the places where not wanted,
{ will be most useful lesson.