The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-06
The CONSUMPTION of Wood.

Many interesting items in regard to
The consumption of wood material IN
this country have been gathered from
various sources and compiled by the
chief of the Forestry Division, which are
not only interesting as showing the
enormous amount used in some of the
most i'm portant industries, but also as ex-
hibitirg in minor ones that are seldom
taken into account, a consumption greatly
in excess of the popular understanding
On the subject. The annual consump-
lion of wood in railroad building is
computed at 500, O10, 0J0 cubic feet. One
COPPER mine in Butte City used last year
Il. 900, QUO feet, board measure. Tor
.imbering its works, and 600 cords OF
wood daily for the reduction and other
purposes.
1t is estimated that one of the largest
lake vessels requires the oak furnished
by about 200U frst.class trees, such as
,an hardly be found in our forests. The
wooden pumps made annually consume
from 5000, OUU to 10000, 900 feet of
ooplar lumber. The wood manufactures
of Chicago for 1887 ore credited with a
product of S34, 500, 600 in value. Tho
Darufacture of doors, sashes and blinds
Ia calculated to. need al annual supply OF
20, 0OO, OOO cubic feet of raw material.
The product OF looking glass and picture
frames alone is valued at 81, 81, Ae.
Not less than 100000, 900 cubic feet
are REQUIRED for car building, and tbs
must be of excellent quality. The ma
terial for carriage and wagon building IS
valued at over $40, 900, OOO, and wood of
special good quality is required. Furni-
ture factories are reported as using over
$3.50, OOp, 600 worth of lumber, while the
wood in sewing. machines alone is valued
at 81, $50, 600. Seven million dollars
worth of inferior lumber is used in
packing cases, while collins require
SO, $50, 900 worth of the best.
One firm in Maine uses over 1Oc, ,00o
cubic feet, mainly birch, for spools !;
other firms use large quantities for the
same purpose. One Pennsylvania FAC
tory, not the largest, employs con-
stantly twenty-five men and fourteen
teams to cut and haul maple logs for the
manufacture of umbrella sticks selling at
So to SIS gross. One of the steadlest
industries is the manufacture of wash
boards. Butter plates. trays, wooden
bowls and clothes pins require large
quantities of material. Even the manu-
facture of the wooden shoe has found Its
way into this country and butternut
furnishes the desirable material.
The cooperage interest uses about
eighteen and half million dollars
worth of raw material, and the shinglo
product of Michigan alone required in
1887 20, 600, 900 cubic feet OF wood, and
that of the whole country probably four
times as much. One New Hampshire
firm makes 40, 900 bushels of shoe pegs,
and 100, QUO cords of birch and maple are
said to be annually converted into this
shape. Toothpicks and skewers require
large amounts of wood annually, and one
match factory. out of dozen or moro,
reports its need of raw material at 4, OOo,-
OO,J feet of best white pine. Three fac
tories of excelsior In Michigan, not to
mention others, consumed nearly 20, 900
cords of basswood in 1887. Altogether
the numerous wood pulp factories con.
vert from $50, to 100000 cords OF
wood into pulp annually. Only a por-
ton of the almost numberless uses for
which wood is required have been mep-
toned, but enough to set landowners to
considering the best methods OF forestry
and forest preservation for supplying the
wants Of tho future.-Ne,o York RvrIa.