Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-11-16

rapidly as to endanger, instead of
promote, the welfare of our forests.
In the last eight years the amount
of timber used for this purpose has
increased five hundred per cent. In
the year just passed, 1901, the tim
Der cut for wood pulp in the Great
Forest Of Northern New York was
equal to one-third the amount cut
by the lumbermen.
1t is not the increased consump-
ton of this forest product that is so
noticeable; but the fact that the
entire amount consumed is taken
from young trees. Only a small
amount of pulp timber can be gath
cred from the limbs and tops left
by neutrality-suspicious. Spruce
and balsams furnish the main sup
ply, and, owing to their excurrent
growth, only the tree trunks of
these varieties are available.
The pulp mills on the eastern
side of the Great Forest use timber
whose diameter runs from fourteen
down to six inches. On the west
side, the mills OH the Black River
use wood with diameter as low as
three inches. 1t will thus be seen
that the introduction of wood pulp,
while it might be valuable factor
in economic forestry under proper
management and restrictions, now
indicates speedy extinction of the
conifers.
The mills OH the Upper Hudson
use poplar to the extent of twenty
five per cent, and spruce for the
balance; but the proportion of pop
lar used is growing less each year
The mills on the Black River use
spruce, balsam, poplar, and some
small second growth pine. Hem.
lock is used to some extent, when
mixed with other kinds of wood
In making chemical fiber, however
the sulphite mills can use one-third
hemlock. Tamarack is also used in
small quantities; but it is a dark
colored wood, and makes dark, al
though strong paper. No cedar is
used, nor any hardwood. On the
Hudson the pulp timber is cut in
the same length as logs, and is
floated down the streams with the
log drives. 1t is cut thirteen feet
long, and is sent to the mill with
the bark OH. The most of the pulp
timber for the Black River mills
comes from st. Lawrence and Lewis
Counties, where it is cut into four
foot lengths, measured, and sold by
the cord, and shipped then over the
Cathage and Adirondack Railroad
A large proportion of the pulp tim
Der cut in Lewis and st. Lawrence
Counties is peeled before it is taken
from the forest, thereby obviating
the use of barking machines at the
mills. This supply of peeled tim
Der is cut during the bark season
which lasts from May Goth to Au-
gust 18th, before or after which
time the bark will not peel.
In estimates of "a general charac-
ter, one cord of timber is said to
make one ton of ground pulp, dry
weight; but the actual results in
dictate that a cord of wood will pro-
duce only eighteen hundred pounds
In the chemical process, two cords
of wood are consumed in making a
ton of dry pulp, or chemical fiber
as it is called.
Wood pulp, or collulose, when
first manufactured in this country
was used for paper only, and, to q
comparatively small extent. But
the industry has developed with
surprising rapidity, and now al.
most the entire bulk of newspaper
stock is made from wood. Other
uses for it have been discovered
and these new adaptations are mul.
tiplying each year. Under the
name Of indurated fiber it is used
to large extent in making tubs
barrels, kitchenware, collins, car.
riage-bodies, furniture, and build.
ing material. In this State there
are pulp mills at Oswego and Lock.
port which manufacture various
wares of indurated fiber, but these
mills do not obtain their timber
supply from the Adirondack for.
ests. Wood pulp is also used to
some extent in the manufacture oil
gunpowder.