The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-04
HICKORY ESSENTIAL Automobile Manufacturers Se- riously Considering Flu
 ture Supply.
TEST ON THE RED WOOD
This Timber Shown to be as Strong as the White-BOth Play lm-
 portant Parts.

Automobile and carriage manu1aC- turers, along with the men of the al lied vehicle industries, are giving very serious consideration to the question of the future supply of hickory tim- Der This wood, which is one ot the most important of all woods, since no satisfactory substitute for 1t has been found, plays more important part among the commercial timbers than many people realize.
 For automobile and carriage wheels where strength, toughness and resi- iency are essential qualities, no other wood has been found in this country that will take the place of hickory. Manufacturers say that no steel or wire spoke has yet been found that will withstand the wear and tear of the hickory spoke and for this reason the welfare of the vehicle industry seems dependent upon the conserva- tfon of the hickory supply.
 Three of the largest associations of ! hickory users in the country, the Ma tional Wagon Manufacturers associa- i tipn of America, the Carriage Build ! CTS National association, and the Ma l tional Hickory association have com l pleted a series of cooperative tests with the United States forest service and the trade considers the results highly important. The tests covered a close study of the properties of differ ent forms of construction and to test ' ,rt ,f ] grading.
 In report of the tests made by H B. Holroyd, forest assistant, and H. S Betts, engineer in timber tests of the forest service, the fact Is brought out that there is an error of over 50 pei cent. in the grading of vehicle stock due largely to the prejudice of tho manufacturers against the use of rec hickory. It is shown that in cleal stock, weight for weight the red nick ory is as strong as the white. By bringing this fact to the attention o 4 the manufacturers, it is hoped tha much of the hickory which was for. merly left as waste in the woods vii be utilized by the trade and thus pro. long the rapidly disappearing supply of hickory.
 Such practical results as are giver in the report, which letter to the forest service at Washington will se- cure free for any one who wishes if show conclusively with the grading of stock, the utilization of new for old woods, and the conserving of our flu ture supply of timber. The supply of good hickory in the United States is known to be very limited. The cut last year for timber was little less l than 50,000000 feet, and 1t Is esti- mated an even greater amount was used for automobile and carriage wheels, axle caps, gears, aXles, poles single trees and neck yokes, and it is figured that at the present rate of cutting the supply will last about fif- teen years
 Reports are made from time to time of the discovery of suitable sub stitutes for hickory in foreign coun- tries. The two woods which come nearest to having the quality of the hickory seem to be one of the euca- lyptus and the crowfoot elm, both of Australia Only time will tell wheth- CT these woods will prove satisfactory substitutes. In the meanwhile l American hickory users will be oblig' cd to conserve the present supply and take steps to guarantee future sup ply by encouraging private planting oi sY,r more precious each year.