Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-06
THE SUPPLY OF HICKORY.
This Is a Most Valuable Wood and II
Is Getting Scarce.

! Automobile and carriage manufac-
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
ber. This wood, which is one of the
most important of all woods, since no
satisfactory substitute for 1t has been
found, plays a more important part
among the commercial timbers than
! many people realize. Z
For automobile and carriage wheels,
where strength, toughness, and resill-t (
epcy 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-!
lion Of the hickory supply. g.
Three of the largest associations Of
hickory users In the country, the Ma
tional Wagon Manufacturers Assoeiat
National association, and the National
Hickory association have completed
series Of cooperative tests with the
United States forest service and the
portant. The tests covered a close
study Of the properties Of different
woods used in vehicles and imple-
meats, supplemented by mechanical
tests to ascertain the relative strength
of different woods and different forms
of construction and to test the accu-
racy of the present system of grading.
In a report Of the tests made by
II. B. Holroyd, forest assistant, and
H. S. Belts, engineer in timber tests,
Of the forest service, the fact is
brought out that there is an error OF
over fifty per cent in the grading of
vehicle stock, due largely to the pre-
judice Of the manufacturers against
the use OF red hickory. 1t is shown
that in clear stock, weight for weight.
the red hickory Is as strong as the
white. By bringing this fact to the
attention of the manufacturers, 1t is
hoped that much of the hickory which
was formerly left as waste in the
woods will be utilized by the trade
and thus prolong the rapidly disap-
pearing supply OF hickory.
C,,oL ,.acnlfC o;Y,a,o
in the report, which a letter to the
forest service at Washington will Sc
cure free for any one who wishes It,
show conclusively the value of such
studies in solving problems connected
with the grading Of stock, the utiliza
ton Of new for old woods, and the
conserving Of our future supply Of
timber The supply Of good hickory
in the United States is known to be
very limited The cut last year for
lumber was a little less than 150,000,000
feet and 1t is estimated an even
greater amount was used for automo-
bile and carriage wheels, axle caps,
gears axIes, poles, single trees and neck
yokes, and 1t is figured that at the
present rate of cutting the supply will
last about fifteen years.
Reports are made from time to time
Of the discovery Of suitable substitutes
for hickory in foreign countries. The
two woods which come nearest to hav-
ing the quality of the hickory seem to
be one of the eucalyptus and the crow
foot elm, both Of Australia. Only time
will tell whether these woods will prove
satisfactory substitutes. In the mean
while, American hickory users will be
obliged to conserve the present supply
and take steps to guarantee a future
supply by encouraging private plant
ing Of the tree, whose wood is becom-
ing more precious each year.-U. S.
Forester.