The San Francisco call., 1908-11-22
LUMBERMEN TEST
PRESERVED TIMBER
Forest Service CO-Operates With
Southern Plant TO Show the
Profit in Preservatiyes
Experiments Aimed to Secure
Closer Utilization of Products
of SawmiIls

WASHINGTON. Nov. 2l.-The future
development OF the lumber industry in
this country lies in the direction of s
closer utilization of forest products
Both foresters and practical lumbermer
now agree on this point
Just what can be done in this field
is well illustrated in the operations
at the mill of the Great Southern lum-
Der company. which has just reopened
its plant at Bogalusa, La, in response
TO the increased demand for lumber
after the recent slump in business. This
IS perhaps, the largest sawmin in the
United States, If not in the world, and
is capable of turning out the enormous
amount Of 100000 feet of sawed lum-
Der, board measure, per day. reader
can get a fair idea of this quantity
OF lumber when hs IS told that its
output is enough to build a little town
OF 40 houses. along with good sized
church and a schoolhouse every day
OLD TREES WORTH MOST
This company was quick TO grasp
the significance Of the rapid depletion
Of timber resources. Last year it be-
gan cooperative investigation in
wood utilization with the United States
forest service, and arrangements have
lust been completed for a renewal of
the experiments. The work will be
along practical lines and viii be aimed
TO secure & closer utilization Of the
products Of the southern lumber mills
and at the same time produce a mar
gin Of profit in excess Of that obtained
by the methods which are now prac-
ticed.
The field for work along this line is
broad 1t is well known that the su-
perioF grades of lumber are obtained
from old mature trees, provided they
are not weakened by decay or other
influences. In other words. 1000 feet
board measure OF lumber. sawed from a
tree two feet in diameter, costs less
and is worth more than 1000 feet
sawed from a tree only eight inches in
diameter.
YOUNG GROWTH DECAYS FAST
Timber cut from young trees usually
contains a large amount Of sapwood
If ties poles. etc. are cut from such
material. they viii decay far more rap
idly than If cut from heartwood. 1t is
net good business policy. however. in a
great many cases, TO saw the most val
uabie timber into comm Odities which
are relatively low in cost. such as ties
and poles. II is the intention, there
fore, Of the company TO find out just
what sizes and classes Of timber can be
best utilized for the cheaper commodi-
ties when given a preservative treat
menL
To this end q careful study viii be
made TO ascertain the amount and value
OF the products sawed from trees Of
different sizes and just how each can
be best utilized so as TO secure great
est economy and profit. For example.
can a tree eight inches in diameter be
best utilized for ties or for flooring, and
how viii the profits compare if treated
with those sold untreated2
CHEMICALS DECREASE WASTE
It seems reasonable to suppose that
the profits derived from the sale Of
treated timber viii exceed those from
untreated. Moreover, the greater use
OF chemically preserved wood viii un-
doubtedlE result in that wood giving a
greater life in service. Hence, the
amount Of timber cut annually in the
United States. simply 10 replace that
which has decayed. will be materially
decreased and a further conservation
Of forest resources will result. Recent
estimates by the forest service place
this reduction at 10 per cent Of the
total timber cut The practical bene-
fits OF these experiments and of the in
vesigations for the utilization Of saw
mill waste are at once apparent.