Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-07-27
LUMBER WASTE.


Ratio of Manufactured to Rough
Lumber-Two-thirds Of Tree Lost.
The u. 8. department Of agriculture, in
connection with study Of the wood
using industries Of various states, is
learning what part of the rough lumber
output Of our American sawmills passes
through second process Of manufacture
before it is ready for the consumer. The
study is regarded as having an important
bearing on the extent to which more
economical use OF our forest resources can
be brought about. So far, the results OBJ
tanned show that more than fve-eighths
Of the rough lumber sawed is to be
counted as the raw material for other
industries which convert it into a more
highly finished and more valuable
product.
In the United States waste in the woods,
the mill, and the factory is SO great that
two-thirds OF what was in the tree is lost
on the way to the consumer. The heavi-
est part Of this loss takes place in the saw
mills. Much Of this mill waste is un-
avoidable under present conditions, but
the greater the demand for the product
and the higher its value, the better will
economy pay.
Waste in manufacture is very small
compared with that at the sawmill.
Study Of the demands of the wood using
industries may be means OF finding out
how the mill may profitably market a
part OF what now goes to the burner in
sawdust, slabs and trimmings.
Statistics Of the wood using industries
of Massachusetts, Maryland, North Caro-
lima and Wisconsin, lately gathered by
the department OF agriculture in co-opera-
tion with these states, show that of their
total sawmill output 36 per cent. is used in
the form Of rough lumber, and "a per cent.
is manufactured into other forms Of out
put. II the same ratio holds for the entire
country as for these states, about 10 ,OOO,-
100000 feet of lumber is used yearly in
rough form and %, 500, 900, 900 feet is fur
Their manufactured.
This is the first time that detailed
figures have been obtained on this subject.
The study which has yielded these figures
has also in view to ascertain what COM
modities are made wholly or partly OF
wood, the various kinds OF wood used
their origin and their cost, as well as
other data OF value to the growers of tim
Der and to the sellers and buyers Of lum-
Der.
In making up the figures, lumber used
as bridge timbers, house frames, farm
fences, trestles, board walks, walls and
similar classes Of structures, with only
such cutting and fitting as is given it by
carpenters, was classed as rough lumber;
that made into flooring, finish, siding
sash, doors, frames, panels, stairs, boats,
vehicles, boxes, baskets, turnery, wooden
ware, cooperage, musical instruments,
farm implements, furniture, spools,
handles, and like forms, was placed in the
class OF finished lumber.
The present aggregate population of
the four states is estimated by their re-
spective state officials to be 9,165, 975; the
population OF the United States in round
figures is 10000, 900, according to recent
estimates. The average lumber cut in the
four states for 1907 and 1908 - the one an
active, the other dull year-was $685.
293, 900 feet, and for the United States it
was 81, 74O, PSI 900.
Calculated on this basis, the per capita
use of sawn lumber in the four states was
410 feet, and in the United States 4OS feet.
The per capita use in the four states Of
lumber further manufactured was 263
feet. These figures indicate lavish use
Of lumber in the United States, for our
per capita consumption is from three to
ten times that OF the leading nations of
Europe.