The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-04-24
CLOSER STUDY
IN USE LUMBER
OBTAINS VALUA-
BILE INFoRMATIoN-To CUR
TAIL THE WASTE-MUcH OF
THE ROUGH LUMBER CLASSED
AS RAW MATERIAL.

Washington, u. T., April 23-Ihe u
S. Department of Agriculture in con-
nection 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 a second process of manufac-
ture before it is ready for the consum-
er. The study is regarded as having
an important bearing ON the extent to
which more economical use of our for
est resources can be brought about
far, the results obtained show that
more than five-eights 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 con-
sumer. The heaviest part of this loss
takes place in the sawmilIs. Much of
this mill waste is unavoidable under
present conditions, but the greater the
demand for the product and the higher
it's 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 a means of
finding out how the mill may profitably
market a part of what now goes OF the
burner in sawdust, slabs and trim
mfngs.
Wood Using Industries.
Statistics of the wood-using indus
tries of Massachusetts,, Maryland WI
eonsin and North Carolina, lately gath
cred by the Department of Agriculture
in cooperation With these states, show
that of their total sawmill output So
per cent is used in the form of rough
lumber and GA per cent is manufactur-
ed into other forms of output. If the
same ratio holds for the entire country
as for these states, about - billion
feet of lumber is used yearly in rough
form and % IL billion feet is further
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 as
certain what commodities 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 timber and to
the sellers and buyers of lumber.
In making up the figures, lumber
used as bridge timbers, house frames
farm fences. trestles, boardwalks
walls and similar classes of structures
with only such cutting and fitting as is
given 1t by carpenters. was classed as
rough lumber; that made into flooring
finish, siding, sash doors, frames
panels, stairs, boats, vehicles, boxes
baskets tuTmey wooden ware cooper
age, musical instruments farm nipple
ments, furniture, spools, handles and
like forms, were placed in the class OF
finished lumber.
The Present Population.
The present aggregate population Of
the four states is estimated by theil
respective state officials to be 9,1s5,
SIS: the population of the United
States in round figures is 10000 600
according TO recent estimates. The
average lumber cut in the four states
in 1907 and 1908, the one an active
the other a dull year, was 1888, 29e, 0OC
feet, and for the United States it was
&c, TAO. 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 40S feet. The pei
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 oul
per capita consumption is from three
to ten times that of the leading nations
of Europe.