The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-16
WOOD CONSUMPTION
is INCREASING
140,000,000 Cords Consumed
Every Year in U. S.
FOR FUEL PURPOSES
American and English Banking Assoc
Citations Are Working on Plan
for the Valuation of Cot
ton Bills of Lading
BY JONATHAN WINFIELD


Washington, October 15-(Special)-
From reports from 5000 correspondents
of the bureau of statistics of the de-
partment of Agriculture experts will say
in the forthcoming publication of that
department that more than 140, 00O, 900
cords of frewood is consumed for fuel
annually in the United States. This i'm
mense amount of wood produces an an
nual revenue of approximately ss22, OoO,-
900. or an average of s221 per cord. OF
this amount 70,O00000 cords was used on
farms, 12,615,0O0 cords in towns and cities
with population of from 1000 to 10000
and the remainder in the large cities and
in mineral production.
Notwithstanding the absolute necessity
for wood as fuel it is shown that the
annual consumption is rapidly decreas-
ing. This information was obtained from
coal and wood firms and through spe-
cia1 agents of the census bureau of the
department of commerce and labor
From numerous other sources it was
learned that little more than 90 ,0OO-
900 cubic feet of wood in all forms is
used in the United States each year,
about 1000 OOO, 900 cubic feet of which is
fire wood
In the quantity of fire wood used on
farms, Tennessee with 4,420, 800 cords was
the leading state, followed by Pennsyl-
vania, Illinois, North Carolina, Arkan-
sas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Virginia.
These states consumed nearly 35,OO0,0O0
cords or about so per cent of the total
quantity used on farms. On account of
the climate, the distance from coal
fields, the development of transportation
facilities and the progressiveness of the
consumers, the quantity of fire wood
used on farms varies greatly.
Albert e. Pierson, forest assistant of
the department of agriculture, states
that 1.-The number of villages and towns
under 1000 population in a region also
affects the quantity Of wood used
Except on the Pacific coast states
and in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mis-
souri," he says, "the consumption per
farm west of the Mississippi river is
comparatively small. The states north
of the Ohio river use rather less fire
wood per farm than those south of it.
Though this may at first glance seem
strange, because the climate of the
northern states is colder than that of
the southern states, it is largely ex-
planned by the fact that in the north
stoves burning coal or wood are COM
monty used while in the south open
| fire places are more general. Not only
| is relatively more coal used In the south
but the fire places require great quanti-
ties of wood for the amount of heat
produced. The effect of open fire places
| i'm
In the south is further strengthened by
the large numbers of tenant houses and
cabins on the large plantations. In the
New England states and in the South
Atlantic states, rather more wood is
used per farm than in the middle Attain
tic states. which are within a short dis
lance of fine coal fields and which have
good transportation facilities.
"Of the fire wood used In towns and
cities with less than 10000 population,
only Texas and Michigan report more
than 100000 cords" said Mr.. Pierson.
1.-THE figures for this class were based
on a per capita consumption. Nearly
5000 towns of from 1000 to 10000 popua-
ton were heard from, and the fire wood
of he remaining towns in each state
was estimated from the per capita con-
sumption of the towns that sent reports
to u.s. The average value per cord of the
fire wood in this class was greater by
s14O than that of the fire wood used
on farms.
"Of course, of the fire wood used in
cities of over 10000 population, the seven
states of Washington, Texas, Massachu-
setts Michigan, Minnesota and New
York. ranking in the order named, con-
sumed about 1,O21, 304 cords. The wood
used In the large cities of these states
had a value of $6,S21, 454. The relatively
tn, thnG
states is due to the fact that with the
| execution of Texas, Michigan and New
York. none of the other states are near
large coal fields
| 1.-THE average value per cord of the
wood used in the large cities varies
greatly throughout the UNITED States
he much higher than the value of wood
nsed in the towns and small cities. This
| is accounted for by the fact that the
cost is increased by freight charges and
middlemens profits
"The value of the total quantity OF
| wood used for fuel in Michigan, Texas.
| New York, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri
ana Minnesota and leading states in
noint of value, exceeds sS5,000,000 or more
than one-fourth of the value of all the
FIRE wood used. The average value of
| the wood varies greatly In several
states, though as a rule wnere the WOOD
| is plentiful and near at hand, the value
per cord is low me mghest average
| in anv state, according to the best infor-
nation I could obtain. was found in
North Dakota, which was closely fol-
loved by Nevada, while the lowest val
ues were found in Georgia and Ala
| bama."
From information gathered by the
treasury department it is quite possible
that plan for validating bills Of lading
covering shipments of cotton for export
between the United States and Great
Britain will be perfected between Amer
lean and Englishr bankers. associations s:.,c 10
he accomplished is not known here, but
# is intimated that project has been
started by fnanciers that Will ultimately
lead to a satisfactory solution of the
difficulty.
IN