The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-10-20
TWO MILLS
In the Wood-Pulp Industry
Represent Increase in
Yearly Number.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 10
There were 253 wood-pulp mills in
operation during the whole or part OF
the calendar year 1909 in the United
States. as against 251 in 1905. The
consumption of pulp wood in these
mills during 1909 was. 4,OO2 900 cords,
las against a,347,OOO cords in 1908, an
increase Of about 10 per cent.
This information appears in pre-
liminary comparative report covering
1909, 1908, and 1907, which was trans.
mitted today to Census Director Du-
rand by Chief statisticlan william NJ
Steuar, under whose supervision 1t was
prepared by j. e. whelchel, expert
Especial agent of the Division of Manu-.
fractures. In cooperation with the For.
est Service Of the Department of Ag-
riculture, the Census Bureau annually
publishes special report relative to
the wood-pulp industry
1t is especially noticeable that since
! 1907 there has been decided decrease
in the consumption of the best known
and highest priced pulp wood, namely
spruce, this species contributing 6s. /
per cent of the total in 1907, GAS pei
cent in 1905, and co.'s per cent In
1909. There has also been slight
decrease in hemlock, whereas CORES.
lponding increases have occurred ir
the consumption of woods heretofore
, little used as pulp material, such as
lbalsam, white fir. and several hard.
woods, including birch, beech, maple
gum. and Eastwood. This increase Is
Especially marked in the case of bal.
sam, the quantity Of this species con.
sumed in 1909 being more thar
double that reported for 1908.
Spruce Shows Steady Increase.
The steady decrease in the annua
consumption of spruce has been ac.
lcompanied by substantial increase
lin the average cost per cord OF this
species. AS >indicated by the figures
this was $500 in 1907, $9.33 in 1908
and 1926 in 1909.
The tendency to use the woods less
highly consdereA in pulp making be.
comes more marked as the cost OF
spruce Increases and the available
supply is reduced. White fir, which /.
separately shown for the first time In
1909, is one of the woods Of good quail.
lily for pulp which has been utilized
only during recent years. It is very
Eeommon in the national forests, and
at present has rather low value, due
both to the lack OF knowledge of its
pulp value and to the lack Of other
uses for it. The development of the
use of this wood for pulp will mean
much for the national forests man.
Iagement, for It will make it possible
to dispose Of much material for which
there has hitherto been little demand
The advancing cost of pulp wood OF
all species is clearly brought out in
the report. The total consumption in
1909, though exceeding that of 1907
by less than 10000 cords, cost over
81, 100000 more.
The quantity of slabs and other mill
waste consumed as pulp material was
substantially the same in 1909 and in
1908. about 100000 cords in each
year which, however, was material
increase in the consumption of this
character of material over 1907, when
10000 cords of 1t were reported as
used.
The reported total production of
.air-dry pulp in 1909 was 2.49l, 4OG
tons, as against 2.11S,947 tons in 1908
and 2l547,s79 tons in 1907,