The Washington herald., 1910-04-17

The Department Of Agriculture in con-
nection with a 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 manufacture before
il is ready for the consumer.
This study Is regarded as having an
important bearing on the extent TO which
more economical use Of our forest re-
sources can be brought about So far,
the results obtained show that more than
five-eighths Of the rough lumber sawed is
to be counted as the raw material for
other industries which convert 81 into
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 heaviest part Of this loss takes place
in the sawmills. Much OF this mill waste
IS unavoidable under present conditions.
but the greater the demand for the prod
uct and the higher its value, the bet
ter will economy pay. Waste In manu-
facture IS small compared with that at
the sawmiu
Factories 10 Furnish Facts.
Study Of the demands Of the wood-us-
ing industries may be means Of finding
out how the mill may prohtably market
part OF what now goes 20 the burner
IN sawdust. slabs and trimmings.
Statistics Of the wood-using industries
Of Massachusetts,. Maryland. North Caro-
Ina, and Wisconsin, lately gathered by
the Department Of Agriculture In coop
Grafton with these States. show that OF
their total sawmin output So per cent IS
used in the form OF rough lumber and
81 per cent is manufactured into other
forms OK output II the same ratio holds
for the entire country as for these States
about l3,0CO.OOOO00 feet Of lumber is used
yearly in rough form and 1850 O0O000
feet IS further manufactured.
This is the first time that detailed
/ figures have been obtained on this sub
ject. The study which has yielded these
figures has also In view to ascertain 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 10 the sellers and buyers OF
lumber
Basis of the Classification.
| In making up the figures. lumber used
as bridge timbers. house frames. farm
fences. trestles, board walks, walls and
such cutting and fitting as is given II
1 by carpenters, was classed as rough
| lumber; that made into flooring. finish,
siding, sash. doors. frames, panels. stairs,
/ boats. vehicles, boxes, baskets. turnery,
I wooden-ware, cooperaEe, musical in
/ struments, farm implements. furniture.
/ spools. handles and like forms. was
placed IN the class OF finished lumber.
! The aggregate population OF the four
States IS estimated by their respective
State officials to be S165 975; the popula-
| ton Of the United States in round figures
IS 100000. according to recent estimates
! The average cut IN the four States for
1907 and 1s0S-the one an active the other
dull year-was 1888. oo0 feet. and FOR
the United States Il was 36.740, PSI .O00
! Calculated on this basis. the per capita
use Of sawed lumber in the four States
was 40 feet, and IN the United States
40S feet. The per capita use in the four
! States Of lumber further manufactured
was 263 feet.
These figures indicate a lavish use o.
lumber In the United States, for our per
| capita consumption is from three 10 ter
times that Of the leading nations OF
Europe.