The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1910-05-05
Ratio of Manufactured to Rough
Lumber.

Washington, D. C., April-The
U. S. Department of Agriculture in
connection with a study of the wood
using industries of various states is
learning what part of the rough lum-
Der output of our American Sawmills
passes through a second process be-
fore 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 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 it into
more highly finished and more valu-
able 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 sawmills. Much of
this mill waste is unavoidable 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
a mean way of finding out how the
mill may profitably market part OF
what now goes to the burner in saw
dust, slabs and trimmings.
Statistics of the wood-using indus
tries of Massachusetts,, Maryland,
North Carolina and Wisconsin, lately
gathered by the Department OF Agri-
culture in cooperation with these
States, show that of their total saw
mill output SO per cent is used in the
form of rough lumber and GA pei
cent is manufactured into other forms
of output. If the same ratio holds fol
the entire country as for these states
about 10 billion feet of lumber is useC
yearly in rough form and % IL bill
lion feet is further manufactured.
This is the first time that detailed
figures have been obtained on thi
subject. The study which has yielded
these figures has also in view to as
certain what commodities are mad
wholly or partly of wood, the varlou
kinds of wood used, their origin, am
their cost, as well as other data @
value to the growers OF timber and t
the sellers and buyers of lumber.
In making up the figures, lumbe
used as bridge timbers, house frames
farm fences, trestles, board walk:
walls and similar classes of strut
lures, with only such cutting and fl
ting as is given it by carpenters, wa
classed as rough lumber; that mad
into flooring, finish, siding, sas
doors, frames, panels, stairs, boats
vehicles, boxes, baskets, turnery
wooden ware, cooperage, musical II
struments, farm implements, furn
ture, spools, handles, and like forms
was placed in the class OF finishe
lumber.
The present aggregate populatlo
of the four states is estimated by the
respective state officials to be 9, l65
975; the population OF the Unite
States in round figures is 90, ,O(
/ according to recent estimates. tt
average lumber cut in the four STATE
for 1907 and 1908-the one an actiN
!. the other a dull year-was 3, 75d
293, 600 feet, and for the United Stat
36, TAO, $4,000. Calculated on tn
basis, the per capita use of saw
lumber in the four states was A.
feet, and in the United States Al
feet. The per capita use in the fol
states of lumber further manufa
, tured was 263 feet. These figure
indicate lavish use of lumber in Il
, United States, for our per capita CO..
sumption is from three to ten tim'
that of the leading nations of Europ