The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-11-19

Total 60, 023, 900 $1.Ol3, 739
Lath. Lath is generally by-product
of the larger mills where the slabs and
other pieces of suitable size are work.
ed up the purpose. Hemock and
number CT the softer hardwoods are
also used. The cut of lath was 1850, 900
which, with value at the mills of $2.75
per thousand, produced product worth
$19,63S.
Shingles. The production of shingles
in the county is rather unimportant
item. the figures for 1909 showing an
output of 1856, 900, which, valued at S4 so
per thousand, amounts to SO, 532.
Railroad and Mine Ties. The cutting
of railroad ties is often done by smaller
operators. as it requires very little
capital. The business is carried on ex-
tensively over the culled forests where
! the saw timber has been removed. The
principal species cut for railroad ties
were white oak (21, 1922, mixed oak
! Q2,600, chestnut [14,000l. Most of
the ties were hewn. The mixed oak
ties include principally red oak, scarlet
oak, and black oak. Since the railroads
have begun to purchase inferior, cheap
woods, which they treat with preserva-
tives to make them durable, other
woods, not heretofore used for ties are
being cut for the purpose, and operators
are beginning to take advantage of this
opportunity to place on the market
many of the inferior woods not accept
ed hitherto. In addition to railroad
ties the cutting of mine ties is quite an
industry in the county, and as much
smaller material can be used mine ties
are often cut from trees that are too
small for saw timber, and with the
cutting of mine props it is frequently
part of the cleaning UP process in con-
nection with or following logging opera
tons. In 1909 8, 260 mine ties were re
ported The total value of railroad
and mine ties is estimated at $27, 315.
Mine Props. The demand for small
sized mine props for the bituminous
coal regions makes it profitable for
timber operators to cut the forests al
most clean. Anything that will make
prop eight feet long and four inches
at the small end is disable. The price
received for such material, however, is
little more than the cost of cutting,
allowing little or nothing for stumpage.
Since this takes the young, thrifty
trees of all species the practice is very
detrimental to the continued product
iveness of the forest The cut for 1900
amounted to go, 400 mine props, eight to
ten feet long, valued at Sl1,088.
Tan Bark. Tan Bark is furnished in
two species-hemlock and chestnut oak
of which the former supplied probably
nine tenths of the output. Bark is
considered by-product of numbering
in the case of hemlock, and of lumber
ing and tie cutting in the case of chest
nut oak. The amount produced in 1909
is estimated at 4,250 tons, valued at
$25, 500.
Poles. Chestnut is the only species
cut for telephone and telegraph poles
to any extent. and only within a reason
ably short distance of shipping points,
as poles are bulky to handle and difficult
to haul. 1t is estimated that $50 poles
were cut in 1909, valued at 81, 400 at the
shipping points.
Posts. There is great deal of locust
in the county which has come in on
areas that have been closely numbered
and burned. The number of posts cut
and shipped in 1909 is estimated at
1850, with value of 5000.
Piles. Only limited number of piles,
mostly white oak, with a few mixed
oaks and pine, were cut in the county
in 1909. The number reported is 1880.
valued at $40, 800.
Miscellaneous. Among the miscel-
laneous products reported in the cut are
pulpwood, veneer logs, and cordwood.
The total estimated value of these pro-
ducts is $4,000.
The most serious damage to the for
ests of the county is from forest fires.
1t is likely that since cutting began in
the county the damage from forest
fires has exceeded the value of the
standing timber that has been cut, and
today this is the greatest menace to
the future of forestry. The conditions
for the growth of timber are very
favorable, and there is no doubt that
excellent forests can be produced again
on lands that once were heavily timber