The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-02-08
WASTE IN
LU MBER
INDUSTRY
Only 800 Feet Of Finished Product Oh
tanned from 1000 Feet of Timber;
Bureau Of Department of CON-
merce Issues Bulletin
By United Press.

| WASHINGTON, D. c., Reb. S.
Waste in the logging industry in the
United States amounts to Is to 20 per
cent of the timber cut, or about bill
lion and half cubic feet of wood an
nually. Sawmill waste also amounts
10 several billion cubic feet Of wood
although not all Of it is absolute
waste. A bulletin on the subject of
lumber by-products just issued by the
bureau OF foreign and domestic com
merce, department of commerce,
makes the claim that only $40 fee.
of lumber is used for each 1000 feel
that stood in the forest.
1t was the prodigious waste u
American forest resources that led the
bureau of foreign and domestic CON-
merce to plan thorough study Of
the methods of utilizing the waste
products OF the lumber industry, here
in the United States and in those
European countries that have made
the most distinct progress in this line.
In the older and more thiclIly settled
countries of the old world necessity
led to a careful utilization OF the for
ests many years before the subject
was seriously discussed in this coun
try. And in these older countries
| n1, Nunt.irAI N1tt
that should be of value in this coun-
try now that the old-time wasteful
methods have been brought into dis
lepute.
The plan was to have the American
industry profit as much as possible
by the hard-earned experience of the
older countries.
Unfortunately the war upset the
plan completely, and there is no i'm
mediate prospect Of making the pro
posed investigation. But as the bur
eau had already engaged Prof H. K
Benson, a well known authority on
the subject, it was decided to go
ahead and make study OF the indus
try in this country. The bulletin
mst issued is the result of this study.
It gives definite idea of how far the
manufacture of lumber by-products
has been deyoloped in this country,
how far it may reasonably be expect-
ed to develop in the future, and Just
what some of the problems are that
confront the industry.
There is a complete review Of the
wood-distillation industries, the man
ufacture Of tannin extract the manu-
facture of the various kinds of wood
pulp used in the paper industry, the
production thyl alcohol from sawdust,
the manufacture of producer gas, and
number of other minor products
The extent to which these industries
are carried on is outlined, and in
cases where an industry is not pros
pering a discussion of the causes for
such a condition is given. Import and
export statistics are included when
available.
The annual production of wood pulp
in the United States is valued at over
$S0,OO0OOO. sulphite-puIp makers ale
considerably interested in the possi-
bic utilization of the sulphide waste
liquor for the recovery of sulphur or
other profitable utilization. The result
is a lowering of the cost of sulphite
pulp The manufacture of graft pulp
is also becoming well established end
is bringing about the utilization Of
cheaper wood.
The utilization of wood for TIC
minor processes described in this re-
mort is not extensive The manufac-
ture Of alcohol from sawdust has
hardly passed the experimental stage,
although technical men are optimistic
as to the ultimate success of the pro
cess. One Of the most interesting pos
sibilities lies in the use OF hydro
lived sawdnst as a carbohydrate cat
tie food. The use Of wood for pro-
ducer gas deserves more extended in
PRODUCTION in industrial plants. The
manufacture of plastics from wood IS
still enveloped in secrecy, and, like
the manufacture of wood flour has ap-
parently been developed to a much
greater extent in European countries