The Colorado statesman., 1917-05-19
SEEK TO PREVENT
WASTE IN WOOD
"
Uncle Sans Experts Try to Find
Greater Uses for Lumber
By-Products.
PAPER TAKES BIGGEST SHARE
Annual Consumption Of Pulp in United
States More Than 100000 Tons
Some Other Industries
at StandstiII

Experts of Uncle Sans Bureau Of
foreign and domestic commerce. who
were to have made a study of the
utilization of the by-products of the
lumber industry in Europe, but who
were prevented by the war, have re-
Gently made such an investigation in
the United States, with view to TAX
ing up the foreign situation at some
later date.
1t is said that the annual production
of lumber in this country exceeds
1000, 100000 cubic feet. The quantity
of wood taken from the forests by the
various wood-utilization Industries is,
however it is said, much greater than
this, and it was with view to point
ing out to the manufacturers of the
country how this extra wood could be
utilized that the investigation was
made by the bureau.
The principal industries in the Unit
ed States engaged in the utilization of
wood for the manufacture of by-prod-
ucts are wood dlstillation, pulp manu-
facture and tannin extract manufac-
turers. Minor processes, such as the
manufacture of ethyl alcohol, producer
gas, oxalic acid. plastics and needle
oils are also in limited use.
DistiIation Industry Inactive.
1t was found that wood distillatiOn,
using hardwood for its raw material,
annually produces products valued at
n sum exceeding $10000,000. This in
dustry at present, it is said, is stag
mated as the result OF inactive markets
for the products. Even in normal times
the margin of profit is small and over
production frequently occurs, accord
ing to those officials who made this
study.
Soft wood distillation is said to be
in an even more unsatisfactory con-
dition. Its markets are uncertain and
unsteady. Technical improvements in
manufacture, the standardizing of its
products and the cooperation of op-
orators are essential to the establish
ment of this industry on firmer basis, .
according to statements of the officials.
Steam diStillatiOn and extraction as
an industry competes with the naval
stores industry, which produces resin
and turpentine valued at u sum ex-
ceeding $25,OO0O00 annually. Techni-
process, it is believed involving more
economical recovery of solvent and
the utilization of the extracted chips
for more valuable purposes than fuel,
appear imperative to the ultimate sue
cess of this industry, which at present.
1t is said. is at a complete standstill.
The majority of operators, the experts
found. are not optimistic regarding the
future expansion of the industry on
its present basis.
Tannin Extract in Demand.
The annual consumption of tannin
extract Is valued at over S10,000,000,
of which nearly one-half has been
imported either as wood for extraction
or as extract. The demand for extract
by tanneries instead of bark seems, the
expert says, to be steadily growing
Operators are not unit, it was found
as to the future of the industry, but
at the present time the industry is as
a whole. in a thriving condition.
The annual consumption of wood
pulp, used in the manufacture of paper
and paper products, in the United
States is more than 100000 tons, of
which one-tifth has been, up to this
time, imported. The whole wood-pulp
industry produces annually an output
valued at over $S0,00O,000. Consider
able interest is manifested by the sui
phite pulp makers in the possible uti-
lization of the sulphite waste liquor
for the recovery of sulphur or other
profitable utilization.