Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08


"oou. tree to the finished COM
modify, Is subject to greater losses than
any other important raw material,
since considerably less than so per cent
Of the tree reaches the final consumer
of the wood.
The greater portion Of this loss. it is
said, occurs at the sawmill, and is I'M
avoidable. being incident to the various
steps in the processes of converting
logs into lumber. Breakage in handling,
grade requirements and the lack of
satisfactory markets for lower grades
in most of the lumber-producing re-
gions are also said to be important ele-
ments, contributing to the total loss. On
the other hand. the experts consider
that certain amount Of the loss re-
ferred to can be considered as unneces-
ours in the woods through careless log
ging, while the balance may be ac-
counted for by lack of close utilization
of raw material in further manufacture
in the factory.
Some very intensive Investigations
have been carried on by experts of the
forest service along this line of waste
in an effort to make the lumbermen of
the country, and all those using lumber.
conserve the supply as much as prac-
ticable. The waste accumulated in the
production of lumber and it's further
manufacture into various wooden ar
tic1es may be divided into three gen
eral classes. say these forestry officials
woods waste, mill waste and factory
waste.
Woods waste consists of tops and high
stumps and has been computed by in
vestigators to represent 13 per cent of
the total volume of the standing tree.
Tops are generally converted into cord
wood and sold to local dealers in coal
and wood. where the material is further
sawed into stovewood lengths and
kindling. In the case of those woods
suitable for the manufacture Of paper
the tops are often cut into cord-wood
length. peeled and sold to pulp mills In
some instances stumps are used for dis
tillation purposes.
In the manufacture of lumber, 1t is
explained by these experts, the re-
sultant waste constitutes approximate
ly 40 per cent of the total contents of
the log, the greater part of which con-
sists of slab. The conversion of this
kind of mill waste into Iaths and pickets
is practice more or less common.
Other reported uses for slabs are the
manufacture of furniture dimension
stock, roofing sticks, small slack slaves
and chair stock. Trimmings and edg-
ings form another important unit of the
waste accumulated at the sawmill. and
come next to slabs. 1t is said. in the
total quantity OF offal occurring in such
operations.
Under the heading of factory waste
comes all material accumulated by the
wood using establishments where logs
and lumber are further manufactured
into. marketable commodities. It often
comprises one or all of the forms of
waste accumulated at the sawmill, as
well as pieces of lumber of every
species in multiplicity of sizes and
shapes. from six inches to eight feet
Studies Of the wood-using industries of
the various states conducted recently
by the forest service have shown many
commercial uses that are being made Of
factory waste.
The profitable utilization of mill and
factory waste, 1t Is pointed out by those
making the study. is dependent upon a
number of important factors: First.
there may not be sufficient amount Of
waste annually at given point to
warrant the installation of the special
machinery required; second. the waste
may be of innumerable sizes and shapes
and species. and the cost of sorting
thereby made prohibitive: third, the
location OF supply and markets may be
such that freight charges. particularly
at this time. would absorb the profits;
fourth. the fuel value of the material
may be greater than the profits from its
further manufacture: fifth. the market