Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-22

domestic commerce. who were to have
| made a study of the
| Rv-produo<. utilization of the by
products of the lumber
oI AumDeI. industry in Europe. but
who we're prevented by the war. have
recently made such an investigation in
the United States, with view to TAX
| ing up the foreign situation at some
later date.
| II is said that the annual production
of lumber in this country exceeds A.
| OQb, 0O0. 900 cubic feet. The quantity of
wood taken from the forests by the vari-
| Gus wood utilization industries is. how
ever, it is said. much greater than this.
yand it was with a view to pointing out
4 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 United
| States engaged in the utilization of
! wood for the manufacture of by-prod-
ucts are wood distillation, 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.
| 1t was found that wood distillation,
using hardwood for it's raw material
| annually produces products valued at a
sum exceeding $10,000,000. This indus
| try at present. it is said. is stagnated
as the result of inactive markets for the
products. Even in normal times the
| margin of profit is small and overpro-
| duction frequently occurs, according to
those officials who made this study.
Soft wood distillation is said to be in
an even more unsatisfactory condition
It's markets are uncertain and I'M
steady. Technical improvements in
v1ru fuo fVtrA 49,
| products and the cooperation Of oper-
ators are essential to the establishment
, of this industry on a f1rmer basis, ac-
cording to statements of the officials.
Steam distillation and extraction as
an industry completes with the naval
stores industry. which produces resin
and turpentine valued at a sum exceed
ing s25,000,000 annually. Technical i'm
provements in the extraction process.
it Is believed, involving a more eco
nomical recovery of solvent and the
utilization Of the extracted chips for
| more valuable purposes than fuel. appear
imperative to the ultimate success of
this industry, which at present, it is
said. is at complete standstill. The
majority of operators, the experts
found. are not optimistic regarding the
future expansion of the industry on its
present basis.
The annual consumption of tannin ex-
tract is valued at over $4,000. 1000, of
which nearly one-half has been import
| ed 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 a unit, it was found,
as to the future of the industry. but
at the present time the industry is, as
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-fifth has been, up to this
| time imported. The whole wood pulp
| industry produces annually an output
valued at over $80,000,000. Consider
able interest is manifested by the sui
phite pulp makers in the possible utili-
, cation of the sulphite waste liquor for
the recovery of sulphur or other profit
able utilization. This would result. it
| is estimated by the experts of the bu-
reau. in a lowering of the cost of pro-
duction of sulphite pulp.