The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-08-01
BLACK WALNUT IN DEMAND
OR GUNS AND AIRPLPANEs

The Department Of Agriculture has
undert AIKEN to assist the War Depart
lent in obtaining the large quantities
of walnut timber needed for gun
stoct and airplane propeller mater
iai. he demand is far beyond what
can be supplied through the usual
channels Of trade. Appeal is being
made to all owners who can be reach
ci 10 sssist in getting every available
walnut tree to market. This is urged
10th as patriotic duty and as good
business, owing to the high prices now
being paid for walnut
Because of its resistance to warn
ing and splitting, walnut is the best
for the essential parts of our war
making equipment. Experts of the
Forest Service are in the field locat-
ing available supplies. Considerable
quantities of walnut have been re-
ported by the county agents, and the
Boy Scouts, at the request of Presi-
dent Wilson, are making a canvass
of walnut owners.
Where to Sell
The firms having contracts with
the Government to furnish black wal
nut for gunstocks and airplane pro.
pellers and subcontractors of those
concerns afford the best markets.
These buy logs in lots of carload or
more, standing walnut of mer-
chantable amount, and lumber of spe-
ctied kinds. A list of these firms
may be had by applying to the For
est Service, Washington, d. C. No
direct purchases of walnut timber are
made by the Government; it is mere
ly using its machinery to locate the
timber and stimulate the placing of
it on the market by bringing the
manufacturers and timber owners to-
gether.
Actuated by patriotism, some far
mers have sold walnut at low prices
to persons representing themselves as
purchasers for the Government, who
have then resold to the manufacturers
at large profit for themselves. Buy
ers should be required to show their
credentials before sale is made. II
advised of the name and address of
persons making false claims and
threatening to force people to sell
their walnut, the Government is in
a position to investigate the cases
and take action.
A carload of walnut logs usually
contains from 5000 to 5000 boarl
feet, log scale. In the central Missis-
sippi River basin, carloads are made
up usually of from g to 25 logs, but
farther east where the walnut trees
loaded on a car.
What 10 Marketable.
Logs are wanted IL inches and oven
in diameter at the small end and 8,
10, IL, etc, feet in length. 4 few
logs 10 inches in diameter and 5
feet in length will be accepted in or
der to avoid wasting useful parts of
the tree. Trees cutting less than Il
10-foot log ~ inches in diameter lose
much in scaling and should be cut
sparingly and only to fill out an Or
der. No cutting should be done by
owners without having entered into
written contract with one of the
firms working on Government orders,
or without having distinct under
standing as to specifications and
prices.
Basis of Log Prices.
Prices for logs vary widely, being
based chiefly on clearness, diameter at
the small end, and cost of transporta-
tion to the manufacturing plant. Logs
sometimes run in three diameter
groups, namely, IL, to 18 inches, 10
to 23 inches, and "a inches and over,
and are purchased on the basis of
these diameter groups. The prices
paid at loading points for reasonably
cler walnut logs, that will cut air
plane propeller and gunstock materi-
al, have in number of cases averag-
ed around $50 to 800 per thousand
feet, depending on the average grade
of logs. The value on the stump is
determined by the value at the load
ing point minus the cost of logging
and a reasonable profit on the opera
ton.
Best Grades for Airplane Propellers
Gunstocks are made from planks
or "flitches" sawed from second
grade logs and the less desirable por-
tions Of better logs. Air
plane propellers demand the very best
grades of clear walnut lumber. Logs
16 inches and up in diameter, at the
small end and 10 feet and over in
length, suitable for airplane p, opel
ler stock, are especially needed by the
firms upon which the Government is
dependent for this important war ma
terial.
RECORD OF THE PAST