Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-29
substitute For Ash Ball Eats BAino
lrici Out. IL

! According to the United states
! Department of Agriculture, babe"
! Ruth and his associates who spccial-
ize in walloping the horsthitie ,uit OF
( the baseball grounds may well hccin
to ask what kind of bat they viii use
when the diminishing supplies of Gsh
make it less easy for them 10 OBTAIN
this hitherto favorite material Dur
ing the last few years several sport
ing goods factories have attempted
to introduce hickory bats as a sub
, stitute for the traditional ash. This
has been unsuccessful. however, be-
cause hickory. although it possesses
greater shock -absorptive qualities
than ash, is too heavy.
! One OF the greatest curiosities ut
leading bat factory is a model
room where more than / 200 bat pat
terms are kept on display. r-,lh !,
model embodies the individual likes
and dislikes OF the various players.
The bats of the big league players
are turned out by hand, great care
and skill being employed in their
production.
The majority Of the white ash
timber used in making baseball bats
is cut from farm woodlots and tim ,
Der. tracts in Kentucky, Ohio. and
the Lake and Lower Mississippi
States. The timber is cut in the
winter, logged. and hauled to the
railroad, whence it is transported to /
the factories, number OF which are
located at Louisville, Kentucky. The
ash is cut up IN bolt form, each bolt .
being ultimately converted into a ,
finished bat. After arrival at the
factory, the bolts are stored in cur
ing sheds for from several months
up to year in order that the wood
may season thoroughly, Skilled
workmen ultimately work he bolts /
up into bats for all grades of ball !
players from the stars of the big
leagues to the sandlot champions and
school players.
According to 4 standing timber
survey made by the u. S. Forest
service at the request of Congress,
present ash resources aggregate an
proximately 9,9Ss, OOO, 900 board feet.
For the most part, these ash assets
are scattered over a wide range Of
woodlands. the ash trees being pre-
Valent in mixed forests of hardwood
timber.
Obviously II ash were used solely
Tor the manufacture Of baseball bats
our leading national game would
nave no need to concern itself about
substitutes for long time to come.
But the industries which use ash are
already beginning to find it hard to
OBTAIN high-grade material in suf-
nclent quantities to meet their needs.
ana IT'S price prior to the recent
slackening in industrial activity rose
rapidly. The entire amount of ash
used for sporting and athletic goods
Iofms very small part OF the year
~ consumption of this valuable
wood, which possesses properties
that give it re-eminence for sever.
nj industries. In particular, the We
hicle and handle industries have
been fierce competitors for ash.
over half the annual cut goes into
handles. vehicle parts, woodcnware.
and novelties.
Ash is unquestionahIv one or N.
woods in connection with which the
enects or forest depletion will earli-
est De feit in the form OF an actual
dearth OF material. There are two
possible remed!es-to gpow more
ASH, and to resort TO substitutes. AL
ready the search for substitutes has
begun As for growing more ash.
iorestefs say that with the waning
Oh the virgin supplies the farmers
woodlot is coming to play a larger
and larger part in filling market
needs and that farmers whose wood
iand is suitable for ash production
VIII 90 well to favor this species.
Inc laminated, or two or three
piece pat originated and perfected
py the u. $. Forest Service, also
promises to exert a potential. con-
serVatlVe influence on the white ash
supplies necessary for the produce
tlon OF our best bats. Short pieces
or material which otherwise wouId
be worthless for bat construction
can now be fitted and Joined together
with the same kind Of water proof
Eiue that is used in making airplane
Propeiiers, so that the finished pro-
duct Is a baseball bat as resilient.
springy, durable. and satisfactory as
the one-piece variety. Field tests
nave demonstrated that the Iamipa-
teo pat lasts Just as long and Is a.
productive OF home runs as tho mr.
binary ash bats made of one piece Of
timber.
Old Anar;e>. IT,.