The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-30
MINES USE LARGE
AMOUNT OF TIMBER
Annual Underground Consumption
Amounts to Nearly 3o0,ooo,0o0
Cubic Feet.


just made ny the Bureau of Mines. or
this amount. 151.140,o0O cubic feet are
used in the bituminous coal industry;
$1,000 900 in the anthracite mineSs al
100000 in the iron ore mines, and 40
$4,000 in mines producing other ores.
The increase in the annual timber
consumption In mines since 1905
amounts to nearly &c per cent.
a serious problem now confronting
the mine operator in the important
coal ana metal mining regions in both
the east and west is the noticeable de-
crease in the supply and quality Of the
timber in many mining regions. cou-
pied with marked increase in cost, de-
clares the bureau.
Perhaps Is per cent or more Of the
timber used in the anthracite region
I'M Pennsylvania is soft wood--loblolly
and second growth yellow pine-most
OF which is shipped from the south.
The cost Of timber per ton of anthra-
cite mined is 1872 cents. During the
period of Is years from 1906 to 1920,
the cost of round mine timber deliv-
cred In the anthracite region has in
crca sed from sc to 27.5 cents per cubic
foot, or more than four times.
No recent figures indicating the
quality and cost of timber used in tho
bituminous coal regions of the east
and middle west are available but IT
is reasonable to assume that the same
relative increase viii obtain as shown
in tho anthracite region.
The consumption of round timber in
the Lake Superior iron mines has in
creased from slightly more than H.
100000 cubic feet in 1906 to 27,500.000
cubic feet in 1920. or two and a quar-
ter times. During the same period the
average cost rose from cents a cubic
foot to "a cents a cubic foot, or nearly
five times.
Throughout nearly all the metal
mining districts OF the west, the con-
sumption and cost of mine timber has
increased in the past de-
cade. Likewise the more durable va
rieties Of timber are becoming scarcer
ana the source more remote from
points of consumption, consequently in
many localities the less durable va
rieties must now be used.
In proximity to the important min
ing centers of Butte, Montana, and OF
Occur d'Alene, Idaho the accessible |
supply of red fir is largely exhausted. !
As a result the more plentiful but less |
durable varieties-ycllow lodge pole |
pine, tamrack with subordinate |
of spruce aud white fir (bal- |
SAND, are being extensively used. The |
timber cost in two of the leading min |
ing districts in Montana and Idaho has |
more than doubled IN the past fifteen |
years.
1t is obvious that one of the rapidly |
increasing items of expense in mining |
operations is the cost of timber, to say |
nothing OF the labor cost OF installa- |
ion. Therefore any practical means
hat may be employed to prolong the |
life of mine timber win greatly reduce
mining costs, and effect important
in operation.
Mine timbers are destroyed by four
principal agents-decay, insects, fire,
ind mechanical abrasion. In general
more than 90 per cent of the timber
,sed in the mines is destroyed 'by de-
,ay and insect attack, but perhaps not
o exceed Is per cent Of the total is
subject to replacement, that is, where
he working place will be kept open
onper than the natural life of the TIM /
Der.
Timber conservation may be accom-
,lished in part by the better selection.
and storage of timber in
ended for mine consumption, but the
most effective means is by treating
he timber 10 prevent decay Win
iome standard preservative before it
S placed in the mine. IT is needless
o point out that only those timoers
hould DE treated that will be used IN
places which are to be main
aimed for a period OF years sufficient
v in excess OF the natural life of the
imber to warrant the use OF treated
imber Neither should treated tim
,er used in places where 1t would be
ubiected TO destruction by crushing
ather than by decay.
1t is believed that the artificial pres
rvation of mine timber offers an at
,active field in which important
economies may be realized, and that
no time is opportune for promoting
imber preservation in the mining in
.ustry.
In Europe, particularly Germany,
rnoted timber has been extensively
,sed in the mines for great many
ears. and IN 1915. no less than 100
arge and small timber treating plants
or mines had been erected. However,
\ this country the mining industry
ms been slow to adopt the use OF
timber, Notwithstanding that
hat the replacement of timber caused
" decay often constitutes one OF the
rtncipal items CT expense.
The explanation OF this is that min
ne timber IN most localities, until the
,st few years, has been plentiful and
cheap. AS result no
was offered TO practice
economy in its use. furthermore, mine
perators in general have not been
veil informed concerning preserva-
ives. treatment methods and costs.
nd the benefits to be derived from the
Sc OF treated timber.
The Bureau of Mines, in coopera-
ION with the L. S. Forest Service. has
nly recently undertaken a systematic
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