The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-05
MAY MAKE TIMBER. ART|F |C|ALLy, |S
 EXP [ R T'S BELIEF.
Whole Lumber Industry Pos Sible To Be RevoIutionized
 By Experiments

SVashington, August 4,-(By As sociaIed Press .)-Experime in the makina of artificial" lumber are arousing increasing interest among government officials and leaders in the lumber Industry. Although none of the product has been marketed, officials of the Ma tional Lumber Manufacturers as sociation declawe that tests already made of a synthetic composition pro- duced by MinneSSota lumber interests show it possesses many qualities making it available for structural purposes.
 The experim er1ts are based on somewhat the same principle as that employed in the manufacture of pa per from wood pulp. In the process not only the trunkAf and branches Of young trees, but the leaves ana smaller parts as weh are ground up and mixed with other substances, virtually eliminating waste. The re- eulting compound Is capable or pelng nodded into sizes and sha2es or all most any description neededOn puild- ing.
 Revolutionize Industry.
 Officials of the Lumber ManufAc- turers association declare that if a practical method of this sort can be perfected, the result may be to reVo- lutionize the entire lumber industry. tAside from utilizing the present sNeat waste in converting trees into usable lumber, they say, 1t presents solution to the manufacturers prob- lem oSe finding sufficient material in the coIntry's rapidly diminishing timber Resources.
 From the time the standing tree Is turned by the sawmill Into blanks and boards and applied in construc- tion from GO to 65 per cent has been wasted. This in cludes stunrps, chips, bark and branches, plank and log trimmings and huge amount or sgwdust The thew method will use all of this.
 Already S75o,CU0 has been spent in experimental work in this direction by the Weyerha euser lumber inter- ests in Minnesota. Their experi- ments are said to have been under taken largely be'.ause one of the chief obstacles enc puntered by lum- Der manufacturers is the competi- tion of paper ma nufacturers, who can use young treses unsuitble for lumber purposes.
 Lake States Timberi
 This is especially important in the lake states where pulp mills so com pete with sawmills as to make 1t practically certain Hhat very little saw timber will be grown commer- cially under present conditions. Tim Der owners find that in from 15 to 20 years they can grow crops of spruce that will be suitable for the pulp and paper mills, whereas 1t would take from 50 to 100 years to grow a crop that would meet the re- ouirements of the luIhberman.
 According to the manufacturers association, tests have shown the ar tificial lumber to have a satisfactory tensile strength and to be capable of being sawed. planed and nailed, so that the product lacks only the charm of the grain effects of natural wood. Officials of the forestry serv- ice. while declaring they had not yet been assured the strenGlh or the ar tificial boards equals that of the nat ural ones, believe they would be use ful for many purposes, One of theii strong points, it is said at the for. estry service, Is their waterproof qualities and insulation against heat and cold.