Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-19

oItardwoods of Maine" was the SUBJ
;.ct Of a discourse by one acquainted
with them following the chicken-pie
simmer of All Souls Chapter, Unitarian
1atmen's League, Monday evening.
M nresident of the chapter. Justice
warren C. Philbrook, presided. He
.,nrassed qualification at the success
,rbicb has attended the efforts of the
ohonter TO secure this year those COM
rstsnt to speak'from intimate acquaint-
arce with some of the many matters
;,yo,ved in the development of Names
resources.
Ia introduced as the speaker of the
.roning Vico Isola. who is the expert
oonloyed bv Blaine s. Viles in his pio-
resring effort to develop profitable uses
for Names hardwoods.
"This is a big problem" Mr.. 1sola
a.clared in opening. Few realize the
nanv angles of this problem. While
hard wood areas in other parts of the
country have been pretty well cut over
ae regards the old growth of hard
woods comparatively little has been
dore in Maine and aside from white
birch products Maine has not gained a
-onutation for her hardwoods such as
those deserve when properly treated.
IN which case there are none better.
Names soft woods have been and must
continue to be her main source of
proft from forest products. Our mill
men are accustomed to getting out the
softwood products. of thinking of
m,antjtv production in their Sawmills,
whereas in getting out hardwoods. es-
pecially long lumber, much depends
on proper selection and saving. The
speaker described in detail the pro-
cesses required in getting out the long
hardwood lumber the expense of the
mills, of the railroads to haul in the
logs, also the advantages from the
small dimension mills.
The spruce that grows alongside the
hardwoods is of a better grade and.
there being little demand for the hard
woods the stcnd of hardwood in
creases annually in proportion to the
soft wood. shades the ground and pre-
vents soft woods growing up in place
Of it. Tn cutting for long hardwood
lumber only a small percentage of the
hard wood can be used and this fea-
ture lessons the profits.
The lunberman desires to sell
stumpsge but If he can't readily dis
pose Of his hardwood stumpage under
present conditions he can turn to de-
veOping small hardwood industries
and so dispose of his product. That he
said was what he is now experimenting
with Aside from the white birch. the
in1uctp,+ nf rrhi in Oyfnrd
county. for instance. is we'll developed.
the hardwoods to be utilized are ash,
yellow birch. beech and maple.
Anyone who has had occasion to use
axehandles in recent years know how
brittle these are. Experiments are be-
Ing made for getting out ash for these.
ash that is split. not sawed. and in
which the grain is retained to render
them tough. The great demand hither-
10 has been for ash for shovel handles.
but at the prices paid this does not
now promise much profit.
Yellow birch is being carefully got
zen out in form to he suitable for fur
nlture. Hard maple has not been a
profitable wood in this part of the
country, An important requirement If
these woods are to he manufactured
proiitably is to find uses for the short
pieces that otherwise would be waste.
experiments are being made with ma
PIE for cantdogs, for high heels in
SHOES and for axe handles.
Beech has been n tremendous prob
rem facing the producer. One use to
winch this wood in small dimensions
"as heen nut is for names that are en-
'dseo with iron. demand for which
'o'hes from Argentina. Various other
tAperments with this wood are in
pocesS Mr.. Isola said that he thought
tleat credit is due Mr. NileS for his