284 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



flumes, sluice boxes, bridges, houses, bams, fences, and 

 numerous other purposes. Shingle manufacture has to 

 some extent replaced shake making. The early demand 

 created by the fruit industry for trays and boxes was met 

 largely by the sugar-pine mills. With increased use prices 

 were stimulated, good grades increased in value, and the 

 lower grades were utilized in box making. Because of its 



TIMBER FALLERS AT WORK ON A BIG SUGAR PINE IN SISKIYOU 

 COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 



The beginning of the end of a sugar pine tree. The "fallers " have cut away the 

 thick bark and undercut the trunk in the direction it is to fall, and they are 

 ready to use the ten-foot cross-cut saw to brinti the giant to earth. Additional 

 men are needed to cut the trees into logs. Ordinarily such a crew will cut .^5,000 

 feet to 150,000 feet B.M. of logs in a day, or enough to keep a fair-sized saw- 

 mill busy. 



color, lightness, and freedom from taste and odor, sugar 

 pine has remained a favorite with raisin packers. Some 

 mills work a portion of their output into raisin trays, 

 some specialize in raisin boxes, and nearly all utilize their 

 poorer grades for box shooks or dispose of them to box 

 makers. About 65,000,000 feet are used in California in 

 bridge constiiiction, sluicing, dimension stock, and gen- 

 eral building material. 



"Because of its straightness, softness, freedom from 

 warping and shrinkage, splendid service when exposed to 

 weather, and fine fini-shing qualities, sugar pine is a very 

 important wood in the manufacture of special order sash, 

 doors, and blinds, decks of boats, and general millwork. 

 These same qualities make it valuable for frames and 

 stairwork. For pattern and model making, whith nciuire 

 woods easily worked, glued, and nailed, it is a close second 

 to white pine. Fixture manufacturers use it for altars, 

 beading, show cases, counters, veneer cores, shelving, and 

 drawers. Freedom from taste and odor makes it especially 

 valuable for druggists' drawers, for compartments for 

 spices, coffee, tea, rice, sugar, and other provisions, and 

 for shelving. Furniture manufacturers turn it into back- 

 ing, built-in dressers, sideboards, carved work, core stock, 

 table frames, and tops. Tanks, hot-grease vats, troughs, 



and water boxes, requiring freedom from taste and per- 

 manence, are frequently made of this wood. Its lightness 

 recommends its use for special trunks and sample cases. 

 Its straight grain and permanence give it a place in the 

 manufacture of piano and pipe organ keys and actions, 

 and player pianos; and the same qualities, together with 

 lightness, place it among the best woods for drawing 

 boards and extension level rods. 



"Large quantities are used by planing mills in the man- 

 ufacture of cut siding, interior finish, and moldings. It 

 takes readily the finest enamel finish. 



"In addition to the above, sugar pine is used for drain- 

 boards, elevator floors, brushes (brush blocks), apiary 

 supplies, machine parts, saddles (saddle trees), shade and 

 map rollers, wood carvings of all kinds, oars, slack cooper- 

 age, woodenware, bakers' work boards and troughs, 

 dresser brackets, and small ttimings and fencing. A large 

 quantity is made into matches." 



Sugar pine sells for $1.25 to $4 per thousand feet B. 

 M. "on the stump," depending on the location of the tim- 

 ber and other factors. The average cost of cutting the 

 logs and transporting them to the sawmill is estimated 

 to be about $5.50, and the cost of manufacturing amounts 

 to about $3.50 per thousand feet. The average price of 

 sugar pine lumber at various California sawmills ranged 

 from $21 to $24 per thousand feet in 1912. 



In logging sugar pine on fairly smooth or level land, 

 the lumbermen sometiines make use of pairs of huge 

 wheels, 10 to 12 feet in diameter. The logs are chained 

 to the axle of the wheels and one end raised above ground. 

 They are then pulled by horses to the log chute, railroad 

 or flume. The usual procedure in logging sugar pine, 

 however, is to employ steam donkey engines or " yarders." 

 Steel cables are run out and the logs pulled in from dis- 

 tances ranging up to 2000 feet. Logging railroads are used 

 to carry the logs to the mills whenever possible and the 

 yarders are located along the railroad. 



FORESTRY MEETING AT PITTSBURGH 



THE Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh, well-known 

 as a progressive and business-like body, with a habit 

 of initiating and canning through to successful com- 

 pletion movements of value to the public, is arranging 

 for a convention of forestry interests to be held at Pitts- 

 burgh in June commencing on Thursday, June 21st and 

 continuing through the 23rd. 



Pittsburgh will afford an excellent central meeting place 

 for forestry organizations from the East, South, and Middle 

 West, and cordial invitations are being sent out by the 

 Chamber of Commerce to State Forestry Departments, 

 and to National and State Forestry organizations, to join 

 in the Conference. The meetings for the reading and dis- 

 cussion of papers will be held in the commodious assembly 

 hall of the Chamber of Commerce, and excursions to points 

 of interest in the vicinity are contemplated. Well ordered 

 local arrangements are being made to minister to and pro- 

 mote the comfort and pleasure of those attending, and the 

 proposed gathering is commended to all persons engaged 

 or interested in forestry and its promotion. 



