418 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



clianjxed to a quarterly. Tlic first cpiiirtor covered October, Novem- 

 ber, and December, 1909. The list now covers 21 markets and has 

 about 4,50 cooperators amoni:; the wholesale lumbermen. A record 

 of f. o. b. mill ))rices was first issued in July, li)09, and contained 

 fi!:ures for the three mouths ending June 30 of that year. Records 

 of these prices have been issued quarterly since then. 



The first list is not confined to hi^li f:;rades, but j^jives those which 

 are characteristic of the individual markets. The record of mill 

 prices <]jives the grades which form tlie bulk of the material manu- 

 factured, and contains, therefore, more medium and low grades than 

 lii<]jh ones. On this account the grades in the two records are not 

 entirely comparable. Numerous changes have been made in tliem 

 from time to time, in order to make the publication more compre- 

 hensive. These changes have been made largely at the suggestion 

 of practical lumbermen and the secretaries of the various lumber 

 manufacturers' associations.. 



The two records of prices have been commended by the lumbermen 

 generally, and their collection and publication has been indorsed by 

 a number of associations. Manufacturers and dealers in lumber 

 have promptly responded to requests for prices, and an acknowledg- 

 ment is due tiiem for their hearty cooperation in this work. 



One of the most important problems before the lumber manufac- 

 turers to-day is the disposition of low-grade lumber. It is becoming 

 more serious with the steady increase in the percentage of low-grade 

 lumber produced. A solution of the problem is eagerly awaited by 

 the manufacturers. The transportation rates on a given kind of 

 lumber are now generally the same for all grades. The result is that 

 the lower grades, which bring a low price but which cost nearly as 

 much to manufacture as the up])er grades, can not go far to market. 

 This increases greatly the waste in the woods and at the mill. Could 

 the lumber manufacturers have lower rates for low-grade products, 

 an important advance in forest utilization would be made. This 

 question is being studied from the standpoint both of the manufac- 

 turer and of the railroads, for the purpose of determining the advan- 

 tages and disadvantages which a change in the charge for transpor- 

 tation might bring to each. 



Existing rates are also a serious obstacle to a better utilization of 

 forest material through the manufacture of certain small products 

 from the waste material left over in the manufacture of large prod- 

 ucts. If waste material were given a lower classification and con- 

 sequently a lower rate by transportation companies, an important 

 saving would be possible. 



The present system of lumber manufacturers' "grading rules" and 

 consumers' "specifications" is responsible for much waste of wood. 

 The ideal condition, and one which it seems poss ble to attain, would 

 be to have the "grading rules" and "specifications" one and the 

 same, at least for the raw material bought in the form of boards, 

 plank, and dimension stuff for use by the furniture, vehicle, imple- 

 ment, and other industries. The Service is making a comparison of 

 the various "grading rules" which have been adopted by the manu- 

 facturing associations, and of the "specifications" in use by a number 

 of the wood-using industries, for the purpose of determining if the 

 two can not be consolidated. If this could be done, a great deal of 

 waste in the woods, at the mill, and at the factory would be prevented. 



