20 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



People who invest their money in eucalyptus growing are simply 

 throwing it to the dogs, because eucalyptus at its best does not 

 constitute a material that makes even a commendable firewood. 



Opportunity Neglected 



Lumbermen have been slo%v to make use of the opportunity 

 afforded by the government forest products laboratory maintained 

 at Madison, Wis., and fully equijiped with machines, apparatus 

 and technically trained men, to make tests and carry on experi- 

 ments along lines in which lumbermen ought to be interested. 

 The laboratory has been at work more than three years, and 

 during that time it is said not one lumberman has visited it to 

 investigate its work or its scope. The only reasonable explanation 

 of that state of affairs is that those engaged in the lumber busi- 

 ness are not fully informed of the existence of the laboratory, or, 

 at least, do not know of the opportunities offered by it for solving 

 or helping to solve problems of the greatest importance. 



Although the lumber business in this country is about three hun- 

 dred years old, and large numbers of very competent, experienced 

 men have been engaged in it, it is nevertheless a fact that a good 

 many features of cutting and handling the products of the forest 

 are yet in experimental stages. At any rate, some of the old methods 

 are too slow for present conditions, while an increasing scarcity of 

 certain kinds of timber makes it necessary to lay aside methods 

 which once might have been all right but au- now out of date. 



The laboratory's work is along practical lines; it deals with 

 present conditions, not those 

 which prevailed long ago. It 

 does not concern itself with 

 theories which lead no man 

 knows where. Its purpose is 

 to apply science to common, 

 simple problems which have not 

 yet been worked out in a satis- 

 factory manner. Take the mat- 

 ter of seasoning lumber as an 

 example. No millman claims 

 that the last word has been 

 said on that subject, or that 

 present methods are accomplish- 

 ing all that is to be desired. 

 Much has been learned, but 

 something remains to be found 

 out, and right there is where 

 the laboratory is getting in its 

 work. 



It is seasoning lumber by 

 every known process which 

 promises valuable results, and 



it is pushing its investigations somewhat outside the processes 

 which have been tried elsewhere and heretofore. It carries out air 

 drying; it applies artificially heated air; it mixes the hot air with 

 certain amounts of moisture; it applies steam under all pressures 

 from atmospheric up to three hundred pounds. It combines, varies 

 and modifies these methods and makes record of results. Special 

 apparatus has been constructed to test every process at every step. 

 Checking, warping, shrinking, swelling, ease-hardening, and all 

 other undesirable results which have plagued lumbermen from the 

 beginning until the present, are duly studied, with a view to find- 

 ing a cure. 



Work has followed another line, no less interesting and no less 

 valuable. Preservative treatment of timber to lessen decay is no 

 new thing, but the art still seems to be only on the threshold of 

 what it is destined to become. The laboratory is striking ahead 

 in its exploration of new fields. Timbers which once had little 

 more value than weeds are now made fit for substantial service to 

 mankind. The laboratory did not blaze the trails in this explora- 

 tion, but it is rounding up results. Some oX the old methods and 

 materials which have been proved to possess little value have 

 been replaced by others. Cheap woods are fitted to take the place 



rUNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL 



Sljp iSoypr Wl|fpl (duutpatiu 



/IDanufacturcrs of 



Tlrl)irlf lilicpis 



Aurora, Ind., Oct. 15, 1512. 

 HARDWOOD RECORD, 



Chicago, 111. 

 Gentlemen; 



We certainly read each issue of Hardwood Record 

 closely, and have gotten a great deal of benefit from these 

 columns. We would feel lost without it. 



THE ROYER WHEEL COMPANY, 

 J. H. Wilder, Supt. 



once occupied by the more expensive, leaving those of great value 

 to fill higher places. 



The waste problem is ever present to the successful lumberman; 

 he cannot get away from it. Very much must yet be done before 

 the problem, with all its ramifications, can be solved, but the 

 laboratory has attacked it, and with success in many particulars. 

 Take as an example paper making from southern yellow pine. It 

 is well known that enormous quantities of that wood are wasted, 

 and popular belief has been held that paper of a substantial grade 

 could not be made of that material. The laboratory installed a 

 small paper mill, employed practical paper makers, and went to 

 work on the problem. It demonstrated the practicability of 

 manufacturing strong, tough, serviceable paper from yellow pine. 

 The wearing properties of the product are excellent. Its color 

 disqualifies it for book and newspaper work, but it is suitable 

 for bags, wrapping paper, colored envelopes, and for many other 

 purposes. 



Another line of investigation has been undertaken by the 

 laboratory, promising valuable results to the lumber interests in 

 general, but particularly to engineers, architects and builders. 

 It concerns the physical properties of American woods, strength, 

 stiffness, toughness, elasticity and hardness. No thorough, syste- 

 matic and uniform work has ever been carried out along that 

 line for all the important woods in this country. Investigators 

 have worked at it piecemeal, and figures obtained by one differed 

 from another 's because based on different conditions. The labo- 

 ratory started at the beginning, 

 and is producing figures uniform 

 and accurate. There will never 

 be occasion to do it over. 



The examples cited indicate 

 the lines along which the labo- 

 ratory is doing its work, but 

 do not by any means show the 

 full scope of its activities. The 

 men are thoroughly trained in 

 scientific methods, and each is a 

 specialist in his particular work. 

 A good many lumbermen are 

 too much inclined to believe 

 that there is nothing more in 

 their business for them to learn; 

 but many of the most practical 

 problems are only half solved. 

 A closer working Telationship 

 between lumbermen and the lab- 

 oratory would unquestionably 

 bear good fruit. A full and 

 free discussion of troubles, suc- 

 cesses,' failures, and achievements would lead to valuable results. 

 The lumbermen 's experience and observations, combined with the 

 scientists ' knowledge of natural laws and applied mechanics, would 

 doubtless, in many cases, lead to satisfactory solutions of some of 

 the problems which have long vexed the lumber industry. The 

 laboratory is maintained by the government at great expense for 

 the benefit of those engaged in manufacturing and using forest 

 products. 



Standardizing Lumber for Furniture Making 



Charles F. Kade in au article in The Furniture Manufacturer 

 for October points out to furniture producers the desirability of 

 establishing standard sizes in the manufacture of their product. 

 The writer calls attention to the fact that many manufacturers 

 in different lines of industry are getting together and standardiz- 

 ing their products so that designs, sizes, material and price-lists 

 are all standard. He cites as examples the following industries: 

 Glue, screws, nails, lumber, glass, sandpaper, mirrors, art glass, 

 iron, steel, copper, tools, electrical supplies, motors, machinery, 

 carpets, rugs, clothing, hats and shoes. Many other examples 

 might be added to this list. 



