LOADING PLATFORM AND COUNTER-BALANCED GUIDES FOR AC- PART OF LINE OF LOADED TRUCKS SHOWING SECTION OF 

 CURATELY PLACING PILING STICKS, LAMB-FISH LUM- TRANSFER AND CROSS-OVER TRACK, LAMB-FISH LUM- 



BER COMPANY, CHARLESTON, MISS. HER COMPANY, CHARLESTON, MISS. 



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Kraetzer -Cured Lumber 



A commorf-sense method of lumber seasoning, as exemplified in 

 the employment of the commercial wood steaming apparatus known 

 as the Kraetzer steam cylinder preparator, has been previously dis- 

 cussed in Hardwood Record. Lest there be confusion in the minds 

 of lumbermen on the subject, let it once more be stated that this 

 apparatus is not a dry kiln, but an equipment for steaming under 

 pressure the daily lumber output of a sawmill for the purpose of 

 preparing it for quick and accurate seasoning, either in the open 

 or by the agency of a dry kiln. By either method, lumber previously 

 steamed under pressure is dried in less than one-third of the time 

 that is possible with unsteamed wood. 



Either a half score of the foremost lumber manufacturers in the 

 United States are deluding themselves very seriously in the use of 

 this equipment, or it is attaining for them drying results heretofore 

 undreamed of. In economy of handling lumber and seasoning it, it 

 is thoroughly demonstrable that the use of this apparatus effects a 

 saving of between three and four dollars a thousand feet. Such 

 being the case, it can be authoritatively stated that this system of 

 preparing lumber for prompt and accurate seasoning spells more in 

 increased efficiency than does the band saw over the circular. 



Specifically: Both red and sap gum are being steamed in this 



apparatus and blown out in a dry kiln to an average weight of less 

 than 3,000 pounds, and loaded for shipment in six days from the 

 saw. The same thicknesses of gum left on the steaming trucks and 

 blown out in the air are reduced to the same or less weight even 

 under bad drj'ing weather conditions within thirty days. Five-eighths 

 inch red and sap gum, after steaming, are blown out in the air, 

 shipping drj', in approximately ten days. The same thickness of 

 plain red oak and quartered white oak, after steaming and exposed 

 only in the air for drying, is being shipped within twenty days 

 from the saw, while one-inch oak is reduced to less than normal 

 weight and shipped within thirty days from sawing. About the same 

 time is employed for reducing sycamore, cypress, birch and maple, and 

 similar woods, to shipping weight. In fact, all varieties of hard 

 and soft woods that have been handled through this preparator 

 system are being successfully prepared for quick and accurate 

 seasoning. 



In no instance has there been a failure on the part of a lumber 

 manufacturer to achieve the best possible drying results by the aid 

 of this steaming-under-pressure apparatus. This treatment of lumber 

 not only insures quick seasoning, but accomplishes several other very 

 desirable results. It absolutely prevents case hardening, surface 



SHOWING THE- LUMBER STEAMING APPARATUS IN USE, WITH 



LOAD OF LUMBER ON CROSS-OVER TRACK READY TO GO 



INTO CYLINDER WHEN EMPTY. AND TRANSFER 



TRACK TO STORAGE YARD. 



— «0— 



CORNER OF TRACK STORAGE YARD, SHOWING TRUCKS REMOVED 

 AND PILES TILTED SIDEAVISE FOR DRAINAGE AND VEN- 

 TILATION. LUMBER YARD IN BACKGROUND IN 

 PROCESS OF REMOVAL. 



