18 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Aufe-uKt HI. Itrjl 



stani-e. These funyi are depeiulciit for their rapid develoiJineiit 

 upon a suitable amount of iiioisturf, a favorable teiiiperature, suffi- 

 cient air within the wood cells, and a food supply which eaii readily 

 be utilized. Consequently, the durability of any given species of 

 wood is bound up closely willi tlicsc factors. 



'Die sapwood of practically all species is non-durable when sub- 

 jected to conditions favoring decay, and under sucli circumstances 

 sliould not be used unless treated with a preservative'. 



It is very difficult to state tlie <>xact life tliat may be expected 

 of oak, or any other wood, because in individual cases the char- 

 acter of the wood or the severity of the conditions favoring decay 

 might cause the life of the wood to vary from the estimate. 

 Observations by various persons in the course of their practical 

 experience with the different woods, have resulted, and will prob- 

 ably continue to result, in conflicling statements on the durability 

 of the woods. In general, however, there is a more or less definite 

 relation between woods when they are subjected to the same condi 

 tions of decay, and this latter statement should be kept in mind 

 when considering the relative durability of the species stated in 

 this report. 



Untreated white oaks when used for railway ties, under normal 

 conditions, last on an average seven to nine years. Chestnut oak, 

 wliich belongs to the white-o;ik group, is a possible exception; its 

 average life appears to be slightly less than that of. the other white 

 oaks. The life of tlie white oaks for any other use than ties might 

 be estimated if the severity of tlie conditions under which the tim- 

 bers are to be used can be cmnpared with those to which ties are 

 subjected. 



The. red oaks are about one-half as durable as the white-oak 

 group. 



The aspens, yellow buckeye, basswood, willow, Cottonwood, true 

 tirs, spruces, beech, birches, maples, sycamore, cotton gum, black 

 gum, hemlocks and loblolly, lodgepole and western j'cllow pines 

 prob;ii)ly average one-quarter to a little less than the average of 

 the red-oak group in durability. 



The ashes, hickories, yellow poplar, Norway pine, sugar pine, 

 butternut, white elm, cork elm, slippery elm, red gum and short- 

 leaf pine may be expected to last on the average from nearly one- 

 lialf to three-quarters as long as white oak. 



Western larch, tamarack, the white pines, Cuban pine, longleaf 

 pine, honey locust, southern white cedar and Douglas fir might be 

 expected to have an average life from almost three-quarters to 

 approximately the average tor the white oaks. Chestnut and black 

 walnut will possibly average a little more durable than the white 

 oaks. 



Bald cypress, redwood and the incense. Port Orford, western red 

 and northern white cedars probably have, on the average, between 

 one and one-quarter and one and three-quarters the life of the 

 white oaks. 



Black locust and usage orange maj' be expected to have an aver- 

 age life of at least twice that of white oak. 



In selecting wood for a given use, it should be remembered that 

 the heartwood in most species is more durable than the sapwood, 

 so that if durability is a requirement, pieces with as much heart- 

 wood as possible should be selected. 



Application of Data 



In choosing between oak and another wood for a given use,. the 

 requirements w'hicli the wood should meet should be listed in order 

 of their importance. The requirements should then be checked, 

 so far as possible, with the data given in this article on: 



1. Structure and identification o£ the various groups of oak. 



2. Actual weiglils per cubic foot of the different woods, green, air- 

 dried and kiln-dried. 



3. Shrinisagc of the different woods, considering the actual shrinkage 

 radially and tangentially, tlie ratio of the tangential to radial shrinkage, 



and tlif comiiai'ative shrinkagi- in voliiine from a grreii to an oven-di-y 

 cniiditioii liased on oak. 



4. C'linipanitive oven-diy spcciOc gravity of tlw different woods based 

 on volunif wiien green, using oak as basis of comparison. This is often 

 thought ot' as relative weight or density. 



3. Strength as a beam or post, hardness, slunk n-^istinj; ability, and 

 stiffness of other woods compared with oak. 



(1. Relative durability of the woods. 



>>o data on manufacturing and seasoning are given in this 

 article, and in selecting a wood for a given use based on the infor- 

 mation given here it must be assumed that it is properly manu- 

 factured and seasoned. Neither are data given on special require- 

 ments, such as resonance, odor, color, etc. 



The application of the data in a few eases may serve as a guide 

 to the reader in solving tte question of which wood is best adapted 

 to his needs. If a wood of mediuin-dark finish is desired, for 

 example, then oak is usually acceptable. If plain-sawed finish is 

 desired, red oak is often preferred to white oak, because it is more 

 open-textured and gives an open-work design. If quarter-sawed 

 finish is desired, white oak is usually preferred to red oak, because 

 its larger medullary rays give more prominent flakes on the radial 

 surface. If flooring is being purchased for a house, the consumer, 

 in addition to grade, is interested primarily in shrinkage, texture, 

 color and hardness; whereas, if the flooring is for a stable, hardness 

 and durability are the principal requirements. If shock-resisting 

 ability is needed, as in a handle or sjjoke, hickory is preferable to 

 oak. In a treenail for fastening on a ship plank, durability is one 

 of the principal requirements, and osage orange and black locust 

 are preferable to white oak; white oak in turn is better than red 

 oak, which is not only less durable but also more porous, thus per- 

 mitting seepage of water into the ship. Each use should receive 

 special and careful consideration, in order that the consumer may 

 receive the ma.ximum service. Only through the wise use of wood 

 by proper selection, manufacture and treatment can the increase 

 in the use of substitutes be checked. Increasing the goodwill of the 

 consumer through service and through the adaptation of the best 

 material for his requirements will inevitably increase the demand 

 for wood. 



Edward Hines Loan Quickly Oversold 



The attractiveness of American western made industrial bonds, 

 secured by natural assets, as compared to foreign government 

 bonds, based on taxation security, is strikingly demonstrated by 

 the rapid absorption of the $5,000,000 loan made to the Edward 

 Hines Associated Lumber Interests by Baker, Fentress & Company 

 in conjunction with the Continental and Commercial Trust and 

 Savings Bank and the Illinois Trust & Savings Bauk, all of Chicago. 

 The first mortgage 8 per cent serial gold bonds of this loan, which 

 were advertised by Baker, Fentress & Company in Hardwood 

 Record and other trade journals and newspaper.s, a few weeks ago, 

 have already been oversold. The bonds are listed on the Chicago 

 stock exchange. 



The bonds were bought by the general investing public and" the 

 readiness with which they were taken will demonstrate to lumber- 

 men generally that the bonds of their industry are salable to dis- 

 criminating buyers and with this type of buyer can hold their own 

 with the bonds of any other industry on the market. 



These bonds are secured by a first mortgage on properties of the 

 Park Falls Lumber Company and Edward Hines Yellow Pine Trus- 

 tees, comprising approximately 305,000 acres of timber lands in 

 Wisconsin and Mississippi, all owned in fee simple (except 19,000 

 acres of timber rights), estimated to carry 2,700,000,000 feet of 

 merchantable timber, together with five sawmills, railroads and 

 other equipment. On the basis of pre-war prices for timber, and 

 cost, less depreciation for sawmills and equipment, the value of 

 these properties is over $20,000,000 or more than four times the 

 amount of the bonds of the first issue. 



