LOG ROLLWAY AT A LARGE BAVARIAN SAWMILL. NOTE HOW 

 ROUND AND SYXLMETRICAL THE LOGS ARE. 



man machines are built to save lumber and power, whereas American 

 machines are built to save labor. Our machines are built to turn 

 ont enormous quantities of product at our sawmills; on the other 

 hand German machines turn out quality of product. German machines 

 are frequently constructed and fitted to serve a variety of purposes 

 whereas American machinery is intended to turn out one product and 

 to do that quickly. German machinery in turn ordinarily lasts for 

 a long time whereas ours is not expected to last more than from 

 fifteen to twenty years or so. 



It is gratifying, however, to see the amount of American machinery 

 in use in Europe. At the above mentioned Bavarian mill, several 

 of the pieces were of American make. In fact the only band saw- 

 mill in the whole Black Forest region, and one of the very few in 

 Germany, was fitted with machinery made by an American manufac- 

 turer. Another interesting fact in connection with these small sawmills 

 is the great variety of products that are usually turned out. Many 

 of these are by-prodi'cts of the main output and would frequently 

 be sent to the "hog" or burner in this country. 



Contrasted to American conditions, small logs are the rule. 

 This is explained by the fact that under any system of scientific 

 forest management, it does not pay to wait until trees become of 

 large size before they should be cut. The "financial rotation," as 

 it is called, permits of the growth of trees just large enough to be 

 utilized for saw-logs and not left long enough in the woods for the 

 compound interest charges to nullify the dividends. This means 

 therefore rather knotty and low-grade lumber. 



Long timbers or tree lengths are also the rule. On many opera- 

 tions twenty-three feet (seven meters) is the minimum log length. 

 The advantages explained in connection with this procedure are that 

 the logging and transportation to the mill are more economical, the 

 long logs can be better sawed to the desired length at the mill, and 

 there is no loss in trimming. Loggers in this country commonly 

 allow from three to six inches for abrasion in transportation and 

 trim at the mill. In many of the German mills, logs are cut to the 

 even desired length and there is no trimming done at all. Long 

 lengths are also barked before shipment. It is said that bark con- 

 stitutes an average of ten per cent of the total material in a log. 

 In the case of Norway spruce, beech, and oak, the bark is used for 

 tanning purposes. The bark of other trees is used for fuel. 



Another important phase of utilization at German sawmills is 

 the universal practice of sawing closer than is the custom in this 

 country. That is, only an eighth or a sixteenth of an inch is al- 

 lowed for dressing, and stock intended for a variety of uses is never 

 allowed to be sawed one inch in thickness, when three-quarters or 

 five-eighths will suffice. Of course different standards of measure- 

 ment are used in Germany (metric system) but this is offered as 

 exemplary of the manner in which they study their market and then 

 saw accordingly. 



As mentioned before, there are hardly ever any trimmings which 

 in this country go to the "hog" or are sent to the burner. Edgings 



THE METHOD OF PILING IN GERMANY IS PRACTICALLY THE 

 SAME AS THAT IN USE IN THIS COUNTRY. 



are used for handles of all kinds, chair rounds, novelty and toy 

 stock, etc., and are seldom used for fuel. The wooden top industry 

 is very important in Germany and toys are exported to America 

 as well as to every European country. The center of this industry 

 is in Xuremburg in northern Bavaria. Slabs are utilized largely for 

 boxboards, veneer cores, short stock, fuel, novelties, etc. Sawdust 

 is sold for fuel and is utilized for making paper and wood alcohol 

 and for general packing purposes. In covering practically every 

 producing region of Germany, the writer failed to see a refuse burner 

 and it is doubtful if there is one in the whole country. Practically 

 all of their ties are sawed, which saves the enormous waste prevalent 

 with our hewn tics. The German railway specifications are also very 

 economical in that in cross section, ties need not be rectangular as 

 is the case with American ties. The upper side can be as narrow as 

 five or six inches as long as the base or lower face is at least ten 

 inches in width. By this means, many logs are made to yield two 

 ties instead of one, as with our railroads. 



A very interesting feature of their sawmills is that hydro-electric 

 or even steam power supplied with coal is utilized in many cases in- 

 stead of using sawdust and refuse for fuel. Scarcely a single horse- 

 power in the form of falling water in the mountains is allowed to 

 go to waste with the consequent result that a great economy is in- 

 troduced. It is said that the first sawmill in Germany was run by 

 direct water power as early as 1322. 



In grading, rules formulated and adopted by lumber associations 

 similar to those in this country are prevalent. They are based on 

 dimensions and defects in the same manner as with our own lumber 

 associations. All lumber cut from certain butt logs is piled together 

 for special uses such as matched veneers, furniture stock, and fancy 

 panel stock. In almost every lumber yard it is a common sight to 

 see these boards from the select logs piled one on top of the other 

 just as they occurred in the log. The result is much better prices. 

 Most of the oak from the famous Spessart region is piled in this 

 way, and for fancy veneers and cabinet work, especially fine large 

 trees are said to bring from $500 to $1,000 on the stump. 



In Germany wood is sold by the cubic unit rather than by the 

 board foot and it is probable that in the future Americans will adopt 

 the same method. One is somewhat surprised at the amount of 

 lumber seasoned wholly in the open or under sheds. Although con- 

 siderable is kiln-dried, not as much is put through this process as 

 one would naturally expect. 



Since Germany 's forests produce only four principal species, 

 American and other foreign woods are largely used. 



At several of the mills visited, many intensive lines of utilization 

 were developed. For instance, at one mill, besides the usual lumber 

 and box board product, there were special machines for turning out 

 broom handles, wooden shoes, implement stock, cooperage, furniture 

 stock, ties, and excelsior, and in addition there was a Boucherie 

 timber treating plant to prolong the life of telephone and telegraph 

 poles. '^'- C- B. 



