February 25, 1916 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



37 



no doubt been tendered equipment in many Instances with a large quan- 

 tity of snow and ice on tlie cars. In arriving at the net weight of the 

 shipment the marlsed tare of the car is generally used and unless shippers 

 have been allowed a deduction tor the weight of the snow they will be 

 heavily overcharged. I am advised that some of the railroads are allowing 

 only seven or eight pounds per cubic foot for snow. This is not enough 

 under the conditions which prevailed in these two states as we had 

 alternate snows, rains and freezing spells which increased the weight of 

 snowfall far above the normal. The weather bureau reports in Portland 

 indicate the average weights of snow falling during these months to 

 range from twenty to thirty pounds while the building Inspectors have 

 estimated weights at certain periods from thirty to forty pounds per cubic 

 foot. It is my judgment that railroads should allow at least fifteen 

 pounds for dry snow and twenty-seven pounds for wet. These figures 

 would average out about right for these two states for the months of 

 .lanuary and February up to date. I recommend that all claims for 

 snow allowance be made on this basis : hTe measurements to be deter- 

 mined by taking the length and the width of the car, multiplying by the 

 average depth of the snow which each mill man should have taken the 

 precaution to have ascertained before loading equipment. 



With the excessive snow at some of the northern lake regions, the 

 probability is that the same is the experience In that part of the country. 



English Report on Hardwoods 



Representative reports from English brokers show that the hardwood 

 situation in England is lining up pretty well. Tliis is particularly true 

 of mahogany, as advance in values, according to the information, has 

 established itself earlier and more quickly and thoroughly than had been 

 expected. This is duo primarily to a good increase in current freight 

 rates to which is added a revival in demand both in .Vmerican and home 

 consumption. Recent auction sales were attended by a large number of 

 buyers and prospective buyers, which was conclusive evidence of the 

 general revival of interest throughout the trade. There seemed to be a 

 little hesitation about paying advanced prices. It is roughly estimated 

 the appreciation in values approximated thirty per cent in Honduras wood 

 and as much as sixty per cent in Grand Bassam stock, which were the 

 two principal woods offered. 



Speaking of .Vmerican hardwoods, the report •states there continues 

 to be a good demand for walnut logs of good quality and size, while 

 rather heavy importations of planks and boards during January were 

 taken care of on account of steadily decreasing stock and active demand. 

 The arrivals of poplar were light at the time the report was sent out, and 

 were being badly broken into. This in connection with a good Inquiry 

 for various descriptions of poplar resulted in a .strong situation. The 

 conditions surrounding quartered oak at the time the report was com- 

 piled were not so favorable as there was little inquiry for this material 

 and ample stock on hand. In plain stock a strong demand and small 

 arrivals caused increased prices, while tor ash there was a limited demand 

 and heav.v stocks. 



American Walnut Very Active 



Reports from all over the country indicate that tlie demand for Amer- 

 ican walnut lumber and veneers has become exceedingly active. The 

 scarcity of imported woods which have been popular in high-grade cab- 

 inet work has stimulated the call for the domestic article, and the gen- 

 eral improvement in the furniture and allied trades has likewise boosted 

 the demand for walnut. In fact, the walnut interests, which have been 

 carrying on an aggressive campaign for the past two years, in the face 

 of a considerable depression, are now in a position to take advantage 

 of the favorable conditions which have developed. The interior finish 

 field is particularly important from a consuming standpoint just now, 

 and walnut men say that store fixtures and other trim for high-grade 

 retail houses are taking a good deal of material, as architects specializ- 

 ing in this class of work appear to have taken a strong fancy to this 

 wood. Generally speaking, therefore, the walnut situation can be com- 

 pared only to the supposed "hey-day" .of its activity, and judging by the 

 present its popularity in the twentieth century is likely to exceed even 

 that of the nineteenth ceutury. 



Candidate for Circassian Walnut's Place 



A new candidate for Circassian walnut's jilace as a rotary veneer wood 

 has been put forward. It is the black ironwood (Olca laurifoliaj of South 

 and East -Africa. It is very heavy, hard and dense, and in those prop- 

 erties it is different from walnut ; but the figure of rotary veneer is 

 shaded dark and light, with streaks and clouded effects which' are said 

 to rival the figure of Circassian walnut. Tlie wood varies in weight when 

 dry from fifty-five to seventy-three pounds per cubic toot. It is very 

 strong and in East Africa its principal use is tor wagon making. It is 

 expensive to work on account of its hardness. According to Herbert 

 Stone, trees attain a height of from forty to seventy feet and diameter 

 of two or three feet. Though nearly as hard as lignum-vitae, it lacks 

 the flinty hardness of that wood. No record can be found that this 

 wood has ever been used in the United States. There is no definite in- 

 formation concerning the extent of supply. 



Charcoal Burning Nearly a Lost Art 



The enormous demands for explosives on account of the war has brought 

 home to England the fact that the burning of charcoal is nearly a lost 

 art in that country. There are a few people who understand how to do 

 it, but not many. The old-time charcoal burners are dead, and they left 

 no experienced men to take their place, because the business had declined 

 so greatly that there had been little call for burners in recent years. 

 Particular care is needed in selecting wood for charcoal in ammunition 

 making. Few kinds are suitable. The best to be had in England are 



alder and the English dogwood, which is a different tree from the dog- 

 woods of .\merica. With wise foresight, extensive areas of alder were 

 maintained in England as a reserve material for powder making in case 

 of a great war. This supply is now available and there is no scarcity 

 of wood, but there is a scarcity of men who know how to burn it properly. 



Wooden Auto Tires 



According to reports a tire maker in Vienna has perfected an auto- 

 tire made of wood fiber held together by some secret binding material. 

 The woods used are willow and birch, and from the description, the 

 tire is a sort of paper. It consists of an outer and an inner tube, like 

 the ordinary pneumatic tire. A trial run of 4.37 miles was made and 

 the tires showed no unusual wear. If this invention has been actually 

 made as reported, it is of first-class importance, as it promises a sub- 

 stitute for rubber; but it is well enough to wait for further reports 

 before believing the whole story. 



Rum and Mahogany 



Under the above caption a recent metropolitan daily runs a little 

 article calling attention to the fact that as many as six sailing vessels 

 have entered the African trading since last spring, leaving the Atlantic 

 coast ports with cargoes of rum. There was a question as to what 

 the schooners laden with New England rum for West Africa will bring 

 home. That question has puzzled many who have noted the strange 

 revival of the rum trafliic that used to fiourish in the slavery days. How- 

 ever, a four-mast schooner, the first to leave in connection with this- 

 new traffic, recently returned to Boston with 486,673 feet of mahogany 

 logs from West Africa. The round voyage consumed seven months, the 

 loading of the mahogany being a slow process owing to the indolence of 

 African labor. 



At the dock was another capacious windjammer ready to sail with 

 200,000 gallons of rum, 1,500 barrels of Hour and other necessaries for 

 the African natives. 



(< 



LOG ROSSER" 



This ROSSF.R la designed for use on any 

 and all saw, hoop and handle mills, to be 

 used on muddy Ky .u;! gritty 1 nr^ It cuts a path, the depth of bark, one-half Inch 

 wide, while log Is moving toward saw. thus removing all grit and obstacles. Injurious 

 tu the saw. from the saw-line, without any loss of time. 



The ROSSER' arm works automatically and will ride over any shape log, will 

 mound over knota and immediately follow back on log. 



Can be controlled by hand 



(Patented) 



or knee. 



NOTICE this ROSSER 

 will perfectly clean your logs. 



just when and where it Is 

 needed, will do the work of 

 several men. will reduce the 

 filing room cost, will save the 

 saw and also enable the cut- 

 ting of a belter grade of 

 Iximber. 



Send for particulars. 



J. A. WEBER CO. 



Toledo, Ohio 



Mfgrs. Sawmllliog Machinery. 



CINCINNATI 



Hardwood Manufacturers and Jobbers 



C. CRANE & COMPANY 



Manufacturer, of Hardwood Lumber, Oak & Poplar eipecially 



Our location makes possible quick delivery of anytbinK In timbers 



and hardwood lumber 



OHIO VENEER COMPANY 

 Manufacturers & Importers FOREIGN VENEERS 



2624-34 COLBatAIN AVENUE 



AU Three of Us Will Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



