HARDWOOD RECORD 



26a 



wood. These are the only two fji-iules whieh today bring more than 

 cost of iiianiifacture. The log ran value of lunijjer produced in tim- 

 l)er of tliis siac is $15.77, or but ."> cents per thousand feet over the 

 cost of manufacture. In other woods, the manufacturer of red gum 

 lumber goes into the woods and selects 22 per cent of liis very best 

 trees — gum trees tliat have taken liundrcils of years to grow — leaving 

 the other 78 per cent in the w'oods. He brings the -- per cent to 

 the mill, manufactures it into lumber and sells 61 per cent of this 

 21i per cent for less than it cost him to make it. The middle chart 

 cxi)lains in detail log run values. .\t the bottom is a chart showing 

 tonnage and revenue that the cairiers may reasonably exjiect if tim- 

 ber of this size is converted into lumber and shipped under existing 

 freight rates. For fear some of those present may not be able to see 

 this chart will read the figures, which are: ti,262,H00,000 feet, amount- 

 ing to 417, .50U cars, producing revenue amounting to $41,750,000. 

 1 wish to impress upon you that if only these logs of the most choice 

 quality are manufactured, 3,967 feet of gum timlicr per acre will be 

 destroyed. 



Chakt No. Tiihke 

 Chart No. .'! represents a cross sectional view of a 20-inch log. This 

 is the minimum size log of this grou)!. The maximum size is hardly 

 distinguishable from a log shown in Chart No. 2. Prom logs of these 

 sizes we obtain only 5 per cent fas red gum and 6 per cent box 

 hoards, leaving a balance of 89 per cent to be sold at less than cost 

 to manufact' le. The log run value for timber of this size is $lo.48 

 > er thousand feet, or $2.24 less than cost of production. You will note 

 the large proportion of low-grade lumber from this size, for all of 

 which market is in the central states, such as Illinois, Indiana, Mich- 

 igan and Ohio, where large quantities are used for box making, crat- 

 ing and other purposes to which low-grade woods are put. A reduc- 

 tion in rates of 3 cents per 100 pounds would place mills in the 

 three southern states of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi where 

 they could cut their timber down to 19 inches. And under this rate 

 adjustment, railroads would secure 17,648,300,000 feet of lumber to 

 haul, making 1,176,400 cars, and pioducing in round figures one 

 hundred million dollars in revenue, which would be $58,244,000 more 

 than they would receive if lumbermen were compelled to leave this 

 tiuduM- in the woods, or destroy it if land were placed under cultiva- 

 tion. With a reduction of 3 cents in freight rates an average of 

 1,9")!) feet per acre would still be left, as it wouhl be un|profitable to 

 manufacture it on this adjustment. 



Chart No. Four 



Chart No. 4 covers sizes from 16 to 19 inches. Cross section at top 

 is reproduced from a 16-inch log, the smallest size of this group. 

 These logs do not produce any of the upper grades, such as fas red 

 gum or box boards. No jiart of this log is suitable for interior or 

 cabinet work. Its i>roduct is used almost entirely in the manufacture 

 of boxes and crating. It would require a reduction of 5 cents in pres- 

 ent freight rates before it would be possible for these sizes to be 

 cut and cost of production realized from sale of their products. With 

 a reduction of 5 cents per 100 pounds, 4,695 feet of gum timber per 

 acre could be utilized, which would leave but 405 feet per acre in the 

 woods. Tliis timber would produce 26,187,800,000 feet, making 

 1,745,800 cars, and producing a revenue of $130,935,000 in freight, 

 or $89,185,000 more revenue than the railroads can now hope to expect 

 under present ad justnieiit. 



Ch.\ht No. Five 



My idea in svibinitting the chart No. 5 is to show exactly what a 

 12-inch log is and how it compares with a log 26 inches in diameter. 

 The percentage of waste in a 12-iuch log is greater in proportion than 

 the larger sizes, and nothing but low-grade lumber can be derived 

 from it. As previously stated, in the northern hardwoods, on account 

 of lower cost of logging, and many other advantages, especially low 

 rates to consuming markets, which are in many eases less than half 

 what we are required to pay on gum timber of this size if it consisted 

 of maple or beech, would possess a stumpage value. With us it has 

 no worth, and, to a farmer clearing up land, is a serious impediment. 

 If there were any possibility that our rates would be made so as to 

 enable greater publicity being given gum lumber, and there were any 

 prospects for the future of this wood, timber of this size would be 

 preserved and in time become merchantable. 



Range of Selling Prices 



Chart No. 6 gives a detailed history of log run values, oak, gum 

 and a mixture of oak and gum, proportions being 50 per cent of each 

 wood. This covers a period of five years, commencing January 1, 

 1910, and ending with December 31, 1914. In arriving at log run 

 value, we have figured the product of the oak log from 18 inches and 

 up in diameter and the gum from 24 inches and up in diameter. Had 

 we used figures on gum from 18 inches and up in diameter, the same 

 as on oak, the log run values of the gum lumber would be about $4 

 I er thousand less. The cost figures as shown here represent only items 

 entering into expense of manufacturing, selling, etc., and do not 



I9IO 



25.00 



24.00 





1911 



tot DC xtt >- o J k-'.r^o 



1912 



t 01 tit vtC o Z 



^ u 5 0- S 



-> u. I < ] E 



i-LJ^ CHART SHOWING 



RANGE OF PRICES 

 oiHARDWOOD LUMBER 



AT MILLING POINT TAKING 



19' RATE ON OUM LU 

 ^ •• ■• OAK 



1913 



1911- 





^HAKT No. G. 



