S5 World Markets for American Lumber ^2^ 



SECOND ARTICLE 



Editor's Note 

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 Inrly with aourcMi of Information coucernlnR the Umber rcsourcea of forclRO countrleii wlib wbtcb bla ■blpmcnts 

 miut compete. 



Lrfiuibenneii ot the United Stateii wh< 

 (orvlKn countrli". nhould utrlke Intelllueni 

 pronpectl 



The |>roooding article of tliis scrice contained a list of United States 

 consular reports which contain practical information for Americans 

 who desire to extend their lumber trade with foreign countries. The 

 prt>scnt article points out additional sources of information, but along 

 somewhat different lines. It lists certain books which deal with oppor- 

 tunities for trade abroad and give numerous facts regarding facilities 

 for commerce. These books point out resources with which the Ameri- 

 can lumber exporter must compcto, and conditions which will help or 

 hinder the expansion of our forcet products business in remote regions. 

 It is clear to the person who expects to push trade in foreign countries- 

 (hilt he should know as much as possible of advantages and disadvan- 

 tages which must bo encountered. 



One of the first matters to consider is the competition likely to be 

 met. American lumber exports, no matter what their distination, will 

 meet competition from timber grown elsewhere. The exporter should 

 not expect clear sailing anywhere. He must face existing conditions, 

 and the better he understands them, the better will be his chance of 

 8ucc«s8. Profitable business is unlikely for the man who goes into an 

 unknown market blindly. 



FORHON TlUBEK RESOURCES 



The man who would ship oak lumber to Manchuria would likely 

 regret it, because he could not compete there with the native oak. This 

 supposed case is cited as an example. He should first ascertain what 

 competition must be met, and if it is too strong, he ought to hunt a 

 better place for his product. Wide investigation will make that 

 course possible. 



There are a number of standard books which deal with the timbers 

 and forest resources of all countries. The commercial woods of various 

 regions are listed and described. The exporter who may be thinking 

 of looking for a market for red gum in Brazil, for example, should 

 consult available authorities and ascertain if Brazil and surrounding 

 regions produce timber likely to crowd his particular kind out of that 

 market. If so, he will seek a market elsewhere. 



It is possible to learn from books a great deal about the forest 

 resources of most foreign countries. The information to be obtained 

 in that manner is preliminary, and should be followed up by special 

 investigation to fit each man 's particular problems : but as a first 

 step — and it is a pretty long step — an acquaintance with books on 

 the subject is of great importance to the prospective lumber exporter. 

 It is poor policy ' ' to carry coals to Newcastle ' ' — meaning that it is 

 unprofitable to ship to a market already oversnpplied with a similar 

 article. 



Books Descriptivb of Foreign Woods 



The books which are briefly described below are by well-informed 

 authors. Some of the publications include the whole world, others 

 refer principstUy to certain countries, as indicated under each title. 

 There are hundreds of books relating to forests and timber, but the 

 lumberman can obtain -a general working knowledge of the timbers of 

 other countries by reading the books in the following list. They may 

 be ordered from any general bookseller. 



"The Timbers of Commerce and Their Identification," by Herbert 

 Stone, 311 pages, an English work published in London in 1904. It is 

 an interesting and valuable book, not only for reference but for 

 general reading. Its title accurately describes it. Practically every 

 wood of importance in the world, as far as known at the time the book 

 iras written, is described, and 186 illustrations from photographs show 

 the structure of the wood."!. The work is not divided into chapters, 



but each of the 2-17 species is separately considered under its own 

 heading. The American exporter of lumber will find this book worth 

 a great deal as a source of information concerning any wood with 

 which he must compete in foreign markets. The uses of the woods 

 are briefly listed, and the reasons why the woods are fitted for aneb 

 uses are generally set forth. 



"Timber," by Paul Cliarpentier, 437 pages, published in London, 

 1902. This is Joseph Kennell 's translation of the original French 

 work which began with the sentence: "France will perish for want of 

 wood." It was written for the French timber merchants and people, 

 but much of it applies with equal force to Americans engaged in the 

 timber business. Though the work is in a single volume, it is a cyclo- 

 pedia of the world's timbers and their utilization. 



It is divided in six principal parts, the first dealing with the physical 

 and chemical properties of wood; second, description of the different 

 species in many countries; third, division of the useful varieties of 

 timber in the different countries of the world; fourth, forests, which 

 is a study of physical geography rather than lumber; fifth, the preser- 

 vation of timber; sixth, application of timber. The commercial trees 

 of the world are described, country by country and species by speciet. 



"The Trees of Commerce," by William Stevenson, 274 pages, 

 London, 1908. The material contained in this book appeared originally 

 as a series of articles in the Timber Trades Journal of London, but 

 has now passed through two editions in book form. It relates chiefly 

 to British commerce in timber, but it covers the whole world in a 

 highly satisfactory manner. Only forty-nine woods are particularly 

 described, but many others are mentioned. An outline of its contents 

 shows its scope: 



The loadlnic; softwoods of the world, including pines, sprucen, flr», 

 larches, cedars, hemlocks, and cypresses. 



.\frlcan mahogany and other go-called mahoganies, Including tboK of 

 Austrnlla. 



Numerous bnrdwoods. Including ebony, grcen-beart, rosewood, satin- 

 wood, and teak. 



The account of various uses ot American woods In England la one of 

 the most valuable features of this book from the standpoint of the United 

 States exporter of tbos" woods. The book Is valuable also for Its conclM 

 and easll.v-under8tood description of the physical properties of varloof 

 woods. 



' ' Timber and Timber Trees, ' ' by Thomas Laslett, 352 pages, pub- 

 lished in London in 1875. Much has been found out concerning foreign 

 woods since this book was written, but the author was a master of his 

 subject at the time he wrote. The book was meant for the timber 

 merchants of England, but much of the information which was service- 

 able to them in their campaign for world-wide timber trade, will serve 

 Americans today who are on the same quest. 



Laslett 's book contains thirty-nine chapters, each devoted to a 

 special phase of the subject. It deals with the wood itself rather 

 than with the geography of the countries where it grows. Numerous 

 statistical tables are included which are now out of date; but the 

 American lumberman who reads this book will feci that it has made 

 him better prepared to enter the world's markets with his product. 

 He will obtain a large amount of information concerning the various 

 woods with which his shipments must come in competition. 



"Familiar Trees," by G. S. Bonlger, three volumes, 483 pages, an 

 English work published in London, 1907. Tbis set of books nearly 

 always has a place in lists of works dealing with timber, but as an aid 

 to the American lumber exporter its value is small. It deals almost 

 wholly with trees growing naturally in England or successfully planted 



