MEASURING CORDWOOD IN SHORT LENGTHS 



(Contribution from School of Forestry, Yale University, No. ;) 



By R. C. Hawley 



Professor of Forestry, Yale University 



In connection with the recent wood-fuel campaign the writer had 

 occasion to serve under the United States Fuel Administration in 

 charge of cordwood for the New Haven district. This work brought 

 rather forcibly into view certain features relating to the distribution 

 and sale of cordwood. 



It is to be hoped that as a consequence of the high prices and scarcity 

 of coal during the last two years and the spread of knowledge regard- 

 ing wood fuel that there may be a permanently increased use of cord- 

 wood. This is a matter of the greatest importance in making possible 

 a wider and more intensive application of forestry. Anything which 

 will assist in putting the cordwood business on a sounder and more 

 dignified basis should interest foresters. 



The appointment of special men to have charge of wood fuel was not 

 initiated in southern New England until 1918. In the New Haven dis- 

 trict organized work began late in September of that year. After a 

 rapid survey of the situation, it was evident that several lines of activity 

 were necessary — either to increase the supply of wood available, to 

 facilitate distribution, to increase the use of wood, or to stabilize prices. 

 It is not intended to describe what was accomplished along all these 

 lines. Let it suffice to say that for New Haven the most interesting 

 problem was the control of wood prices. This article treats with cer- 

 tain points developed in dealing with price control. 



The L^nited States Fuel Administration had no legal power to fix 

 W'Ood prices. But it was early seen, in Connecticut at least, that under 

 war conditions the force of "moral suasion," as judiciously exercised 

 by representatives of the Fuel Administration and the State Council of 

 Defense, had power, as shown in results secured, comparable to law. 



Wood prices in New Haven had risen from $8 per cord, delivered, 



for hardwood in short lengths, in 1914. to $14 a cord in the first half of 



1918, and appeared to be still moving upward. For the purpose of 



holding prices down to the level then existing, a schedule was drawn 



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