154 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



waste is included it becomes a serious factor. Thus where round 

 edge white birch lumber is shipped to be made into squares for turn- 

 ing it requires about 1,000 feet of plank weighing 5,000 pounds to make 

 850 feet of squares weighing 4,000 pounds per thousand. In other 

 words, it requires 5,850 pounds of plank to make 4,000 pounds of 

 usable material, and the freight paid is therefore nearly 50 per cent 

 more than where squares are shipped. On a rate of 30 cents, this 

 makes an increase of from $13 to $17.55, or $5.55 per thousand feet 

 of squares. 



Unfortunately only a part of each square can be turned. Several 

 inches out of every 48-inch square is stub waste. Then there is the 

 cut-off waste between the turnings ; and in the case of long turnings, 

 a fraction of one is usually left over. If the square contains knots 

 or other defects there is a further waste, as only clear stock can be 

 turned. In the best practice it requires 1,400 board feet of squares to 

 make 1,000 bound feet of clear stock which is actually turned ; and in 

 the poorest practice it requires 2,200 feet. For average purposes we 

 consider that it requires 2,000 feet of squares for 1,000 feet actually 

 turned. For 4,000 pounds of clear stock it is therefore necessary to 

 ship from 5,600 to 8,800 pounds of squares, or if plank is used, from 

 8,120 to 12,760 pounds. On a 30-cent rate this means a freight bill 

 of from $24 to $38 on every thousand feet of clear stock actually 

 finished. In other words, fully half of every freight bill is to cover 

 the transportation of waste. On the shipment of 1,000,000 feet with 

 a rate of 30 cents the railroad receives at least $6,000 for carrying 

 waste. 



What these high rates mean when added to the prevailing prices of 

 lumber are shown by the following: Where squares cost $50^ per 

 thousand, even under the best practice of manufacture, and with a 

 freight rate of $12 per thousand the cost of 1,000 feet of clear stock 

 at. the lathe would be $86.80. If, on the other hand, the squares cost 

 $60 f. o. b. car and it requires 2,000 feet to make 1,000 feet of clears 

 the cost of the clear stock delivered at the lathe would be $144 per 

 thousand with $12 freight rate; and $160 with a $20 freight rate. 

 If plank were purchased at $50 f. o. b. car the cost of the clear stock 

 would be about the same as from squares at $60. In these cases the 

 freight amounts to 16 per cent and 25 per cent respectively of the cost 

 of the material. The advantage enjoyed by a manufacturing plant 

 near the timber supply is obvious. This is true in regard to other 



