14. Conditions Affecting New York Lumber Supply 
and that attempts to save by methods involving a considerable 
increase in labor will be those most liable to defeat themselves. 
All forms of wood waste, even sawdust, are capable of being 
turned into some form of useful product, yet the use of such 
material for fuel when it is already convenient to the power 
plant may be real economy compared with the purchase of coal 
or electric power at high prices. In other words, an attempt 
at too close utilization might easily result in still greater loss. 
This is one side of the case. 
On the other hand, it is doubtful whether woodworkers in 
general scrutinize their methods and machinery with the same 
eare that is given to the prevention of waste in up-to-date estab- 
lishments in other lines, such as metal-working shops. 
Wood is so bulky compared with metal that it gives an 
impression of relative cheapness not always accurately gauged. 
Also, wood is easily and rapidly worked and the retention of 
old-style or worn machinery may appear justified where labor 
costs are not running so high as to attract attention, although 
the waste due to inefficient machinery may be in reality exces- 
sive. Metals, of course, can be cast and forged in a prac 
tically wasteless manner, while wood cannot; yet, in spite of 
this advantage, the metal-working industries utilize improved 
machinery and methods and especially the services of produc- 
tion engineers to a much greater extent than woodworkers. 
Every resource of mechanics and chemistry is given practical 
trial, and the engineers through their associations diffuse the 
improved ideas throughout the entire industry. As another 
example, the meat-packers have for years boasted that they 
utilize everything but the squeal of the hog. It is probably 
more than a coincidence that the business success of the great 
packers and the perfection of their utilization go hand in hand. 
The plans and methods of working expensive wood should 
in reason seek improvement over those which were justified 
when wood was plentiful and cheap. This applies strongly to 
the sawmill first of all, for what is done badly there must 
result in excessive waste thereafter. Careless slabbing, edging, 
and trimming may be very wasteful. In purchasing, the 
