cin 
Chairs 79 
insurance against a wave of high prices that can compare with 
the ownership of forest land. To some extent the employment 
of standard dimension stock also helps to keep moderate the 
price of this class of lumber. Other classes of furniture change 
so rapidly in styles and forms, as fashion may dictate, that it is 
difficult to conduct a furniture factory on an economical basis 
of production. The chair industry is not wasteful, the plants 
being able to utilize very small pieces. This is an industry in 
which home-grown material predominates on account of the 
relatively large amounts of birch, maple, and beech employed. 
Nearly 60 per cent of the chair stock reported was grown in 
New York State. 
The chair industry has within the past 10 years become 
highly specialized. There are three distinct divisions: First, 
the manufacture of chairs of the cheapest variety, such as 
kitchen chairs, dining-room chairs, nursery chairs, and living- 
room chairs made to meet the demand for the lowest priced 
article that can be produced; second, the manufacture of a 
medium grade of chairs for living room, library, and parlor use 
which are known to the trade as “ fancy chairs”; third, the 
manufacture of chairs which are partly or entirely covered with 
upholstery, which are known to the trade as “ upholstered 
chairs.” The latter division, however, can not be clearly 
defined because all three classes use more or less upholstering 
in their product. The first class employs beech, gum, and 
maple to a large extent. The second class uses principally 
birch, gum, and mahogany. The third class employs birch and 
mahogany for the exposed parts of the frame, while those 
parts which are upholstered are made largely of sound wormy 
chestnut and of elm, beech, and maple. The use of built-up . 
veneered seats and backs is largely confined to the first or 
cheapest class and to the manufacture of store and railroad 
station furniture, such as settees. Chairs designed for the 
furnishing of school rooms are of special models suitable for 
the purpose and are made largely of oak, but to some extent 
employ the veneered seat. 
