57 



FARM IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY 



The amount of wood consumed in the manufacture of farm imple- 

 ments and machinery in 1920 as obtained from the questionnaires sent 

 out to the several firms was 84,214,272 board feet, and it was assumed 

 that this was related to the capitalization of the companies which, with 

 the exception of firms rated at less than $10,000, was obtained from the 

 Illinois Manufacturers' Association and the Secretary of State, Spring- 

 field. Firms consuming 82,652,082 board feet had a capitalization of 

 $290,133,100, while those representing a capitalization of $5,855,000, or 

 2.018 per cent, made no report. Assumption that the same rate of con- 

 sumption applies to those who did not report would add 1,653,041 board 

 feet to the former estimate of those reporting, or a total of 85,867,313 

 board feet, which it is believed is very nearly correct. A comparison 

 of 1909 and 1920 consumption is as follows : 



Ratio of 1909 

 to 1920 con- 

 Class of product Year 1920 Year 1909 sumption 

 Farm implements and farm machinery 137,157,000 85,867,313 62.6% 

 Wagons and heavy vehicles 35,686,000 28,327,875 79.38% 



Relative Importance of Wood in the Manufacturing 

 Industries of Illinois 



The manufacturing industries utilizing wood as a raw material en- 

 tering into their products may be divided into, first, those dependent en- 

 tirely upon wood, and which would cease to exist with the discontinuance 

 of its use; second, industries largely dependent on wood or making large 

 use of it which would be seriously incommoded by failure of supply; 

 third, industries dependent on wood pulj) which would be severely crip- 

 pled by scarcity of wood ; and fourth, industries dependent on wood for 

 minor uses and which it seems probable could survive without serious 

 loss if compelled to make complete substitution of other material for 

 wood. For convenience in tabulation these industries have been desig- 

 nated as A, B, C, and D. 



GROUP A. industries DEPENDENT ENTIRELY ON WOOD 



In this group come the manufacture of wooden packing-boxes, lum- 

 ber and planing-mill products, wood furniture, wood and paper pulp, 

 cooperage, wood preservation, and charcoal. 



The use of wood for packing and crating illustrates the entire prob- 

 lem of wood in industry. With increasing costs for lumber, many forms 



