172 AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



Imports first eleven months 189S. 



There were also imported in 1892 17,944 tons of boxwood, of which 

 9,760 tons came from the West Indies, 3,099 tons from the United 

 States, and the remainder principally from the East Indies and Africa. 

 In the foregoing statistics the difference between classes 1 and 2, i. e., 

 "timber, round or rough hewn," and "squared logs," is this: The first 

 class includes beams, piles, and ship timber imported in the general 

 form in which it is to be used, while class 2 includes the blocks and 

 logs which have been squared to save freight and duty on waste mate, 

 rial, and which are imported for the special purpose of being sawn 

 into veneers or other forms of fine lumber for cabinetwork or building 

 purposes. The reason for this latter method of importation will be 

 apparent when the classification and rates of duty in each class are 

 explained. 



PRICES. 



The prices of lumber in Germany are based upon classifications and 

 methods of measurement, which are somewhat difficult to clearly explain. 

 The American unit of measure per "thousand feet," is not used in this 

 country. Timber is sold by the cubic meter, equal to 35.3 cubic feet ; and 

 sawed lumber is sold at retail by the piece and at wholesale by the hun- 

 dred pieces. This latter system will be illustrated by the following tabu- 

 lar price list, showing the wholesale rates at which pine and fir building 

 lumber are now offered for delivery at Frankfort by lumbermen who 

 have sawmills in the forests of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, and Baden. 

 These are therefore the prices with which American building lumber 

 would have to compete, exclusive of duty, if introduced into this mar- 

 ket. 



The subjoined list shows the four standard grades or qualities, which 

 are designated, respectively, in German: "Eein," "ausschuss-rein," 

 "gute,"and "ausschuss," which may be translated in their order as 

 "clear," "half clear," "good," and "culls." Under this grading or 

 classification of qualities, the wholesale price per 100 boards or pieces, 



