SELLINGLUMBER 201 



because it is restful and seems to have an intimate relation with the 

 individual who lives with it. 



Among the many other merits might be mentioned the adapta- 

 bility of wood as a building material. It can be used for a greater 

 number of purposes than any other material, and it seems to be 

 just the proper thing in the majority of cases. The factor of cost 

 is also an important one, which explains why the strongest com- 

 petition fails to replace wood as the universal building material. The 

 large supply may also be considered a merit, because the best in- 

 formation shows that there is enough timber still standing to sup- 

 ply the needs of the nation for practically all time if it is properly 

 used and conserved. 



In considering the merits of wood we should not shut our eyes 

 to its limitations. Like all good things, it is not perfect. Every one 

 knows that wood decays when exposed to the weather or in moist 

 situations. In fact, even in the interior of buildings, where moisture 

 is present only in the air, some forms of decay develop. This, how- 

 ever, is a limitation which nearly all materials have. Iron rusts, 

 brick and stone crumble, and it is only a question of proper pro- 

 tection which determines which material lasts the longest. The 

 public in recent years has heard much about the fact that wood 

 burns, and unquestionably it does. It is fortunate that this is so, gome 

 because thousands of homes are still warmed in winter because wood Limitations 

 burns, and it was not many centuries ago that wood was practically * 

 the only fuel known. When placed in a building wood continues 

 to burn. It is also a fact that brick buildings, or stone buildings, or 

 concrete buildings also burn, even though the materials themselves 

 may not be actually consumed. The sensible point of view on the 

 fire question is that carelessness should be eliminated, and that 

 wooden buildings should be constructed with every possible safe- 

 guard. In the majority of cases it is the contents of the building 

 which furnishes the principal fuel for the flames, rather than the 

 building itself. 



In itself wood has really no serious limitations, if properly 

 used. To be sure, it checks in drying, and expands and contracts 

 to some extent in different temperatures, in addition to the fact 

 that it burns and rots. If these points are not considered and wood 

 is used on the assumption that none of these things would happen, 

 failure would naturally result. These points, however, are usually 

 fully considered, and the actual limitations are determined by 

 proper or improper use. 



