520 ON THE PRICE OF BUILDING MATERIALS. 



ago than it is now, oak was not to be had everywhere. Elm, 

 from its power of resisting damp, was largely employed, 

 where such a kind of timber is needed and frequently figures. 

 Furthermore, straight and solid trunks would be of far higher 

 value than those of irregular shape or of unequal dimensions. 

 And lastly, if timber is bought by the foot instead of the 

 load, it is probably already squared, easily measurable and 

 at once available for use, and therefore will bear a higher 

 price. Now the Cambridge colleges often buy timber by the 

 foot, and even describe it as squared, this involving no exalta- 

 tion in the price as compared with what is not thus desig- 

 nated. It would seem from the entry under 1602 from 

 Cambridge, that hewn, squared or shaped timber was reckoned 

 to contain forty cubic feet to the load. This reckoning has 

 been accepted in the averages. 



In the tables annexed to this chapter, there will be found 

 a series of average prices of timber by the ton, load, and 

 load of forty feet, i. e. of .timber lopped and squared. 

 Generally I conclude, as well from common use, as from 

 frequent mention, the timber is oak. Occasionally it is said 

 to be ash. The several kinds are designated by the letters 

 T. L. F., as the average is derived from tons, loads, or feet. 

 Sometimes the load or ton is designated as in the wood, that 

 is either lying recently felled or still standing. But in some 

 of the years timber is purchased at very low prices, as in 

 1597 by the ton at Oxford, and in 1632 by the same measure 

 at Harting. Similarly there are several entries of timber at 

 very low prices at Basingstoke. But in all these localities 

 timber is abundant, and would therefore be cheap. In the 

 last-named place 'prime timber' in 1635 is only rated at $d. 

 the cubic foot. In the same year at Cambridge $s. a cubic 

 foot is paid for timber. 



Navy timber was necessarily of the best quality, and is 

 dearer than that ordinarily purchased. Such material is 

 bought at Chatham in 1642 and 1648, at Portsmouth in 1663 

 (though here the price is not higher than at Eton), and at 



