166 FOREST UTILIZATION WOOD USES AND ECONOMICS 



The greatest wastage in conversion of our forests to usable forms 

 is found in the large timber of the Pacific Coast region, especially in 

 such species as Douglas fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and red- 

 wood. The least wastage occurs in northern white pine, Idaho white 

 pine, and some of the more valuable hardwoods, such as oak, yellow 

 poplar, ash, hickory, and black walnut. The greatest wastage is in 

 species of low stumpage values, and the least in those of high values. 



3. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS DETERMINING DEGREE OF 

 UTILIZATION 



As indicated elsewhere, only a small part of the trees felled in the 

 American forests is ultimately utilized. Economic and social influ- 

 ences have played a most important part in the use of forest products. 

 The progress of the American lumber and associated industries has 

 been marked by great wastage. The factors which determine the 

 degree to which our trees may be utilized, both in the woods and at 

 our sawmills and other wood-conversion establishments, are: 



1. Demand for material reflected in prices. The extent of utiliza- 

 tion follows price levels very closely. Increasing prices mean more 

 complete utilization, and conversely, low prices indicate increasing 

 wastage. In logging virgin white pine in Michigan in the last cen- 

 tury, frequently only butt logs were utilized because the public would 

 pay a low price for even the best clear boards. Lumber cut from the 

 second, third, or fourth logs, etc., could not be made and sold at a 

 profit. The public is to be charged with this great wastage in previous 

 years. Today, some of our finest and largest virgin timber in Douglas 

 fir commands only about $2 per m.b.f. stumpage, so the wastage is 

 exceedingly great. 



2. Product must be salable. Even if a demand does not exist for 

 a certain commodity or species, a potential market may exist. Mer- 

 chandising methods must be developed to furnish a profitable outlet 

 for unknown or little-used species. Tupelo and black gum, white fir ? 

 beech, and western larch were formerly marketed with great diffi- 

 culty. Through research and improvement in marketing methods an 

 outlet was found for these and many other species. 



3. Transportation costs may be the greatest barrier to the use of 

 any material. Wood is a commodity of great bulk and weight. Mil- 

 lions of cords of good wood are wasted annually on our logging jobs 

 because it costs too much to transport it to a profitable market. Mil- 

 lions of cords of good pulpwood are annually wasted on the West 



