MASSACHUSETTS WOODLANDS. 23 



market for wood in large quantities. In many places the owner can 

 obtain a better price by himself selling the wood to the consumer, 

 but to do so he must have the facilities to haul and deliver it. A 

 large amount of wood, often of the poorer grades, is consumed by 

 the brick yards and charcoal kilns. 



The value of the wood depends not only on its quality but on its 

 location. The going price for average wood stacked where cut in 

 many sections of the State is $3 a cord. However, that price is far 

 from universal, and as high as $5 a cord or as low as $2 are known 

 to have been obtained for the same kind of wood. The price of 

 cutting by the cord, where the chance is good, is usually $1.50, but 

 may be less in some sections. 



2. Logs. Oak lumber is in good demand in many sections for 

 furniture, agricultural implements, plumber's woodwork, ship tim- 

 bers, lobster pots, car stock, vehicles, flooring, dimension timber and 

 planing-mil] products. Large logs which will saw fair to good 

 quality lumber can be sold almost anywhere. The value of the 

 lumber delivered on the cars will vary from $16 to $35 per thou- 

 sand feet, depending on the quality and use. The usual log lengths 

 are from 10 to 16 feet. It costs more to cut, handle and saw oak 

 than it does pine, so usually saw logs of less than 8 to 10 inches 

 in diameter at the top are not used. Before cutting logs it is 

 usually advisable to see where and at what price they can be sold. 



3. Ties. There is a good demand for cross-ties made of all 

 species of oak. The steam and electric railroad companies buy 

 them. The New Haven road at present buys them in three sizes 

 when hewed on two sides, and without bark; No. 1, 8 feet long, 

 7 to 12 inch face, 7 inches thick; No. 2, 8 feet long, 6 to 12 inch 

 face, 6 inches thick; No. 3, 8 feet long, 5 to 12 inch face, 6 inches 

 thick. The prices delivered are: No. 1, 70 cents; No. 2, 55 cents; 

 No. 3, 35 cents. The specifications of other companies vary some- 

 what from these, the street railways usually buying the smaller 

 sizes. 



It takes an average log of 8% inches diameter at the small end 

 to make a No. 3 tie. If the log is over 15 inches in diameter it 

 has to be hewed or sawed on four sides, for which the specifications 

 are somewhat different. 



As a general rule it does not pay to saw the oak into ties, on 

 account of the expense of handling. It can be done profitably 

 under favorable circumstances, but usually ties should be hewed. 

 Hewers can be obtained who will cut and hew for from 12 to 20 

 cents a tie. 



