INTRODUCTION. 



THIS report was compiled by the Forest Service of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture in co-operation 

 with the Department of Agriculture, Commerce and 

 Industries of the State of South Carolina. A portion of the 

 material was collected by correspondence with the manufacturers 

 and part was secured by personal visits and study at the fac- 

 tories. Representatives of both the Forest Service and of the 

 State were engaged in the field work. The statistics given relate 

 to the twelve calendar months of 1912. 



The work was done in accordance with the plan followed by 

 the Forest Service in preparing similar reports for other States. 

 It contains data showing the kinds and quantities of the various 

 woods employed by manufacturers, and whether they are pro- 

 cured within the State or outside; the particular products made, 

 and general information regarding methods of manufacture; the 

 numerous uses found for the different woods; and the cost, or 

 price, of the various kinds of wood delivered as rough lumber 

 at the factories. 



This report gives the results of the first comprehensive attempt 

 ever made in the "Palmetto State" to ascertain the character 

 and scope of the industries which employ wood as raw material 

 and reduce it to finished products. It is not possible, therefore, 

 to compare present, figures with equivalent data for earlier years 

 and thereby measure the progress made. But it is generally 

 known that although the supply of timber is decreasing, the 

 methods of using it are improving. 



The Bureau of the Census and the Forest Service publish 

 statistics yearly showing the cut of lumber in the State, and 

 this forms part of the annual lumber report for the United 

 States. It is quite distinct from the present undertaking which 

 is a special study and made once only for each State. It is con- 

 cerned with the conversion of wood, principally rough lumber, 

 into merchantable commodities. The report contains a directory 

 of the firms which contributed information, the names being 

 arranged according to industries. A list of the uses of the dif- 

 ferent woods is also appended. 



