6 INTRODUCTION 



commodities partly or wholly of wood were asked to furnish data 

 along their special lines, and this report is based on their replies, 

 supplemented by independent investigation in all parts of the State. 



Statistics thus collected and published are expected to be useful 

 to both the growers and the manufacturers of wood. It is shown what 

 part of the total demand, and the demand for each species, is met by 

 forests and woodlots of the State, and what part is supplied from with- 

 out. The kinds of wood demanded by the various industries are shown, 

 together with the quantity of each species used, the prices paid at the 

 factories, and into what commodity each wood is manufactured. With 

 this information before them, the woodlot owners who are looking to 

 the future can determine what kinds of timber promise best returns, 

 and they can give preference to those kinds. Owners of timber can 

 form an intelligent opinion as to where the best markets may be found 

 for what they have to offer. On the other hand, the manufacturer who 

 is in the market for woods of certain kinds will have the means to 

 determine whether he can buy near home or whether he must look be- 

 yond the State ; and a study of average prices paid by others will show 

 whether or not he has been buying on an equal footing. A closer ac- 

 quaintance between buyer and seller, with a better understanding of 

 what one has to sell and the other wishes to buy, will be of mutual 

 benefit. The utilization of factory waste is an important problem, 

 and it was duly considered in this study. An attempt was made also 

 to ascertain and note the smallest sizes of lumber that the various in- 

 dustries can profitably use. 



A history of lumber operations and markets, and of past uses of 

 wood in the State was not undertaken, though it would have brought 

 out many interesting facts. It was deemed sufficient if present con- 

 ditions were shown, thereby making it possible to formulate an intel- 

 ligent policy for future operations. 



