98 



WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES 



When finished in its natural color red gum has a beautiful appear- 

 ance, but it also takes stain well and a large part of it is finished to 

 imitate mahogany , oak or walnut. For gilt and burnished gold finish 

 and other enameled moldings yellow poplar and basswood are 

 employed because %f their quality to hold paint and retain their 

 shape. Buckeye also was used for this purpose. White and red 

 oak, ash and chestnut were as a rule finished in the natural color 

 with oils and varnish. Birch, like red gum, goes into imitation 

 mahogany unless it has a burly or mottled figure, when it goes 

 into the natural finish. 



TABLE LX. Frames and molding 



BRUSHES 



Of the 2,383,694 feet of wood utilized for brush blocks, beech 

 constitutes much the larger part, the percentage being 88.38 of the 

 whole. Being perhaps the cheapest hardwood, it is admirably suited 

 for this purpose because it bores well without splitting, is strong, 

 and does not check or warp easily, besides, being light in color, it 

 bears a pleasing appearance. Maple is equally as suitable and in 

 quantity follows beech but it is higher priced. Very little of the 

 woods reported were obtained in Ohio. The principal supplies 

 came from Michigan and Pennsylvania. This industry is confined 

 mainly to the production of cheap brush blocks, such as are used for 

 making scrubbing, dustpan, feather dusters, stable and street 

 brushes, also whitewash or kalsomining, and small brushes for 

 cleansing the hands and nails. No high priced woods were reported, 

 such as holly, ebony, mahogany or dogwood, which are used elsewhere 



