125 



Loblolly pine and basswood supplied the largest part of the demand and 

 v, r ere called on mostly for step ladders because being strong and at the same 

 time light in weight they are well adapted for this line of use. Beech was 

 used extensively for steps because of its strength, and in order not to make 

 the ladders too heavy, it was used with a lighter wood for styles. -Other 

 step ladder woods were cypress, longleaf pine, and spruce. The staffs, which 

 are the hinged supports, are made of various woods and usually of the 

 same kind as the styles except those of considerable length where extra 

 strength is desired. In order not to add too much weight staffs are made of 

 strips of small dimension and to meet the stress imposed are well braced and 

 made from material free from imperfections. For extension and firemen's 

 ladders high grades are used. Spruce is most in demand for the styles or 

 uprights while for the ladder rungs, hickory, ash, beech, and maple were 

 employed in the order mentioned. 



Travelling ladders are so named because they are readily moved by the 

 occupant without descending. They are used in stores. Pulleys, movable 

 on a track, are attached at the top, and in some designs the bottoms rest 

 on castors. Lightness of weight is not a consideration in these as in step 

 ladders and thicker materials and heavier woods are therefore used. Long- 

 leaf pine was used mostly but sugar maple, loblolly, and shortleaf pine 

 also met a part of the demand. 



Sixty-five per cent, of the ladder woods were kinds that do not grow 

 plentifully and some not at all in Pennsylvania. This accounts for only 

 20 per cent, of the requirements of this industry being met by the forests 

 of the State. Of the kinds reported common to Pennsylvania, the entire 

 amounts consumed were home-grown except basswood, nearly one-half of 

 which was brought in from forests of other states. 



Table 80. Wood for Ladders, year ending June, 1912. 



