JEFFREY PINE. 73 



tural communities of those States. Settlements have progressed rap- 

 idly in this region since 1900, and the demand has been correspond- 

 ingty strong. 



The need for fruit boxes in the young orchard of the western moun- 

 tain region has opened a market for this lumber; and some of it is 

 sold to manufacturers as far east as Chicago, who make boxes of it 

 for shipping merchandise of various kinds. 



Some of the lumber is shipped from the mills under the name of 

 western white pine, and is used for interior finish. Its color and 

 grain fit it for that purpose, but it is at somewhat of a disadvantage 

 on account of the numerous small knots it contains. It gives good 

 service in rough construction and for lath. Few western woods are 

 better for pickets and fencing plank, and much of it is used that way. 



Half a million lodgepole pine cross-ties are bought annually by 

 railroads. This number is small in comparison with the total for the 

 country, and the number has somewhat decreased since 1907. Con- 

 ditions indicate an increase, however, before long, and the importance 

 of this wood lies more in prospective than in present use. It is a 

 wood which yields readily to preservative treatment, and when so 

 treated it lasts many years. A number of railroads list it among 

 woods for treatment and have drawn upon the supply for a long 

 time. Forty years ago great numbers of lodgepole pine ties were cut 

 in Wyoming. The western forests are adequate to meet very heavy 

 demands for ties of this timber, and are so situated as to make the 

 supply convenient by flume to a large mileage of railroad. 



Preservative treatment promises greatly to extend the use of this 1 

 wood for fence posts and telephone poles. In its natural state it is 

 not enduring. But well-treated lodgepole posts are good for many 

 years perhaps as many as 20 and this will make them the equal 

 of cedar. The wood lasts well above ground, and in some localities 

 is used for fences that are supported on the surface of the ground 

 by props, instead of being set in it. The long, slender poles that 

 grow in dense forests of lodgepole are of convenient size for posts. 

 Preservative treatment promises a greatly extended use of this timber 

 for mine props also. 



In Colorado and Wyoming much lodgepole pine was at one time 

 made into charcoal for the smelters, but it is in less demand now, 

 because the building of railroads has made coal and coke available. 



JEFFREY PINE (Pinus Jeffrey!). 

 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. 



Weight of dry wood. 32.4 pounds per cubic foot (Sargent). 

 Specific gravity. 0.52 (Sargent). 

 Ash. 0.26 per cent of weight of dry wood (Sargent). 

 Fuel value. 68 per cent that of white oak (Sargent). 



