THE USES OF WOOD 



849 



other statistics worth the name) do not distinguish be- 

 tween horse-drawn and motor-driven vehicles ; conse- 

 quently, it is not practicable to quote figures giving the 

 woods used in each class ; but it is a matter of common 

 knowledge and observation that the automobile now de- 

 mands most of the fine woods, both foreign and domestic, 

 employed in the vehicle industry. The leading native 

 woods appear- 

 ing in such fin- 

 ish are birch, 

 black walnut, 

 sycamore, cher- 

 ry, and butter- 

 nut ; and all the 

 foreign woods 

 on the list be- 

 long in the fin- 

 ish class. 



Whether ve- 

 il i c 1 e s are 

 drawn by ani- 

 mals or driven 

 by motors, they 

 belong in two 

 general classes, 

 those for pleas- 

 ure and those 

 for business. 

 The line of sep- 

 aration is not always clearly drawn, since considerable 

 pleasure may be derived from the business wagon, and 

 the pleasure vehicle may contribute to business. Each 

 class is subdivided to an almost infinite degree. A vehicle 

 need not go on wheels, for the sled or sleigh is as much 

 in evidence as the wagon or carriage, but within certain 

 regions. No marked difference in the material that goes 

 to make a wagon or to make a sled can be pointed out. 



THE FAMOUS CONESTOGA WAGON 



This is not a picture of a replica of the famous Conestoga wagon, but of the genuine article, though one 

 of the last survivors of the romantic days of old, when wagon transportation was the only kind across 

 states. This photograph was taken at Altoona, Pennsylvania, and was made available for this illustra- 

 tion by the courtesy of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 



Strong materials are needed in each, and woods suitable 

 to make the bodies of one are also the kinds wanted for 

 the other. The cutter's artistically-painted bed calls for 

 as high a grade of yellow poplar, gum, maple, or bass- 

 wood as is demanded for the panels and body of the 

 carriage; and the bob-sled, block-sled, stoneboat, and 

 yankee jumper are constructed of materials similar to 



those consum- 

 ed in the man- 

 ufacture of the 

 grocery wagon 

 and the ox 

 cart. 



The hickory 

 racing sulky is 

 said to have 

 made the 

 American race 

 horse famous. 

 The wood is so 

 strong, tough, 

 and r e s i lient 

 that a sulky of 

 extreme light- 

 ness, and of re- 

 markable en- 

 durance has 

 been the result, 

 and it is with- 

 out an equal or a rival. This made possible the lowering 

 of racetrack records, and in many instances the sulky 

 wins races for which the racehorse receives the credit. 

 However, the fact has been recognized that the hickory 

 tree has had its part in much racing history which has 

 redounded to the credit of American racetrack sports- 

 manship. 



The trade wagon's place in the daily business affairs 



DEFEATING RAILROAD EMBARGOES 



This heavy truckload of poles gives more than a hint of the modus operandi of breaking the railroad embargoes which have plagued domestic 

 commerce so much during the past two or three years. If the haul is not too long, the motor truck takes the load and speedily delivers it at 

 its destination. This is being done all over the country with excellent results. The cut shows the Frehauf Semi-Trailer tractor. 



