208 



FOREST PRODUCTS 



on out to the charcoal sheds, where the charcoal is shipped. The return 

 tracks take the empty cars back to the storage yards, where they are re- 

 loaded and the same process followed out. 



The cars are all of steel construction and hold from 2 to 2\ cords of 

 5o-in. wood. A 50- to 54-ft. oven will hold four of these cars in one 

 charge. A 25-ft. oven will hold two cars. They are built in different 

 sizes, but the usual style of car is 52 in. wide, 6 ft. 6 in. high and 12 ft. 

 6 in. long with four small wheels. They first came into use about 1895 

 and have proven to be a great success. 



Photograph by Nelson C. Brow.i 



FIG. 59. Cars or trucks loaded with charcoal after heating in ovens. Each truck contains 

 about 2 cords of so-in. billets of beech, birch and maple wood. Photograph taken at 

 the Cummer-Diggins plant, Cadillac, Michigan. 



The cars cost from $80 to $140 apiece, f.o.b. at Warren, Pa. They 

 last indefinitely according to most of the operators, so that there is very 

 little depreciation charge on them. Both sides of the car are detachable 

 to facilitate the loading and emptying of the cars. 



Retorts. 



The old iron retort was a cylindrical vessel holding about five-eighths 

 of a cord. The standard size was 50 in. in diameter by 9 ft. in length. 

 Cordwood 48 in. in length was used instead of the 50 in. length commonly 



