WOOD VERSUS SOME OF ITS SUBSTITUTES 



180,000, of which number 60,000 were Strong efforts have beenjmadc in 

 gondola, coke or ore cars, and 120,000 some cities especially iii\New York, to 

 box cars. Had these been constructed forbid the use of wood interior trim in 

 of wood as they were formerly the total buildings more than a specified number 

 lumber requirement for these cars alone of stories in height. The plea on which 

 would have been in excess of one billion ordinances of this character arc intro- 

 feet. As a matter of fact, however, duced is the reduction of the fire danger, 

 practically all of the gondola, coke and The passage of such an ordinance would 

 ore cars were constructed of steel and be an act of injustice to those who 

 80 per cent of the box cars had a steel handle wood, and an exhibit of favorit- 

 underframe which reduced the amount ism to those concerns which now manu- 

 of lumber required from 6,500 board facture metal interior trim. It is yet 

 feet per car to 4,000 board feet per car, to be proved that the very limited 

 so that the actual lumber consumption amount of wood now used for trim in a 

 was 540,000,000 board feet, about one- large office building is a distinct fire 

 half^of what A it would have been had menace or that it increases the fire risk, 

 the entire car been of wood. This loss In case this is true, it is possible to so 

 of a market for 1.35 per cent of the total treat wood with a fire-retardant that 

 lumber cut of the country has been the danger that may exist is eliminated, 

 felt by the lumber industry to some There has been a tendency for some 

 extent but the result was not unforseen time past to substitute concrete floors 

 on their part since it is admitted by all for wooden ones in factory construction, 

 experts that a steel-frame car is superior on the plea of greater durability and of 

 to a wooden one. All are not yet decreased fire risk. This has appre- 

 agreed, however, that an all-steel car is ciably reduced the amount of wood 

 a safer or better car than the steel- flooring materials demanded for this 

 frame wooden car. The abandonment purpose. The concrete floors, how- 

 of the wooden frame is in line with ever, have not met all of the require- 

 modern progress as regards safety and ments for a satisfactory floor, since 

 as such should be encouraged, but in they are harder upon the workmen who 

 justice to lumber manufacturers the must travel continually back and forth 

 public should {not commit itself to the upon them ; they have a deleterious effect 

 all-steel passenger car and freight car upon the health of employees who must 

 until the matter has been decided by stand upon the cold surface during 

 impartial experts. working hours; and the dust which 

 Another interesting example of sub- arises from the gradual wearing of the 

 stitution of metal for wood is in the floor settles on the bearings of machin- 

 manufacture of office furniture, includ- ery and causes a greater wear than 

 ing desks, filing cabinets, and chairs, where wooden floors are used. The 

 These have little merit over wood, many advantages of the wooden floor 

 since it is doubtful if they are fireproof will undoubtedly enable it to hold its 

 in character and further when injured own in the future, and it is believed in 

 or sprung in any part of the structure many factories which still insist on a 

 it is difficult to repair. The steel concrete subfloor will in the future 

 furniture trade has not yet made great employ a top covering of wood, 

 inroads on the product made from wood The public should give the lumber- 

 and will probably never command men every encouragement possible to 

 more than a limited share of the furni- utilize to the fullest extent his forest 

 ture business, since a large percentage resources and thereby eliminate the 

 of the average furniture sells for a price economic loss which results from a re- 

 below that for which steel articles of the duced market for low grade pro- 

 same character could be marketed. ducts. 



The Canadian Forestry Association, which recently met in Ottawa, has selected Halifax, Nova 

 Scotia, for its next annual meeting place. 



