Canddidii Forestry Journal, JoniKirt/, lUlS 



1177 



Wood Fuel Problems Demand Solution 



How Coal and Wood Compare as Fuel 

 — Prices You Can Afford To Pay. 



The question of an increased sup- 

 ply of wood fuel for the Canadian 

 people has never before called so im- 

 peratively for full discussion and 

 sensible action. 



Canada brought 17,500,000 tons of 

 coal from the United States in 191G 

 and month after month of the coldest 

 season was filled with anxieties, in- 

 creasing prices, and not a little actual 

 sufTering. 



The winter of 1917, even with the 

 aid of the Fuel Controller, and 

 generous co-operation by the United 

 States Government, has provided an 

 experience through which most 

 householders, particularly in Ontario, 

 do not care to pass again. In the 

 emergency, questions have naturally 

 been raised as to the need for Canada 

 facing an annual dilemma in the 

 presence of great supplies of hard- 

 wood timber in woodlots and the 

 natural forest. Regrettable as it may 

 seem that practically nothing has 

 been done until recent months to 

 investigate the possibilities of a wood 

 fuel reserve and to devise means of 

 connecting the wood supply with the 

 wood consumer, there is hope that 

 something of a practical nature will 

 be accomplished before next winter. 

 To this end, the Commission of 

 Conservation, through Mr. Clyde 

 Leavitt, Chief Forester, has been 

 working with the Fuel Controller. 

 Mr. Leavitt's plan, which will be 

 found in the leading article of this 

 issue, promises one of the most 

 reasonable solutions that has yet been 

 ofTered and ought to receive the sup- 

 port of municipal authorities every- 

 where. 



Wood and Coal Compared 



How does the heating power of 

 wood compare with that of anthracite 

 coal? 



One standard cord of well-seasoned 

 hickory, oak, beech, birch, hard 



maple, ash, elm, is approximately 

 ecjual to one ton (2,000 pounds) of 

 anthracite coal. It takes a cord and 

 a half of hemlock, red gum, sycamore 

 or soft maple and two cords of cedar, 

 poplar, spruce, white pine or bass- 

 wood, however, to give the same 

 amount of heal. 



One cord of mixed wood well sea- 

 soned equals in heating value at least 

 one ton (2,000 pounds) of average- 

 grade bituminous coal. 



The table shows the price which the 

 consumer "can afford to pay for a cord 

 of wood as the equivalent of anthra- 

 cite coal at various prices. 



Prices which ti-.e consinner can ajjoi I to fiaij 

 Jar wood as a substitute for coal. 



Equivalent price for wood deliverecl in IG 

 inch stove lenglhs. 

 Price of 



coal 

 delivered 



Hickory, oal<, beech, Soft maple, 



hard maple, ash, elm, cedar, poplar, 



locust, cherry basswood. 



Per ton Per Cord. Per Cord. 



.5.00 .5.00 .2.50 



6.00 6.00 :>.oo 



7.00 7.00 3.50 



8.00 <S.00 l.OO 



9.00 9.00 1.50 



10.00 10.00 5.00 



11.00 11.00 5..50 



12.00 12.00 6.00 



Coal Cheaper to Ban 

 On .January 15, a cord of beech, 

 birch and maple was ciuoted in 

 Ottawa at SJU.OO^ or $11.75 cut in 

 10 inch lengths. This price prevailed 

 quite commonly in Ontario cities and 

 the Eastein Townships of Quebec, 

 although even at the above pricjes 

 good wood was often not procurable. 

 Anthracite coal was quoted on the 

 same date at Ottawa as $10.50 a ton, 

 so that, counting fuel value alone, and 

 without regard to convenience, the 

 coal was the cheaper purchase. 



