3498 Chapter 28 



Utilized varying prices for raw materials, labor, product prices, and other param- 

 eters, so the results are not exactly comparable. The reader is also reminded that 

 economic studies such as these are time and location dependent. Economic 

 conditions change rapidly and while each study is appropriate for its specified 

 time and location, it may not be appropriate for conditions at the time and 

 location in which the reader is interested. 



The feasibility studies do, however, present physical parameters and well 

 developed economic analyses that can very readily be adapted to most individual 

 situations. Information needed to convert to other economic evaluation tech- 

 niques is incorporated in most of the papers, providing individuals with data to 

 adapt the information to their preferred system. 



Included in the 33 feasibility analyses abstracted are three not included in the 

 Proceedings of the Nashville symposium'. One of these, Koch (1982), abstract- 

 ed briefly in section 28-3 1 , is readily available at forestry libraries in the journal, 

 Wood and Fiber. Another, Koch (1978), is reproduced almost in its entirety in 

 section 28-27 because the source article is less readily available. The third, 

 summarized in section 28-18, carries a footnote identifying its source. 



This chapter is not intended to be a text on wood procurement, plant location 

 and operation, or marketing. Its purpose is to record a sample of imaginative, 

 aggressive, and optimistic thinking about some potentially viable ways to use 

 pine-site hardwoods as an industrial raw material. 



Conspicuously absent from these abstracts are analyses of operations pulping 

 hardwoods for paper and paperboard. It is likely, however, that pulp mills — 

 presently a major consumer of hardwood — will increase the amount they use 

 (figs. 25-6 through 25-8, 29-5 ABC, and 29-lOAB. 



Also absent are analyses of operations producing split firewood for home use, 

 or pelletized fuel for residential and commercial use; cost and profit data for 

 these operations proved difficult to obtain. Prick's (1978) firewood producer's 

 manual should be useful to entrepreneurs interested in this subject. Monahan and 

 Wartluft (1980) examined commercial aspects of operating a LaFont firewood 

 processor (fig. 16-23) and found that such operation could be profitable if non- 

 productive time does not exceed 15 percent. Swain (1980) reported on trends of 

 firewood use, management, and marketing in Maine; his comments on market 

 testing and establishment of firewood marketing outlets should be useful to 

 southern entrepreneurs as well as those from Maine. 



The economics of producing whole-tree chips for fuel or fiber are discussed in 

 sect. 28-9, but chips for export are not. See figure 25-2 for data on world chip 

 prices, K. G. Clemens^ for comments on advantages of mid-south locations for 

 the international chip trade, and Wood (1977) for a discussion of the reasons 

 why the South should export pulp and paper, but not chips. 



For suggestions on making and selling bark products, readers are referred to 

 Mater et al. (1968) and Mater (1972). 



^Clemens, K. G., 1977. Why export chips? 5 p. Alabama Coop. Ext. Serv., Auburn Univ., 

 Auburn, Ala. 



