THE USES OF WOOD. 165 



with -thriving, industrious populations, whose standard of living 

 demands the consumption of large quantities of wood, drawn 

 from limited forest areas. The present supply is rapidly disap- 

 pearing. 



To give the reader a comprehensive view of the manifold 

 utility of wood, and to impress upon him the importance of main- 

 taining a permanent source of supply of this essential material, 

 we may group its uses into general classes, as an enumeration in 

 detail would be too bulky for this volume, and, by sheer weight, 

 fail of its purpose. In a general way, wood is thought of as use- 

 ful for lumber and fuel. As firewood it heats our houses, cooks 

 our meals, makes steam for driving the engines which run our 

 flour mills, factories, light and power plants, street cars, laun- 

 dries, etc. Different woods have their own fuel value, as indi- 

 cated in another chapter; the supply of different kinds varies in 

 localities; the price varies; so that we cannot say that one kind 

 should be used more than another. Poor material must often be 

 taken where none other is available. In Minnesota there is in 

 the wooded regions a considerable variety of fuel woods. The 

 most common are, for the hard woods (or, more properly speak- 

 ing, broad-leaved trees), Maple, Oak, Elm, Ash, Aspen, Birch, 

 Cottonwood and Basswood; and of the conifers (or narrow- 

 leaved trees), Pine, Tamarack, Spruce and Balsam Fir. 



As lumber, we may convert wood into a yet more extensive 

 variety of channels of usefulness, included under the heads of 

 general building, construction and wood working. 



In Carpentry rough material is used in framework, as sills, 

 studding, plates, joists, rafters; in sheathing, roofing, shingles, 

 laths; while finished lumber is put into siding, floors, doors, win- 

 dow frames and sash, blinds, stairways, stationary furniture and 

 fixtures, columns, moldings, turned and carved work (solid and 

 veneer). All kinds of wood are used for this work, according to 

 the purpose and the taste of the builder, but Pine in larger quan- 

 tities than any other, on account of its cheapness, ease of working 

 and general utility. 



For Railways, wharves, piers, bridges, piling, etc., heavy 

 material is used; that is, large pieces. For railroad ties, bridges, 

 pavements and culverts all kinds of wood may be used, but those 

 best adapted to withstand the usage of the position are most 

 desired. 



