BULLETIIs^ 519, XJ, S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



The annual demand for poles, which now exceeds 4,000,000, was 

 supphed principally from three different regions of the United 

 States: The northern white-cedar region of the Lake States, the 

 chestnut region of the eastern portion of the country, and the western 

 red-cedar region of the Northwest, which includes Idaho, Oregon, and 

 Wasliington. 



The principal properties called for in pole timbers are durability, 

 strength, hghtness, straightness, and a surface which takes chmbing 

 irons easily. i\Jl of the species of cedar reported purchased combine 

 practically all of these properties in a high degree. 



Cedar (including northern white, western red, southern white, and 

 red) supphed 2,521,769 poles, or 61 per cent of the total number 

 purchased. This is an increase of 421,625, or 16 per cent, as com- 

 pared with the number purchased in 1911. 



Next to cedar comes chestnut, which showed a decrease of 42,846 

 poles, while pine showed an increase of 384,543, or 70 per cent, as 

 compared with the 1911 purchase. Most of the pine reported was 

 that commonly known as southern yellow pine, and includes longieaf, 

 shortleaf, and loblolly. Of these, the longieaf is the most durable. 

 It is reported that loblolly pine gives very brief service unless it is 

 treated with a preservative. Western yellow pine was also reported 

 in small quantities, but, like lobloUy, it requires a preservative 

 treatment to insure reasonable length of service. 



Oak poles were purchased in practically the same number as in 

 1911, while cypress poles showed a decrease of 5,351 poles. The use 

 of cypress as a pole timber seems to be falling off each year. Cedar, 

 chestnut, and pine together formed over 91 per cent of all poles 

 reported purchased, cedar alone, as before stated, constituting over 

 61 per cent. 



The minor species reported were redwood, spruce, tamarack, and 

 osage orange. All of these, however, were reported in small quan- 

 tities. 



Table II shows the number of poles purchased in 1915, classified 

 according to class of purchaser and kind of wood. 



Table II. — Poles purchased, by class of consumer and hind of wood, 1915. 



Kind of wood. 



Total. 



Tele- 

 phone 

 and tele- 

 graph 

 com- 

 panies. 



Electric 

 railways, 

 light, and 

 power 

 com- 

 panies. 



Steam 

 railroads. 



Allkinds . 



4,077,954 



1,080,880 



1,430,122 



966,962 









1,717,210 



051,643 



567, 770 



546,233 



177,799 



117,545 



89,244 



67,644 



21,643 



91, 233 



1,029,219 



336,496 



105,590 



69, 787 



34,044 



21,386 



16,661 



24, 162 



6,912 



36, 023 



239, 864 



275, 304 



422,312 



388, 210 



13,110 



8,424 



14,686 



18,174 



13,001 



37,037 



478, 127 





39,843 



Western red cedar ■- 



39, 868 





88,236 





130,045 





87, 735 





57, 897 





25,308 





1,730 



All other 



18,173 







