UTILIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF LODGEPOLE PINE. 7 



Two factors operate against lodgepole pine as a substitute for cedar 

 poles. The first is its greater hardness, which makes climbing more 

 difficult for the lineman; the second is its greater weight — approxi- 

 mately 30 per cent after 3 months' seasoning — which means a higher 

 freight rate for poles of the same size. Lodgepole pine, however, 

 grows much farther east than cedar, and so should really have the 

 advantage in freight rate for a considerable distance into middle 

 western markets. Treated lodgepole pine poles, furthermore, do not 

 need to be as large in circumference at the ground as cedar poles, for 

 the latter must be large enough in the first place to bear the load after 

 the sapwood and part of the heartwood have decayed. For this 

 reason the shipping weight of treated lodgepole pine poles should be 

 close to that of cedar when the same strength is required. 



From present indications it seems likely that lodgepole pine will to 

 a large extent replace cedar as a pole material in many parts of the 

 West within the next few years. 



PAPER PULP. 



Lodgepole pine yields a ground-wood pulp of good quality, suitable 

 for the manufacture of news-print paper. It can also be made into 

 pulp by the sulphite process. 



The National Forests contain many large bodies of lodgepole pine 

 timber conveniently located with reference to undeveloped water 

 power. No doubt the manufacturer of news-print paper will stick to 

 white spruce for his raw material as long as any can be obtained 

 either in this country or in Canada, but the lodgepole pine of the 

 National Forests offers an immediate opening to manufacturers of 

 other ground-wood products who have not an abundance of raw 

 material and cheap power at their present locations. The rapid 

 growth of the pulp-board industry during the last few years, for 

 example, has created a demand for a suitable and inexpensive wood 

 which lodgepole could well supply. 



FUEL AND CHARCOAL. 



A considerable amount of lodgepole pine is used locally for fuel. 



At one time large quantities were made into charcoal, but the industry 



has fallen away since the introduction of coke. From 15,000 to 20,000 



bushels are still produced annually, however, in the vicinity of 



Bernice, Mont. 



FIRE-KILLED TIMBER. 



Lodgepole-pine timber killed by either fire or insects deteriorates 

 very slowly as long as it remains standing. Dead trees may stand 

 for 20 or 30 years, and even after falling to the ground will not decay 

 quickly unless in direct contact with the soil. Finally, however, the 

 interior of the stem gives way to red rot, leaving the sapwood as a 



