FIFTH NATIONAI, CONSERVATION CONGRESS 34'7 



In reply, the lumberman acknowledges that he has been guilty of many of 

 the sins of omission and commission charged in the indictment, but he pleads 

 that the extent of the sin depends upon the definition of the word "waste." 

 Theoretical conservationists may say that 75 per cent of a timber stand is wasted 

 because only 25 per cent of the wood fibre it contains reaches the ultimate user. 

 The practical lumberman whose entire capital is invested in timber will reply 

 that he logs, manufactures, and sells every foot that can be handled at a profit 

 and that it is no fault of his if 75 per cent of the wood volume is lost enroute 

 from forest to consumer ; he is likely to add, further, that he has handled timber 

 all his life, and that his experience absolutely contradicts the claims of the 

 forester and the conservationist whose knowledge of the subject has been wholly 

 gained from books or popular magazines. 



Such being the contentions of those who see the opposite sides of the Con- 

 servation Shield, let us endeavor to make an impartial examination of the con- 

 ditions which determine the closeness of timber utilization. 



WORK PROPOSED 



The outline submitted to our sub-committee for consideration proposed the 

 following subjects: 



1. Closer Utilization in Logging. 



2. Closer Utilization in Manufacturing. 



3. Closer Utilization in Marketing. 



4. Preservative Treatment of Timber. 



The suggestion was also made that the first topic, that of Closer Utilization 

 in Logging, is at present the most important and should be given consideration 

 this year, leaving the other topics for future development. The first exchange 

 of opinion among the sub-committee members showed conclusively the impossi- 

 bility of handling the topics in the fashion suggested, hence the fragmentary 

 report now submitted is called by the general title of "The Closer Utilization 

 oE Timber." While its incompleteness is fully realized, it is hoped that the 

 facts presented may have value for the indication of future investigations of more 

 conclusive character. 



FACTORS WHICH AFFECT UTILIZATION 



In a large way, a lumbering operation has three distinct parts which in 

 their natural sequence are: 



Logging. 



Manufacturing. 



Selling. 



A study of conditions quickly shows that logging and manufacturing methods 

 are governed almost entirely by market demands. The factors which in the order 



