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, 
