THE MEASUREMENT OF PIECE PRODUCTS 



467 



mine props, the tops are also utilized down to 3 or 4 inches. These small round prod- 

 ucts also permit the utilization of suppressed trees and small timber, thus reducing 

 total per cent of waste in a stand to a minimum. 



365. Poles. Standard poles are 20 feet or more in length, and are used prin- 

 cipally for telegraph or telephone lines. Specifications are based usually on 

 circumference rat', er than diameter. Since the ratio between the two measure- 

 ments for a circle is 3.1416 to 1, and this is exceeded for eccentric cross sections, 

 specifications, especially for large sizes, call for J to 1 inch greater circumference than 

 the proportion of 3 to 1 for dry poles and an extra i to f inch for green or water- 

 soaked poles. 



White cedar, which furnishes the larger part of the poles utilized, is measured 

 either by circumference or diameter. The specified relation of these measurements 

 for peeled poles is, 



TABLE LXVIII 

 Relation between Circumference and Diameter for White Cedar Poles 



An excess of 6 inches in length is permitted, or 1 half-inch scant for every 5 feet 

 in length. 1 



The standard specifications for Eastern white cedar poles, (American Telephone 

 and Telegraph Company), are given below: 



All pole3 shall be reasonably straight, well proportioned from butt to top, shall 

 have both ends squared, the bark peeled, and all knots and limbs closely trimmed. 



The dimensions of the poles shall be in accordance with the following table, the 

 " top " measurement being the circumference at the top of the pole and the " butt " 

 measurement the circumference, six (6) feet from the butt. The dimensions given 

 are the minimum allowable circumferences at the points specified for measurement 

 and are not intended to preclude the acceptance of poles of larger dimensions. 



When the dimension at the butt is not given, the poles shall be reasonably well 

 proportioned throughout their entire length. No pole shall be over six (6) inches 

 longer or three (3) inches shorter than the length for which it is accepted. If any 

 pole is more than six (6) inches longer than is required, it shall be cut back. 



Quality and Defects of Timber. The wood of a dead pole is grayish in color. The 

 presence of a black line on the edge of the sapwood (as seen on the butt) also shows 

 that a pole is dead. No dead poles, and no poles having dead streaks covering more 

 than one-quarter of their surface, shall be accepted under these specifications. Poles 

 having dead streaks covering less than one-quarter of their surface shall have a cir- 

 cumference greater than otherwise required. The increase in the circumference 

 shall be sufficient to afford a cross-sectional area of sound wood equivalent to that of 

 sound pieces of the same class. 



1 Northwestern Cedarmen's Association. 



