66 STATE OP MICHIGAN. 



FORESTRY T'EOBLEM OF MICHIGAN, FROM A BUSINESS 

 JIAN-S POINT OF VIEW.* 



JOHN H. BISSELL. 



In reading Prof. Green's recent book on Forestry, I was much struck 

 with ire. statement of the many uses of wood and forest products. I give 

 it ill outline. 



"Wood serves so many purposes and enters so largely into human activ- 

 ities, that it may be said to be one of the most useful of all natural 

 products. Tliink for a moment of its many and varied uses at the present 

 tir,\e. 



"In Cdrpoiitrij. the rough material is used in frame work, sills, studding, 

 plateSj joists, rafters; in sheathing, roofing, shingles, lath; while finished 

 lumber is used in siding, floors, doors, window frames, sash, blinds, stair- 

 ways, furniture, and fixtures of many kinds, mouldings, ornamental fin- 

 ishings (solid and veneer). 



■■For KaUiL-rnjs, in wharves, piers, bridges, piling, etc., ties and culverts. 



'■In Shipbuilding its use is as general and varied as in house building. 



"In Joinery, including furniture, cabinet and box work. 



■•In Maldng Cars, wagons and carriages. 



'■'In Cooperage, barrels, casks, tubs, kegs, pails, churns of various kinds 

 of wood. 



'■/)( tlio manufaeiurc of farm, and Itoiisehold ma^cliiiicrij and implements, 

 in wooden ware, baskets, parts of musical instruments, in machine build- 

 ing. 



■'Tinther for mining purpones is in great demand and enormous quanti- 

 ties are required, so that mines are among the heaviest consumers. 



"Telegraph, telephone, electric light and electric railway companies are 

 heavy consumers. 



'■In Lumbering operations. 



■^^\'ood Palp and DisfiUation products, in the manufacture of paper, 

 boards, buckets, car wheels, and an infinite variety of articles. 



"The destructive distinction of icood from which is obtained charcoal, 

 \iuegar, alcohol, creosote, gas, tar, pyroligneous, oxalic, acetic and other 

 acids; acetone, paraffin, naphthalin, lamp-black, etc.; and from bark the 

 tannic acid. Besides the bark, the saps are used to produce turpentine, 

 resin, gums and rubber, sugar, liquors, and various medicines; the pith is 

 used for food, and fibre for clothing; the fruit and leive^ of some trees 

 are used for food, medicinal and chemical extracts." 



Surely it is a matter of the most serious concern whether the country's 

 supply of timber is failing or not, and whether anylhing can be done by 

 the individual or the State, to prespi-ve the present stocks, to replenish 

 some of the waste and depletion of the supplies — or utilize again the 

 waste places, where once were forests, with the same most valuable crop. 



* Paper presented to M'.ch'gan Academy of Science. 



