| 
grade logs and bolts it uses represent so small a 
part of the timber stand that investment in timber- 
lands would be out of proportion to the size of 
the business. Plants are generally located in com- 
munities with sawmills, but it would be desirable 
to go further in integrating log procurement with 
that of the lumber industry. 
However, to maintain output the Douglas-fir 
plywood industry will have to use lower-quality 
logs, and this will cause more direct competition be- 
tween plywood and lumber mills for log supplies. 
It will also require more economy in the industry 
—use of poor-quality material for cores and backs, 
and patching of defective veneers. Since this in- 
evitably means higher operating costs and lower 
quality of product, the plywood industry’s competi- 
tive advantage in the market for high-quality logs 
will gradually be reduced. Nevertheless, there will 
doubtless be opportunities for new veneer mills in 
localities where the timber is still to be opened up. 
There is not much prospect of expanding out- 
put by greater use of less desirable species of timber 
in other regions. Difficulties in drying and sand- 
ing, and the tendency to checking and glue staining, | 
restrict the use of western hemlock and noble fir. 
The generally coarse and defective Douglas-fir in 
eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, California, 
and the Rocky Mountain regions is not suitable for 
plywood under present standards. The white fir 
of California is also apt to be highly defective. 
California red fir holds some promise but will also 
be used for lumber. ‘The use of ponderosa pine 
and sugar pine for veneer might be expanded, but 
again this would run into competition with the 
lumber industry. 
Other Timber Industries 
Space permits only brief reference to other 
timber industries. Some of these illustrate critical 
situations arising from shortages of timber of the 
species or quality required. Others, although small 
in total output, may be valuable links in local 
integration for more effective use of timber in the 
woods and mill. Still others may furnish new 
employment and income in communities that lose 
major timber industries. 
The output of the wood shingle industry is de- 
clining. ‘This industry is based almost entirely on 
western redcedar and is concentrated in a few 
localities in the Douglas-fir subregion. The output 
of 3.4 million squares in 1944 was only one-third 
of the peak production about 35 years ago. The 
capacity of installed machines is about 12 million 
squares. About 25 percent of the wood shingles 
used in this country come from British Columbia. 
Because cedar occurs as scattered trees, the industry 
depends upon purchased stumpage except where 
affliated with sawmills. With the passing of open 
log markets, many mills have difficulty in obtaining 
logs. The industry faces increasing competition 
from asphalt roofing and its future is. doubtful. 
Of passing interest is the fact that defibrated wood 
is being used increasingly as base for asphalt 
roofing. 
The tight cooperage industry is declining because 
of depletion of suitable timber. Most of this in- 
dustry is in the Southeast, West Gulf, and Central 
regions. Suitable white oak, the chief species used, 
commands fantastic prices and waste is very great. 
There is no shortage of raw material for the slack 
cooperage industry, which is more widely scattered 
and uses many species, including pine, redgum, 
spruce, elm, and Douglas-fir. 
Hewing of cross ties is wasteful and the range 
of tree sizes that can be used is narrow. Because 
timber of tie size is at the threshold of its most 
valuable growth, tie cutting usually impairs forest- 
growing stock. In the South, hewn ties are made 
chiefly of southern yellow pine and oak. In the 
West, lodgepole pine and Rocky Mountain Doug- 
las-fir are the chief species for hewing. Hewn ties 
constitute only a small part of all ties used. 
Cutting of round mine timbers usually destroys 
immature growing stock. It is largely confined to 
the Middle Atlantic and Central regions. Since 
there is wide latitude as to species and size, most 
of the need for mine timbers could be met from 
thinnings and improvement cuttings. 
The pole industry now uses chiefly southern pine. 
Use of western redcedar has declined because of 
shortage of suitable timber. Lodgepole pine, avail- 
able in large quantities, is being more widely used 
to supply rural-electrification needs. 
Cutting of piling commonly takes the form of 
thinning, because of exacting specifications that 
bar small timber and admit only the straightest 
Piling is cut chiefly from southern pine and 
Douglas-fir. Because it brings high prices, cutting 
for this product is usually very profitable to the 
timber owner. 
trees. 
The production of naval stores from the gum 
of longleaf and slash pine trees is important in 
the South. With proper management gum pro- 
duction may be effectively integrated with the 
58 Miscellaneous Publication 668, U. S. Department of Agriculture 
