Figure 27.—Large sawmill on the Willamette River. 
the extreme left are seen the cores remaining after logs and bolts are peeled 
water or on rivers navigable to transoceanic ves- 
sels (fig. 27). In contrast, the small mills are 
widely scattered throughout the region, mostly in 
the interior (fig. 28). 
source of raw material becomes more remote from 
As cutting progresses the 
the large mills. 
The total annual installed capacity of all existing 
sawmil!s in 1934, computed on a basis of 300 work- 
ing days of 8 hours each, was nearly 12.8 billion 
board feet (lumber tally), and the annual capacity 
of the mills active in 1934 was approximately 10.2 
billion board feet. Actually, the mills can produce 
considerably in excess of these 
totals. Even when production 
is considerably below normal 
many of the large mills operate 
two shifts daily at least part of 
the year. The lumber produc- 
tion for 1934 was 4.4 billion 
board feet, only a little more 
than a third of the total esti- 
matedcapacity. Evidently, the 
existing sawmills are mechani- 
cally capable of producing at 
least twice the amount of lum- 
ber necessary to fill current de- 
mands (1925—33 average annual 
production). Furthermore, 
any slight increase in demand 
and prices is usually followed 
by erection of new sawmills log supply 
In the foreground is a veneer plant; at 
90 
and rehabilitation of partly 
dismantled mills. This condi- 
tion leads to chronic malad- 
jusment of saw-mill capacity 
with lumber production. 
Retirement of obsolescent 
sawmills has been advocated 
as a panacea for the ills of the 
lumber industry, but no practi- 
cal method has been suggested 
for effecting this. Some of the 
oldest sawmills are among the 
more successful, proving that 
age is not necessarily a measure 
Sor of sawmill obsolescence. Many 
mills have become obsolete 
not because of mechani- 
cal deficiences of the plant but because the accessible 
timber has all been cut and the mill is too far from 
the source of raw material to operate successfully. 
The difficulties of the lumber industry are more 
The 
availability of enormous quantities of standing tim- 
deep-seated than excess sawmill capacity. 
ber generates a constant pressure to increase pro- 
duction. Timber owners, weary of paying taxes and 
other carrying charges without return, seek to 
liquidate at the first opportunity. This trend, 
coupled with the excess sawmill capacity, has created 
a chronic overproduction that can be remedied only 
F 348127 
FiGuRE 28.—Circular sawmill in western Washington having a capacity of approximately 30,000 
board feet per 8-hour shift. 
timbers, common boards, and dimension. 
The chief products of small mills are railroad ties, planking, 
Usually such mills are located in the woods near their 
