78 



Efforts were made to obtain statistics relative to the consumption of 

 timber for the manufacture of charcoal, but, as in the case of lumber 

 manufacture, the returns were quite unsatisfactory. 



In response to the question, "What is your principal source of timber 

 supply for the manufacture of charcoal f replies were received (mostly 

 from persons in Colorado and l^ew Mexico) as follows : 



In the foot-hills; plenty of pine and pinou. 



Foot-hills and ranches. 



Purchase from parties who deliver at kiln. 



All around the city (Breckeuridge, Colo.). 



Patented lauds and pre-emjitions. 



Mineral ground. 



Abundance of timber, chiefly on grants (N. Mex.). 



To the questions, " What kinds of timber do you mainly use ? What 

 proportion of green timber and what proportion of dry 1 " the following 

 replies were received : 



Pine and pinon. 



All dry wood — it takes too long to burn green. 



One-fifth dry ; pinon the best for charcoal. 



Pinon ; mostly dry — killed by lire. 



Pine; 90 per cent, dry, 10 per cent, green. 



Aspen ; three-fourths green, one-fourth dry. 



Pine; one-half green, one-half dry. * 



Pinon ; equal parts of green and dry. 



Scrub timber; half dry and half green. 



Dead timber and dry ; green too expensive. 



Pinon, pine, and cedar; one-third green, two-thirds dry. 



Pine; 75 per cent, green. 



Concerning the yearly product of charcoal (in bushels) reports were 

 received as follows : 



Colorado : 



Lake County 2,000,000 



Conejos County 150,000 



Custer County 150,000 



Rio Grande County 150,000 



ParkCoanty „ 800,000 



Dolores County 75,000 



Chaffee County 380,000 



La Plata County 75,000 



New Mexico : 



Santa F<^ County .' 200,000 



No means are at hand for verifying the above statements ; and be- 

 sides, it will be seen that the figures cover but a small territory. The 

 Philadelphia smelter at Ketchum, Idaho, has thirty kilns for burning 

 charcoal; the annual product is not reported. 



At least nine-tenths of the charcoal manufactured is used by the 

 smelters; the remainder is used mostly by blacksmiths and tinsmiths. 



