22 BULLETIN" 683, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
is nearly 50 per cent higher than the average cost reported for elm in 
the vehicle industry. 
Elm is not in general use for spokes of ordinary vehicle wheels, 
since the wood is inclined to warp when it absorbs moisture and does 
not hold its shape as well as hickory. Both the cork elm and white 
elm are used, however, for the extremely long spokes of large wagon 
wheels such as are used in logging. Large log wheels as much as 9 
feet in diameter are often fitted with cork-elm spokes, and it is said 
that no other wood has been found to be quite so satisfactory. 
Cork elm is frequently used for the felloes, or bent rims, of light 
wagons and carriages and is said to be satisfactory as rims for bicycles 
in place of hickory. Cork elm serves as a substitute for hickory in 
many parts of light vehicles. 
Cork elm is used in cutters and sleighs for the runners and running 
gear. White and cork elm are also used for other parts in place of 
ash and hickory. Elm is commonly used in the manufacture of wheel- 
barrows, for which it is well adapted because of its ability to stand 
shocks. It is used principally for the handles, for which the cork elm 
is most suitable. Factories generally utilize No. 2 common and better 
for this product. 
An average cost of $26.71 per thousand board feet at the factory is 
reported for elm by vehicle manufacturers. This is above the average 
of elm for all industries, but is low for the vehicle industry. This is 
evidently due to the large proportion of white elm included for which 
a much lower price was paid than for the cork elm. For instance, in 
Michigan the average cost of white elm is reported as $23 a thousand 
and of cork elm $36. Vehicle makers demand a good grade of rock 
elm for such purposes as eveners, singletrees, and running gears. 
No. 1 common and better 2 inches thick is generally used at a cost 
of from $35 to $40 a thousand feet. For cutters and sleighs, 1 and 2 
inch lumber No. 2 common and better, both white and rock elm, is 
usually purchased at an average price of from $25 to $30. 
CHAIRS AND CHAIR STOCK. 
Elm is well adapted for chair making, as is shown by this industry's 
being fourth in importance in its use. It is used particularly for 
rockers, also for bent arms. It is, however, not so strong and tough 
as hickory, does not take so smooth a polish, and is more apt to 
splinter on the surface. The chair maker prefers the rock elm for 
most uses, but the soft elm is also used. The average price per 
thousand board feet paid for elm by this industry is $25.63. This is 
about $2 per thousand above the average for all industries. 
WOODENWARE AND DAIRYMEN'S AND POULTERERS' SUPPLIES. 
For such products as candy pails and tobacco buckets elm is 
desirable because it has very little odor and taste. It is also used 
for butter tubs. 
