34 BULLETIN 1291, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
of general manufacturing in the intermountain region requiring ex- 
celsior for packing its product is very small indeed, and the excelsior 
business could never develop very far until a greater demand was 
felt. 
Aspen is used at the present time chiefly for mine props, firewood, 
and in miscellaneous ways in the round, as posts, poles, etc. It is 
occasionally sawed and is reputed to make superior bridge plank 
and stable flooring on account of its freedom from splintering. 
The early Morman pioneers made furniture from this wood to some 
extent. In general, it is not preferred to the conifers, except for 
posts, poles, and fuel. 
Prop cutting takes trees from 7 to 11 inches in diameter breast 
high, the props running from 8 to 16 feet long and 5 to 10 inches 
inside of bark at the small end. A large use of aspen for mine 
props developed in 1913 to 1916 in the Utah coal fields, but of late 
years this has declined in favor of dry or even green lodgepole pine 
from Idaho. One reason for the preference for conifer props is 
their lighter weight when green or when waterlogged in wet mines, 
which makes them more suitable for reuse than aspen props. 
Small poles from 3 to 8 inches in diameter breast high are used 
by ranchers near the mountains in a variety of ways. The larger 
sizes are frequently used for fence posts where cedar is not easily 
obtainable; for although aspen is not generally considered durable, 
it has a better reputation for durability in the soil than any of the 
conifers found in the region, except, of course, the junipers. Poles 
are also used for fences, corrals, and sheds built loosely and covered 
with straw for protecting cattle on exposed ranches. Their value 
for this purpose depends mainly on their long, straight lengths with 
little taper. 
The firewood qualities of aspen are generally conceded to be superior 
to those of the conifers, which burn too rapidly when resinous, 
or make a poor, snapping fire in the case of nonresinous firs. The 
manner of growth of aspen makes it easy to handle as firewood. In 
some places remote from railroads aspen fuel is of notable value. 
The future use of the aspen of the Rocky Mountain region is dif- 
ficult to forecast. It is likely, however, that the wood will be used 
for special purposes to which it is peculiarly suited, as paper pulp or 
match wood, rather than for general purposes. There may always be 
certain consumption for various local uses, such as mine props and 
ties, posts, poles, and fuel, as at present. In the future, the Rocky 
Mountain aspen may be used for making excelsior and box shooks for 
fruit and canned goods. 
LUMBERING AND LOGGING 
Aspen logging is generally a simple process, carried on mainly by 
ranchers in slack season; but in case large sales should develop special 
logging crews would, of course, have to be used. The months of May 
and June and the early part of July are the most favorable for cutting, 
because at that time the bark can be peeled with ease. At other seasons 
it is the usual practice simply to ross the logs in narrow strips on 
four sides to facilitate drying. Hauling is most conveniently done in 
the fall or winter, after the peeled logs have dried during the sum- 
mer. The reduction in weight is then very marked; for, although 
