ASPEN IN THE CENTRAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION 
33 
PROPERTIES OF THE WOOD 
The wood of aspen is straight-grained, of a smooth texture, white 
in color, and light when dry. The pith rays and annual rings are 
inconspicuous, and the pores are small and diffused evenly through- 
out the annual growth ring. The green wood contains a very large 
percentage of water, the weight of the green wood being about 
double that of the kiln-dry. It is therefore particularly desirable 
to cut this timber and allow it to dry a considerable time before haul- 
ing. Aspen cut in the winter or spring and peeled is in good condi- 
tion to haul in the fall; if not peeled it will not be very dry until 
the following fall. Many sticks of unbarked aspen in piles sprout 
and bear leaves during the entire growing season after cutting. 
Green aspen will float, its weight being about 46 pounds per cubic 
foot. 
Laboratory tests (Table 21) indicate that aspen from Wisconsin 
and New Mexico) is equal or superior in its chief mechanical prop- 
erties to several of our western conifers, and has a higher value 
than alpine fir or even Englemann spruce in these respects. 
Table 21. — Mechanical properties of aspen and associated conifers 
Aspen 
Douglas 
fir 
White 
fir 
Alpine 
fir 
Engel- 
mann 
spruce 
Weight 
ML 
W 
S 
MG 
L _. 
MS 
ML 
MW.... 
MS 
MP 
MS 
do 
L 
MW.... 
MS 
P 
MS 
do 
L 
W 
S 
VP 
L 
S 
L. 
Strength as beam or post 
W. 
Hardness _ 
s. 
S h ock resistance 
p. 
Stiffness ,., 
L. 
Shrinkage 
MS. 
Weight: L-light; ML -moderately light. 
Strength: W— weak; MW— moderately weak. 
Hardness: S— soft; Ms— moderately soft. 
Shock resistance: MG— moderately good; MP— moderately poor; P— Poor; VP— very poor. 
Stiffness: L— limber; MS— moderately stiff. 
Shrinkage: S— small; MS— moderately small. 
USES 
Aspen wood is especially suited to the manufacture of paper pulp, 
match sticks, and excelsior. As yet none of these industries has 
called upon the intermountain region for supplies of wood. The 
paper-pulp industry in the past called for large mills located in 
regions where they might operate for a long time. Plentiful sup- 
plies of water are also needed. Any suitable location in the 
Rocky Mountain region necessitates a longer railroad haul for much 
of the timber than has been financially attractive under past condi- 
tions. In view, however, of the growing conviction in the industry 
that domestic supplies of pulpwood must soon take the place of the 
somewhat uncertain Canadian supplies, the possibility of the profit- 
able use of aspen from this and other localities seems clearer. In 
the match-stick business large logs of straight-grained wood are 
needed for the rotary veneer process used. These are found only 
in relatively small, widely scattered patches. Logging costs would 
be high and railroad hauls would be generally required. The amount 
2023°— 25 3 
