2 BULLETIN 519, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The annual demand for poles, which now exceeds 4,000,000, was 
supplied principally from three different regions of the United 
States: The northern white-cedar region of the Lake States, the 
chestnut region of the eastern portion of the country, and the western 
red-cedar region of the Northwest, which includes Idaho, Oregon, and 
Washington. 
The principal properties called for in pole timbers are durability, 
strength, lightness, straightness, and a surface which takes climbing 
irons easily. All of the species of cedar reported purchased combine 
practically all of these properties in a high degree. 
Cedar Gncluding northern white, western red, southern white, and 
red) supplied 2,521,769 poles, or 61 per cent of the total number 
purchased. This is an increase of 421,625, or 16 per cent, as com- 
pared with the number purchased in 1911. 
Next to cedar comes chestnut, which showed a decrease of 42,846 
poles, while pine showed an increase of 384,543, or 70 per cent, as 
compared with the 1911 purchase. Most of the pine reported was 
that commonly known as southern yellow pine, and includes longleaf, 
shortleaf, and loblolly. Of these, the longleaf is the most durable. 
It is reported that loblolly pine. gives very brief service unless it is 
treated with a preservative. Western yellow pine was also reported 
in small quantities, but, like loblolly, it requires a preservative 
treatment to insure reasonable length of service. 
Oak poles were purchased in practicaliy the same number as in 
1911, while cypress poles showed a decrease of 5,351 poles. The use 
of cypress as a pole timber seems to be falling off each year. Cedar, 
chestnut, and pine together formed over 91 per cent of all poles 
reported purchased, cedar alone, as before stated, constituting over 
61 per cent. 
The minor species reported were redwood, spruce, tamarack, and 
osage orange. Ali of these, however, were reported in small quan- 
tities. 
Table Ii shows the number of poles purchased in 1915, classified 
according to class of purchaser and kind of wood. 
TaBLE IT.—Poles purchased, by class of consumer and kind of wood, 1915. 
Tele- | Electric | 
phone | railways, | 
and tele- | light,and) Steam 
Kind of wood. Total. graph power | railroads. 
com- com- 
| panies. | panies. 
PAU KAM S32 ac2 oe ee a eins i see ee cee eee 4, 077, 964 L 680, 880 |1, 430, 122 966, 962 
INOnEHeEM whiteCed ater = a. ee ye ee ee ee eee 1, 747, 210 {1,029,219 | 239,864 478,127 
Whos tmibs see ae eee aol oe eee ee eee ee eee 651,643 | 336,496 | 275,304 39, 843 
Wiveuciartinee | One iaa 8 Sonemd nea none he sobes ees asoodecodadse sac 567,770 | 105,590 | 422,312 39, 868 
(Pine aes ene oes 2 SEE BR SA eee oc eee eet er 546, 233 69,787 | 388,210 88, 236 
AWW Galles Stee ans cee ois elias saps er cee erates os ee ere 177, 799 34, 644 13,110 130, 045 
TRANS (SG PRa a Aine ee a here Ree et NEA Harned ooo sin Gees 117, 545 21,386 8,424 87, 735 
Southern wiibeced atver see aoe ee ener ree oes ae 89, 244 16, 661 14, 686 57, 897 
AS VTOSS Joos ace hee ois eR MSS eon ee Rit Ue as Se arearetey are eee 67, 644 24, 162 18,174 25,308 
TRA AG Bray Sepa Co RE fe ne De MAES cect ce pen ey a ee 21, 643 6, 912 13,001 1,730 
UNIT OEHGR sce ees he: cou nian open a | Se ena ae 91,233 | 36,023] 37,037 18,173 
oe 
