The utilization of forest products in Massachusetts as affected by the war;

THE UTILIZATION OF FOREST
PRODUCTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

illlllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllililllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllW

AS AFFECTED BY THE WAR

By PAUL D. KNEELAND, M.F.

Assistant Forester

Under the Direction of

F. W. RANE, B.Agr., M.S.

Massachusetts State Forester

BOSTON

WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING COMPANY,t?STATE PRINTERS

32 DERNE STREET

1918

PUBLICATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

APPROVED BY THE
SUPERVISOR OF ADMINISTRATION.

THE UTILIZATION OF FOREST PROD-
UCTS IN MASSACHUSETTS AS
AFFECTED BY THE WAR.

Introduction.

The war in which we are now engaged has wrought great
langes in the field of forest utilization. Many of these
langes have been kaleidoscopic in their action, and they are
still going on. What was true a year ago, perhaps, does not
hold true to-day, and very likely will be still different a year
from now. This bulletin is written from a popular rather than
a scientific point of view, in order that the woodland owner
may know some of the conditions which now prevail, and
be able to take advantage of them. There is bound to be a
^action after the war, but there is little probability that
lings will go back to their former status.
Of all our natural resources perhaps the forests were the
>t to be called upon to help win the war. The other two
great sources of raw material — the field crops and the mineral
reserves — felt the stimulation of war prices long before this
country entered the conflict. It was not until we were in it,
and the great programs for ships, airplanes, cantonments, etc.,
were under way, that the lumber business became a great and
necessary factor.

Massachusetts forests have not been able to help in a large
way as have those of many of her sister States. Of airplane
spruce and ship timbers we have but little. However, our
forests are doing their bit, and all that our State can furnish is
needed.

White Pine.

White pine is our most important species. Its chief market
has always been for box boards. The war has brought about a
great increase in this demand. Most of our munitions have to

be boxed or crated for shipment, thus necessitating a tremen-
dous quantity of wooden boxing material. The freight situation
has until recently practically closed all outside sources of
supply. The high price of paper has lessened the substitution
of paper for wooden boxes. Under this great demand and lack
of competition the price of box boards has nearly doubled.
Production has greatly increased, but the demand still remains.
Round edge box lumber has been sold as high as $40 a thousand
feet delivered, and square edge, $5 or $6 higher. At this time
a slight reaction is on, and it is the general opinion that prices
will not go much higher. Some box shops favorably situated
to a steady local supply of lumber are buying box boards at
considerably less than the prices quoted. Some are paying less
than $30 per M and claim to be getting all they need at that
price. As always happens when prices rise rapidly, the in-
crease is not the same in all sections. The seller should seek
more distant markets if the local buyers are unwilling to pay
the market price. The thicknesses most in demand have been
1 inch and 2J inches, which make the heavier material for ex-
port shipments.

While the price of box boards has soared, the demand for
the better grades, such as are used in sash and blind manu-
facture, construction, etc., has remained stationary, or almost
ceased. The very highest grades which are used in making
patterns, or directly by the army or navy, have commanded
high prices. The intermediate grades are not being sorted, but
are turned into box boards with the rest. There is practically
no market for them at present except as box boards. The 21-
inch pine for match blocks is in good demand, and also the pine
for toys, pails, etc.

A slight demand for white pine piling has arisen, due to the
difficulty in getting spruce.

Hemlock and Spruce.

Hemlock is an important species in Massachusetts, while
spruce is not found except in a limited area. The usual way of
utilizing these species was to cut them into square edge or
small dimension material. The demand for this has greatly
diminished, and the price has not risen in proportion to that of

box boards. Both species can be sold as box lumber for about
$2 to $3 under the price of pine, so that is the best way of
utilization at present. There is a good market for both spruce
and hemlock for pulp cut 4 feet long and peeled, but most of
the pulp mills are in the north, and our local operators and
labor are unaccustomed to that form of utilization, so little
pulp is cut in Massachusetts.

Hemlock bark has again come into demand at about $15 a
cord on the cars. At this price it certainly will pay to peel the
larger hemlock.

Chestnut.

The market for chestnut is our most important consideration
at this time. The chestnut blight has spread rapidly, and there
seems to be no hope that it will cease as suddenly as it came.
There is also no known practicable cure or preventive for it.
Within a few years, or a decade at best, our second most
important species will be gone. In the meantime we must have
a market for it, or most of the dead material will be a total
loss. Fortunately, there is at present a good sale for all chest-
nut large enough for lumber, although this market is different
from that of several years ago. The prices have not gone up in
proportion with the pine price. The present uses of chestnut
may be classified as follows: —

1. Poles, Posts, and Piling. — There is practically no sale for
posts, except local. The demand for poles is fair, but not as
good as formerly. When the cantonments were in construction
there was a very heavy demand. Since then, due to the policy
of the telephone and light companies in doing as little new
construction as possible, the demand has slackened, but there
are bound to be a good many used for replacement and up-
keep. The price of poles does not seem to have risen in pro-
portion to the increase in lumber. The specifications and
prices of the Western Electric Company, the largest single
buyer of poles in New England, are appended herewith. They
state that they will continue buying all the larger poles offered.
Some chestnut piling has been bought lately by the railroads
and also for fish weirs. That is a market worth looking into,
as the sticks do not have to be peeled.

2. Cross Ties. — New prices and specifications have been

6

issued since the government took over the railroads. They are
appended herewith. A maximum price has been fixed which
applies to all lines in New England. Not all the roads are now
paying the maximum price or buying all classes, but it is ex-
pected that before long they will. All ties must be sold to the
road on whose lines they are delivered. They cannot be
shipped from one road to another. It is intimated that the
railroads will do the buying for the trolley lines. Hard times
have hit the troiley lines, anyway. Many have been discon-
tinued, and the rest are doing as little in the line of construction
and repair as possible. Therefore the market for the small
trolley ties seems to be poor. The new price for ties averages
slightly higher than previously, but not in proportion to the
increase in lumber. The price of the smaller ties is lower than
it was previously on certain roads. The 6-inch tie with 5-
inch face is no longer specified, and will not be taken except
as a cull, price not known. The small tie is our mainstay from
the point of view of utilization of our forests, and it is to be
hoped that later on the Railroad Administration may rectify
the matter of their price and size. Probably the reason for the
low price is that the railroads want as few of the small ties as
possible. Operators should take the hint and cut their pro-
duction of small ties to a minimum. The smaller chestnut can
be more profitably used as lumber, and at present prices of
lumber the larger material also.

3. Lumber. — The chestnut lumber market is the promising
feature of the whole situation. The almost universal disposi-
tion of chestnut lumber in Massachusetts before the war —
that of sawing it If inches round edge for the chair factories —
has been somewhat modified. The chair factories are still buy-
ing and paying good prices, but are not buying in increased
amounts. In fact, their demand has slightly decreased. Chest-
nut has come into demand for box boards as a substitute for
pine. For this purpose, it is sawed mostly 1 inch with some
f inch and Ij inches thickness. The price has been from $2
to $5 per M less than the price for pine, while a little mixed
with the pine has been accepted without price reduction. Not
all box shops will buy chestnut, but an increasing number will.
In this way it is possible to utilize trees which will make only

small ties, or which will be too small to make ties at all. Some
operators have been cutting chestnut down to 4 inches, but that
is not advisable if a sure market for the lumber is desirable,
6 inches being a safer minimum diameter.

There is a good demand for the better grades of chestnut
squared up from the butt, and good second logs. This lumber
is being sold in place of the southern chestnut, graded No. 1
and No. 2 common. In thicknesses of 1 inch, Ij inches, 2
inches and thicker, 6 inches and up wide, it is commanding a
price of from $40 to $55 per thousand feet delivered. Care
should be taken, however, to saw this material full to thick-
ness, so that it will dry to those sizes; also it must be stuck
and dried properly. This material is used for coffins, finish,
furniture, cabinet work, piano cases, construction, etc. Even
higher prices might be realized if great care in sawing and
grading is exercised. Wormy material cannot be sold in this
class, nor can it be sold extensively for chair stock. Railroad
ties and box boards are the best market for wormy chestnut.
Some wormy lumber can be sold square edge, if it is sound, at
a lesser price.

Some chestnut has been used for ship timbers, but it is doubt-
ful whether that demand will continue.

Oak.

Oak is fast disappearing from the eastern section of the State,
due to the gypsy moth. However, it is our most important
hardwood tree, and in extensive demand at this time. The
chief uses may be classified as follows: —

1. Piling. — White and red oak are in constant demand for
piling. White oak is specified in some cases, but usually either
may be used. The prices have ranged from 25 cents to $1
(for very large sticks) per running foot for the piles delivered.
About all the larger piles must be from 7 to 8 inches diameter
at the small end, and from 14 to 20 inches at the butt. Lengths
run from 30 to 60 feet. All must be fairly straight and thor-
oughly sound. The chief difficulty with piling is in handling, as
it requires special knowledge and equipment. It is not advis-
able to cut piles except on order, as they rapidly deteriorate.

8

Oak piles are easy to handle in connection with a chestnut pole
operation.

2. Cross Ties. — All railroads now accept all the oak ties
offered. White oak commands a higher price, and red oak a
somewhat lower price, than does chestnut. The prices are not
such as to make the manufacture of oak ties advisable except
for knotty upper cuts and crooked, poorer grade logs.

3. Car Stock. — There is a great demand by the railroads for
oak sawed into dimension stock and plank for car repairs. It
cannot be sold except to the road on whose lines it is delivered.
The price has recently been fixed at $40 on the cars for red
oak, and $43 for white oak. This price is considerably below
what the roads were paying before the price was fixed. Unless
the price is increased, other classes of material offer a better
market for oak. Before cutting car stock it is necessary to
receive an order from some dealer or the purchasing agent of
the railroad.

4. Wagon and Ship Plank. — This is the highest grade of oak
produced. It should be cut only from the best butts and
second cuts from large, sound trees. Thicknesses 2, 2J, 3 and
4 inches. All should be sawed a little over, to allow for drying,
and in as long lengths as possible. Prices range from $50 to $75
per M sawed round edge. Some prices for exceptional width
and quality have been up to $100 per M. For ship building,
larger timbers, especially those with crooks and bends, are in
demand. These pieces often run up to 32 feet in length, and
are flatted on two sides. There does not seem to be any
standard price, but these timbers are usually sold by the stick.

5. Chairs and Furniture. — There is a very good demand for
round edge oak of fair quality, sawed Ij, If, If and 2J inches
for the chair and furniture shops. Prices run from $35 to $60
delivered, depending on quality, etc. Most buyers like to get
this material log run without the best butts being taken out.
This is the surest and easiest market for oak lumber.

6. There are a number of other miscellaneous markets for
native oak, as for finish, machinery, bridges, baskets, etc. It
is advisable to handle and saw the oak carefully if the best
prices are to be obtained.

9

Hardwood.

Hardwood is the term usually applied to beech, birch and
maple lumber. They are often sold without any distinction
between species, or may be sold separately. There has always
been a wide, but somewhat specialized, difficult and low-priced
market for these species. The war has resulted in higher prices
and increased demand. It can now be said that it pays to
saw all hardwood of good size and quality. Chairs and furni-
ture still make the chief outlet, sawed 1J, If, If and 2f inches.
Birch has always been in fine demand for bobbins, shuttles
and spools. Hardwoods are used in all kinds of machinery
specialties, tools, toys, pails, etc. The new market is for rail-
road ties. These ties will be shipped to roads having creosoting
plants. It is doubtful whether the price is high enough to pay
an operator to cut beech ties unless he has a short haul and
low operating costs. The price for hardwood lumber ranges
from $28 to $40 delivered. Square edge and especially selected
lumber might easily bring a higher price. No poor grade hard-
wood should be sawed, but put into cordwood.

Ash.

Ash is being used in airplane manufacture. For that purpose
only very select material is taken, and the price is high. For
wagons, sporting goods, agricultural implements and baskets
there is a strong demand. Two and one-eighth inches is the
standard thickness of ash, with some 2j and 3 inches. The
basket makers use lj and l£ inches also. The market for 1-
inch ash is difficult.

Miscellaneous.

Poplar can be sawed as box boards and peeled for pulp or
used for baskets (sawed \ inch). Basswood can be sold
for box-boards or pulp also. It has a very good market sawed
2J inches for certain special manufacturers. Butternut and
black ash can be sold as box boards. Hickory is very difficult
of sale here in Massachusetts. Tupelo (or "hornbeam") can
be sold in the log for rolls. Elm can be sold for ship building

10

and wagon manufacture chiefly. Cherry can be sold for chairs
and furniture. There is a special war use for cherry, — air-
plane propellers, — but it takes a very high grade.

Cordwood.

Cordwood for fuel has been one of the great features of the
past year. The price last February was as high in isolated in-
stances as $12 to $13 a cord on the cars and $20 delivered.
The price has now settled to about $8 to $10 a cord on the
cars. It cannot go much lower than that with the present
cost of labor and teams. We doubt very much whether there
will be any such demand this winter as there was last, as there
is much more wood cut. Very few of the woodland owners
profited by those high prices last year. It went largely to
the dealers and speculators. The market for chestnut wood is
rather difficult. A limited amount can be sold from $1 to
$2 under the price of hardwood. There is always a good
demand for slabs and edgings for kindling wood. Owners
should keep on cutting cordwood, but without the expectation
of enormous profits. There is bound to be a good demand, and
also a reaction after the present fuel crisis.

Labor.

The most difficult problem to-day for those wishing to
produce lumber or wood is that of labor. It has steadily in-
creased in cost, decreased in efficiency, and is now hard to
find at any price. The cost of operating is surely double what
it was three years ago, and the difficulties of operating are in-
creased many fold. This must be borne in mind when the
present high prices of products are considered. Labor is bound
to get more scarce as the war continues.

Stumpage Value.

The value of lumber and wood stumpage of all kinds has
unquestionably gone up in the last year. Pine lots have been
sold as high as $20 per M on the stump, and cordwood as high
as $4 per cord. Those prices are undoubtedly war prices, and will
not last for long. However, pine stumpage is worth from $10

11

to $15 now, according to quality and location, for lots within
a two-trip haul of the railroad, and will probably never go far
back from those figures. More distant lots, or very small or
difficult lots, are worth less than that. Chestnut, hemlock and
spruce are worth from $2 to $3 less. Hardwood has about half
of the value of pine. Oak and ash are worth more than pine.

Government Control.

The chief energies of the nation are to-day centered on the
war. The government is slowly but surely heading all our
forces so that they may directly contribute to the winning of
the war. The lumber business must be prepared to do its share,
if not voluntarily, then perhaps under government control.
The recent embargo on the shipment on the railroads of all
lumber and forest products is probably a step toward that end.
It is now impossible to ship forest material (cordwood not in-
cluded) on the cars without a permit, except to the govern-
ment or to the railroads. At this writing the cause and effect
of this embargo are not known. It may last for the duration
of the war. Its effect will undoubtedly be to check the pro-
duction of lumber for unnecessary uses, its shipment long dis-
tances, and the hoarding of lumber supplies. It will certainly
stimulate the production of lumber for direct government use,,
and may result in lower prices and lessened production. The
lumber producer must be prepared for anything. It is no time
for speculation. Forest products are vital at this time, and the
government will do nothing to hinder their production, but it.
will probably guide this production along necessary channels.

The Need of Forestry at the Present Time.

There never was a time when the need of forestry, of forest
conservation, was greater than it is at present. We are un-
doubtedly, due to the impetus of the war, overcutting our for-
ests, especially our pine forests here in Massachusetts; that is,
we are cutting the lumber faster than it is growing. That
means a shortage of lumber later, and the loss of wood-using
industries which will go where they can get the raw material.
Furthermore, we are cutting destructively, with no idea of the

12

future of the land. After the war, when we settle down to pay
the bills, we shall see more clearly the need of thrift and con-
servation. More than half of our area is fit only for forests.
Woods and lumber work is the mainstay of most of our rural
communities, especially in the winter. We must use our forests
carefully and wisely if we are to keep our population. Cord-
wood can be cut with an eye to future production, saving the
species and trees that will make lumber. Lumber can be cut
with an eye to the future, saving the reproduction, being care-
ful with fires and replanting. A representative of the British
Board of Agriculture said in a recent speech that if France and
Italy had not practiced forestry and conservation, Britain
would now be beaten. Our forest resources are more vital in an
emergency than they are in the times of peace. We must look
out for them carefully.

Help by the State Forester.

The State Forestry Department maintains as one part of its
service a branch of operation and utilization. This branch is
prepared to give advice, information and active aid to the
forest owners and operators of the State. This bulletin does
not contain specific names of industries or persons buying or
selling forest products or woodlands. Conditions are changing
so rapdily that it was deemed impossible to print such informa-
tion at this time. A large quantity of such information is on
file, however, at the State Forester's office, and will be given
on application. Specific questions or problems will be gladly
answered. Estimates and valuations of woodlands will be made
on application. The only cost is the payment of traveling
expenses. Lumbering and cord wood operations will be carried
on in co-operation with the owner, if the work be done along
forestry lines, and the owner can furnish all the capital neces-
sary for the operation.

Chestnut Poles.

SPECIFICATIONS.

All^poles shall be of sound, live, white chestnut, squared at
both ends, straight, well-proportioned from butt to top, peeled
and knots neatly trimmed to the surface of the pole.

13

The dimensions of the poles shall be according to the fol-
lowing table : —

The "butt" circumference, 6 feet from the butt.

The "top" measurements, the circumference at the top of
the pole.

Poles not conforming to specification will be rejected or cut
back to the next shorter length.

Trees to make the following size poles should be 5 inches
larger overbark 6 feet from the butt: —

Dimensions of Poles by Inches (Circumference) .

Length of
Pole
(Feet).

CLASS "A."

Length of
Pole
(Feet).

CLASS "B."

Length of
Pole
(Feet).

CLASS "C."

Top
(Inches).

Six Feet
from
Butt
(Inches).

Top

(Inches).

Six Feet
from
Butt
(Inches).

Top
(Inches).

Six Feet
from
Butt
(Inches).

25

24

36

25

22

33

20

20

30

30

24

40

30

22

36

25

20

30

35

24

43

35

22

40

-

-

-

40

24

45

40

22

43

-

-

-

45

24

48

45

22

47

-

-

-

50

24

51

50

22

50

-

-

-

55

22

54

55

22

53

-

-

-

60

22

57

60

22

56

-

-

-

Prices F. 0. B. Point of Shipment.

Each.

20 feet, Class C, $2 00

25 feet, Class C, . . . . 2 25

22 feet, Class A, 2 75

25 feet, Class B, 2 75

25 feet, Class A, 3 75

30 feet, Class B, 3 75

30 feet, Class A, 5 00

35 feet, Class B, 6 00

35 feet, Class A, 7 50

14

United States Railroad Administration.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR CROSS TIES.

GRADE No.

Squared.

Flatted.

1

-

6x6 inches.

2

6 inches thick, 7-inch face, .

6 inches thick, 7-inch face.

f 6 inches thick, 8-inch face.

3,

6 inches thick, 8-inch face, .

1 7 inches thick, 7-inch face.

4

7 inches thick, 8-inch face, .

7 inches thick, 8-inch face.

5,

7 inches thick, 9-inch face, .

7 inches thick, 9-inch face.

Maximum Prices.

Grade 1.

Grade 2.

Grade 3.

Grade 4.

Grade 5.

White oak,

$0 60

10 70

$0 95

$1 20

$1 35

Chestnut,

50

70

90

1 10

1 10

Red oaks,

40

50

75

1 00

1 10

Beech, birches, hard maples,

40

50

75

90

95

Ties 8 feet are 6 per cent, less in price than above.

Quality. — All ties shall be free from any defects that may
impair their strength or durability as cross ties, such as decay,
splits, shakes or large or numerous holes or knots.

Manufacture. — Ties ought to be made from trees which have
been felled not longer than one month.

All ties shall be straight, well-manufactured, cut square at
the ends, have top and bottom parallel, and have bark entirely
removed.

Dimensions. — All ties shall be 8 feet 6 inches long.

All ties shall measure both sections between 20 and 40
inches from the middle of the tie; and dimensions given are
minimum.

Ties over 1 inch more in thickness, over 3 inches more in
width, or over 2 inches more in length will be degraded or
rejected.

The top of the tie is the plane farthest from the pith of the
tree, whether or not the pith is present in the tie.

Delivery. — All ties ought to be delivered to a railroad within
one month after being made.

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