Messrs. C. P. Winslow and R. Thelan of Madison Wis. gave a very
interesting paper on the consumption of Pulpwood and the best method of
purchasing it. A summary follows:--
The annual consumption of pulpwood in the United States amounts to
approximately 4,300,000 cords, representing an expenditure in the
neighborhood of $36,000,000 per year by approximately 250 companies.
From these figures it is apparent that the question of proper pulpwood
specifications is of wide importance.
While the value of pulpwood is dependent basically upon the tons of dry
pulp that can be produced from a given number of dry tons of wood, the
great quantity of the wood is bought and sold either on the basis of an
estimated and variable volume of wood in an assumed space, or on the
theoretical quantity or volume of lumber which can be cut. Thus, with
dry weight as the real and final measure, we find substituted for it a
variable and indefinite volume, and the result in the long run is fair
to neither seller nor purchaser.
While by far the greater proportion of pulpwood is purchased as
cordwood or by log scale, it must not be overlooked that the use of
sawmill waste is steadily increasing, and amounts to approximately 7.7
per cent. of the total. It is manifestly impossible to apply the log
scale to the measurement of such material.
While it is entirely evident that a completely satisfactory basis
of specification cannot be secured with a unit of measure based on
volume, it is equally apparent that such unit of measure must continue
to be used very largely for this purpose. It is desirable, therefore,
where perfection cannot be had, to compromise on the issue, and some
suggestions along this line are as follows:
1. An enumeration of the basic and fundamental principles which must
underlie any correct system of specification should show clearly the
relation of yield of pulp to the dry weight of specific gravity of the
wood and the relation and probable variation of this dry weight in a
given volume.
2. For the conditions where the cord will continue to be used as the
unit of measure, the formulation of definite specifications to the end
that this unit of measure may come to represent an approximately fixed
volume of solid wood.
3. A study of the relation of actual cubic contents of logs of varying
sizes to the board foot measure, as determined by the various log
scales used in the purchase of pulpwood.
4. A study into all phases of the question of supplying pulpwood in the
form of baled chips as the source of supply. Such a study should cover
such points as the quantity of chips secured from a ton or a stacked
cord of various forms of mill waste and from a standard cord, the cost
and best methods of chipping, drying and baling, and finally of methods
for determining the moisture content of the baled chip, which would
presumably be sold on a weight basis.
5. Attention to methods for limiting, describing and illustrating such
points as “knotty,” “rough,” “doty,” “fire scarred,” “heart-rot,”
“sap-rot,” etc. All of these defects detract from the value of
the material, but to just what extent is not at present generally
established.
6. Other points, such as standard methods of determining the dry weight
and moisture content of the wood, or of measurement of wood fiber
dimensions, also require attention.