WHY AMERICAN TIMBER IS CHEAPER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6670, 25 July 1928, Page 8

WHY AMERICAN TIMBER IS CHEAPER

Enormous Output and Efficient Methods

MR GEO. BARTHOLOMEW’S OBSERVATIONS A clear idea of the efficient methods adopted by American millers and tho enormous size of the redwood forests was given by Mr. Geo. Barholomcw of Feilding to yesterday’s meeting of tho Palmerston North Citizens’ Luncheon Club. Mr. E. Maunder presided.

At tho outset of his address Mr. Bartholomew enumerated the various timbers peculiar to New Zealand—rimu, matai, white pine kauri, beech or birch, and maire. Eimu and matai were specially suitable for building purposes; white pine was, ideal for the manufacture of butter boxes as it did not taint; totara was suitable for all purposes where a durable timber was required; kauri, how very scarce and procurable only in the north of Auckland district, was very .useful for furniture. , .-. Compared with tho Douglas fir or redwood, the totara was more lasting, whilst rimu had twice the breaking strain of Oregon pine. Cost of Production. It was however, in tho cost of production and the amount of timber available, that tho American millers had a great advantage. Every mill operated on such a largo scale that it was difficult to arrive at a fair com parison as to tho relative costs of labour. In the huge mills at California many had a capacity for milling 500,000 feet of timber a' day as compared with 8000 a day or 180,000 a month in most New Zealand mills. Then, too, the American timbers were less faulty and far more suitable for milling than in New Zealand." Another factor in favour of the Americans was that their mills could produce far more than was needed for homo consumption. All these factors tended to make American timber cheaper. Afforestation Precaution^, In their usual thorough 'method the Americans had a splendid-afforestation scheme. Eor every tree felled there were twenty being planted and it was confidently stated that America, would have more timber one hundred yctlrs hence than to-day. New Zealand might well learn a lesson ill afforestation methods from America. ,/ Milljng Methods. At all these big mills, which were usually, on the banks of rivers or lakes, water was used as far as possible for tranporting the logs. These were skilfully guided by expert logmen into the holding ponds by the mill.' From the ponds to the final stacking'sheds the whole process was done as far as possible by machinery. . ■ ■ . , Murphy's mill in California, was the mainstay of a complete township named Scotia. The mill itself covered 700 acres and employed 1700 hands. It was an up-to-date settlement in every way with its own hospital fitted .in the most modern style. - Each employee was medically examined before being taken on the pay roll. Bedwood trees were felled the year before they were milled. The bark was burnt and skinned off before the work of hauling commenced. It was a revelation to see whole valleys filled with these blackened logs. Such a process was necessary as the redwood. bark varied in thickness up to tweve inches. The logs wore hauled by winches worked by electric power, communication being maintained by portable telephones. Thoroughness was the keynote in all American methods. Giant Trees. / The redwood forests contained many giant trees that had to be seen before any, adequate conception of their grandeur could be accurately formed. Many of them were between 150 and 300 feet in height. Erom one such giant 95,000 feet of timber had been cut. Another which the speaker had actually seen measured 350 feet is height and 25 feet in diameter at tho base. Its age had been estimated at 1710 years. Though such trees were exceptional millers relied upon cutting 100,000 feet of timber per acre. In the North Island of Now Zealand a miller thought 25,0t10 feet per acre was splendid, while in the South Island 8000 feet per acre was tho rule. Redwood and Cedar. Besides being used for building purposes redwood was used for making pipes' up to ten feet in diameter. When bound around with wire and treated with pith these pipes would outlast steel. i The American cedar was very like I totara and was extensively used in the manufacture of shingles. The making , of these shingles was a great industry j in Canada as fully 90 per cent of the ■ houses there were covered with shingles | held in place with copper or zinc nails. ; In these shingle mills, Japanese operated tho machinery, while Chinese and Hindus were employed in the sorting and packing yards. j Output Compared. j In conclusion Mr Bartholomew stated j that the average big mill in America could put through as much timber in eight days as a New Zealand mill would | in a working year. Their afforestation methods assured them of plentiful supplies for generations to come. New Zealand could learn much from American methods and must expect continual competition in the timber industry. Mr. J. H. Stevens proposed a hearty vote of thanks for tho intensive and interesting address, the motion being carried by acclamation.