File:Canadian forest industries January-June 1923 (1923) (20521791562).jpg

Title: Canadian forest industries January-June 1923
Identifier: canadianforjanjun1923donm (find matches)
Year: 1923 (1920s)
Authors:
Subjects: Lumbering; Forests and forestry; Forest products; Wood-pulp industry; Wood-using industries
Publisher: Don Mills, Ont. : Southam Business Publications
Contributing Library: Fisher - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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36 CANADA LUMBERMAN
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The last of the whitewood logs in Dunwich Township, Elgin County, being conveyed to the Oldrieve sawmill in St. Thomas. These huge specimens were recently converted into lumber and no more whitewood trees are available in Southwestern Ontario lower saw is 58 inches in diameter and the upper, which is used in cutting up exceptionally large logs, is 44 inches across. Both inserted and solid tooth saws are used. Mr. Oldrieve personally looks after the sawing end, as he believes that by a close scrutiny of the timber and expert cutting, as head sawyer he can effect a considerable saving. He is also an experienced cruiser and when he buys a bush, he has a good knowledge of what timber it contains and about how many feet he will be able to get out of the tract purchased. The Last Whitewood Logs Sawn One kind of timber, of which the last specimens were lately sawn in the mill of Mr. Oldrieve, is what is known as whitewood (yellow poplar). The logs were obtained from Dunwich township, near Dutton, and measure from 36 to 44 inches in diameter. This timber which has a deep heavy, V-shaped bark, is the only tasteless wood known. Whitewood lumber has been used for many years by con- fectioners, bakers and others for the production of receptacles and utensils employed in connection with their products as it imparts no taint to the contents. Now that the supply of whitewood in Western Ontario is virtually exhausted, it is stated that some con- cerns, such as the Fletcher Mfg. Co., Glencoe, who for years have bought large quantities of whitewood from Mr. Oldrieve, may have to fall back on American poplar. Accompanying this reference is shown a photograph of some large whitewood logs which were taken out last winter by Mr. Oldrieve. In reference to whitewood, Mr. Oldrieve remarks that in the early days of Elgin County it was used extensively in building and made the finest sash for houses, verandah posts, etc. The durability of the lumber was wonderful. It was also employed largely for interior finish, as years ago nearly all inside woodwork was grained. Whitewood would stay in place and took paint very well. For store shelving or drawers in any furniture, nothing better than whitewood was ever known in that section of Ontario, and it was about the first timber along. Lake Erie that a mill man could sell in the Ameri- can market. In the early days they exported it to England in the form of square timber. Plant Driven Entirely by Electricity But to return to operations at the sawmillâthe slabs from the logs go to the slab saw which is run by a 15 h.p. motor. The boards, which require edging, are transferred to a one saw edger which is conveniently located and run by a 10 h.p. motor. Another motor of the same power runs a 26 inch swing trim saw. All the lumber which does not require edging, goes direct to the lumber car at the north end of the mill. The slabs are cut, mostly in 12 inch lengths and deposited into a dump car which serves as a hopper. When the car is filled it is run down a track and, with revolving sides and bottom, is soon released of its contents, and returned to its starting point by means of a chain pull. It may be stated here that, not only is a large busi- ness done in slabs, which are sold for $3.00 a load delivered, but considerable cordwood is also disposed of. In logging operations trees, that are unfit for lumber, and large limbs are brought in. By means of a butting saw they are cut up into various lengths for fuel consumption. Wood during the past win- ter, owing to the scarcity of coal, was in active demand in St. Thomas. Converts Low Ends into Fish Box Shooks No. 3 common hardwood lumber, for which there has not been much demand except at very low prices during the past two years, is converted by Mr. Oldrieve into fish box shooks of the thickness of Y2 inch. Each regulation fish box in 32 inches long, or 40 inches including the handles, 10 inches deep and 18 inches wide. The work of cutting out the bottoms is done by means of a sizing saw, with gauger bar. Any width can be cut from 2% inches to 10 inches. For the tops and bottoms of the boxes several pieces of thin lumber may be used from 4 up to 10 inches in width. Many thousands of box shooks are turned out each year and a rapidly-growing trade in this line has been developed. For delivering wood two Ford trucks are used while for haul- ing logs from the country to the mill a large Acason truck and trailer is brought into service. Mr. Oldrieve disposes of his lumber principally through whole- salers except some special lines, such as the whitewood, already spoken of, which is sold directly to confectionery and bakery equip- ment firms. Much of the lumber obtained from whitewood is 22 inches wide and sawn 1 r/> inch in thickness. The trees grow to a height of 50 to 80 feet. There are about seventy factories in South-Western Ontario using hardwood lumber for various articles and thus the demand is reasonably steady and conservative. Mr. Oldrieve is an enthusiastic lumberman and a live citizen of St. Thomas. â - He is a member of the Executive of the Chamber of Commerce and took an active part, in the "Made-in-St. Thomas Kxposition" which was held over a year ago, with splendid results. (Continued on page 59)

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