Items of Interest July 8, 1916 Issue

Items of Interest

The use of a steadily increasing amount of wood waste in the manufacture of pulp is indicated by figures compiled by the forest service. Approximately three hundred and thirty thousand cords of waste, with a value of $1,400,000, were utilized by thirty-five of the two hundred pulp and paper-mills of the United States in 1915.

The Canadian pulp industry has, it is stated, had a vigorous growth during the last few years, and the greater portion of its product is marketed in the United States. An average cost of about six dollars and a half the cord, as compared with ten to sixteen dollars the cord which many manufacturers in this country are paying for pulpwood, is the reason given for the growth. It is pointed out that the development of the supplies of spruce in the national forests of the West and in Alaska, together with the abundance of cheap water-power, will eventually attract the paper industry to locate in those regions. Suitable pulp timber can be delivered to desirable mill sites for the next twenty to forty years at prices of about two dollars and a half to four dollars the cord, say experts of the forest service. It is thought that the low price of material and power will more than offset the higher freight rates on the product to the eastern markets.

An attack upon the method of public building construction is being directed against the United States Congress by the combined forces of the treasury department and the American Institute of Architects. The architects deplore the absence of real art, while treasury officials are more concerned about elimination of waste and placing buildings where they are most needed. "Since 1896," says the assistant secretary of the treasury, "not less than $180,000,000 of public money has been wasted in 'pork' on public buildings."

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