Wartime Lumber Production in the Appalachian Hardwood Region January 1942-June 1944

摘要

In this war lumber is one of the most essential materials. The demand for lumber increased steadily throughout 1941 and became pronounced in the spring of 1942. This was the period of 'bottlenecks' and of material shortages that became critical seemingly overnight, Forest products, however, were regarded as a great reservoir which could be drawn upon in any quantity to meet expanding requirements, and so, as shortages of other materials developed, wood was advanced as a substitute. By December 1941 over 1,200 different items of military and naval equipment required lumber. On a tonnage basis, the war program was using 25 percent more wood than steel. Consumption of lumber in 1941 was 17 percent greater than in 1940; in 1942 it was 9 percent above 1941. By mid-summer 1942 lumber had taken its place with rubber, steel, and copper on the 'critical' list. Because it contains such a great variety of high quality timber the Appalachian hardwood region has made a particularly valuable contribution to the war effort. Oak shiptimbers and bending stock, walnut flitch for gunstocks, yellowpoplar aircraft lumber, export ash, and basswood for splints and ship patterns are only a few of the special items flowing from the lumber mills of the region. In addition, great quantities of truck body lumber, wooden mine materials, box lumber, crossties, and industrial blocking are produced.