XI B R.AR.Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY" 
 Of ILLINOIS' 
 
 cop- 2. 
 
IMON CIRCULATING 
 
 CHECK FOR UNBOUND 
 CIRCULATING COPY 
 
HARDWOOD 
 REQUIREMENTS 
 
 of the Illinois 
 Coal -Mining Ind 
 
 ry 
 
 C. S. WALTERS 
 
 rt ,t /f 
 
 . w>*^ 
 
 INIVCRSITY OF" ILLINOIS A 
 
 EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 In cooperof/on with Central States Forest Experiment Station, 
 Forest Service^ M.' S; Department of Agriculture 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Purpose and Methods of Study 500 
 
 Objectives 500 
 
 Methods 500 
 
 Coal Production Past and Present 504 
 
 Wood Consumption and Value 505 
 
 Total figures 505 
 
 Products used 506 
 
 Wood-coal ratios 525 
 
 Preservative Treatment of Wood 527 
 
 Use of treated wood in mines 527 
 
 Preservatives 529 
 
 Attitude of mine operators toward use of treated wood 529 
 
 Home treatment by mine operators 531 
 
 Reclamation of Timber 533 
 
 Standardization of Mine Timber Sizes 534 
 
 Wood Procurement and Supplies 534 
 
 Methods of procurement 534 
 
 Effect on local woodlands 535 
 
 Present supply situation 536 
 
 Future Requirements and Supplies 537 
 
 Trends in use of wood products 537 
 
 Illinois woodlands as future source of timber supplies 538 
 
 Use of substitute species 542 
 
 Farmer's role in supplying timber 544 
 
 Summary 546 
 
 Literature Cited 547 
 
 Appendices 548 
 
 Acknowledgments 550 
 
 Mining Companies Cooperating in Study 551 
 
 Urbana, Illinois April, 1952 
 
 Publications in the Bulletin series report the results of investigations 
 made or sponsored by the Experiment Station 
 
of the ILLINOIS COAL-MINING INDUSTRY 
 
 By C. S. WALTERS, Associate Professor of Forest Utilization 
 
 IT TAKES WOOD to mine coal in Illinois. The coal-mining indus- 
 try requires wood in many forms, and to date no satisfactory, 
 economical substitute for wood has been developed for many of these 
 requirements. Most of the wood is used in underground mines to sup- 
 port the roofs of entryways made for extracting the coal or for trans- 
 porting it aboveground. Wood is also used for mats to support the 
 heavy shovels used in strip mines, a and it will probably continue to 
 be used in this way for many years. 
 
 A number of reports include some data or estimates on the amount 
 of wood used by Illinois coal mines during the first quarter of the 
 twentieth century. In 1911 Hall and Ingalls 5 * reported that one-fifth 
 cubic foot of wood was required to mine one ton of coal, with a total 
 of about 10,736,000 cubic feet being used during the year. In 1915 
 Andros 1 * estimated that from 1.5 to 3 props (perhaps 0.75 to 1.5 cubic 
 feet) were needed for mining one ton in "long wall mines" and from 
 2 to 12 props (perhaps 1 to 6 cubic feet) in mines using the "room and 
 pillar" system of mining. 
 
 In 1924 Miller 12 * estimated the need as a . . . not far from 0.25 
 cubic feet of timber [for] one ton of coal, or 20,000,000 cubic feet for 
 the whole state, not including lumber used for buildings and other 
 construction purposes." 
 
 None of these early reports were based upon detailed studies of the 
 coal-mining industry's requirements. Most of the estimates were based 
 on the total annual drain on the forest resource by the mining in- 
 dustry. The wide variation in estimates was probably due to lack of 
 sufficient information. Later estimates, such as those reported in A 
 Plan for Forestry in Illinois"* and by Brundage and Crow in Forest 
 Resources of Illinois,' 2 * were based upon conversion factors prepared by 
 the U. S. Forest Service for national reports or upon a partial sampling 
 of the larger mines in studies on the drain of forest resources. 
 
 "Strip (or open-cut) mines are so-called because the thin overburden of soil, 
 slate, and rocks lying immediately on top of the layer of coal is stripped off with 
 large power shovels. This method of getting the coal is more practical and eco- 
 nomical for the operators in some areas than is underground mining. 
 
 * All superior figures with asterisk refer to literature citations on page 547. 
 
 499 
 
500 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 PURPOSE AND METHODS OF STUDY 
 
 This study concerns the 1948 hardwood 3 requirements of the Illi- 
 nois coal-mining industry. Thousands of board feet b of southern or 
 western softwood lumber are also used in the mines or their surface 
 structures, but, because Illinois woodlands now produce an insig- 
 nificant volume of softwoods, no attempt has been made to determine 
 their volume. Only a small volume of softwood products other than 
 lumber was used in 1948, and it has been identified in the tables. 
 
 Objectives 
 
 The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the types and 
 volumes of hard\vood products used by the Illinois coal-mining indus- 
 try, the sources of these products, and the channels through which they 
 passed from producer to mine owner; (2) the drain on the Illinois 
 forest resource created by the coal-mining industry and the relation 
 between the annual growth and drain; (3) future timber requirements 
 of the coal-mining industry and the possibility of supplying them 
 from public and private woodlands; (4) the types and amount of 
 wood products reclaimed and reused; (5) the possibility of utilizing 
 treated wood of species not now being used because of their low resist- 
 ance to decay and insects; (6) the possibility of standardizing the 
 sizes of wood products used by the mines; and (7) the feasibility of 
 establishing concentration yards through which the farmer or small 
 producer could market his mine timbers. 
 
 Methods 
 
 Collection of data and sampling. The data on which this report 
 is based were secured by interviewing the operators of 91 sample 
 mines. The names of these mines were obtained from the 1947 Coal 
 Report. 7 * Once the sample mines were identified, however, analysis of 
 the data they contributed was based upon the 1948 Coal Report. 8 * 
 
 Of the 342 mines reported in 1948, 305 which produced at least 
 1,000 tons of coal were included in this study (Table 1). The mines 
 
 " Botanically, native species of trees are divided into two classes : hardwoods, 
 which have broad leaves that are dropped each fall (elm, oak, cottonwood) ; 
 and softwoods or conifers, which have leaves like needles or scales (spruce, pine, 
 fir). No definite degree of hardness of the wood divides the hardwoods and 
 softwoods. For example, southern pine, a softwood, is harder than cottonwood, 
 a hardwood. 
 
 b A board foot is a unit of measure 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot 
 long. 
 
HAKDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
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502 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 were grouped into ''underground" and "strip." Each of these groups 
 was further divided on the basis of production. The coal production 
 classes shown in Table 1 conform with those developed by the U. S. 
 Bureau of Mines except that the upper limit of the "1A" class was 
 set at 999,999 tons and a new class of mines which produced at least 
 1,000,000 tons in 1947 (Class 1) was included. 
 
 The 91 mines supplying information were selected at random. They 
 comprised 68 underground mines and 23 strip mines. With few excep- 
 tions, the sample included at least 25 percent of each production class 
 for each type of mine. The sample mines were located in all sections 
 of the state. 
 
 Among the underground mines, "local" mines (those selling most 
 of the coal they produce to local outlets) outnumbered the "shipping" 
 mines. Of the 241 underground mines included in the study, 127 were 
 classified as local. 8 * Thirty-two of these were visited. Even though 
 there were fewer shipping mines, these produce most of the coal mined 
 each year. Therefore, 36 of the 114 were visited. 
 
 Among the strip mines, shipping mines outnumbered the local 
 mines. Fifteen of the 45 shipping mines and 8 of the 19 local mines 
 were visited. 
 
 The sample mines produced 53.4 percent of the total 1948 coal 
 output of all mines included in the study (Table 2). Sample under- 
 ground mines produced 38.6 percent of the state total, and sample 
 strip mines, only 14.8 percent. However, the sample mines in each of 
 the two groups produced about the same percentage of the total coal 
 mined by that group. Sample underground mines produced 53.0 percent 
 of the coal mined by all the underground mines in the state; and 
 sample strip mines produced 54.7 percent of the coal mined by the 
 strip mines. 
 
 Because the amount of wood used to produce a ton of coal varied 
 with individual mines, weighted averages based on 1948 coal produc- 
 tion figures were computed and are presented in the tables. 
 
 Most of the reports for 1948 represented a normal, or "average," 
 year, and the "over" and "under" reports were in the minority. There 
 is one minor exception, however, and it concerns the use of treated 
 wood by Class 4 strip mines (page 527) . 
 
 No attempt was made to analyze the requirements for under- 
 ground mines on the basis of mining method or system of entry, since 
 such details were not intended to be within the scope of this study. 
 
 The information on species requirements lacks some of the detail 
 
1952} HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 503 
 
 Table 2. 1948 Coal Production of All Illinois Mines" 
 and of Sample Mines 
 
 1948 coal production 
 
 Number of mines 
 
 All mines 
 
 Sample mines 
 
 in. 
 
 In 
 
 sample 
 
 Percent of 
 Tons total state 
 production 
 
 Percent of 
 Tons total class 
 production 
 
 Underground mines 
 
 1... 12 10 18658630 38.7 15218807 81.6 
 
 1A 26 11 18255755 37.8 7484773 41.0 
 
 IB 14 4 5006819 10.4 1356891 27.1 
 
 2 18 3 2336461 4.8 443756 19.0 
 
 3 20 7 1342582 2.8 471861 35.1 
 
 4 87 19 2372933 4.9 517296 21.8 
 
 5 64 14 307014 .6 83498 27.2 
 
 Subtotal 241 68 48280194 100.0 25576882 53.0 
 
 Strip mines 
 
 1A 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 5 567 388 
 
 31.2 
 
 2 413 397 
 
 43.3 
 
 IB. .. 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 2 010 510 
 
 11.3 
 
 607 786 
 
 30.2 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 525 867 
 
 2 9 
 
 285 939 
 
 54 4 
 
 3 
 
 ... 10 
 
 3 
 
 723 718 
 
 4.0 
 
 218 473 
 
 30.2 
 
 4 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 317 142 
 
 1.8 
 
 102 820 
 
 32.4 
 
 5 . 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 53 853 
 
 3 
 
 14 890 
 
 27.6 
 
 Subtotal 
 
 64 
 
 23 
 
 17 871 247 
 
 100.0 
 
 9 770 570 
 
 54.7 
 
 Total 
 
 305 
 
 91 
 
 66 151 441 
 
 100.0 
 
 35 347 452 
 
 53.4 
 
 Mines producing less than 1,000 tons in 1948 were not included. 
 
 that might be desirable; however, this information was not available 
 in a form that permitted detailed analysis. 
 
 Actual records and estimates used. Most of the larger mines sup- 
 plied data from detailed business records. Smaller mines, as a rule, 
 estimated their requirements. To determine annual timber consump- 
 tion, they multiplied daily requirements for the various kinds of 
 products by number of days worked. Actual time records were used 
 in these calculations. Although the estimated requirements may have 
 been less accurate than those supplied from the detailed records, it is 
 believed that the estimates are within the limits of error permitted 
 in a study of this type. 
 
 Conversion factors. Conversion factors were used in calculating 
 the various estimates. Early in the field work it became apparent that 
 "tip diameter" of props, posts, and legs a had a different meaning for 
 different operators. To most operators, it meant "minimum acceptable 
 diameter," but to some it meant "average" size. For this study, the 
 average tip diameter for a prop or post was determined and was used, 
 
 a A description of the various products is given on pages 506 to 525. 
 
504 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 with an allowance for taper, to compute the average midpoint di- 
 ameter. Most of the mines bought products of a specified length. This 
 length was used with average midpoint diameter to calculate volume 
 in cubic feet. 
 
 Over half of the bars purchased were squared on at least two 
 sides. Therefore, the board foot unit was used in calculating the 
 volume of bars. The volume for round bars was determined as though 
 they had been squared. For example, an eight-foot round bar with 
 a six-inch tip contained 10.6 board feet, or the same volume as a 
 4"x 4"- 8'. 
 
 The volume for wedges was based upon thickness at midpoint. 
 For example, a l"x 4"- 12" wedge had a midpoint thickness of % inch 
 (tapering from a 1-inch butt to at the tip) and a volume of 0.17 
 board feet. 
 
 COAL PRODUCTION PAST AND PRESENT 
 
 Illinois is underlain with one of the richest deposits of coal in the 
 entire world (Fig. 1). In 1948 Illinois ranked fourth in the United 
 States in coal production. 13 * Although about three-quarters of the 
 state is underlain with coal, only about half of the counties have mines 
 that are extracting the coal on a commercial scale. Fig. 1 shows the 
 leading counties ranked on the basis of 1948 coal production and num- 
 ber of mines operating. Geologists estimate our coal reserve at about 
 137 billion tons, a which, at the 1948 rate of mining, would furnish us 
 fuel and power until the year 4018, or about 2,070 years. 
 
 Coal was first discovered in North America by Joliet and Mar- 
 quette in 1673 in outcroppings in the Illinois river bluffs. 6 * It wasn't 
 until 1810, however, that the first shipment of coal was made from an 
 Illinois mine; and not until the 1830's that there was any large-scale 
 production in the state. 
 
 The mining of coal encouraged the building of railroads. In fact, 
 the first railroad in Illinois, completed in 1837, was a six-mile track 
 across the "American Bottoms" from St. Louis to a river-bluff coal 
 mine. 1 * The railroads in turn stimulated coal production (especially 
 after coal-burning locomotives replaced the early "wood-burners"). 
 As additional rail trackage was laid, coal production doubled and 
 trebled. In 1833, 6,000 tons were mined; in 1841, 35,000 tons; in 1851, 
 320,000 tons; in 1861, 670,000 tons; and in 1871, 3,000,000 tons. 1 * The 
 combination of cheap transportation and an abundance of coal en- 
 couraged industrial expansion. 
 
 * Figures supplied by Illinois State Geological Survey. 
 
1952] 
 
 HAKDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 505 
 
 Coal measure in Illinois (map on left); and leading counties ranked on 
 basis of 1948 coal production (first number) and number of mines operating 
 in 1948 (second number). "NR" indicates county is not ranked. (Fig. 1) 
 
 Because many of the early miners depended upon local resources 
 for their raw materials, there is little doubt that the first props, ties, 
 and even railroad rails came from local forests. The use of wooden 
 mine material undoubtedly increased with the increase in production. 
 
 WOOD CONSUMPTION AND VALUE 
 
 Total Figures 
 
 The volume, cost, source, and numbers of wood products used by 
 the Illinois coal-mining industry in 1948 are shown in Tables 3 to 6. 
 
 A total of 40,985,400 bd. ft. of sawed products and 5,158,100 cu. ft. 
 of other products was used by Illinois mines 8 in 1948 (Table 3). The 
 
 * Unless otherwise specified, "mine" hereafter refers to one which met the 
 minimum production requirements of 1,000 tons in 1948. 
 
506 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 grand total expressed only in board feet is 71 ,934,000. a However, esti- 
 mating small, round products, such as props, in terms of board feet 
 is believed to be unsound, because these items are rarely squared for 
 use and it would be impractical and uneconomical to cut them into 
 squared forms. The total in terms of cubic feet is 11, 989 ,000. a Under- 
 ground mines used 38,229,200 bd. ft. (93 percent) of the sawed prod- 
 ucts and all of the 5,158,100 cu. ft. of the round products. 
 
 Mine operators spent $3,282,300 (Table 4) for the products whose 
 volumes are reported in Table 3. Of this amount, $2,120,660 (65 per- 
 cent) was for sawed materials and $1,161,640 for other products. The 
 sawed products averaged $52 per thousand board feet, and the other 
 products 23 cents a cubic foot. Of the total money expended, under- 
 ground mines spent $3,111,500 (95 percent). 
 
 In 1948 Illinois woodlands supplied nearly two-thirds (63 percent) 
 of the total volume of wood used by her coal-mining industry. This 
 included 28,263,260 bd. ft. (69 percent) of the sawed products and 
 2,875,210 cu. ft. (55.8 percent) of the round products used in Illinois 
 mines. Indiana and Wisconsin supplied only small amounts (0.1 per- 
 cent or less), and Missouri supplied the rest, although some of the 
 sample mines were located in counties bordering or within trucking 
 distance of Kentucky. 
 
 The percentage of wood supplied by Illinois forests in 1948 was 
 higher than during the war. It was estimated that in the war years 
 Missouri supplied more than half of the mine timber used in Illinois. 
 With woods labor scarce, mine operators were forced to depend upon 
 carload shipments of Missouri timbers rather than truckload deliveries 
 from local woodlands. 
 
 Table 6 lists the number of piece products used. Only those items 
 that are commonly purchased by the piece are included. Lumber, for] 
 example, is usually purchased by the thousand board feet and not by 
 the piece, and for this reason it has been excluded from the table. 
 
 Products Used 
 
 Following are descriptions of the hardwood products used by Illi- 
 nois coal mines in 1948; the volume and numbers used; the species 
 required for each product; prices paid; and the source of supply. Aal 
 already mentioned, volume, cost, source, and numbers of products 
 are summarized in Tables 3 through 6. 
 
 Conversion factor used was: 6 bd. ft.= l cu. ft. 
 
HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
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 d Blanks signify that none of the mines questioned in the specified class reported that they used any wood for the purpose indicated. 
 e Grand totals in terms of board feet and cubic feet are given on page 506. 
 
 
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HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 509 
 
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510 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 
 Table 5. Source of Hardwood Products" Used by Illinois Coal Mines" in 1948 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 Product 
 
 Total 
 volume 
 used in 1948 
 
 Class 1 
 
 Class 1A 
 
 Class IB 
 
 Class 2 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Crossties 
 
 bd.ft. 
 17 038 900 
 8 034 500 
 5 842 300 
 3 462 700 
 3 323 000 
 338 100 
 143 100 
 46 600 
 
 38 229 200 
 cu.ft. 
 4 648 800 
 507 400 
 1 900 
 
 5 158 100 
 
 bd.ft. 
 1 133 200 
 1 109 700 
 449 000 
 42 600 
 21 700 
 
 2 756 200 
 40 985 400 
 5 158 100 
 
 Underground mines 
 
 bd.ft. bd.ft. 
 
 1 235 560 7.3 2 233 790 
 1 593 480 19.8 3 201 530 
 2 668 200 45.6 2 389 690 
 1 189 500 34.3 662 160 
 1 200 680 36.1 769 270 
 
 13. 
 80. 
 
 40. 
 
 19 
 23 
 
 1 
 8 
 9 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 bd.ft. 
 861 200 
 312 830 
 210 300 
 240 300 
 395 500 
 
 5.1 
 3.9 
 3.6 
 6.9 
 11.9 
 
 bd.ft. 
 344 420 
 381 310 
 51 400 
 116 800 
 3 300 
 
 2.0 
 4.8 
 0.9 
 3.4 
 .1 
 
 Bars 
 
 Wedges 
 
 Lumber 
 Caps and headerblocks. . 
 Timbers 
 
 Machine blocks 
 
 143 100 
 46 600 
 
 8 077 120 
 cu.ft. 
 764 090 
 184 720 
 1 200 
 
 950 010 
 
 bd.ft. 
 494 300 
 98 000 
 112 700 
 
 100.0 
 100.0 
 
 21.1 
 
 16.4 
 36.4 
 63.2 
 
 18.4 
 
 Strip 
 
 43.6 
 8.9 
 25.1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Subtotal 
 
 9 256 440 
 cu.ft. 
 531 310 
 46 010 . 
 
 700 
 
 578 020 
 
 mines 
 
 bd.ft. 
 406 400 
 111 300 
 13 900 
 
 24. 
 
 11. 
 
 9. 
 
 3ti. 
 
 11. 
 
 35 
 
 10 
 3. 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 1 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 2 020 130 
 cu.ft. 
 465 600 
 18 530 
 
 484 130 
 
 bd.ft. 
 170 900 
 404 100 
 144 800 
 
 53 
 
 10.0 
 3.7 
 
 9.4 
 
 15.1 
 36.4 
 32.2 
 
 897 230 
 cu.ft. 
 140 300 
 
 2.3 
 
 3.0 
 
 Posts, legs 
 Sprags and Scotch blocks 
 
 Subtotal 
 
 140 300 
 bd.ft. 
 
 2.7 
 
 Timbers 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Car patching 
 
 42 600 
 
 100.0 
 
 1.6 
 2.3 
 2.7 
 
 21 700 
 726 700 
 8 803 820 
 950 010 
 
 100.0 
 26.4 
 21.5 
 18.4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Subtotal 
 Total bd.ft 
 Total cu. ft. 
 
 531 600 
 9 788 040 
 578 020 
 
 19. 
 23. 
 11 
 
 3 
 9 
 ,2 
 
 719 800 
 2 739 930 
 484 130 
 
 26 1 
 6.7 
 9.4 
 
 42 690 
 939 830 
 140300 
 
 
 Class 3 
 
 Class 4 
 
 
 
 Class 
 
 5 
 
 Total, all c 
 
 lasses 
 
 
 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Crossties 
 
 
 
 Und 
 
 bd.ft. 
 449 110 
 60 520 
 28 200 
 78 620 
 64 420 
 
 ergro 
 
 2.6 
 .8 
 .5 
 2.3 
 2.0 
 
 und mines 
 
 bd.ft. 
 2 542 730 
 254 700 
 50 590 
 626 500 
 83 100 
 329 800 
 
 14 
 3 
 
 18 
 2 
 97 
 
 .9 
 .2 
 .9 
 1 
 5 
 .5 
 
 bd.ft. 
 562 210 
 1 250 
 7 660 
 97 220 
 11 210 
 8 300 
 
 3.3 
 
 .1 
 2.8 
 .4 
 2.5 
 
 bd.ft. 
 8 229 020 
 5 805 620 
 5 406 040 
 3 Oil 100 
 2 527 480 
 338 100 
 143 100 
 46 690 
 
 25 507 060 
 cu.ft. 
 2 612 150 
 261 160 
 1 900 
 
 2 875 210 
 
 bd.ft. 
 1 133 200 
 1 199 730 
 449 000 
 42 600 
 21 700 
 
 2 756 200 
 28 263 260 
 2 875 210 
 
 48.3 
 72.3 
 
 92.5 
 86.9 
 76.1 
 100.0 
 100.0 
 100.0 
 
 66.8 
 
 56.4 
 51 5 
 100.0 
 
 55.8 
 
 100.0 
 100 
 100.0 
 100 
 100 
 
 100 
 69.0 
 55.8 
 
 Bars 
 
 
 
 Wedges .... 
 
 
 
 Lumber 
 
 
 
 Caps and headerblocks . . 
 
 
 
 Timbers 
 
 
 
 Machine blocks 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lagging 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Subtotal 
 
 
 
 680 870 
 cu.ft. 
 297 690 
 
 1.8 
 6.6 
 
 3 887 420 
 cu.ft. 
 362 800 
 9 700 
 
 111 
 
 7 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 .9 
 .9 
 
 687 850 
 cu. ft. 
 50 360 
 2 200 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.1 
 .4 
 
 Props 
 
 
 
 Posts, legs 
 
 
 
 Sprags and Scotch blocks 
 Subtotal . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 297 690 
 bd.ft. 
 
 58 
 
 Strip 
 
 372 500 
 
 mines 
 
 bd.ft. 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 9 
 
 52 560 
 
 bd.ft. 
 61 600 
 79 100 
 103 100 
 
 1.0 
 
 54 
 7.1 
 23 
 
 Timbers 
 
 
 
 Crossties 
 
 
 
 4 600 
 12 300 
 
 .4 
 2.7 
 
 412 600 
 62 200 
 
 37 
 13 
 
 Lumber 
 
 
 
 Car patching 
 
 
 
 Shim boards 
 
 
 
 
 
 474 800 
 4 362 220 
 372500 
 
 17 
 10. 
 7. 
 
 6 
 3 
 
 243 800 
 931 650 
 52560 
 
 88 
 2.3 
 1.0 
 
 Subtotal . . 
 
 
 
 16 900 
 697 770 
 297 690 
 
 .6 
 1.7 
 5.8 
 
 Total bd. ft. . . 
 
 
 
 Total cu. ft. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (For footnotes see page 511.) 
 

 1952} HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 Table 5. Concluded 
 
 511 
 
 MISSOURI 
 
 Product* 
 
 Class 1 
 
 
 Class 1A 
 
 
 Class IB 
 
 
 Class 2 
 
 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Crossties 
 
 Unde 
 
 bd.ft. 
 . 4 380 640 
 
 rgrou 
 
 25.7 
 8.5 
 
 11.5 
 19.4 
 
 15.9 
 
 25.6 
 44.5 
 
 27.5 
 
 nd mines 
 bd.ft. 
 3 644 610 
 1 307 670 
 421 710 
 49 840 
 125 230 
 
 5 549 060 
 cu.ft. 
 703 870 
 17 890 
 
 721 760 
 
 21.4 
 16.2 
 7.2 
 1.4 
 38 
 
 14.5 
 
 15.1 
 3.5 
 
 14.0 
 
 bd.ft. 
 140 200 
 127 770 
 
 .8 
 1.6 
 
 bd.ft. 
 202 280 
 67 290 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 8 
 
 
 682 920 
 
 
 
 
 396 500 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 646 520 
 
 267 970 
 cu.ft. 
 
 770 
 770 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total bd. ft 
 
 6 106 580 
 
 .7 
 
 .2 
 Td 
 
 269 570 
 cu.ft. 
 44 300 
 
 44 300 
 
 
 7 
 9 
 9 
 
 
 cu.ft. 
 1 195 110 
 
 Posts, legs 
 
 225 780 
 
 Total cu. ft 
 
 1 420 890 
 
 
 
 (Product 6 
 
 Class 3 
 
 
 Class 4 
 
 
 Class 5 
 
 
 Total, all cla 
 
 is 
 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Crossties 
 
 Unde 
 
 bd.ft. 
 91 990 
 
 rgroi 
 
 .6 
 .2 
 
 md mines 
 
 bd.ft. 
 314 270 
 13 400 
 11 110 
 
 1.8 
 .2 
 .2 
 
 bd.ft. 
 35 890 
 
 .2 
 
 bd.ft. 
 8 809 880 
 2 212 330 
 432 820 
 449 620 
 771 750 
 
 12 676 400 
 cu.ft. 
 2 030 430 
 244 440 
 
 2 274 870 
 
 51 
 
 27 
 7 
 13 
 23 
 
 38 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 44 
 
 7 
 5 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 Bars 
 
 13 280 
 
 Wedges 
 
 
 
 3 280 
 
 .1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 35 890 
 cu.ft. 
 15 040 
 
 .1 
 .3 
 
 Total bd. ft. . . . 
 
 108 550 
 
 .3 
 .1 
 
 338 780 
 cu.ft. 
 69 100 
 
 .9 
 1.5 
 
 
 cu.ft. 
 3 010 
 
 Poets, legs 
 
 
 Total cu. ft 
 
 3 010 
 
 .1 
 
 69 100 
 
 1.3 
 
 15 040 
 
 .3 
 
 
 
 Product" 
 
 
 
 INDIANA 
 
 WISCONSIN 
 
 Class 3 
 
 
 Class 5 
 
 
 Total, all ck 
 
 sses' 
 
 Class 1A 
 
 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Pet. 
 
 Bars 
 
 Undergroi 
 
 bd.ft. 
 
 md mines 
 
 bd.ft. 
 16 550 
 3 440 
 1 980 
 2 290 
 
 24 260 
 cu.ft. 
 
 .2 
 .1 
 .1 
 .1 
 
 .1 
 
 bd.ft. 
 16 550 
 3 440 
 1 980 
 23 770 
 
 45 740 
 cu.ft. 
 
 .2 
 .1 
 1 
 
 .7 
 
 .1 
 
 
 
 
 Wedges 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lumher 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21 480 
 
 .6 
 .1 
 
 
 
 
 Total bd. ft. 
 
 21 480 
 
 
 
 
 Props. . . 
 
 cu.ft. 
 
 cu.ft. 
 6 220" 
 
 
 1 
 
 Posts, legs 
 
 
 
 1 800 
 1 800 
 
 .3 
 
 T d 
 
 1 800 
 1 800 
 
 .3 
 T d 
 
 Total cu. ft. 
 
 
 
 6 220 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 No strip 
 
 mines reported 
 
 purchases of wood 
 
 outside Illinois. 
 
 * Includes 6,220 cu. ft. of tamarack from Wisconsin. 
 
 11 Mines producing less than 1,000 tons in 1948 were not included. 
 
 c Blanks signify that none of the mines questioned in the specified class reported that they used any wood for the purpose 
 indicated. 
 
 d T = trace, less than 0.1 percent. 
 
 * Some of the products included on page 510 are not listed, because none of the mines reported buying any outside Illinois. 
 ' Class 3 and Class 5 mines were the only ones reporting purchases in Indiana. 
 
 * Class 1A mines were the only ones reporting purchases in Wisconsin. 
 
512 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 513 
 
 White oak and red elm 
 roomties (above), 3" x 5" 
 in cross-section. Note that 
 waney (bark) edges and 
 incipient decay have been 
 accepted in these ties. Of 
 the two standing ties, the 
 one on the left is white 
 oak and the one on the 
 right is red elm. (Fig. 2) 
 
 Oak motorties pressure- 
 treated with coal tar creo- 
 sote (right). Dimensions 
 are 6"x 8"- 8'. (Fig. 3) 
 
 Crossties. Most underground mines purchased crossties as "room- 
 ties" (Fig. 2) or "motorties" (Fig. 3). Roomties are smaller than 
 motorties and are usually placed in temporary trackage. Strip mines 
 generally used standard-gauge railroad crossties. 
 
 Over 40 different sizes of ties were reported in use by the sample 
 mines. The range was from 3"x3"-4' to 7"x 9"- 1 1 %' switch ties. 
 Roomties were generally about 3"x5"-4%' and motorties 6"x8"-6', 
 which is about the same size as a standard Class 3 railroad crosstie. 
 Most of the ties were square-sawn, although some of the smaller 
 
514 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 White oak mine ties (3"x 4"- 4V') cut from small, round pieces and hewn 
 flat on two sides for use in one of the small, underground mines. Although 
 the heartwood of white oak is resistant to decay, these ties are mainly of 
 sapwood, which decays in a relatively short time. (Fig. 4) 
 
 mines bought roomties which were simply hewn flat on two sides 
 (Fig. 4). At least one mine a small one reported using "split" 
 ties (Fig. 5). 
 
 An estimated 18,148,600 bd. ft. was used for ties, most of which 
 was oak. Total number of ties used was 1,858,250. Underground mines 
 used 94 percent of the board feet and 98 percent of the ties. 
 
 Mine operators paid from 11 cents to $3.04 each for the ties, or an 
 average of about 46 cents. Underground mines paid an average of 42 
 cents each, and strip mines, $2.27. The difference is due to the fact that, 
 since strip-mine ties are usually for permanent spur trackage, they are 
 larger and are treated with preservative chemicals. Although the aver- 
 age price paid by underground mines includes the cost of ties of 
 similar specifications, the large number of small, untreated roomties 
 weights the average price heavily. The difference in the average cost 
 of ties bought by underground and by strip mines is reflected in the 
 fact that underground mines spent only 91 percent ($775,710) of the 
 total $851,140, even though they used 98 percent of the ties. 
 
 Less than half of the crossties were reported as coming from Illi- 
 nois woodlands. Missouri was reported as supplying the rest. However, 
 many of the mine operators reported Missouri as the source of their 
 
1953] 
 
 HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 515 
 
 These crossties were split 
 from round bolts about 4 
 feet long. Only one mine 
 reported using this type of 
 tie. (Fig. 5) 
 
 crossties because the suppliers maintained offices in St. Louis. This was 
 particularly true when treated ties were purchased. Some of the ties 
 supplied by St. Louis firms were cut and treated in Illinois (as well 
 as other states). Therefore, the figure given for Illinois is a conserva- 
 tive one. 
 
 Bars. The horizontal pieces placed next to the roof and supported 
 on two posts or legs are called bars (Fig. 6). (Some mines used steel 
 
 Oak mine bars "slabbed" on two sides, stored according to length. These 
 bars are 14 feet long. (Fig. 6) 
 
516 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 railroad rails in place of wooden bars.) Bars were usually square-sawn 
 on at least two sides. A few operators specified that one side be 
 surfaced, and several specified "four sides square." Length ranged 
 from 6% feet to 20 feet, and thickness from 2 to 20 inches. Most of 
 the bars were at least 5 inches thick. 
 
 A total of 8,034,500 bd. ft. (273,720 pieces) was used. Most of this 
 was white oak. The bars cost the operators from 20 cents to $4.49 each. 
 The wide range in price was probably due to regional variations in 
 the supply of timber from which the producers could cut the larger 
 sizes. In some areas "hardwood" 18-foot bars cost $1.80 each; in 
 another area smaller white oak bars cost more than twice as much. 
 The average was about $1.28, and the total about $351,520. 
 
 About three-fourths of the volume used was supplied by Illinois 
 woodlands, with Missouri and Indiana supplying 27.5 percent and 0.2 
 percent respectively. 
 
 Wedges. Wedges (Fig. 7) were placed between the prop and the 
 mine roof for support and for holding the prop in place. They were 
 also sometimes used for miscellaneous purposes, such as leveling 
 tracks. They were usually 1% to 2 inches thick at the butt end and 
 tapered to about -% 6 inch or less at the tip. They probably averaged 
 4 inches in width and 10 or 12 inches in length. 
 
 Wedges about 4 inches wide, 12 to 16 inches long, and about 2 inches thick 
 at the butt. Some wedges are only 1 inch thick at the butt. (Fig. 7) 
 
1952} 
 
 HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 517 
 
 Underground mines bought 27,886,430 wedges at an estimated cost 
 of $430,490, or about 1% cents each. The price ranged from $10 to $40 
 per 1,000 pieces. Apparently size had little effect on the cost, for the 
 larger sizes were often cheaper than the smaller ones. For example, 
 one-inch wedges 4 inches wide and 10 inches long were reported to 
 have about the same price range as that given for all wedges. Since 
 wedges were usually made of mill scraps, the cost to the producer was 
 mostly for labor. 
 
 Illinois woodlands supplied 5,406,040 bd. ft. (92.5 percent) of 
 wedges; Missouri, 432,820 (7.4 percent); and Indiana, 3,440 (0.1 
 percent) . 
 
 Lumber. This was purchased in a variety of sizes and for a 
 variety of uses. Although much of it was purchased by the thousand 
 board feet, some was bought by the piece, with size specified for a 
 particular use. 
 
 White oak lumber 
 was used in these 
 mine cars because 
 of its strength and 
 resistance to decay. 
 (Fig. 8) 
 
 Some of the lumber was used for aboveground buildings or parts 
 of them, brattices, b air-control doors and shafts, scale platforms, and 
 general repairs. Structural and shaft lumber was usually mixed species 
 of oak of heavy sizes. Some one-inch lumber was used for brattices 
 and miscellaneous purposes. 
 
 Most of the car lumber was purchased for the sides and bottoms of 
 the cars used to transport coal from the coal seam to the tipple 
 (Fig. 8). It was 1% to 3 inches thick, 8 to 12 inches wide, and 9 feet 
 or more long. Most of the car lumber was oak (much of it white oak), 
 although some elm was used. 
 
 8 Lumber hereafter refers to hardwood species unless otherwise specified. 
 b A brattice is a separating wall in a shaft or gallery to control air flow. 
 
518 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 Of the 3,911,700 bd. ft, used, 88 percent (3,462,700 bd. ft.) was 
 bought by underground mines. These mines spent $229,550 (88 per- 
 cent) of the estimated total of $261,830. Prices ranged from $50 to 
 $120, averaging about $59 per thousand board feet. Mixed species of 
 oak lumber cost $55 to $75 per thousand board feet, and white oak 
 ranged from $90 to $120. 
 
 Nearly 90 percent, or 3,011,100 bd. ft., of the lumber came from 
 Illinois woodlands. Missouri supplied most of the rest, with a very little 
 (0.1 percent) coming from Indiana. 
 
 Although detailed data on the consumption of softwood lumber 
 were not secured, it is estimated that 5 to 10 million board feet of 
 southern and western lumber was bought for brattices, air-control 
 shafts, or construction and repair of surface buildings. In addition, 
 several of the larger mines bought Brykett lath, a softwood planing 
 mill product molded with V-workings or grooves to hold plaster and 
 used as brattice. 
 
 Cupboards and headerblocks. Like wedges, capboards and header- 
 blocks were used for tightening the prop in place, as well as for 
 leveling tracks and other miscellaneous purposes. Capboards were 
 usually made of one-inch lumber about 4"x 10" in size (Fig. 9) . Head- 
 erblocks were larger, perhaps 3"x 6"- 2' or 2"x 4"- 2'. The larger 
 mines used more of the headerblocks and fewer of the capboards. All 
 
 Capboards of miscellaneous hardwoods. Those on left are 2" x 4" and 12 to 
 16 inches long. Most capboards, however, are of one-inch lumber like those 
 shown on the right. (Fig- 9) 
 
1952} HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 519 
 
 capboards and headerblocks were used in underground mines, since 
 there is no overburden to be supported in strip mines. 
 
 About 3,323,000 bd. ft. of lumber was used for capboards and 
 headerblocks. Most of these pieces were oak; but, because they were 
 made from slabs, edging, and other mill waste, all species cut by 
 local sawmills were used. 
 
 Most of the capboards were purchased by the piece (or 1,000 
 pieces), but a few mines bought them by weight. Perhaps unit of 
 weight is a better sales measure than buying by the piece, for a truck- 
 load delivery is rarely counted. Some of the headerblocks were bought 
 by the thousand board feet. 
 
 A total of 4,511,480 pieces cost $141,940, or about 3 cents each. 
 Prices ranged from $10 to $22 per 1,000 pieces for capboards and from 
 4% to 30 cents each for headerblocks. When headerblocks were bought 
 by the thousand board feet, price ranged from $32 to $57. 
 
 About three-fourths (2,527,480 bd. ft.) of the total volume used 
 came from Illinois woodlands. Missouri supplied 771,750 bd. ft. (23.2 
 percent) and Indiana 23,770 (0.7 percent). 
 
 Timbers. To be classified as a timber, a product had to be square 
 and 5"x 5" or larger in cross-section. There was some overlapping 
 between bars and timbers in size. However, if a piece was used as a 
 bar, it was so classified, even though it was of timber size. 
 
 Machine mat formed of timbers 16"x 16"- 20' cut from white elm, black oak, 
 and white oak. Although these timbers are used in places where they are 
 subject to decay, they are not treated because they usually fail from me- 
 chanical wear first. (Fig- 10) 
 
520 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 Strip mines bought the larger sizes (about 16"x 16"- 20') for "mat 
 timbers/' lacing several together to form a mat or base upon which 
 the heavy earth-moving equipment operated (Fig. 10). Occasionally 
 they bought smaller sizes for other purposes (Fig. 11). Underground 
 mines used timbers for a variety of purposes. Timbers bought by the 
 underground mines rarely exceeded 8"x 8" in cross-section and 12 feet 
 
 Shown in back- 
 ground and in 
 foreground are 
 some of the 6"x 8" 
 timbers needed to 
 assemble the vari- 
 ous parts of this 
 huge earth-moving 
 machine for an 
 Illinois strip mine. 
 (Fig. 11) 
 
 
 in length, although a few longer lengths were required for tipples or 
 other large structures (Fig. 13). A few used crossties (6"x8"-8') were 
 placed in service as timbers and mats by both underground and strip 
 mines (Fig. 14). 
 
 Oak was usually specified for the smaller timbers and "hardwood" 
 for the mat timbers. Most of the timbers were oak or elm. 
 
 Of the 1,471,300 bd. ft. used by all mines, 77 percent was used by 
 strip mines (Table 3). It is estimated that these mines accounted for 
 $61,700 of the $70,600 spent for timbers, while underground mines 
 spent only $8,900. Because strip mines bought the larger sizes, their 
 average cost per timber \vas much higher than the average for the 
 underground mines approximately $15 as compared with a little 
 less than $1.00. Many of the timbers were bought on a board-foot 
 
1952} 
 
 HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 521 
 
 These oak cribbing timbers 
 support a 36-inch conveyor 
 belt which aids in deliver- 
 ing coal from the mine to 
 the rail car. The timbers 
 were treated with chro- 
 mated zinc chloride as pro- 
 tection against decay. 
 
 (Fig. 12) 
 
 About 25,000 board 
 feet of timbers and 
 heavy lumber were 
 required to build this 
 mine tipple. (Fig. 13) 
 
 These used railroad 
 ties were salvaged for 
 use as a mat in a small 
 strip mine. Note steel 
 cable lacing them to- 
 gether. (Fig. 14) 
 
522 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 scale, averaging about 280 bd. ft. per timber (a 12"x 14"- 20' timber 
 has a volume of 280 bd. ft.) and $55 per thousand board feet. 
 
 Illinois woodlands supplied all of the 13,630 timbers used by both 
 underground and strip mines. 
 
 Lagging. In earlier days small round poles were used as lagging 
 in Illinois mines (that is, to hold back the loose rocks in a roof 
 or wall of an underground mine). But although plentiful, these poles 
 
 (Top) Oak lagging boards (IVz"* 7"- 5'6") are held in place by roof bolts. 
 The boards have been treated with chromated zinc chloride. (Below) 
 Close-up view of roof bolt, with oak plate block and expansion shield. The 
 plate block serves the same purpose as lagging boards. (Fig. 15) 
 
1952} HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 523 
 
 rotted quickly. In 1948 chemically treated squared material 1% to 3 
 inches thick, 5 to 7 inches wide, and 5 feet or more long was used 
 for lagging in more or less permanent installations. In some of the 
 mines lagging was held in place with roof bolts (Fig. 15). Generally, 
 however, the earth strata in Illinois mines do not require the use of 
 lagging. Even those mines reporting its purchase and use did not use 
 it widely. 
 
 Estimates showed that only 46,600 bd. ft. of lumber (7,840 pieces) 
 was used for lagging by underground mines. All of it was oak. It is 
 possible that some of the lumber purchased for this use may have been 
 reported as construction lumber. 
 
 Lagging was usually bought by the piece in treated condition at 
 an average of about $68 per thousand board feet or 40 cents for a 
 piece containing 6 bd. ft. (2"x6"-6' contains 6 bd. ft.). Piece price 
 ranged from 32 to 40 cents. Total cost was $3,170. All lagging came 
 from Illinois woodlands. 
 
 Machine blocks. These were used as supports, "chocks," or shims 
 for various types of coal-mining machinery. Their use was reported 
 only by the larger underground mines. Average size was about 3"x 4"- 
 18". The blocks were bought by the piece, an estimated 93,290 pieces 
 (143,100 bd. ft.) being used. Oak was usually specified. The blocks 
 cost $8,580, or about 9 cents apiece. All were cut from Illinois lumber. 
 
 Shim boards. The larger strip mines used shim boards for level- 
 ing crossties in temporary trackage and for leveling tie cribs (square 
 stacks of ties used as supports or piers) in construction work. They 
 were 2"x 8"- 18". Cost was $14 a ton; the 21,700 bd. ft. that were used 
 cost $470. Shim boards were made of oak and cut from Illinois 
 timberlands. 
 
 Car patching. Class 2 strip mines bought car patching to repair 
 holes in railroad cars before they were loaded with coal. This product 
 was 1 to 2 inches thick, 12 to 24 inches wide, and 2 to 3 feet long. It 
 cost $14 a ton. An estimated $920 was paid for 42,600 bd. ft. Car 
 patching was cut from miscellaneous hardwoods, all of which came 
 from Illinois woodlands. 
 
 Props. These are small timbers, either split or round (Fig. 16). 
 They are used to support the roof in temporary openings in under- 
 ground mines. 
 
 Length ranged from 3 feet 10 inches to 10 feet, and tip diameter 
 from 3 inches to 8 inches. About 40 different length and diameter 
 combinations were used. 
 
524 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 These props will be 
 used in underground 
 mines. Shown above 
 are short props (41/2 
 feet long), which 
 have been split from 
 rather large white 
 and black oak trees. 
 Most of the round 
 props shown at 
 left were cut from 
 a single sapling. 
 They are about 7 
 feet long. (Fig. 16) 
 
 A total of 4,648,800 cu. ft. of props was used. Less than 1 percent 
 was tamarack (a softwood), and the rest was hardwood species native 
 to Illinois. Nearly 90 percent of the props were oak. 
 
 The mine operators paid from 10 to 55 cents a piece for the props, 
 or an average of about 32 cents. It is estimated that $1,029,910 was 
 spent for 3,182,940 props. 
 
 Over half (56.4 percent) of the total volume came from Illinois 
 woodlands, and most of the rest from Missouri, with a very little 
 coming from Wisconsin. 
 
 Posts or legs. Although similar to props, posts (or legs) are larger 
 in diameter, are generally round, and are used in more permanent 
 installations, particularly where two of them support a horizontal 
 
1952] HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 525 
 
 piece called a bar. Only the larger mines bought posts for this specific 
 use; most operators selected the larger props for this purpose. 
 
 Posts ranged from 6 feet to 9 feet in length. Tip diameters ranged 
 from 4 inches to 9 inches. 
 
 Most of the 507,400 cu. ft. used was white oak. Total number of 
 pieces was 273,700. Cost of these products totaled $129,260, or about 
 47 cents a piece. Prices ranged from 19 to 90 cents. 
 
 Slightly over half of the total volume was supplied by Illinois 
 woodlands, and the rest was cut in Missouri (48.2 percent) and 
 Indiana (0.3 percent). 
 
 Scotch blocks and sprags. These are thrust between the car wheels 
 and the track to stop, slow down, or otherwise control the movement 
 of underground mine cars. Sprags resemble a policeman's night stick, 
 which is about 2 inches in diameter. Scotch blocks have a thick, 
 wedge-shaped head fastened to a handle. A few mines planned to 
 substitute steel pipe for wooden sprags. 
 
 Most of the estimated 1,900 cu. ft. bought for these two purposes 
 was used in the form of Scotch blocks. Some mines bought squared 
 material (about 5"x5"-12") and finished their own products, while 
 others bought ready-to-use forms. Tough woods, such as elm and 
 sycamore, were usually specified. 
 
 The 16,030 pieces cost $2,470, averaging about 15 cents each. The 
 price ranged from 9 to 25 cents a piece. All Scotch blocks and sprags 
 were purchased locally. 
 
 Miscellaneous items. A number of miscellaneous wood products 
 used regularly or occasionally are not included in this report because 
 of the relatively insignificant volume required. Although their total 
 volume may not be large, their importance to a mine operator may be 
 great. For example, less than 5,000 bd. ft. each of poles and piling, 
 car bumpers, and scale decking were probably required in 1948, 
 although these products may have been essential for producing coal. 
 
 Wood-Coal Ratios 
 
 Table 7 shows the amount of hardwood used per ton of coal pro- 
 duced by Illinois mines in 1948. It is estimated that all mines in the 
 state used 0.620 bd. ft. of sawed products and 0.078 cu. ft. of other 
 products for each ton of coal mined. Although the practice of ex- 
 pressing the volume of such small round products as props in terms of 
 board feet is considered unsound, some readers may desire such a 
 conversion for comparative purposes. The ratio for all products, in 
 terms of board feet, is estimated to be 1.087 bd. ft. This is somewhat 
 
526 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 higher than the ratios expressed by Hall and Ingalls 5 * (0.860) and 
 Miller 12 * (1.075). The ratio in terms of cubic feet is 0.181. 
 
 Use of the ratios for estimating wood consumption in future years 
 will depend upon how closely the wood use and coal production data 
 
 Table 7. Amount of Hardwood' 1 Used per Ton of Coal 
 Produced by Illinois Mines" in 1948 
 
 Mine class 
 
 Bars Wedges Lumber 
 
 Caps 
 
 blocks 
 
 Tim- 
 
 bers 
 
 Machine 
 blocks 
 
 Lagging 
 
 1... 
 
 1A. 
 IB. 
 2.. 
 3.. 
 4.. 
 5.. 
 
 bd. ft. 
 
 .301 .122 
 
 .322 .247 
 
 ... .200 . 088 
 
 234 .192 
 
 403 . 055 
 
 1.204 .113 
 
 1.948 .058 
 
 Subtotal. . .353 .166 
 
 Underground mines 
 
 bd.ft. bd.ft. bd.ft. bd. ft 
 .143 
 .154 
 
 bd. ft. 
 
 .042 
 .022 
 .021 
 .026 
 .036 
 
 .121 
 
 .085 
 .039 
 .048 
 .050 
 .061 
 .264 
 .323 
 
 .072 
 
 .099 
 .049 
 .079 
 .001 
 .064 
 .035 
 .044 
 
 .069 
 
 bd.ft. 
 .008 
 
 bd. ft. 
 .002 
 
 .139 
 .027 
 
 .007 
 
 .003 
 
 .001 
 
 Strip mines 
 
 1 
 
 .011 
 .020 
 .201 
 
 
 .013 
 .002 
 .072 
 
 .057 
 
 
 
 1A 
 
 .073 
 085 
 
 
 
 IB 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 .001 
 1.301 
 1.469 
 
 .062 
 
 
 .002 
 .196 
 1.914 
 
 025 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 5 . 
 
 1 . 144 
 063 
 
 .002 
 
 .001 
 
 
 Total 
 
 .275 .121 .088 .059 
 
 . 050 . 022 
 
 
 Mine class 
 
 Shim Car p 
 boards patching 
 
 Scotch 
 Posts, blocks 
 legs and 
 sprags 
 
 Total 
 all 
 sawed 
 products 
 
 Other 
 prod- 
 ucts 
 
 Underground mines 
 
 bd. ft. bd. ft. 
 
 I... 
 
 1A. 
 IB. 
 2.. 
 3.. 
 4.. 
 5.. 
 
 Subtotal. 
 
 cu. ft. 
 .105 
 .068* 
 .093 
 .079 
 .224 
 .182 
 .213 
 
 .096 
 
 cu. ft. 
 .022 
 .004 
 .004 
 
 .004 
 .013 
 
 .010 
 
 cu. ft. 
 Td 
 T d 
 
 bd. ft. 
 
 .760 
 
 .811 
 
 .457 
 
 .499 
 
 .604 
 
 1.781 
 
 2.436 
 
 .792 
 
 cu. ft. 
 .127 
 .072 
 .097 
 .079 
 .224 
 .186 
 .226 
 
 .107 
 
 Strip mines 
 
 1 
 
 .002 
 
 
 084 
 
 
 1A. . 
 
 
 
 .095 
 
 
 IB 
 
 
 
 .358 
 
 
 2... 
 
 
 .008 
 
 008 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 .002 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 1 497 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 4 . 527 
 
 
 Subtotal. 
 
 .001 
 
 .002 
 
 154 
 
 
 Total 
 
 T d 
 
 . 001 070 008 
 
 T d .620 .0* 
 
 rs 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Calculations include 6,220 cu. ft. of tamarack. 
 b Mines producing less than 1,000 tons in 1948 were not included. 
 
 c Blanks signify that none of the mines questioned in the specified class reported that they used 
 any wood for the purpose indicated. 
 d T = trace, less than .001 . 
 
1952} HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 527 
 
 compare with those for 1948. It is reasonable to assume, however, 
 that, in lieu of detailed information, ratios will serve as valuable guides 
 for estimating the volume of wood consumed in any future year. 
 
 PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT OF WOOD 
 
 Use of Treated Wood in Mines 
 
 So far as the investigators know, all treated wood was purchased 
 primarily for its resistance to decay, although reports of insect attack 
 were received. None of the sample mines reported the purchase or use 
 of lumber treated specifically for resistance to fire. Some, however, 
 reported a preference for chromated zinc chloride as a preservative 
 because they believed it offered greater fire protection than other 
 commonly used chemicals. 
 
 Probably more of the wood purchased by the sample mines should 
 have been treated against decay than actually was treated. It is esti- 
 mated that, of the 40,985,400 bd. ft. of sawed hardwood products used 
 in 1948 (Table 3), 3,414,510 bd. ft. or 8.3 percent (Table 8) were 
 treated. None of the other products were treated. About 2,725,270 bd. 
 ft. (80 percent) of the treated materials were purchased by under- 
 ground mines. Of the total volume of treated products, 98.2 percent 
 was in the form of crossties; 1.6 percent, lumber; and 0.2 percent, 
 lagging. The mine operators spent an estimated $284,780 for treated 
 hardwood products. 
 
 Table 8 shows that 86.9 percent of the wood used by Class 4 strip 
 mines was treated and that this class used 1% times as much treated 
 wood as all other classes of strip mines combined. The reason is that 
 Class 4 sample mines used an abnormally large supply of treated ties 
 for permanent trackage that was installed in 1948. This abnormality 
 is reflected in the percentage of treated wood used by all strip mines. 
 However, the percentage of treated wood used by both underground 
 and strip mines (8.3 percent) is little affected. It would have been 
 decreased by only 1 percentage point even if the Class 4 mines had 
 used no treated wood at all. Nor is the abnormality in the percentage 
 of treated wood used by Class 4 mines reflected in estimates of volumes 
 used, cost of materials, and source of supply. 
 
 The amount of treated softwood lumber used by the mines was 
 not determined, but it probably did not exceed 5 percent of the total 
 volume. Because of the low resistance of untreated pine and fir to 
 decay and the environment in which these species were used, their 
 service life was usually short and expensive. Much of the softwood 
 lumber went into air shafts, air-control doors, and brattices, all of 
 
528 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 
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1952} HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 529 
 
 which were subject to early infection by fungi and to failure. Some 
 permanent installations of square southern pine legs and bars were 
 treated with CZC (chromated zinc chloride), but none of the hard- 
 wood legs and bars were treated. 
 
 Of the 2,725,270 bd. ft. of treated wood used by underground mines, 
 99.8 percent was in the form of crossties. All of them were treated 
 with a 70-30 mixture of creosote and coal tar at the rate of 6 pounds 
 per cubic foot. Only 0.2 percent of the total volume was treated 
 lagging. CZC was used as a preservative, and the specified retention 
 was l /2 pound per cubic foot. 
 
 Of the total volume of treated wood used by strip mines, 90.1 per- 
 cent was crossties, and the rest was heavy lumber. The crossties were 
 generally purchased for use in standard-gauge rail lines linking the 
 mines with common carriers. 
 
 Preservatives 
 
 About 93 percent of the total volume of treated wood was pressure- 
 treated with creosote or a 70-30 mixture of creosote and coal tar. A 
 few operators reported minimum retentions greater than 6 pounds per 
 cubic foot for switch ties, but a minimum of 6 pounds was specified 
 for crossties. Though not bought in 1948, some tipple piling and poles 
 were in use that had been pressure-treated with 8- to 12-pound reten- 
 tions of creosote or creosote-coal tar mixtures. Some of the mines 
 reported that scale decking and support timbers and tipple siding and 
 supporting members had been treated with creosote by pressure, brush- 
 ing, or spraying. 
 
 Nearly all the rest of the hardwood was treated with CZC at the 
 rate of % pound per cubic foot. Some of the pine legs and bars were 
 also treated with this chemical at the rate of 1% pounds per cubic foot. 
 
 At least one company was using pentachlorophenol a to brush-treat 
 coal-car bottoms. Two companies reported small-scale tests of Osmosar, 
 a water-soluble preservative, containing a mixture of toxic chemicals. 
 
 Attitude of Mine Operators Toward Use of Treated Wood 
 
 Many of the operators were asked why they did not use more 
 treated wood. The most frequent reply was, "It costs too much." Be- 
 cause of alleged high cost, treated materials were used primarily in 
 main haulage ways, permanent air shafts, and other long-term installa- 
 
 " Since this study was completed, a few mines have purchased crossties, props, 
 and bars treated with a 2 1 /-percent solution of pentachlorophenol. Although 
 recommendations specify concentrations of 5 percent, concentrations below this 
 amount are often used to keep down costs. 
 
530 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 tions and then usually only in the mines of the larger companies. 
 The smaller companies used untreated wood and specified white oak 
 because its heartwood offers relatively greater resistance to decay. 
 
 Although a detailed study of the economics of using treated wood 
 was not made, sufficient data were obtained on which to base an 
 analysis. The average cost of treated wood used by the mines was $83 
 per thousand board feet (Table 8), and that of untreated about $50. 
 Installation costs would be about the same for treated and untreated 
 materials, but the average annual labor cost would decrease as service 
 life lengthened. Thus, the use of treated timber would result in a 
 schedule of decreasing labor costs. 
 
 Some of the operators estimated that they would be justified in 
 using treated wood if the treatment doubled the service life of 
 products. On the other hand, the reported life of treated wood in 
 service was in every case more than double that of untreated wood, 
 ranging from 10 to 20 years or longer. Untreated products rarely lasted 
 5 years, and they usually failed after only 2 or 3 years of sendee. 
 
 In a service test 4 * using maple timbers treated by the hot- and 
 cold-bath method and installed in a Michigan iron mine, zinc chloride- 
 treated timbers had an average useful life of 13.3 years; borax-treated 
 timbers, 11.2 years; and sodium fluoride-treated timbers, 7.7 years. 
 Untreated timbers used as controls had an average useful life of 3.8 
 years. In an example based on one company's installation costs and 
 the useful life of the test timbers, the annual charges, using 5-percent 
 
 interest rate, were estimated as follows: 
 
 Cost per set 
 
 per year 
 
 Untreated timbers $4.38 
 
 Treated timbers 
 
 Sodium fluoride 3.02 : 
 
 Borax 2.23 
 
 Zinc chloride 1.97 
 
 (' Two posts or legs and a cap or bar.) 
 
 In these tests, the estimated savings ranged from $2.41 to $1.36 
 per set each year. The investigators indicated that low absorptions of 
 sodium fluoride and borax ". . . preclude using the results of this ex- 
 periment as a basis for comparing the relative effectiveness of the 
 three preservatives. It was felt, however, that sodium fluoride- and 
 borax-treated timbers would last long enough to more than pay for the 
 cost of the treatments, even though they did not represent the best 
 results. This judgment was supported by the results of the service test." 
 
1952 ] HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 531 
 
 The above figures indicate without a doubt the value of treated 
 wood in long-term installations. Many operators conceded this value 
 but questioned the use of treated wood for temporary installations. 
 Obviously it is not economical either to place treated wood in tempo- 
 rary installations without salvaging it later, or to extend its potential 
 service beyond that which may be received before the product fails 
 from mechanical wear. Salvaging support timbers not only is hazard- 
 ous but also may not be economical at present labor rates (page 533). 
 However, many of the mine operators indicated that small roomties 
 used on a temporary basis could be salvaged and reused several times 
 before they failed from decay, mechanical wear, or spike killing. 3 
 Treatment of roomties therefore appears to be justified. 
 
 Service life of ties might be further extended, and the drain on the 
 local timber resource reduced, by using square ties that could be 
 turned 90 degrees and reused. For example, a 3"x 4"- 5' tie contains 
 5 bd. ft. If the average length of service is two years (assuming decay 
 is not the cause of failure), two of them containing 10 bd. ft. would 
 last four years. On the other hand, a 4"x 4"- 5' could be used two years 
 on one side and then turned 90 degrees (one side becomes bottom) and 
 used two more years. A 4"x4"-5' contains 6.75 bd. ft., or about two- 
 thirds the total board foot volume of two of the smaller ties. There 
 would, however, be no cash saving if the manufacturer of the tie 
 charged more for the tie with a 4"x 4" cross section than two of the 
 3"x4" ties would cost. If the costs were the same, only wood \vould 
 be conserved. 
 
 Another objection to the use of treated w r ood was the reluctance 
 of workmen to handle creosoted material. The unpopularity of creosote 
 was attributed to an oily, sticky coating on the wood, which frequently 
 burned the skin of those handling it. Some miners also believe it 
 creates a fire hazard in the mine or that the treated wood creates an 
 additional hazard because it burns with a very dense smoke. Use of 
 "clean-treatment" chemicals with fire-retardant qualities may be one 
 means of eliminating these objections. 
 
 Home Treatment by Mine Operators 
 
 A few underground mines in almost every class reported some type 
 of "home treatment." That is, they brushed, sprayed, dipped, or 
 soaked wood for various installations. The total volume treated in 
 
 a Spike-killed ties are those which have been so decayed, checked, or split 
 as a result of spiking that they will no longer hold the spikes. 
 
532 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 this way, however, was small. None of the strip mines reported any 
 kind of home treatment. 
 
 Because home treatment seemed to offer a number of advantages, 
 it was suggested to a few operators who hadn't tried it. As already 
 brought out, use of treated wood cuts labor and material costs in the 
 long run, reduces maintenance, and decreases the drain on the local 
 timber resource. Yet treated wood is often hard to get. Most of the 
 mines bought their wood products locally, and local custom pressure- 
 treating facilities were available in only a few areas. Treated products 
 in the sizes used by individual mines were not always stocked by 
 commercial treating companies (even when the size specified was of 
 "common dimension"), although crossties of standard size were usually 
 available. 
 
 A small semicommercial plant could probably be built for as little 
 as $3,000 (1949 prices) that would allow the operator to treat timbers 
 by the pressure, vacuum, hot-cold bath, or cold-soak method. (Of these 
 methods, the pressure is the best and the cold-soak the least desirable.) 
 To justify the investment enough wood would have to be treated to 
 keep the plant in continuous operation. It might be possible for several 
 mines to use the plant on a cooperative basis, thereby making full 
 use of the facilities and also reducing the amount of their individual 
 investment, the cost of treating, and the required number of operating 
 personnel. 
 
 There are, however, disadvantages to home treatment. One of the 
 biggest problems is that of labor. Most coal-mining operations are 
 carried on by organized labor, and it would be almost impossible to 
 initiate any new operation such as the installation and operation 
 of a treating plant unless the work were included in the labor 
 contract. 
 
 Removing the bark before treatment might involve another labor 
 problem. Ordinarily, wood products are peeled on a piecework rate; 
 however, organized labor might want this work to be included as part 
 of the mining operation and done by members on a day-rate basis. 
 Hand-peeling at day rates would not be economical. In some parts of 
 Illinois, particularly the southern part, it might be possible for the 
 operators to buy products peeled by the producer. If the volume of 
 w r ood involved were large enough, peeling machines could be installed 
 by the mines. 
 
 If labor contracts insisted that peeling, seasoning, and treating be 
 done at standard rate of pay for mine labor, it is doubtful whether the 
 mines could do their own treating economically enough to justify the 
 installation. 
 
1952] HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 533 
 
 Other disadvantages of home treatment are that it may increase 
 problems of space and inventory, since a large amount of wood is 
 ordinarily stored for air seasoning before treatment. 
 
 RECLAMATION OF TIMBER 
 
 The salvaging of mine timbers for reuse depends upon a number 
 of factors, among which the most important are (1) the safety of the 
 salvage workers, (2) the cost of labor involved, and (3) the cost 
 and scarcity of timber supplies. Although these three factors are 
 generally considered in the order in which they are listed, their rela- 
 tive significance varies for each mine. For example, it might be safe 
 in some mines, or within certain areas of a single mine, to salvage 
 timbers, and therefore the mine superintendent would base his decision 
 on the second and third factors only. 
 
 Some timber was salvaged for reuse in many mines in 1948. Within 
 each of the production classes, reports by representative mines ranged 
 from "nothing salvaged" to 100-percent salvage of certain products. 
 A proportionately larger number of underground mines than of strip 
 mines reported salvage of timber. Mat timbers and ties are about the 
 only items one could expect to be salvaged in strip mines. Since most 
 of the ties were treated, their potential service life was probably ful- 
 filled before replacement. Salvaging one or two timbers from a mat 
 which has served its useful life would probably not be economical. 
 Therefore, the opportunities for salvaging timber are considerably 
 fewer at a strip mine than at an underground mine. 
 
 Crossties, particularly roomties, were salvaged in greater quantities 
 than any other item. The operation of temporary trackage lends itself 
 to tie salvage, and there is little danger involved in reclaiming cross- 
 ties. Small mines reused ties from one to five times, or until they 
 failed from decay or mechanical wear. On the other hand, props, 
 posts, bars, and supporting timbers are difficult to salvage with any 
 measure of safety to personnel, and the cost of salvaging at high wage 
 rates is not economical. As one operator said, "Props cost less than I 
 have to pay to have them salvaged." 
 
 Treated materials were generally salvaged for reuse because of 
 their greater cost and longer potential service life. Permanent timbers, 
 of course, served until they failed or were declared unsafe. Salvage 
 operations were therefore confined to temporary installations. 
 
 It appears that more timber could be saved through salvage, but 
 definite conclusions cannot be drawn until more is known about each 
 of the three factors presented in the first paragraph of this section. 
 
534 BULLETIN* No. 554 [April, 
 
 STANDARDIZATION OF MINE TIMBER SIZES 
 
 Analysis of the data provided by the cooperating mine operators 
 indicates that some standardization in sizes of various mine timbers 
 would be beneficial. The mine operator's primary objection to standard- 
 ization would probably be that each mine presents a different set of 
 operating conditions. There would be little merit to advocating any 
 standard prop length unless it could be used by each mine. On the 
 other hand, there appears to be no sound basis for 91 mines buying 
 over 40 different sizes of crossties. Some mill operators cut as many 
 as four different sizes of crossties, and each tie differed from the 
 others by only a fraction of an inch. For example, the following 
 lengths of 3"x 4" ties were reported : 38, 44, 48, 54, 56, and 60 inches. 
 In addition, there were 2"x 4", 2y 2 "x 4", 2y 2 "x 4y 2 ", 3"x 3", 4"x 4", and 
 3%"x 5%" sizes ranging in length from 42 to 66 inches. Certainly the 
 time of the sawmill operator as well as the wood, could be conserved 
 by reducing the number of sizes of motorties and roomties. Another 
 advantage of standardizing the sizes of these products is that it would 
 be possible for mill operators to retail ready-treated ties. At present, 
 with the many different sizes that are specified, the cost of carrying 
 an inventory of treated ties is too great. 
 
 Caps, wedges, headerblocks, machine blocks, and sprags are other 
 products that could probably be standardized in size. 
 
 WOOD PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLIES 
 
 Methods of Procurement 
 
 Most mines had one or more suppliers upon whom they depended 
 for timber. As a rule, they bought from jobbers* or producers. Al- 
 though producers cut most of the Illinois wood that was used, a small 
 number of products were cut and delivered by fanners. A few of the 
 very small mines cut their own wood products, usually from their own 
 lands. Some of the larger mines employed a timber buyer who nego- 
 tiated all purchases and checked on inventories and deliveries. 
 
 Products cut in Illinois were delivered in truckload quantities, and 
 many shipments from out of the state were made by truck also. Most 
 of the carload deliveries came from Missouri. One mine reported at 
 least a single carload shipment from Wisconsin. 
 
 " Jobbers acted as wholesalers or concentrators of timber products, buying 
 from one or more producers and reselling to the mine. Some of the jobbers also 
 produced timber products. 
 
1952] 
 
 HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 535 
 
 At least one mine owned a small sawmill (Fig. 17), which was 
 used to cut small bolts into caps, wedges, roomties, and brattice 
 lumber. The bolts were purchased by weight from farmers and timber 
 producers. 
 
 4i^j^JM^B|^^^jj^^ 
 
 This small, mine-owned sawmill is cutting a white oak bolt into caps, 
 wedges, roomties, and brattice lumber. Bolts were purchased by weight, 
 averaging 51 cents each at 26 cents per 100 pounds. They ranged from 6 to 
 14 inches in diameter and were 4 to 8 feet long. (Fig. 17) 
 
 Effect on Local Woodlands 
 
 Heavy demands for mine timbers in many areas have resulted in 
 heavy overcutting of local timber stands particularly the young 
 second-growth. Props can be cut from trees as small as 4 inches d.b.h. a , 
 and posts or bars from trees approximately 8 inches d.b.h. The prac- 
 tice of cutting props, posts, and bars from small trees is unfortunately 
 prevalent in Illinois. Piece-rate cutters, who probably produce most 
 of the mine timbers, can "make" props, posts, and bars from small 
 trees more profitably than from large trees, most of which must be 
 split into smaller sizes. Because time means money to the piece-rate 
 cutter, clear-cutting is favored over the more conservative system of 
 selecting trees for removal from the forest. 
 
 " D.b.h. refers to diameter at breast height, or 
 level. 
 
 / feet above average ground 
 
536 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 ' 
 
 This woodland has been heavily cut for mine props and ties. It will be 
 many years before the area will again yield a crop of wood products. The 
 cost of improving the area for pasture would be considerable. (Fig. 18) 
 
 Trees from 4 to 8 inches d.b.h. represent the majority of stems in 
 second-growth forests, which include all but an insignificant amount 
 of Illinois' woodlands. Second-growth forests require some carefully 
 planned thinning of sapling and pole stands. However, continued over- 
 cutting of the smaller sizes means that crop trees are taken before 
 they have grown to full size and full value. 
 
 The present situation of Illinois woodlands therefore gives cause 
 for concern. However, as brought out in the following pages, supplies 
 are still adequate, and if proper steps are taken, will continue to be so. 
 
 Present Supply Situation 
 
 Most of the mine operators reported that supplies in 1948 were 
 "adequate" or "plentiful," and a few indicated that their main problem 
 was preventing an over-inventory. None of the operators reported the 
 supply situation to be critical, although a few of the larger operators 
 reported that they bought certain timbers in Missouri because the 
 supply of white oak was better, a price was more favorable, or it was 
 less trouble to get delivery on large orders. 
 
 A year earlier, however, woods labor was still hard to get, and 
 the problem of supply was more critical. Buyers were often forced to 
 create an over-inventory to carry them through periods when supplies 
 were not available or deliveries were tardv. 
 
1952} HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 FUTURE REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPLIES 
 
 537 
 
 Trends in Use of Wood Products 
 
 Future wood requirements of the mining industry and the effect 
 of its drain on the state's timber resource will depend largely upon 
 the answers to these two questions: (1) Will satisfactory substitute 
 materials and methods be developed? (2) Will the current demand 
 for coal be maintained? 
 
 Because of their fireproof qualities, building tile, concrete and 
 cinder blocks, and brick have largely replaced wood for use in brattice 
 and for sealing off old galleries. Steel has replaced wood for mine 
 cars (Fig. 19) in many mines, and for crossties in a few mines. 
 
 Attempts are also continually being made to replace wood with 
 something better in other places. For example, steel railroad rails 
 have been used to replace wooden cross bars in some mines, and roof 
 bolts (Fig. 15) are used where conditions warrant their use. 
 
 Roof bolting, or suspension support, has the advantage of sup- 
 porting the wide openings of mechanized workings without hindrance 
 to machine maneuverability and ventilation. However, the use of 
 metal roof bolts has been found to present a problem. While a wooden 
 prop "squeaks" under loads that tend to exceed its compressive 
 
 Although steel has replaced wood in the construction of these mine cars, 
 they are carrying wooden props for mine roof supports and they are trav- 
 eling on rails which are supported on wooden crossties. (Fig. 19) 
 
538 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 strength and thereby warns the workers, a metal roof bolt may fail 
 without warning. But there is no reason why wood cannot be used in 
 roof bolting. Some advantages of the use of wood in suspension sup- 
 port have been found in experimental work by the Department of 
 Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Illinois, and 
 other successful use has also been reported. 10 *- 1X * 
 
 Other metal supports of different types have been designed, tried, 
 and abandoned. Mine operators therefore still believe that wood is 
 the best supporting material they can use, considering service, econ- 
 omy, and supply factors. Thus, the trend toward continued use of wood 
 for support timbers is strong and is likely to grow stronger if govern- 
 ment controls restrict the use of certain metals and if the markets 
 for Illinois coal are expanded. 
 
 Illinois Woodlands as Future Source of Timber Supplies 
 
 Since the first coal mine was operated, Illinois mine operators have 
 depended upon local woodlands for a considerable portion of their 
 mine timbers. Some operators question whether this practice can con- 
 tinue. For the past 50 years there have been reports of a "steadily 
 decreasing" timber supply in Illinois, and there must have been some 
 basis for them. 
 
 It is true, for example, that certain species, such as white oak and 
 other naturally durable woods, particularly the better grades, are in 
 short supply. It is also true that timberlands in general have been cut, 
 grazed, and burned to the point where they are not so extensive as 
 they once were or not so productive as they should be (page 535). 
 However, current data based on reliable, up-to-date information 3 * are 
 now available which give a little brighter view of the situation. 
 
 Some of these data are given in Fig. 20 and Tables 9 and 10. In 
 Fig. 20 the state is divided into three regions: southern, claypan, and 
 prairie. The proportion of each county that is forested is shown. 
 Table 9 lists those counties in each of the three regions for which 
 operating mines were reported in 1948, 8 * the number of mines in these 
 counties, and the total county coal production and forest acreage. 
 
 The most coal is produced in the southern region. This area in- 
 cludes counties having a high percentage of woodland. Twenty-six 
 percent of this area is forest land, whereas only 16 and 7 percent of 
 the claypan and prairie regions, respectively, are forested. However, 
 the actual acreages of forest land are greater in the claypan and 
 prairie regions than in the southern region. 
 
 Table 10 represents a "balance sheet" for 1948. It shows the esti- 
 
19521 
 
 HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 539 
 
 mated amount of wood grown in the three regions and the volume 
 required for use by the coal mines (based on coal production). It is 
 true that not all the hardwood used in 1948 by the coal mining indus- 
 try came from Illinois (Table 5) , but in analyzing our future require- 
 ments let us assume that Illinois woodlands are to supply the industry's 
 
 Table 9. Number of Mines, Coal Production, and Forest Acreage, 
 by County, for Three Illinois Regions" 
 
 (Only counties having coal mines are included) 
 
 Region and county 
 
 Number of mines b 
 
 Shipping Local 
 
 Total 
 
 Forest acreage 
 
 1948 coal ~T 
 
 production Thousand Percent of 
 
 acres lanafarea 
 
 Southern region 
 
 
 
 
 tons 
 
 
 
 Franklin 
 
 12 
 
 
 12 
 
 13 310 042 
 
 62 
 
 22 
 
 Gallatin 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 76 076 
 
 55 
 
 26 
 
 Jackson 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 1 241 423 
 
 123 
 
 32 
 
 Perry 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 5 227 860 
 
 61 
 
 22 
 
 Randolph 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 2 500 002 
 
 85 
 
 22 
 
 Saline 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 21 
 
 4 454 175 
 
 43 
 
 18 
 
 Williamson 
 
 44 
 
 28 
 
 72 
 
 4 861 424 
 
 60 
 
 21 
 
 Total 
 
 88 
 
 58 
 
 146 
 
 31 671 002 
 
 489 
 
 
 Clay pan legion 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Clinton 
 
 2 
 
 
 2 
 
 296 147 
 
 62 
 
 19 
 
 Jefferson 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 570 676 
 
 61 
 
 17 
 
 Jersey 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 T d 
 
 66 
 
 28 
 
 Macoupin 
 
 9 
 
 
 9 
 
 4 281 292 
 
 95 
 
 17 
 
 Madison 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 2 091 468 
 
 57 
 
 12 
 
 Marion 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 238 667 
 
 62 
 
 17 
 
 Montgomery 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 925 221 
 
 46 
 
 10 
 
 St. Clair 
 
 14 
 
 12 
 
 26 
 
 3 097 385 
 
 55 
 
 13 
 
 Washington 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 495 141 
 
 63 
 
 17 
 
 Total 
 
 34 
 
 21 
 
 55 
 
 11 995 997 
 
 567 
 
 
 Prairie region 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Brown 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 T<i 
 
 42 
 
 21 
 
 Bureau 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 99 127 
 
 35 
 
 6 
 
 Christian 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 7 918 145 
 
 13 
 
 3 
 
 Douglas 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 114 311 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 Edgar 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 21 377 
 
 23 
 
 6 
 
 Fulton 
 
 12 
 
 14 
 
 26 
 
 6 488 523 
 
 96 
 
 17 
 
 Grundy 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 170 739 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 Hancock 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 47 077 
 
 46 
 
 9 
 
 Henry 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 706 311 
 
 17 
 
 3 
 
 Knox 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 1 474 214 
 
 44 
 
 9 
 
 LaSalle 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 141 685 
 
 26 
 
 4 
 
 Livingston 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 5 255 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 Logan 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 49 528 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 McDonough 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 T d 
 
 40 
 
 11 
 
 Marshall 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Td 
 
 28 
 
 11 
 
 Menard 
 
 
 o 
 
 5 
 
 27 362 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 Morgan 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 T d 
 
 30 
 
 8 
 
 Peoria 
 
 1 
 
 26 
 
 27 
 
 684 659 
 
 52 
 
 13 
 
 Rock Island 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 T d 
 
 34 
 
 13 
 
 Sangamon 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 2 219 443 
 
 24 
 
 4 
 
 Schuyler 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 145 572 
 
 69 
 
 25 
 
 Tazewell 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 78 899 
 
 38 
 
 9 
 
 Vermilion 
 
 2 
 
 18 
 
 20 
 
 411 503 
 
 29 
 
 5 
 
 Warren 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 292 
 
 25 
 
 7 
 
 Will 
 
 2 
 
 
 2 
 
 1 664 282 
 
 23 
 
 4 
 
 Woodf ord 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 13 658 
 
 30 
 
 9 
 
 Total 
 
 38 
 
 111 
 
 149 
 
 22 483 962 
 
 814 
 
 
 a Regions outlined in Fig. 20. 
 
 b From Sixty-Seventh Coal Report of Illinois. 111. Dept. of Mines and Minerals, 1948. 
 
 c Data supplied by Central States Forest Experiment Station, Columbus, Ohio. 
 
 d T = trace, or less than 1,000 tons. 
 
540 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 entire needs. Any contributions to the requirements made by other 
 
 states will of course help to alleviate the drain on Illinois timberlands. 
 
 Perhaps the most significant figures in Table 10 are those which 
 
 show the percent of annual growth used for mine timbers. Twelve 
 
 PROPORTION OF 
 COUNTY AREA THAT 
 IS FORESTED 
 
 I I Less than 
 l!:!: : l 10 19% 
 EZ320 29% 
 
 or more 
 
 Location of forest survey regions in Illinois, and the proportion of area of 
 each county that is forested. (Fig- 20) 
 
 percent of all wood grown in the state was used by coal mines. The 
 range was from 7 percent in the claypan region to 20 percent in the 
 southern region. 
 
 In analyzing the data shown in Table 10, a number of factors must 
 be taken into consideration. For one thing, it must be remembered that 
 the growth figures represent all types of timberlands and all sizes and 
 kinds of trees. In some areas much of the woodland is found along the 
 bottomlands of streams and rivers, and the species are usually not the 
 ones preferred by the industry. Growth in some areas and on some soil 
 types is slow, and locally the drain may exceed the supply. 
 
1953] HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MIXES 541 
 
 Table 10. Relation Between Wood Growth in Three Illinois Regions" 
 and Total Wood Consumption by Coal Mines in 1948 
 
 
 Southern 
 region 
 
 Claypan 
 region 
 
 Prairie 
 region 
 
 Total 
 
 
 1 042 000 
 
 1 356 000 
 
 1 598 000 
 
 3 996 000 
 
 Forest acreage counties with mines 1 ' 
 Total wood growth per year, 
 
 489 000 
 28 299 000 
 
 567 000 
 30 732 000 
 
 814 000 
 33 711 000 
 
 1 870 000 
 92 742 000 d 
 
 Coal production, tons 1 ' 
 
 31 671 000 
 
 11 996 000 
 
 22 484 000 
 
 66 151 000 
 
 Wood consumption, cubic feet 6 
 Wood consumption, percent of annual 
 
 5 732 400 
 20 
 
 2 171 300 
 7 
 
 4 069 600 
 12 
 
 11 973 300 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a Regions outlined in Fig. 20. 
 
 >> Data from Table 9. 
 
 c Data supplied by Central States Forest Experiment Station, Columbus, Ohio. 
 
 d Includes 311,000 cubic feet of softwoods. 
 
 e Wood-coal ratio of 0.181 cubic foot per ton of coal produced, used to calculate consumption. 
 
 Cost of hauling timbers is another factor. There is an economic 
 limit to the distance that mine timbers can be hauled by truck; beyond 
 this distance rail shipments may be more economical. Also, the wood 
 used by other industries must be considered. Sawmills, veneer plants, 
 cooperage mills, charcoal manufacturers, pulpwood buyers, and mis- 
 cellaneous consumers of hardwoods, as well as the coal mines, draw 
 upon the forest supply. 
 
 A recent study by the Central States Forest Experiment Station 
 of all factors influencing the state's timber resources indicated that 
 present annual grow r th is more than twice the present drain. In addition 
 to the hardwood timberlands, several thousand acres of private and 
 public lands have been reforested with pines and other softwoods, 
 which usually grow faster than the hardwoods. 
 
 About 1,200 pine seedlings are planted on the average acre. Then, 
 when the trees are of prop size, or 10 to 20 years old, thinning must 
 begin. About 1,000, or 83 percent, of the trees are eventually removed 
 as thinnings, since the land will support only about 200 crop trees of 
 sawlog size. Each acre is therefore a potential producer of thousands 
 of props, posts, bars, and ties. 
 
 Although pines are generally considered to be nondurable in con- 
 tact with soil, they are used as mine timbers in other areas and are as 
 durable as some of the hardwood species now accepted for use in 
 Illinois mines. 
 
 Thus timber requirements of the coal-mining industry should be 
 supplied with less difficulty in the future than they have in the past. 
 The more extensive use of wood preservatives, salvage operations 
 (where safe, economical, and practical), and species not now accepted 
 will help to improve the future supply. 
 
542 
 
 BULLETIN No. 554 
 
 [April, 
 
 Use of Substitute Species 
 
 Because of the great demand among mine operators for white oak, 
 this species is in short supply in some areas. The same thing is true 
 of some other naturally durable species. This leads us to explore the 
 possibilities of other species not now being used. 
 
 Table 11. Maximum Crushing Strength Parallel to Grain and Modulus 
 of Elasticity for Illinois Woods in Green Condition 11 
 
 Species 
 
 Maximum 
 crushing 
 strength 
 
 (p.S.i 
 
 Modulus 
 of 
 elasticity 
 (1,000 
 
 p.s.i. b ) 
 
 Species 
 
 Maximum 
 crushing 
 strength 
 
 (p.s.i.b) 
 
 Modulus 
 of 
 elasticity 
 (1,000 
 p.s.i. b ) 
 
 Hardwoods 
 Apple . 3 000 
 
 1 050 
 1 240 
 1 400 
 1 460 
 1 380 
 1 310 
 1 180 
 1 230 
 1 190 
 1 030 
 1 050 
 1 400 
 1 570 
 1 650 
 1 570 
 1 290 
 1 150 
 1 850 
 1 550 
 1 180 
 880 
 1 350 
 
 
 Hardwoods 
 3 680 
 
 1 320 
 1 090 
 1 480 
 1 140 
 1 350 
 1 590 
 1 550 
 1 250 
 1 290 
 1 330 
 1 370 
 1 370 
 1 420 
 
 650 
 1 180 
 1 410 
 1 380 
 1 390 
 1 240 
 
 
 . . 4 180 
 
 
 3 480 
 
 
 . . 4 200 
 
 Oak, scarlet 
 
 . 4 090 
 
 
 3 990 
 
 Oak, southern red 3 030 
 Oak, swamp chestnut. ... 3 540 
 
 
 . 3 550 
 
 
 3 540 
 
 
 3 640 
 
 
 3 740 
 
 Elm, red. . . 
 
 . 3 320 
 
 
 3 560 
 
 Elm, rock 
 
 . . 3 780 
 . 3 040 
 
 
 3 000 
 
 
 
 5 810 
 
 
 . 3 370 
 
 
 3 990 
 
 
 4 570 
 
 
 4 170 
 
 Hickory, mockernut. . 
 
 . . 4 480 
 . . 4 810 
 
 
 4 300 
 
 Cedar, eastern red. 
 
 Softwoods 
 . 3 570 
 
 
 4 580 
 
 
 4 420 
 
 Hophornbeam 
 
 . . 3 570 
 
 
 6 800 
 
 
 . . 3 580 
 
 
 4 020 
 
 Pine, loblolly 
 
 3 490 
 
 
 . 3 470 
 
 Pine, Norway (red) 
 
 3 080 
 . . 3 430 
 
 
 3 290 
 
 
 . 3 440 
 
 
 3 480 
 
 
 
 
 
 From Strength and Related Properties of Woods Grown in the United States, by L. J. Markwart 
 and T. R. C. Wilson. U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bui. 479. 1935. Table 1. 
 b Pounds per square inch. 
 
 In considering substitutes for white oak, it must be remembered 
 that its relatively great durability applies only to the heartwood. a The 
 outer band of sapwood a of most native species has low resistance to 
 decay. For example, a round white oak prop with a 4-inch tip may 
 have a heartwood diameter of 2% inches or less; thus the strength will 
 be reduced considerably when the sapwood decays. 
 
 In Table 11 are listed a number of woods found in this state that 
 should prove satisfactory for props in Illinois mines. As shown in the 
 table, all these woods have a maximum compressive strength parallel 
 
 a Heartwood is the wood extending from the pith (center) of the tree to 
 the sapwood, which lies just under the bark. Heartwood is usually darker 
 in color, more resistant to decay, and harder to penetrate with wood preservative 
 than is sapwood. 
 
1952} HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 543 
 
 to the grain (strength as a post or prop) of at least 3,000 p.s.i. a 
 This strength requirement has been set arbitrarily, but it is believed 
 that green wood meeting the requirement would serve satisfactorily as 
 props or posts as far as compressive strength is concerned. 
 
 Another test of the suitability of a species is the modulus of elas- 
 ticity. This measures the stiffness of the wood. Operators selecting 
 short b props or posts need not be concerned with this measure, but 
 it is important in determining the load that intermediate and long 
 props can carry. Since most of the props used in Illinois mines are 
 intermediate, 11 the modulus of elasticity has been included in Table 11, 
 so that operators who have determined their minimum requirements 
 may calculate the capacity of a prop for supporting a load. (It is 
 believed, however, that all woods in the table will have enough stiffness 
 to serve as props in Illinois mines.) 
 
 A number of other factors besides compressive strength and stiff- 
 ness bear upon the suitability of a particular species for support 
 timbers. Moisture content, freedom from weakening defects, strength 
 as a beam (modulus of rupture) , and resistance to insects and decay 
 (Appendix I) are highly important. Seasoning the wood below its fiber 
 saturation point d before installing it would tend to increase its strength, 
 but the moisture from the humid air in an underground mine would 
 return it almost to its green strength. At present, the quality of a 
 prop or its freedom from weakening defects is determined solely by 
 visual inspection and its selection is based mainly upon experience. 
 Apparently this method of selecting props has proven satisfactory. 
 
 If the wood lacks resistance to decay and insects, the possibility of 
 chemical treatment should be considered (pages 527 to 533). Appen- 
 dix II presents suggested specifications for use in Illinois mines. These 
 specifications are based upon the experiences of Illinois mine operators 
 
 a Pounds per square inch. 
 
 b Props or posts are classed as "short," "intermediate," or "long," depending 
 upon the ratio of their unsupported length to least cross-sectional dimension. 
 Short props are those whose length is less than 11 times their least diameter. 
 Intermediate props are those in which the ratio of length to diameter may range 
 from 11 to that at which the allowable stress per unit area is two-thirds that of 
 the short prop of the same species of wood. For a complete discussion of the 
 mechanical properties of wood see The Mechanical Properties of Wood, by 
 F. F. Wangaard, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1950. 
 
 c Values for modulus of rupture required for calculating the strength of bars 
 or beams may be found in the publication referred to in footnote a, Table 11. 
 
 d Fiber saturation point represents the seasoning stage at which the cell walls 
 of the wood are saturated, but the cell cavities are free of water. 
 
544 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 and the treating practices developed by the American Wood-Pre- 
 servers' Association.* 
 
 Of the woods listed in Table 11, tupelo gum is particularly exten- 
 sive in the bottomlands of southern Illinois. Hickory is also plentiful 
 in some areas. Norway (red), shortleaf, and loblolly pines, eastern 
 red cedar, and tamarack are softwoods which meet the strength re- 
 quirements and which occur naturally or in plantations in various 
 parts of the state. 
 
 Other woods which are only slightly below the strength requirement 
 might be acceptable as props if tip diameter were increased slightly. 
 These include sycamore, with a compressive strength of 2,920 p.s.i., 
 and American or white elm, with a strength of 2,910. Both of these 
 woods are moderately stiff, having moduli of elasticity of 1,060,000 
 p.s.i. and 1,110,000 p.s.i., respectively. River birch is another wood 
 which occurs plentifully in some areas. Although it has a maximum 
 crushing strength of 3,510 p.s.i. it was not included in the table 
 because its modulus of elasticity has not been determined. However, 
 it possesses mechanical properties which should make it suitable for 
 mine props. 
 
 Farmer's Role in Supplying Timber 
 
 Farmers own 90 percent of the woodlands in Illinois. Their future 
 policies will therefore have a great deal to do with future supplies of 
 timber. 
 
 As already mentioned (page 535), most of the wood is now cut by 
 piece-rate cutters, who favor clear-cutting over selecting trees for 
 removal, and who often cut trees before they have reached full size. 
 This premature harvest of the wood crop is to the farmer similar 
 to selling light-weight, unfinished beef cattle for slaughter. 
 
 At present neither the mine operator nor the landowner has much 
 control over the producer. The landowner, however, is in a better posi- 
 tion to initiate controls than is the mine operator. The problem of 
 growing a continuous supply of mine timbers thus becomes his problem. 
 
 Management and harvest. If the woodland owner is interested in 
 growing a profitable crop of quality wood that rates high in me- 
 chanical properties (strength and toughness), as quickly as he can, 
 he should protect it from fire and grazing livestock and maintain 
 
 * The association is formulating a set of standards for treating mine materials 
 which will probably appear in their Manual of Recommended Practice. The 
 specifications in Appendix II are suggested for use until the final recommendations 
 are published. 
 
1952] HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 545 
 
 thrifty growth through proper thinning. a Thinning operations must 
 be balanced, however, so that a rather dense stand is maintained to 
 encourage natural pruning of the limbs and the development of long, 
 clear trunks. Proper treatment of the woodland will assure a crop of 
 wood that rates high in strength which is of particular importance to 
 the mine operator. 
 
 One good way for the farmer to insure that his woodland is man- 
 aged properly is to harvest the crop himself. Sale of timber "on the 
 stump" is generally considered to be the poorest method of marketing 
 the wood crop. Rarely does the farmer sell his corn standing on the 
 stalk in the field. Instead, he harvests it before marketing it and there- 
 by sells his labor for growing and harvesting the crop. If he marketed 
 his wood in the same way, he would not only have more control over 
 how his woodland is cut, but would also have more return from it. 
 
 Concentration yards help in marketing. One difficulty that a farmer 
 often encounters when he harvests his own crop is that volume may be 
 too small for quantity sales. The large mines reported that they occa- 
 sionally bought timbers from farmers in 1948 but were unable to 
 depend on this source of supply. Their main objection was that farm- 
 ers were unable to provide a sustained supply of timbers during the 
 entire year. 
 
 The "concentration yard," which serves in the lumber business 
 much as an elevator serves in the grain business, helps to take care 
 of this problem. It allows the small producer to market small quantities 
 of wood products. These products are then accumulated and sold in 
 quantity and often by grade or quality to the larger consumers. 
 
 Some jobbers act as concentrators of mine materials in southern 
 Illinois, either buying timber on the stump and having it cut, or buy- 
 ing small lots from many cutters. However, there are so few markets 
 of this type in the state that outlets for small amounts of timber 
 products are often limited. 
 
 The organization of concentration yards, or group marketing of 
 another type, would aid both the small producer and the mine 
 operator. To be satisfactory from the viewpoint of the mine operator 
 the system would, however, have to assure him a sustained supply 
 of mine timbers delivered on a definite schedule. The opportunity is 
 there, but to assure satisfactory service to the consumer enough capital 
 
 * Residents of Illinois may get help with woodland management and refor- 
 estation problems from the nearest district forester; from the State Division of 
 Forestry, Department of Conservation, Springfield; or the Department of For- 
 estry, University of Illinois, Urbana. 
 
546 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 would be necessary to permit stockpiling a rather large inventory. 
 The relatively large amount of money required to finance concentra- 
 tion yards is probably one of the main reasons they are not more 
 numerous. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The Illinois coal-mining industry requires wood in many forms. 
 To date no satisfactory economical substitute has been developed for 
 many of these requirements. 
 
 Ninety-one mines supplied data concerning their 1948 hardwood 
 requirements for this study. A total estimated volume of 40,985,400 
 board feet of sawed products and 5,158,100 cubic feet of other products 
 was used by Illinois mines during the base year. This amounted to 
 0.620 board feet of sawed products and 0.078 cubic feet of other 
 products for each ton of coal produced. Total consumption per ton of 
 coal was 0.181 cubic feet or 1.087 board feet. Mine operators spent 
 an estimated $3,282,300 for these products, averaging about $52 per 
 thousand board feet and 23 cents a cubic foot. Underground mines 
 spent 95 percent of this total. 
 
 Illinois woodlands supplied 69 percent of the total volume of sawed 
 products and 55.8 percent of the others. Indiana and Wisconsin forests 
 supplied only small amounts (0.1 percent or less), and Missouri sup- 
 plied the rest. Most of the wood was oak. 
 
 About 8 percent of the sawed products, but none of the other 
 products, were treated. Over 98 percent of the treated wood was cross- 
 ties. A total of $260,710 was spent for treated wood. Practically all 
 the wood was pressure-treated, 93 percent of it being treated with 
 creosote or mixtures of creosote and coal tar, and the rest with chro- 
 mated zinc chloride. 
 
 Some timber was salvaged for reuse, although no data were avail- 
 able on which to base an estimate of the amount. Salvaging depended 
 upon the safety of the salvage workers, cost of labor involved, and cost 
 and scarcity of timber supplies. 
 
 For the industry as a whole, no attempt has been made to standard- 
 ize products. In some instances (outstanding example is crossties, 
 of which 40-odd sizes were reported) , standardization would be bene- 
 ficial to producer, consumer, and wood preserver. 
 
 Most of the products were purchased from jobbers or "middle men" 
 and not directly from the woodland owner. Procurement practices have 
 a deleterious effect on both productivity and earning power of the 
 woodland resource. 
 
19521 HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 547 
 
 The supply situation is good, and it appears that future timber 
 supplies will be adequate to meet the demand. There is a current trend 
 to replace timber supports in underground mines with metal or other 
 substitutes, but these substitutes are not yet offering serious com- 
 petition. 
 
 The practice of selling timber "on the stump" by the farmer (who 
 owns about 90 percent of the woodlands) is not so profitable as selling 
 products which he has harvested. However, the market often demands 
 greater quantities than the individual woodland owner is able to pro- 
 duce, and the mining industry must be assured of a sustained supply. 
 Group marketing or concentration yards are suggested as a means of 
 improving marketing methods and farm income. 
 
 LITERATURE CITED 
 
 1. ANDROS, S. O. Coal mining in Illinois. 111. State Geol. Surv., 111. Coal Mining 
 
 Investigations, Bui. 13. 1915. 
 
 2. BRUNDAGE, R. C., and CROW, A. B. Forest resources of Illinois. Amer. For. 
 
 52 (1), 26-32. 1946. 
 
 3. CENTRAL STATES FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION. Forest resources of Illinois. 
 
 U. S. Dept. Agr. Forest Service, Forest Surv. Release 7. 1949. 
 
 4. CRAWFORD, F. S., and WIRK.A, R. M. A test of treated timbers in a mine at 
 
 Negaunee, Michigan. U. S. Dept. Int., Bur. of Mines Report of Investi- 
 gations 4622. 1950. 
 
 5. HALL, R. C., and INGALLS, O. D. Forest conditions in Illinois. Bui. 111. State 
 
 Lab. Nat. Hist. 9 (Art. 4), 218-220. 1911. 
 
 6. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERALS. Mines and minerals of the 
 
 state of Illinois. 1944. 
 
 7. . Sixty-sixth coal report of Illinois, 1947. 1948. 
 
 8. . Sixty-seventh coal report of Illinois, 1948. 1949. 
 
 9. ILLINOIS TECHNICAL FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. A plan for forestry in Illinois. 
 
 State Forester's Office. 1947. 
 
 10. LANIER, S. S. Pinning roof with wood. Coal Age 55 (6), 78. 1950. 
 
 11. . Wooden pins for mine roof control. Coal Mine Modernization. 
 
 1950 Yearbook, American Mining Congress, 19. 1950. 
 
 12. MILLER, R. B. First report on a forestry survey of Illinois. Bui. 111. Nat. 
 
 Hist. Surv. 14 (Art. 8), 350. 1923. 
 
 13. UNITED STATES BUREAU OF MINES. 1949 Minerals Yearbook, 281. 1951. 
 
548 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 Relative Durability of the Heartwood of Some of the Common 
 Timbers of the United States With Respect to Fungi a 
 
 (Listed alphabetically and not in the order of their relative 
 
 durability within a class) 
 
 Softwoods Hardwoods 
 
 Class I. Heartwood Very Durable, Even Under Conditions Favoring Decay 
 Bald cypress Black locust 
 
 Cedar Black walnut 
 
 Alaska yellow Catalpa 
 
 Eastern red Chestnut 
 
 Northern white Osage-orange 
 
 Port Orford Red mulberry 
 
 Southern white 
 Western red 
 Redwood 
 Yew 
 
 Class II. Heartwood Durable, in Some Cases Nearly as Durable as 
 
 That of Species in Class I 
 
 Douglas fir (dense) Honey-locust 
 
 Pine, southern yellow b (dense) White oak 
 
 Class III. Heartwood Intermediate in Durability 
 Douglas fir (unselected) Chestnut oak 
 
 Pine, southern yellow b (unselected) Red-gum 
 
 Tamarack 
 Western larch 
 
 Class IV. Heartwood Intermediate in Durability Between Classes III and V 
 Hemlock Ash, white (commercial) 
 
 Eastern Beech 
 
 Western Birch 
 
 Pine, lodgepole Black 
 
 Spruce Yellow 
 
 Black Red oak 
 
 Engelmann Sugar maple 
 
 Red Sycamore 
 
 Sitka Yellow-poplar 
 
 White 
 
 Class V. Heartwood Low in Durability 
 Firs (true) Aspen 
 
 Basswood 
 Cottonwood 
 Gum 
 Black 
 Tupelo 
 Willows 
 
 'From Textbook of Wood Technology, Vol. I, by Brown, Panshin, and 
 Fors'iith, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 1949~ Table 17. (As adapted 
 from material in Wood Handbook, Forest Products Laboratory, V. S. Depart- 
 ment of Agriculture, 1935; and Wood Preservation, by Hunt and Garratt, 1938.) 
 
 b Includes shortleaf, loblolly, and longleaf pines. There are no adequate 
 records to evaluate the decay resistance of the heartwood of white pines and 
 ponderosa pine, though it is believed that on the whole the heartwood of white 
 pines is more durable. 
 

 1952] HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 549 
 
 APPENDIX II 
 
 Recommended Net Final Retentions of Various Preservatives 
 for Wood Used in Mines* 
 
 (SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: Wooden mine materials shall be treated 
 in accordance with the requirements of American Wood-Preservers' As- 
 sociation Standard C 1 "Standard Specification for the Preservative Treat- 
 ment by Pressure Processes All Timber Products," except as modified 
 or supplemented by the following table.) 
 
 Minimum retention (pounds per cubic 
 
 foot) for 
 Preservative 
 
 Douglas Southern Mixed /^ 
 
 fir pine hardwoods b 
 
 When used for bars, buntons, capboards, cribbing, guides, lagging, legs, 
 posts, props, shaft framing and lining, stairways, tipples, and trestles 
 
 Chromated zinc chloride 
 
 .75 
 
 .75 
 
 .75 
 
 .75 
 
 Copper naphthenate-petroleum 
 
 . 8 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Creosote 
 
 . 8 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Pentachlorophenol-petroleum d 
 
 . 8 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Tanalith 
 
 .35 
 
 .35 
 
 .35 
 
 .35 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 When used for crossties and switch ties 
 
 Copper naphthenate-petroleum 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Creosote 
 
 .. 8 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Pentachlorophenol-petroleum d 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Tanalith 
 
 .35 
 
 .35 
 
 .35 
 
 .35 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 When used for piles 
 
 Creosote 10 12 10 10 
 
 When used for poles 
 
 Copper naphthenate-petroleum" 8 8 8 8 
 
 Creosote 8 8 8 8 
 
 Pentachlorophenol-petroleum d 8 8 8 8 
 
 * Recommendations in this table are tentative and are to be superseded by standard prac- 
 tices of the American Wood -Preservers' Association, 111 West Washington Street, Chicago 2, 
 Illinois, whenever they are adopted. 
 
 h Excluding oak. 
 
 c 0.5-percent (copper metal) solution. 
 
 d 5-percent (by weight) solution. 
 
550 BULLETIN No. 554 [April, 
 
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
 The author wishes to express his appreciation to D. A. Kulp, 
 formerly First Assistant of Forest Utilization Research, for his help 
 in planning this study and in collecting the data. 
 
 Grateful acknowledgment is also made to the 75 mining companies 
 listed on the following page, for their generous contributions of in- 
 formation; to David B. King, formerly Forest Resource Analyst, 
 Central States Experiment Station, U. S. Forest Service, for his sug- 
 gestions regarding statistical procedures; to W. A. Oliver, Professor of 
 Civil Engineering, for reviewing that part of the report which con- 
 cerns the strength properties of supporting timbers and the use of 
 substitute species; and to W. R. Chedsey, Professor of Mining Engi- 
 neering, R. G. Wuerker, Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering, 
 and W. H. Voskuil, Mineral Economist, State Geological Survey, for 
 reviewing the entire manuscript. 
 
 Information on the coal measures in Illinois, shown in Fig. 1, was 
 furnished by the Illinois State Geological Survey. The photograph 
 used for the top part of Fig. 15 was taken by Jack Lyons of Zeigler 
 and supplied through the courtesy of the Bell and Zoller Coal and 
 Mining Company. 
 
 This study was financed in part by funds made avail- 
 able under the provisions of the Cooperative Farm 
 Forestry Act (50 Stat. 1S8). 
 
1952] 
 
 HARDWOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ILLINOIS COAL MINES 
 
 551 
 
 MINING COMPANIES COOPERATING IN STUDY 
 
 B & W Coal Company 
 
 Barr Coal Company 
 *Bell and Zoller Coal and Mining 
 Company 
 
 Beveridge Coal Company 
 
 Big Bear Coal Company 
 
 Big Hollow Coal Company 
 *Blue Bird Coal Company 
 
 Blue Blaze Coal Company 
 
 Blue Ribbon Coal Company 
 
 Brooks Coal Company 
 
 Buckheart Creek Coal Company 
 
 Cantrall Coal Company 
 
 Carterville Blue Blaze Coal Com- 
 pany 
 
 Cedar Hill Coal Company 
 
 Central Coal Company 
 
 Cessna Bros. Coal Company 
 *Chicago, Wilmington and Franklin 
 Coal Company 
 
 Clinton County Mining Company, 
 Inc. 
 
 Collins Bros. Coal Company 
 
 Corbin Coal Company 
 
 Corder and Corder (Choate) Coal 
 Company 
 
 Coulter and McKenna 
 *Crown Coal Company 
 
 David E. Rowland Triple S. Mine 
 
 Deep Valley Coal Company 
 
 Eddy Coal Company 
 *Elm Grove Coal Company 
 
 Elm Hill Mine 
 
 Franklin County Coal Corporation 
 
 Freeman Coal Mining Corporation 
 
 Harry Becker Coal Company 
 
 Helm Coal Company 
 
 Hoffman Coal Company 
 
 Kedas Coal Mine 
 
 Key Coal Company 
 
 Knight and Turner Coal Company 
 
 Lemon and McKelvey Coal Com- 
 pany 
 
 Midland Electric Coal Corporation 
 
 Midwest-Radiant Fuel Corporation 
 
 Moffat Coal Company 
 
 Morgan Mines, Incorporated 
 
 Morris Coal and Mining Company 
 
 New National Coal Mining Com- 
 pany 
 
 Northern Illinois Coal Corporation 
 
 Northwestern Illinois Coal Company 
 *01d Ben Coal Corporation 
 
 Panther Creek Mines, Incorporated 
 *Peabody Coal Company 
 
 Pekin Coal Company 
 
 Pekin Coal Mining Company 
 
 Pinckneyville Mining Company 
 
 Pine Bluff Coal Company 
 
 Polinski Coal Company 
 
 Prairie State Coal and Mining 
 Company 
 
 Pyramid Coal Corporation 
 
 Ragenhardt and Southern 
 
 Ritter Coal Company 
 
 Rock Island Improvement Corpora- 
 tion 
 
 Schull and Moake Coal Company 
 
 Senior Hill Coal Company 
 
 Seymour Coal Mining Corporation 
 
 Sims Coal Company 
 
 Southwestern Illinois Coal Corpo- 
 ration 
 
 Stricklin-Gibbs Corporation 
 
 Strobel Coal Company 
 
 Sunny Brook Coal Company 
 *Superior Coal Company 
 
 The Pioneer Coal Company 
 *Truax-Traer Coal Company 
 
 Truck Trade Coal Company 
 *United Electric Coal Company 
 
 Valier Coal Company 
 
 V-Day Coal Company 
 
 Wasson Coal Company 
 
 Wildwood Coal Company 
 
 * More than one mine supplied data for this study. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA