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 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 OCT 
 
 1994 
 
 L161 O-1096 
 
The Illinois 
 
 Veneer Container 
 Industry 
 
 Bulletin 
 534 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
 The cooperation of the following companies is gratefully 
 acknowledged: 
 
 The Newton Box and Basket Company, Newton, Illinois ; 
 Fruit Growers Package Company, Jonesboro, Illinois; R. L. 
 Lawrence and Son, Cobden, Illinois; Main Brothers Box and 
 Lumber Company', Karnak, Illinois; H. A. DuBois and Sons, 
 Cobden, Illinois; Abner Carey and Son, Grayville, Illinois; 
 Arlie Woodard and Son, Dongola, Illinois; Roberts-Liggett 
 Company, Metropolis, Illinois; Peterson-Miller Box Com- 
 pany, Cairo, Illinois; Burlington Basket Company, Burling- 
 ton, Iowa; Schwartz Basket Company, Louisiana, Missouri; 
 and Paducah Box and Basket Company, Paducah, 
 Kentucky. 
 
 The author expresses his appreciation to District For- 
 esters H. C. Heine, Jr., Harrisburg; B. F. Kent, Charleston; 
 Forrest W. Olsen, Olney; and Harry D. Switzer, Murphys- 
 boro, for assistance in collecting data; to R. A. Kelly, of the 
 Department of Agricultural Economics, for reviewing the 
 material on the fruit and vegetable industry; and to R. L. 
 McMunn, of the Department of Horticulture, for reviewing 
 the entire manuscript. The assistance given by a number 
 of organizations and individuals who completed question- 
 naires, made suggestions, or otherwise aided in the prepara- 
 tion of this report is also gratefully acknowledged. 
 
 This study was made by the Illinois Agricul- 
 tural Experiment Station in cooperation with 
 the Central States Forest Experiment Station, 
 U. S. Forest Service, and was financed in part 
 by funds made available under the provisions 
 of the Cooperative Farm Forestry Act (50 
 Stat. 188). 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 It is probable that timber-growing in Illinois will in- 
 crease. Recent studies indicate that the annual production of 
 woodlands in the state can be doubled or trebled through 
 good management. They indicate also that some 3 million 
 acres not now wooded are best adapted to forest tree crops 
 and should be reforested. 
 
 With this likelihood that a larger supply of wood w r ill be 
 available to the wood-using industries of the state, it is im- 
 portant that present requirements and prospective future 
 needs of existing industries be known. Established industries 
 should be assured of a sustained adequate supply of raw 
 material before new industries come in to utilize the increase. 
 
 This bulletin represents one phase of a study on the uses 
 made of the products of Illinois woodlands and forest plan- 
 tations. The veneer container industry is important not only 
 because it draws its raw material from local woodlands but 
 also because there is a great local demand for its products. 
 
 J. NELSON SPAETH, Head 
 Department of Forestry 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PURPOSE AND METHODS OF STUDY 389 
 
 EARLY HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF 
 
 THE INDUSTRY 391 
 
 PRESENT OPERATIONS 393 
 
 Securing Raw Materials 393 
 
 Manufacturing Processes 401 
 
 PRODUCTS AND SALES 410 
 
 EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES 417 
 
 For Manufacturing the Containers 417 
 
 For Supplying Raw Materials 418 
 
 EFFICIENCY OF THE INDUSTRY 419 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF THE INDUSTRY TO 
 
 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 420 
 
 FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY 421 
 
 With Regard to Raw Materials 421 
 
 With Regard to Labor Supplies 424 
 
 With Regard to Competition 425 
 
 With Regard to Productive Capacity 427 
 
 SUMMARY 427 
 
 LITERATURE CITED 429 
 
 APPENDIX . .430 
 
 Urbana, Illinois October, 1949 
 
 Publications in the Bulletin series report the results of investigations made 
 or sponsored by the Experiment Station 
 
THE ILLINOIS 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY 
 
 By C. S. WALTERS, Assistant Professor of Forest Utilization 
 
 THE VENEER a CONTAINER industry converts standing trees 
 or parts of them into baskets, boxes, crates, and other similar 
 products. This study of the industry includes only those companies 
 converting Illinois stumpage b into usable products and employing Illi- 
 nois residents in their plants. There are nine of these companies, all 
 located in the southern third of Illinois (Fig. 1). Although other fac- 
 tories throughout the state manufacture veneer containers of many 
 types, they use only custom-cut veneer produced from logs grown out- 
 side Illinois and so are not within the scope of this study. Also 
 excluded from the study are companies manufacturing industrial crat- 
 ing, boxes, or other containers made from thin lumber or plywood. 3 
 
 In addition to the nine Illinois companies included in this study, 
 supplementary data were obtained from one company each in Iowa, 
 Missouri, and Kentucky because they draw upon Illinois forests for 
 a part of their raw materials and thus afford markets for Illinois 
 stumpage or logs. 
 
 The finished products of the Illinois companies are made entirely 
 or partially of rotary-cut veneer. Although this study was not limited 
 to the manufacturers of food packages, an estimated 80 percent of 
 the veneer cut by the industry is assembled into fruit and vegetable 
 packages and meat and poultry boxes. 
 
 PURPOSE AND METHODS OF STUDY 
 
 This study was made in order to determine the present status of 
 the industry, its methods of operation, and its future possibilities. The 
 primary objects were to determine (1) present operations and effi- 
 ciency of the industry; (2) importance of the industry to the economy 
 
 a Veneer is a thin sheet of wood (usually % inch or less in thickness) cut on a 
 veneer machine. It may be sawed, sliced, half-round-cut, or rotary-cut. Plywood 
 is made of three or more layers of veneer joined with glue and usually with the 
 grain of adjoining plies laid at right angles. 
 
 b Stumpage is (a) standing trees or (b) the value of timber as it stands uncut 
 in the woods. 
 
 Efficiency studies are usually based on micromotion (stop-watch) technics. 
 However, in this study no time data or formal analyses of methods were obtained. 
 
 389 
 
390 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 Type-of-Farming Areas in Illinois: 
 
 1, Dairy and truck. 2, Mixed live- 
 stock. 3, Livestock and grain. 
 4, Cash grain. 5, General farming. 
 
 6, Wheat, dairy, and poultry. 
 
 7, Mixed farming. 8, Grain and 
 livestock. 9, Fruit and vegetable. 
 
 Figures in circles indicate 
 locations of veneer container 
 companies in this study: 
 
 1. Burlington Basket Co., 
 Burlington, la. 
 
 2. Schwartz Basket and Box Co., 
 Louisiana, Mo. 
 
 3. Fruit Growers Package Co., 
 Jonesboro 
 
 4. Arlie Woodard and Son, Dongola 
 
 5. Lawrence Box and Basket Co., Cobden 
 
 6. H. A. DuBois and Sons, Cobden 
 
 7. Peterson-Miller Co., Cairo 
 
 8. Main Bros. Box and Lumber Co., Karnak 
 
 9. Roberts-Liggett Co., Metropolis 
 
 10. Paducah Box and Basket Co., Paducah, Ky. 
 
 1 1 . Abner Carey Co., Gray ville 
 
 12. Newton Box and Basket Co., Newton 
 
 xtLt-snrvrc Mitts 
 
 Major type-of- farming areas in Illinois; location of veneer container com- 
 panies included in this study; and areas supplying logs to these companies. 
 Log-supply areas (circular) have a scaled radius of 50 miles. Counties pro- 
 ducing most of the logs used by the industry are shaded. (Fig. 1) 
 
1949] VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 391 
 
 and welfare of southern Illinois; (3) the relation of its annual re- 
 quirements to the present and future timber supplies; and (4) the 
 possibilities for its expansion when supplies of suitable raw materials, 
 markets, and labor are considered. 
 
 Data for the study were obtained through correspondence and in 
 personal interviews with representatives of the companies during the 
 factory inspections. Figures obtained were for a "normal" year, 
 usually 1947. Much of the screening of companies was accomplished 
 by correspondence. Visits to factories and w r oodlands were generally 
 made in company with the District Forester. 
 
 EARLY HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT 
 OF THE INDUSTRY 
 
 Until 1883 southern Illinois growers of fruits and vegetables gen- 
 erally used boxes and barrels of thin lumber for shipping fruits and 
 vegetables. The containers were hand-made and laborers were paid 75 
 cents for assembling 1,000 boxes or 50 cents for one hundred 24-quart 
 berry crates. 
 
 As early as 1867, however, M. L. Dunlap saw the possibilities for 
 manufacturing veneer containers in southern Illinois. 3 By that time 
 veneer containers were being manufactured in Michigan and some 
 other states, but apparently lack of proper transportation made them 
 generally unavailable to southern Illinois growers. At a meeting of the 
 Illinois State Horticultural Society, he remarked: "You need not send 
 to Michigan for baskets, although they are making excellent ones there. 
 You have the timber and can make them as cheaply here." 5 * 
 
 The veneer container industry as it exists today in Illinois was 
 probably started in 1883 by the Fruit Growers Package Company, 
 Jonesboro. This company is still operating, using the same veneer 
 lathe with which it started business. In 1890 H. A. DuBois built a 
 plant at Cobden. 2 * His son and grandsons are still operating the plant. 
 
 The earliest known report on the industry was included in a survey 
 of the state's secondary wood-using industries' 3 in 1909. 9 * Sixteen com- 
 panies, two of which are still operating under the same name, were 
 
 * All superior figures with asterisks refer to literature citations on page 429. 
 
 " The Illinois State Horticultural Transactions for 1866 contain a reference 
 to the manufacture of Halleck boxes by Charles Colby of South Pass (now 
 Cobden). However, nothing is known about the extent of his operations, and it 
 may be assumed that the volume of his output was small. 
 
 b Secondary wood-using industries are those that, as a class, do 'not obtain 
 their raw material directly from the forest. 
 
392 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 then listed as manufacturers of baskets and fruit packages. Most of 
 these items were made of veneer. 
 
 That year nearly 17 million board feet of timber were used. Of 
 this amount 43 percent was red gum, a 14 percent tupelo, 10 percent 
 yellow poplar, b and 10 percent cottonwood. White elm (which was 
 used to a large extent for making basket rims and bands) , sycamore, 
 and soft maple followed in importance. While sugar maple and 
 Norway pine did not make up a high percentage of the total amount 
 of wood, they were reported to be the principal species used for split 
 baskets. 
 
 Only one other industry (cooperage) reported as low an average 
 cost for its "rough material." The low cost of the material used by 
 the veneer container industry is explained in the report by "the fact 
 that a large percentage is purchased in the form of logs from which 
 veneer is cut, and the price is based upon the cost of logs." The aver- 
 age price per M B.M. C for the thirteen species listed was $14.06. The 
 seven species used in largest amounts ranged in price from $9.90 per 
 M B.M. for tupelo to $18.22 for yellow poplar. 
 
 The industry got about 35 percent of its raw material from Illinois 
 which was a higher percentage than for any other wood-using in- 
 dustry. The rest of the material came from Missouri, Kentucky, and 
 Tennessee. 
 
 In addition to the sixteen companies making baskets and fruit 
 packages, 175 were listed in 1909 as manufacturers of boxes and crates. 
 These items were all grouped together in the survey, whether they 
 were made of veneer, thin lumber, or plywood. Of the total volume 
 of wood used by these companies, about 7% million board feet (2 per- 
 cent) came from Illinois woodlands. What percent of this material was 
 used in the form of veneer is not known. Over half the wood was 
 tupelo. Since tupelo containers impart no flavor to their contents, they 
 were used to ship meat and other similar products. 
 
 In 1923 nine companies in southern Illinois were listed as members 
 of the veneer industry. 8 * About 750,000 board feet of wood were used 
 annually. 
 
 In 1940 Illinois companies manufacturing boxes, baskets, and 
 crating used 85,695,000 board feet of native hardwood, according to 
 an estimate of the U. S. Forest Service. 6 * Of this amount 70,290,000 
 
 a A list of common and scientific names for all trees mentioned in this study 
 is given in the Appendix. 
 
 b Yellow poplar is the trade name for wood from the tuliptree or yellow 
 poplar. 
 
 c M B.M. stands for thousand feet board measure. 
 
1949} VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 393 
 
 board feet were used as lumber; 10,427,000 as veneer and plywood; 
 and 4,978,000 as logs and bolts. a Neither the volume of wood manu- 
 factured into veneer containers of the type included in this study, nor 
 the percentage which came from trees grown in Illinois is known. 
 
 PRESENT OPERATIONS 
 
 Nine Illinois companies are now making containers of veneer 
 produced entirely or partially in Illinois or are cutting veneer for other 
 companies to assemble. In addition, three veneer container industries 
 outside the state (one each in Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri) draw 
 upon Illinois woodlands for part of their raw materials. 
 
 Most of the logs used by the Illinois industry are grown in the 
 state; some are imported from other states but are cut into veneer in 
 this state. One company imports some custom-cut veneer in addition 
 to using locally produced material. 
 
 Seven of the nine Illinois companies have a complete operation, 
 ranging from cutting the logs into bolts for veneering to assembling 
 the veneer. One company just cuts veneer and sells it to other plants 
 for assembly ; and one buys all its raw materials in the form of custom- 
 cut veneer. 
 
 Securing Raw Materials 
 
 In a normal year the industry requires 15,228,000 board feet of 
 raw materials, of which 13,908,000 are purchased in the form of logs 
 (Fig. 2) and 1,320,000 as veneer. About one-third of the logs are 
 sawn into thick or thin lumber by sawmills operated in conjunction 
 with the veneer plants; and 9,184,000 board feet are cut into veneer 
 (Table 1). Some of the lumber is sold locally and some is sold in 
 carload lots, but much of it is used by the operators for box cleats, 
 ends and centers of egg cases, and similar items. The volume of lumber 
 salvaged from veneer cores (Fig. 11) is not known. 
 
 Supply areas 
 
 At present most logs are obtained less than 40 miles from the 
 plant. The maximum hauling distance is about 60 miles. Since de- 
 liveries are seldom, if ever, straight-line hauls, the supply areas shown 
 in Fig. 1 have a scaled radius of 50 miles. Less than 5 percent of the 
 stumpage comes from the Shawnee National Forest, state forests, or 
 other public lands. The farm woodlands as a source of supply are the 
 lifeblood of the industry. 
 
 " A bolt is a section of a log still in the round and less than 8 feet long. 
 
394 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 MRB ** 
 
 Several thousand 
 board feet of quality 
 soft-hardwood logs 
 are decked ready 
 for manufacture in- 
 to fruit and vege- 
 table packages. Most 
 of these logs are 
 cottonwood, syca- 
 more, and elm. 
 
 (Fig. 2) 
 
 Rafting of logs to Illinois mills has almost ceased, although before 
 1945 an estimated 25 percent of the logs came at least part of the 
 way to the mills by water. In the early 1900 's logs were brought from 
 as far south as Alabama by floating them down the Tennessee and 
 Ohio rivers to Mound City, where they were loaded on cars and 
 shipped by rail to Cobden. 2 * Logs cut in Kentucky have been rafted 
 down the Cumberland or Tennessee river to the Ohio river and then 
 to Metropolis. Several thousand board feet of logs were delivered to 
 a Burlington, Iowa, plant via the Mississippi river in 1946, and 50,000 
 board feet in 1947. Fifty to 100 M B.M. are in the average raft. 
 
 Specifications 
 
 Species. In Table 1 the total amount of wood cut into veneer by 
 the industry in a normal year is broken down to show what percent- 
 age of the whole is made up of each species. The percentages, of course, 
 vary for individual companies, but the relative importance of the 
 different species is about the same for all companies. 
 
 The manufacturers prefer the soft hardwoods a for container veneer. 
 Sweet gum is probably the favorite species, followed by yellow pop- 
 lar. Both are highly desirable woods for container veneer. According 
 
 * Botanically, the hardwood trees are those having broad leaves, such as 
 cottonwood, oak, hickory, ash, and willow. The softwoods refer to those trees 
 with needle-like leaves the "Christmas trees," such as pine, spruce, and fir. 
 
1949] VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 395 
 
 Table 1. Estimated Volumes of Different Species of Logs Cut Into 
 Veneer by the Illinois Veneer Container Industry in a Normal Year 
 
 e Board Percent of total 
 
 feet requirement 
 
 Cottonwood 5 510 400 60 
 
 Sycamore 1 102 080 12 
 
 Sweet gum . 918 400 10 
 
 Yellow poplar (tuliptree) 642 880 7 
 
 Elm (American and slippery) 551 040 6 
 
 Maple, silver (soft) 183 680 2 
 
 Miscellaneous species* 275 520 3 
 
 Total 9 184 000 100 
 
 a Black gum, hickory, birch, basswood, hackberry, boxelder, etc. 
 
 to E. T. Woodworth, Fruit Growers Package Company, Jonesboro, 
 the company used yellow poplar exclusively during the first few years 
 it operated. The sapwood was peeled from the bolts and either burned 
 or discarded, and only the heartwood was used to make veneer for 
 fruit and vegetable packages. At present the Illinois industry as a 
 whole uses a larger volume of cottonwood and sycamore because these 
 woods are more abundant than the sweet gum or yellow poplar. 
 
 Some of the veneer container manufacturers cut oak for use as 
 bands on baskets and lids, although most of the oak and other species 
 of hard hardwoods which grow to saw-log size in southern Illinois 
 are cut into lumber. Other companies will not buy oak but will use 
 pecan. All the manufacturers dislike beech, but some of them will 
 accept a few logs of good quality. 
 
 Log rules used. The Doyle Rule is used for buying logs by all 
 companies except one, which uses the Doyle-Scribner (Appendix, 
 page 431). When standing timber is purchased from private owners 
 on a log-scale basis, the Doyle Rule is used. Timber sales from national 
 forests are made on the basis of the Scribner Decimal C Rule and 
 from state forests on the Doyle Rule. 
 
 Log grades. Only one of the companies contacted had a written 
 set of log grades defining the acceptable limits of each grade and the 
 prices paid. These are the grades this company uses: 
 
 Commercial grade. Sweet gum, poplar, and , all first- 
 grade veneer logs 18 inches to 36 inches in diameter and 12 feet or more in 
 length, cut from green sound straight grain timber free from shakes, rots, 
 decay, butt spurs, bevels, splits, cracks, or flat sides, with not more than one 
 standard defect per 12-foot log or two standard defects per 14-foot or longer 
 log, that will cut 95 percent clear veneering. 
 
396 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 First grade. Sweet gum, poplar, elm, birch, hackberry, and , 
 
 all first-grade veneer logs 16 inches to 36 inches in diameter and 12 feet or 
 more in length, cut from fresh green sound straight grain timber free from 
 shakes, rots, decay, butt spurs, bevels, splits, cracks, or flat sides, with not 
 more than two standard knot defects per 12-foot log or three defects per 14- 
 foot or longer log, that will cut 90 percent clear veneering. 
 
 Second grade. Sweet gum, poplar, birch, hackberry, basswood, soft 
 maple, black gum, sycamore, cottonwood, all 14 to 36 inches in diameter, and 
 tupelo 13 to 36 inches in diameter, ash and beech 16 to 36 inches in diameter, 
 all medium-grade veneer logs 10 feet or more in length: cut from fresh green 
 sound timber free from shakes, rots, and decay, with not more than one 
 standard knot defect per 3-foot length, that will cut 66% percent clear 
 veneering. 
 
 Third grade. All the above kinds of timber listed under first and second 
 grades; also cypress, pine, oak, 10 to 36 inches in diameter; and ash and 
 beech 14 to 36 inches in diameter; all 10 feet or more in length, cut from 
 sound merchantable timber free from rots and decay, with not more than one 
 standard knot defect per 2-foot length. 
 
 Since the other companies do not have i a written set of log rules, 
 the buyers have to depend on their past experience and their knowl- 
 edge of what, in general, is wanted. Log producers or logging crews 
 also use their marketing experience as a guide in supplying the de- 
 mands of the companies. 
 
 Veneer manufacturers want logs that are as free as possible from 
 knots, shakes, rot, sweep, and other blemishes which may reduce 
 the yield of clear, quality veneer. Buyers therefore follow rather 
 closely the quality requirements for commercial-grade and first-grade 
 logs in the written specifications given above. The buyers are more 
 lenient as to species, however, often accepting those not listed in first- 
 grade specifications. They will also accept a few logs shorter than 
 10 feet or smaller than 14 inches, d.i.b., a at the small end (some com- 
 panies will buy an occasional log as small as 12 inches d.i.b.). 
 
 Companies operating sawmills along with their veneer mills can use 
 a woods-run b grade of logs. Generally the log producers sell their 
 "number 1" logs to the veneer mills and the "number 2" logs to 
 sawmills. 
 
 At present, however, there is no specific definition of what makes a 
 "number 1" log acceptable or what makes a "number 2" undesirable. 
 A simplified set of log grades would help both the industry buyers 
 and the log producers. All companies are concerned with the problem 
 
 * D.i.b. stands for diameter inside bark. Veneer logs are scaled at the top 
 end and the smallest diameter is often used. 
 
 b Woods-run grade consists of logs as produced from the forest. Cull or non- 
 merchantable logs are removed, but no selection of high-qualit}' or large logs 
 is made. 
 
1949} 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 397 
 
 The black gum veneer log on which the hat is resting is a Number 2 log, 
 according to the grades proposed below. It is 17 inches d.i.b. and 12 feet 
 long. Just behind it is a Number 1 log, 15 inches d.i.b. and 15 feet long. The 
 diameter kept it from grading as a Prime B log. (Fig. 3) 
 
 of securing logs of suitable quality at a satisfactory price, and cer- 
 tainly the farmer or timber grower is interested in selling his logs at a 
 satisfactory price. Within the range of the buyer's appraisal of a log's 
 value and the seller's appraisal is a figure which will allow both 
 parties to operate their businesses profitably. This price should be 
 based upon log quality as expressed by a log grade. 
 
 Because a written set of log grades would be valuable for the ve- 
 neer container industry, the following grades are proposed:* 
 
 Prime A. Practically all (90 percent) surface clear on three visible faces. b 
 Must be 17 inches or larger d.i.b. Only sweet gum and yellow poplar 
 acceptable. _ p r i ce c M B.M. 
 
 Prime B. Same as "A," except that elm, birch, hackberry, cottonwood, 
 basswood, soft maple, black gum, sycamore, and tupelo are acceptable. 
 
 -Price M B.M. 
 
 Number 1 Grade. At least three-fourths (75 percent) of length on three 
 visible faces must be surface clear in one cutting." Must be at least 15 inches 
 d.i.b. Sweet gum, yellow poplar, elm, birch, hackberry, cottonwood, basswood, 
 soft maple, black gum, sycamore, and tupelo acceptable. 
 
 -Price M B.M. 
 
 a These rules are slight revisions of those developed by Purdue University in 
 cooperation with the U. S. Forest Service. 
 
 b A face is any one-quarter of the surface of the log. 
 
 To be inserted by company. 
 
 d A cutting is the length between surface defects (bumps, splits, cracks, knots, 
 branch stubs, etc.), whether sound or unsound. 
 
398 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 Number 2 Grade. At least one-half (50 percent) of length on three 
 visible faces must be surface clear in two cuttings, neither of which shall be 
 less than 3 feet long. Must be at least 12 inches d.i.b. Sweet gum, yellow 
 poplar, birch, hackberry, basswood, soft maple, black gum, sycamore, cotton- 
 wood, tupelo, ash, beech, elm, boxelder acceptable. 
 
 -Price ........................ M B.M. 
 
 Number 3 Grade. Will not meet Number 2 specifications. 
 
 -Price ........................ M B.M. 
 
 or 
 Not wanted ............................ 
 
 A survey of the veneer logs found on the yards of five companies 
 was made to find out what grades were actually purchased. Ninety- 
 eight logs, scaling 13,332 board feet Doyle Scale, were graded at 
 random, using the proposed grade rules described above. Table 2 shows 
 the results of this study. Although all companies want only "num- 
 ber 1" logs, over half (53.5 percent) of the volume was Number 2 
 Grade or poorer. The Prime Grade represented more than one-third 
 (35.2 percent) of the total volume, a rather high percentage for logs 
 of this quality, but the volume of Number 1 Grade logs was the 
 lowest of all. 
 
 If the industry is interested only in the higher grades of logs, 
 reasonable percentages for the various grades might be 35 for Prime, 
 45 for Number 1, 15 for Number 2, and 5 for Number 3. It is reason- 
 able to expect that the industry will always be forced to buy some 
 poorer-grade logs, but with written log grades these could be held to 
 a minimum. If the grade rules are published by the industry, together 
 with prices, the log seller will be able to find out if his logs are suit- 
 able for container veneer. Premium payments for the top grades will 
 help to improve the quality of the industry's log purchases. 
 
 Table 2. Grades of Veneer Logs Found in Yards of Five Veneer 
 Container Industries, Southern Illinois" 
 
 Species 
 
 Num- 
 ber of 
 logs 
 graded 
 
 Board 
 feet, 
 Doyle 
 scale 
 
 Per- Percent of each species class 
 cent of each grade 
 
 ed in 
 
 Aver- 
 age 
 d.i.b., 
 inches 
 
 Aver- 
 age 
 length, 
 feet 
 
 vol- Prime Prime 
 ume A B 
 
 No. 1 
 
 No. 2 
 
 No. 3 
 
 Cottonwood 
 
 25 
 
 4 016 
 3 653 
 2 232 
 1 065 
 985 
 823 
 558 
 
 30.1 
 27.4 
 16.7 
 8.0 . 
 7.4 49 
 6.2 
 4.2 
 
 42.3 
 22.3 
 43.1 
 . 38.9 
 3 
 
 57!6 
 
 8.6 
 13.1 
 
 9.7 
 
 23! 6 
 15.4 
 20.2 
 
 18.7 
 52.8 
 41.7 
 31.8 
 16.1 
 71.5 
 22.8 
 
 30.4 
 11.8 
 5.5 
 29.3 
 11.0 
 13.1 
 
 
 17.8 
 16.6 
 17.7 
 17.9 
 16.4 
 16.8 
 17.0 
 
 12.6 
 11.5 
 11.2 
 10.2 
 12.8 
 12.0 
 13.2 
 
 Sycamore 
 
 31 
 
 Soft maple 
 
 16 
 
 Elm 
 
 8 
 
 Sweet gum 
 
 8 
 
 Yellow poplar. . . 
 
 6 
 
 Black ITU in. . 
 
 4 
 
 Total or average. . 98 13332 100.0 3.6 31.6 11.3 36.2 17.3 17.2 11.8 
 
 These data were collected early in 1949 as supplementary material to the main part of the study, 
 which was concluded in 1948. Classifications were made according to proposed grades on pages 
 397 and 398. 
 
1949] VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 399 
 
 Buying practices 
 
 Most of the companies usually buy logs that have been cut and 
 delivered to the mill by log producers. 11 When farm work is slack, 
 farmers often cut and deliver a few logs to the mill. The companies 
 may also buy the stumpage, either operating their own logging crews 
 or contracting for log producers to cut down and deliver logs or bolts 
 on a piece-work contract. The stumpage bought by the industry is 
 usually selectively cut for soft hardwoods that will produce logs at 
 least 14 inches in diameter at the small end. 
 
 Payment to the woodland owner or log producer is made peri- 
 odically (usually each week) on the basis of log scale. Sometimes the 
 company finances the log producer. 
 
 Log producers generally buy on a lump-sum basis, offering a flat 
 price for the timber standing on a certain area. When state or federal 
 foresters help the woodland owner to cruise and mark his timber ac- 
 cording to sound forest-management principles, sales are made on a 
 marked-tree basis. Timber from the Shawnee National Forest is sold 
 on a marked-tree basis to the highest bidder. Timber from the Union 
 State Forest is usually cut by state employes and sold as logs to the 
 highest bidder. 
 
 Value of timber purchased 
 
 The price paid for stumpage depends upon many factors, such as 
 logging chance, efficiency of woods crew, type of logging equipment 
 to be used, markets for logs other than those of veneer quality, and 
 the desire of the owner to sell timber or to have it removed from his 
 land. Prices currently range from $7.50 to $20 per M B.M., averaging 
 about $15. Farmers and other land owners, therefore, receive about 
 $228,000 each year for growing the industry's timber supply. 
 
 Prices for logs range from $15 to $65 per M B.M., f.o.b. mill, and 
 average about $45. Often an extremely low price is paid for low- 
 quality logs to discourage the delivery of such logs. Some mills pay 
 one price for all logs and will accept only those logs which meet their 
 specifications. 
 
 Logging practices and costs 
 
 Three companies operate their own logging crews from time to 
 time, in addition to buying logs cut by log producers and farmers. 
 When log supplies were reduced to a critical level during World 
 
 1 Log producers are also referred to locally as jobbers, producers, contractors, 
 or operators. They generally buy standing timber, cut it and sell the logs, mine 
 props, piling, and other forest products on the open market. 
 
400 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 War II, several other companies organized logging crews in order to 
 maintain production. Logging crews are generally employed locally 
 when they are needed, so employment may not be continuous for any 
 single crew. 
 
 Power equipment is used in the production of most of the logs, 
 starting with chain saws and ending with mechanical hoists of differ- 
 ent types for loading the logs. Several of the log producers, how r ever, 
 use hand tools instead of the power chain saw for cutting and bucking 
 the logs. Sometimes, too, horses are used for skidding the logs, 
 although tractors are generally used. Some logs are loaded onto the 
 trucks by hand-rolling them up skids, but this work is generally done 
 with jammers or by crosshauling. 
 
 Logs are usually hauled in popular makes of 1%-ton, flat-bed 
 trucks equipped with log bunks (back cover). A few surplus "6-by-6" 
 army trucks are in service. With six wheels, all of which receive 
 power, these models have many advantages over the more commonly 
 used trucks, and are particularly useful for logging bottomland timber. 
 
 These operations are usually paid for on a piece-work basis. Aver- 
 age costs range from $5 to $7 per M B.M. for cutting and bucking 
 logs; $5 to $10 for skidding; $2 to $3 for loading; and $7 to $10 for 
 hauling the logs to the mill. On the basis of these figures the logs cost 
 $19 to $30 a thousand board feet to produce and $34 to $45 f .o.b. mill 
 if the average stumpage price is $15 per M B.M. 
 
 Cutting practices vary with the log producer or the company. 
 Some producers clear-cut timber purchased on an area or lump-sum 
 basis, marketing the small trees as mine props, feltwood, a or pulp- 
 wood, and the larger trees as logs or piling. Generally cutters sup- 
 plying logs solely to the veneer container industry do not cut trees 
 having stump diameters below 12 to 14 inches. One company cuts 
 only trees having stump diameters at least 22 inches. 
 
 Imports and exports 
 
 The Illinois companies in this study import an estimated 873,000 
 board feet of logs from neighboring states. Indiana supplies the most 
 (425 M B.M.), followed by Kentucky (400 M B.M.) and Missouri 
 (48 M B.M.). An additional 1,320 M B.M. of cottonwood is imported 
 in the form of veneer from Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas for 
 assembly in Illinois plants. 
 
 It is estimated that 1,320 M B.M. of logs produced in Illinois are 
 delivered to firms in Iowa, Missouri, and Kentucky (90 M B.M., 
 
 * Feltwood is cordwood used in the manufacture of paper roofing-felt. 
 
19491 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 401 
 
 930 M B.M., and 300 M B.M., respectively) for manufacture into 
 veneer containers. The volume of logs, bolts, and veneer cut by the 
 industry for veneer container companies in other states has been very 
 small. 
 
 Manufacturing Processes 
 
 Handling logs at mill 
 
 Raw material is usually delivered in log form at eight of the nine 
 companies; a few bolts are also occasionally delivered. (One company 
 buys its raw material in the form of veneer.) At one mill the logs are 
 unloaded in a log pond, and at the other seven they are delivered to a 
 log yard. One of these seven companies is so located that rafted logs 
 can also be carted from the river directly to the bolting saw. 
 
 Logs are usually loaded by hand onto a four-wheeled cart or 
 "dolly" and wheeled by hand to the bolting saw. One company has a 
 power winch which skids logs to the bolting saw on a skidway formed 
 by two steel rails. The company which unloads its logs in a log pond 
 has a jack ladder 11 for hauling logs to the mill and a swinging stiff leg 
 boom for handling yarded logs. The jack ladder hauls logs to a deck, 
 from whence they can be rolled downward to the bolting saw or saw- 
 mill carriage. 
 
 Bolting 
 
 With one exception, the companies cut their logs into bolts with 
 a power dragsaw (Fig. 4). One company uses a chain saw powered 
 with a gasoline engine (Fig. 5) b and is well pleased with its efficiency. 
 One operator has tried circular and chain saws but has consistently 
 depended upon the dragsaw. The other operators have used the drag- 
 saw for several years; it has served them well, and they are reluctant 
 to change to the expensive chain saw for which a specialized operating 
 and maintenance crew must be trained. 
 
 Bolt lengths range from about 18 to 65 inches, depending upon 
 what product is to be manufactured from the veneer. For example, 
 bolts for quart-berry-box veneer may range from 43 to 46 inches, 
 pint-box bolts from 34 to 38 inches, and bushel-basket bolts from 
 40 to 63 inches. Egg-case bolts are cut 30 inches long and are 
 equalized or end-trimmed to 26 inches. A variety of lengths may be 
 cut from the same log in order to utilize it efficiently and economically. 
 
 a A jack ladder is an inclined plane with a trough, up which logs are drawn 
 into the mill by means of an endless chain or cable. 
 
 b Since the completion of this study in 1948, an electric model has been 
 installed in place of the gasoline-powered saw. 
 
402 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 These cottonwood logs are being cut into bolts by a dragsaw. Most of the 
 veneer container manufacturers prefer this type of saw. (Fig. 4) 
 
 A power chain saw is being used to cut sycamore logs into bolts. Logs are 
 small but of good quality. (Fig. 5) 
 
1949] 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 403 
 
 These cottonwood and sycamore veneer bolts, which are to be made into 
 fruit baskets, are ready for steaming. (Fig. 6) 
 
 Lengths may vary with the species, since one wood may be easily bent 
 and, therefore, is more desirable for rim or band stock than for some 
 other use. 
 
 Heating bolts 
 
 Some bolts are heated to soften the wood so that it may be de- 
 barked and cut easily. Bolts to be cut into thick veneer stock for 
 egg cases and some types of boxes are not heated during the summer 
 but are veneered while green. Some companies do not heat short bolts. 
 Most companies do not heat such wood as gum and yellow poplar, 
 which do not need softening. 
 
 Three companies heat their bolts in hot water, three heat them by 
 steam, and two do not heat their bolts before veneering them. The 
 bolts are rolled to the hot water vats or steam chests (Fig. 7) by hand. 
 They are placed directly in the vats or chests without any other 
 conditioning. 
 
 There appears to be no standard schedule among the operators 
 for length of heating time or temperature of the water bath for various 
 species. The bolts are usually heated 12 to 24 hours. The heating vats 
 do not have thermostatic controls. The water temperatures used vary 
 
404 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 Left: A hackberry bolt is being hoisted from the hot water vat after soaking 
 24 hours. Right: A sycamore bolt is being removed from a steam chest. 
 Hot water or steam heats the wood and softens it for cutting into veneer. 
 
 (Fig. 7) 
 
 with the season and company but were approximately 160 F. when 
 the plants were visited in early spring. 
 
 Debarking bolts 
 
 Bolts are taken out of the hot water vats by mechanical hoists 
 and are debarked by hand. Both the head and blade of a poleax 
 (single-bitted) are used to remove the bark from the bolt. The bark 
 is often salvaged and burned for fuel. It is generally taken to the 
 boiler or waste pile by hand methods, although two companies have 
 mechanical conveyor systems for transporting the bark and other 
 waste to the boilers. 
 
 Cutting bolts into veneer 
 
 One company uses a mechanical hoist to lift the debarked bolts 
 to the lathes on the second floor, but the other companies roll the bolts 
 to the lathes by hand. All veneer produced by the industry is rotary- 
 cut. The bolts are lifted by a power hoist or block and tackle, centered 
 in the lathe, and turned against a knife which peels a thin sheet of 
 wood from the revolving bolt (Fig. 8). Lathe attachments also trim 
 the edges of the veneer and sometimes score it for folding. 
 
1949] 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 405 
 
 A sheet of veneer flows from the lathe toward the clipper, where it will be 
 cut to size for poultry and meat boxes. (Fig- 8) 
 
 **v ^ 
 
 i r x T T 
 r* * *w % 
 
 ^ffN&'V^- 
 
 ',* afc^ *;!. *dL 4 * 
 
 Veneer cores are stacked in the background. The marks on the ends are 
 left by the veneer lathe. Bolts ready for veneering are piled in the left 
 foreground. (Fig. 9) 
 
 
406 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 The veneer lathes in Illinois plants will accommodate bolts up to 
 66 inches in length and 48 inches in diameter. When a bolt is cut 
 down to a cylindrical core about 6 inches in diameter, it is removed 
 from the lathe. The cores (Fig. 9) are either burned for fuel, sold 
 for pulpwood, cut into dimensional stock for box cleats or for ends 
 and centers of egg cases, or manufactured into novelties. 
 
 Cutting veneer to size 
 
 In most of the plants the long sheet of veneer is cut to size by a 
 clipper. A few companies at times use a back roller attachment on 
 the lathe which scores 'the bolt so that various container components 
 are cut to size during the veneering operation (Fig. 10). 
 
 A back roller is attached to this veneer lathe, so that berry-box parts are 
 cut from the bolt in a single operation. In the background a bolt is ready 
 for hoisting into position on the lathe as soon as needed. (Fig. 10) 
 
 Grading container parts 
 
 The fruit- and vegetable-container parts are carried from the lathe 
 or clipper to the grading tables by hand or on hand-operated carts. 
 Women usually do the grading, since they have nimble fingers and 
 the faculty for quickly sorting out and removing the defective pieces. 
 Culled stock is generally hauled by hand methods to the boiler room, 
 and usable stock is stacked in proper order for the machine operators. 
 If the pieces have been previously scored, they are partially bent along 
 the scored line before being sent to the stapling machines. 
 
19491 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 407 
 
 Above: Egg - case veneer 
 is drying in outdoor racks 
 before being assembled. 
 (Fig. 11) 
 
 Right: Berry-box veneer is 
 air-drying. Several pieces 
 of veneer form a bundle. 
 Air circulates through the 
 spaces between bundles 
 and dries the veneer. 
 
 (Fig. 12) 
 
 Drying, assembly, and preparation for shipment 
 
 Thick veneer for egg cases and for wire-bound boxes is hauled 
 from the graders to outdoor racks for air-drying (Fig. 11). Thin 
 veneer is sometimes stacked for drying (Fig. 12) and sometimes dried 
 in steam-heated mechanical dryers after being assembled. 
 
 Since the veneer is generally used soon after it has been cut or 
 is air-dried, it is not treated to prevent the growth of molds or stain 
 fungi. If, however, there is a delay of two or three days between 
 the cutting and assembling operations, various molds and stain fungi 
 do develop and grow luxuriantly on the moist wood. These harm only 
 the appearance of the wood, and may be removed by brushing. 
 
408 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 Preassembly operations are necessary for some types of containers. 
 The components of some types of fruit packages are usually woven 
 into webs or mats (Figs. 13, 14, and front cover) before they are 
 formed and stapled by machine. 
 
 Various types of machines are used to assemble the veneer into 
 containers. Nailing machines or those driving corrugated fasteners 
 assemble the various parts of boxes, crates, or egg cases (Fig. 15). 
 Box and basket machines mold the webs to form and attach the rims 
 with wire staples (Fig. 14 and front cover). Handle machines attach 
 the wire handles to bushel baskets, and the "down loopers" attach 
 the wire clips which se- 
 cure the lid after the 
 basket has been filled. 
 A special machine is 
 needed for attaching the 
 wire to veneer that will 
 be used in the manu- 
 facture of wire -bound 
 meat and poultry boxes 
 (Fig. 16). 
 
 Some types of con- 
 tainers may be assem- 
 bled before shipping, 
 
 Above .- Strips of veneer 
 are being woven into 
 webs for bushel bas- 
 kets. A single metal 
 fastener at the center 
 holds the strips to- 
 gether. (Fig. 13) 
 
 Left: A berry-box ma- 
 chine molds the veneer 
 to shape and staples 
 the rims. Preassembled 
 veneer mats and rims 
 are to the machine op- 
 erator's left, and fin- 
 ished boxes ready for 
 the driers to her right. 
 (Fig. 14) 
 
VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 409 
 
 Small cleats are stapled to the veneer by this machine. Parts are fed into 
 the machine by the operators in the foreground. (Fig. 15) 
 
 This machine staples the wire to veneer for wire-bound meat or poultry 
 boxes. Parts are assembled and fed into the machine at the left, and the 
 half-finished box is taken from the machine at the right. (Fig- 16) 
 
410 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 while others are shipped knocked-down. Berry boxes, for example, are 
 shipped assembled usually 500 in a fiberboard box; and bushel 
 baskets are generally nested in one-dozen lots. Wire-bound meat and 
 poultry boxes, on the other hand, are shipped knocked-down. Egg case 
 ends and centers are baled in lots of 25, while the pieces of veneer for 
 the sides and bottoms are baled in lots of 50. Crates of various types 
 are often shipped knocked-down and are assembled by the customer. 
 
 PRODUCTS AND SALES 
 
 As has already been mentioned, about 80 percent of the veneer 
 cut by the industry goes into fruit and vegetable packages and 
 meat and poultry boxes. Of these, fruit and vegetable packages, in- 
 cluding crates, account for the major share of the production. That 
 Illinois fruit and vegetable growers have a definite interest in a sus- 
 tained supply of quality wooden containers is shown by the state's 
 average annual production of the more common fruits and vegetables 
 (Table 3). If all products were included in the table, the total value 
 would be about three times that of the products listed. 
 
 The different kinds of fruits and vegetables produced in Illinois 
 require several types and sizes of containers for their transportation to 
 market. The demand for each type of container is seasonal, depend- 
 ing on the harvesting times of the crops. 
 
 There is also a year-to-year variation in the demand for con- 
 tainers made by the Illinois industry. The yearly demand is de- 
 termined by the size of the crops and the number and prices of 
 
 Table 3. Average Annual Production and Value of Common 
 Fruits and Vegetables in Illinois, 1934-1943" 
 
 Crop 
 
 Average annual 
 production 
 
 Farm 
 value 
 
 Apples. . 
 
 3 162 300 bushels 
 
 $3 499 500 
 
 Peaches 
 
 1 239 300 " 
 
 1 472 500 
 
 Strawberries 
 
 209 900 crates 
 
 577 700 
 
 Tomatoes 
 
 391 300 bushels 
 
 371 300 
 
 Sweet potatoes 
 
 358 500 " 
 
 363 100 
 
 Pears 
 
 516 900 " 
 
 305 100 
 
 Beans 
 
 ' 215 300 " 
 
 266 600 
 
 Cucumbers 
 
 190 600 " 
 
 216 400 
 
 Total farm value 
 
 
 $7 671 700 
 
 
 
 
 Source : Illinois agricultural statistics. 111. Cooperative Crop Reporting Service, 111. Dept. 
 of Agr., cooperating with the U. S. Dept. of Agr. Cir. 444. 1945. 
 
1949} VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 411 
 
 containers available from other sources. The manufacturers therefore 
 cannot plan a rigid production schedule or count on manufacturing 
 only specific items each year. A failure of the Illinois peach crop may 
 leave the manufacturers with a large supply of peach baskets for 
 which they have to seek other markets. A crop failure in another state 
 often results in a surplus of baskets which may be shipped into Illi- 
 nois and marketed in competition with local products. Lower wages 
 in some areas make up for the costs of shipping manufactured prod- 
 ucts into Illinois. 
 
 Illinois fruit and vegetable growers import a large share of the 
 baskets they use. Perhaps half of the 5 million baskets needed in a 
 normal year to market the apple, pear, and peach crops are manu- 
 factured in Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, 
 and Texas. A few baskets also come from New York, North Carolina, 
 Alabama, and Ohio. Some baskets are also salvaged for re-use each 
 year. 
 
 At least 12,000 strawberry and small-fruit crates are imported 
 from Indiana, Missouri, Texas, and Arkansas. One organization re- 
 ported also that an average of 6,000 fiber crates has been purchased 
 annually during the past few years. In addition, Illinois growers buy 
 several thousand salvaged crates each year from fruit and vegetable 
 wholesalers who have imported strawberries early in the season from 
 Tennessee and other southern states. The growers buy new boxes for 
 
 Table 4. Estimated Annual Production of the 
 Illinois Veneer Container Industry 
 
 Product Number 
 
 produced 
 
 Baskets 
 
 Bushel (all types) 2 304 000 
 
 Other (market, Climax, etc.) 540 000 
 
 Boxes 
 
 Berry quarts 13 380 000 
 
 Berry pints, % pints 1 600 000 
 
 Tills 1- to 4-quart capacity 3 000 000 
 
 Poultry, meat, cucumber and Leslie 1 685 000 
 
 Crates 
 
 Berry and small-fruit 250 000 
 
 Other (James, cantaloupe, asparagus and industrial) 381 000 
 
 Egg cases (knocked-down or assembled) 362 000 
 
 Dirt bands 17 900 000 
 
 Tree wrappers and mats 106 000 
 
 Basket handles and shingle boards 4 500 000 
 
412 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 These bushel baskets are 
 stacked for drying. When 
 dry, they will be nested in 
 lots of one dozen for ship- 
 ment to points throughout 
 the Midwest. (Fig. 17) 
 
 Six- and eight-quart Climax 
 baskets nested and tied in 
 lots of 25 are stored ready 
 for shipment. (Fig. 18) 
 
 the used crates. One company reported that, because of competition 
 from salvaged crates, they had not manufactured small-fruit crates 
 for two or three years. 
 
 Illinois meat and poultry packers buy veneer boxes from many 
 sources. The percentage bought in the state is small. Most of the meat 
 and poultry boxes made in Illinois are sold in other states. 
 
 Baskets 
 
 On the average, about 2.3 million (192,000 dozen) bushel baskets 
 (Fig. 17 and Table 4) are made each year, about 90 percent of which 
 are sold in the state. It is estimated that about 120,000 of these baskets 
 
1949] 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 413 
 
 (5.2 percent) are shipped to Indiana; 65,000 (2.8 percent), to Mis- 
 souri; and 11,000 (0.5 percent), to Wisconsin. A few baskets are ex- 
 ported to Kentucky, Michigan, and Iowa. Some of the baskets exported 
 to neighboring states are again imported by Illinois growers. 
 
 About 540,000 (45,000 dozen) other baskets, such as market and 
 Climax (Fig. 18) types, were reported. Climax baskets, which have 
 a capacity of 4 to 12 quarts, are manufactured mainly for the grape 
 growers in Hancock county. 
 
 Boxes 
 
 The industry reported a production of 13,380,000 strawberry quart 
 boxes (Fig. 19). Although these may be used for cherries and other 
 small fruits as well as strawberries, those sold in Illinois are used 
 principally for strawberries. 
 
 About 4.4 million of the strawberry quart boxes made in Illinois 
 are used to fill crates manufactured by the industry, and the others 
 are shipped to growers for filling used crates or for local uncrated 
 sales. Of these, about 4 million are sold in Illinois. About 1.5 million 
 are shipped to Iowa, and similar numbers are sent to Michigan and 
 to the Missouri-Arkansas area. Indiana receives approximately half a 
 million. Smaller numbers are sent to Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania, 
 Ohio, and other states as far west as Montana. 
 
 Slightly over one-half of the 1,600,000 pint and half-pint berry 
 boxes produced are sold without crates. Almost all the boxes go to 
 Illinois growers. 
 
 Quart boxes commonly used for strawberries are stacked for air-drying. 
 Bushel-basket lids are drying in extreme right background. (Fig- 19) 
 
414 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 Thousands of quart till baskets ar< 
 nested and tied in lots of 50. 
 
 stored ready for shipment. Baskets are 
 
 (Fig. 20) 
 
 The industry reported a production of 3 million till boxes varying 
 from 1- to 4-quart capacity. Whereas berry boxes are usually square 
 in cross-section, tills are longer than they are wide (Fig. 20). They 
 are most commonly used for artichokes, Brussels sprouts, and other 
 small vegetables and fruits, although retail stores often sell apples, 
 pears, plums, or pansies in them. 
 
 Poultry, meat, cucumber, and Leslie boxes are listed in the order 
 of the number produced, totaling 1,685,000. The meat and poultry 
 boxes are wire-bound. Most of them are shipped out of the state, the 
 major volume going to Missouri, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Michigan, 
 western Minnesota, and Colorado. The poultry boxes go mostly to 
 Missouri, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. 
 
 Cucumber boxes are of rather thick veneer and nailed construction. 
 Often the grower's name or label is printed on the box at the plant 
 before it is assembled. The Leslie box is small, has greater length than 
 width, and has a "false" or raised bottom. The main feature of its 
 design is that the veneer can be shipped flat and assembled with simple 
 equipment. The corners are angled so that the bottom is held in place 
 by projecting it through horizontal slits at the corners. 
 
 Crates 
 
 The average annual production of strawberry and small-fruit 
 crates, complete with boxes, is reported as 250,000. (Most of these are 
 for quart boxes.) Since James, cantaloupe, asparagus, and industrial 
 crates (listed in order of number produced) are each produced by 
 
1949] 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 415 
 
 just one company, the production of these items is shown in Table 4 
 as a group total of 381,000. 
 
 The manufacturer of the James crate said that it was developed 
 for carrying fruit from the orchard to the packing shed. The sides of 
 this crate taper toward the top, facilitating cubical stacking. The 
 cleats bordering the top strengthen the crate, give it rigidity, and aid 
 in handling and stacking, so that the fruit is protected during trans- 
 portation to the packing sheds. Veneer framed with thin lumber and 
 sawn cleats is manufactured into cantaloupe, asparagus, and indus- 
 trial crates. The last type is used for the shipment of such items as 
 refrigerators, stoves, and radios. 
 
 Other products 
 
 A total of 362,000 egg cases is produced, although only a few are 
 assembled by the manufacturers. Most of the cases are sold directly 
 to produce companies, which assemble them. Perhaps 20 percent of 
 the cases go to companies manufacturing fiber fillers. Most of the egg 
 
 Each plant band in this 
 greenhouse flat will be 
 used to grow a plant 
 large enough to trans- 
 plant. Plants, with bands 
 and soil, will then be 
 lifted from the flat and 
 put where they will ma- 
 ture. In foreground are 
 folded bands. One opened 
 and ready for use is on 
 top of the flat. (Fig. 21) 
 
 Forest tree seedlings are packed in moist sphagnum moss before they are 
 wrapped in a veneer tree mat. The entire bundle is secured with wire for 
 shipment. (Fig. 22) 
 
416 
 
 BULLETIN No. 534 
 
 [October, 
 
 These bundles of veneer basket handles are ready for shipment. The 
 handles are bent while they are wet and pliable and tied to keep them 
 from straightening. (Fig- 23) 
 
 cases are shipped to Missouri, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, 
 and Illinois points. A few are shipped to Iowa, Indiana, and other 
 neighboring states. 
 
 Dirt bands are used in the growing of plants in greenhouse flats 
 (Fig. 21). The industry makes 17,900,000 bands yearly and ships them 
 to all parts of the United States. One company does nothing but 
 assemble bands from veneer cut by other companies. 
 
 Tree wrappers are sheets of veneer used to protect the lower trunks 
 of small fruit trees. Tree mats (Fig. 22) were developed by the Illi- 
 nois State Division of Forestry as outside wrappers for shipping 
 packages of forest-tree planting stock. 3 * About 7,000 board feet of 
 logs are delivered to a veneer mill near the Union county nursery and 
 cut into %o" m ch veneer clipped 2% inches wide. Nursery employes 
 weave these strips into square or rectangular mats on a special loom 
 during the winter months or other slack periods. The tree wrappers 
 and mats are sold in Illinois. 
 
 About 4,500,000 veneer handles (Fig. 23) and shingle boards are 
 manufactured, with handles representing the major part of the total. 
 The handles are cut from gum and elm for use on both wooden and 
 fiber market baskets. Over half the handles are sold in Illinois, with 
 small quantities shipped to Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, and 
 
19491 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 417 
 
 Minnesota. The shingle boards are used on the tops and bottoms of 
 packages of asphalt or composition shingles to protect them in transit 
 or storage. 
 
 EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES 
 For Manufacturing the Containers 
 
 The nine Illinois companies employ in their mills an average of 
 550 persons, 200 of whom are women. No complete figures were secured 
 on the number of persons employed during the various seasons of the 
 year. In Fig. 24, however, which is based on reports made to the U. S. 
 Bureau of Census in 1939 by five Illinois manufacturers of fruit and 
 vegetable packages, seasonal fluctuations are indicated. Presumably 
 the pattern of employment shown for 1939 still exists. 
 
 Most of the 200 women employed are in positions where nimble 
 fingers or other dexterity is required. They generally do the sorting, 
 grading, weaving, and assembling. Almost all the fruit and vegetable 
 packages are assembled by women, particularly in plants where as- 
 sembling is on a piece-work basis. Women also operate wire-bound- 
 box machines, nailing machines, and other fabricating machinery. 
 
 The ages of employes range from 19 to nearly 70 years, with the 
 
 260 
 240 
 220 
 
 8 200 
 _o 
 180 
 
 LU 
 
 ^o 160 
 
 - 140 
 
 D 
 
 Z 120 
 100 
 
 n I 
 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 J J 
 
 Month 
 
 Number of employes receiving pay during normal payroll period ending 
 nearest the fifteenth day of each month, as reported by five manufacturers 
 of baskets for fruits and vegetables in 1939. (Fig. 24) 
 
418 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 average age probably falling in the middle 40's. The average age for 
 women is below that for men. There seem to be enough young people 
 in training for the more skilled jobs, such as machine operators, or 
 for replacement of supervisory personnel. 
 
 Average annual payroll for the industry totals $862,400. Super- 
 visory personnel receive a weekly or monthly salary averaging about 
 $50 a week. Machinists and other specialized maintenance employes, 
 sawyers, and lathe operators receive from 90 cents to $1.50 an hour, 
 perhaps averaging $1 an hour. Piece-work rates generally guarantee 
 the workers at least 60 cents an hour. Workers employed in the log 
 yards or on day work receive from 40 to 70 cents an hour. Two plants 
 are operating underlabor union contracts with a minimum wage scale 
 of 70 cents an hour and an average of "about 80 cents." 
 
 As collective bargaining raises the minimum wage rate, it also 
 raises the cost of the product, unless more goods are produced in a 
 given period of time. Since the industry is now competing with non- 
 resident firms paying lower wages, the Illinois companies may find it 
 necessary to operate entirely on a piece-work basis. 
 
 Most plants work only 40 hours a week, but the largest factory 
 works 47% hours, which makes the weighted-average work week about 
 44 hours. 
 
 For Supplying Raw Materials 
 
 As has already been noted (page 399) , three companies employ 
 woods workers when they are needed. Usually these workers are em- 
 ployed locally near the logging operations. They are paid piece-work 
 rates (see page 400). 
 
 In addition to the woods workers directly employed by the com- 
 pany, a number of log producers and farmers work varying lengths 
 of time cutting and hauling logs for the industry. It is difficult if not 
 impossible to collect accurate figures as to the total number of workers, 
 including company-employed crews, log producers, and farmers, who 
 are employed in supplying the industry with raw materials. However, 
 a rough approximation may be made of the number of man-hours 
 necessary to produce the industry's total requirements of wood. If 10 
 man-hours of labor are needed to produce and deliver 1,000 board 
 feet of logs to the mill, a it will take 130,350 man-hours to produce the 
 13,035,000 board feet of logs cut and hauled to Illinois mills by Illinois 
 workers. This is equivalent to the employment of 72 men for 225 
 eight-hour days each year. 
 
 "Cutting and bucking, 4.5 hours; skidding and yarding, 2.5 hours; loading 
 and unloading, 1 hour; and hauling 2,000 board feet of logs 30 miles, 2 hours. 
 
1949] VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 419 
 
 On the basis of average piece-work rates paid for cutting and 
 hauling logs, the woods w r orkers receive a gross income of about 
 $325,000. Additional wages are expended by the Illinois industry for 
 logs and veneer purchased from other states. 
 
 Seven men would probably have to work an entire year to produce 
 the 1,320,000 board feet of logs cut in Illinois woodlands and sold to 
 veneer container manufacturers in neighboring states. Wages paid for 
 this work total about $33,000. 
 
 EFFICIENCY OF THE INDUSTRY 
 
 The manufacture of containers is a mass-production business. 
 Methods of operation must be efficient if interest is to be returned on 
 invested capital. Competition, both present and future, demands an 
 efficient, economically operated business. 
 
 Although an analysis of methods should start in the woods, few of 
 the Illinois companies operate their own woods crews; so the observa- 
 tions made in this study started in the log yard. No micromotion or 
 time studies were made, but it is believed that the efficiency of the 
 industry as a whole is lower than it should or could be. Efficiency 
 varies widely from company to company. 
 
 Considerable discussion centers around the best type of bolting 
 saw. Seven companies use the mechanical dragsaw and one uses the 
 chain saw. (One of the nine companies does not cut its own veneer.) 
 The chain saw, which has been developed more recently than the 
 dragsaw, may be more economical and efficient, although there are 
 no data to prove that either type of saw is the better. The operator 
 that uses the chain saw is well pleased with it, but at least one other 
 operator has tried the chain saw and has not been satisfied with the 
 results. Woods experience has shown that it is necessary to thoroughly 
 train the cutting crew in the proper methods of operating and main- 
 taining the chain saw; untrained crews have not worked efficiently or 
 economically. 
 
 More efficient use of floor space would considerably speed the flow 
 of materials through a number of the plants. Some of the factories 
 have grown from modest beginnings to their present size without any 
 intervening reorganization or rearrangement of equipment. As a 
 result, the machinery and other processing equipment is not efficiently 
 arranged, and there is no straight-line flow of materials through the 
 plant. This makes processing inefficient and time-consuming. Complete 
 modernization would be extremely expensive and the investment 
 probably could not be justified. However, much could be done at a 
 
420 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 reasonable cost to speed the flow of materials through the plants. 
 Because of the wide differences in factory arrangement and equipment, 
 each plant would have a different reorganization problem. 
 
 Another factor which reduces economy and efficiency is the use of 
 hand methods in some places where machinery could be effectively 
 substituted. Debarking is done by hand, although it may be possible 
 to add debarking devices to present veneer lathes. In a number of 
 plants, box components are taken from one point to another by hand 
 methods. Conveyors, wheeled trucks, or dollies could be used to good 
 advantage. Perhaps more money is lost through inefficient handling 
 of waste than in any other way. Waste materials are handled by hand 
 methods in many of the plants, even though it would be practical and 
 economical to make use of power conveyor systems. 
 
 Reduction of w r aste is important from the standpoint of conserv- 
 ing raw materials as well as for conserving labor. Waste starts in the 
 woods when trees that cannot "pay their way" are cut. The value of 
 the raw materials obtained from such trees, is not equal to the cost 
 of harvesting and hauling them. Many of the manufacturers have 
 little control over the type of tree to be cut, since they buy logs from 
 log producers or farmers, but the future existence of the industry 
 depends to a large degree upon eliminating waste of all types. 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF THE INDUSTRY 
 TO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 
 
 Several small communities in southern Illinois 3 are supported 
 partially or almost entirely by the veneer container industry. The 
 industry not only affords woodland owners an opportunity to market 
 their crop of veneer logs at better-than-average prices, but it also 
 provides employment opportunities, capital and machinery for the 
 production of goods, and a supply of quality containers for the local 
 fruit and vegetable industry. 
 
 The industry's contribution to the economic welfare of the local 
 communities and the state for a normal year is substantial. It pays 
 an average of 550 people $862,000 in salaries and wages. In addition, 
 about 70 woods workers receive a gross income of approximately $325,- 
 000 for logging and delivering the timber required by the factories. 
 The woodland owners receive about $215,000 for growing the 14,355,- 
 000 board feet of Illinois stumpage which is cut for plants in Illinois 
 
 "Cairo, population 14,407; Cobden, 1,098; Dongola, 638; Grayville, 2,240; 
 Jonesboro, 1,521; Karnak, 893; Metropolis, 6,287; Newton, 2,347. (1940 Census.) 
 
1949} 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
 421 
 
 or neighboring states. The industry collects nearly $2,000,000 annually 
 for the products it sells, and most of this money is spent in southern 
 Illinois. About $42,000 is paid to various city, county, state, and 
 federal agencies in the form of employment, sales, and real estate 
 taxes. Additional taxes are paid on income, which indirectly benefit 
 southern Illinois. The depreciated, cash value of land, buildings, and 
 machinery is about $650,000. (This current value may be somewhat 
 inflated.) 
 
 FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY 
 
 With Regard to Raw Materials 
 
 One of the major considerations in an analysis of the future pos- 
 sibilities of the industry is its supply of raw materials. To stay in 
 business, each manufacturer must have a sustained flow of logs of 
 the right quality and species from the woods to his plant. He must 
 
 Table 5. Forest Area in Illinois Counties Supplying 
 Logs to the Veneer Container Industry 8 
 
 County 
 
 Farm 
 wood- 
 land 
 
 Total 
 forest 
 area 
 
 County 
 
 Farm 
 wood- 
 land 
 
 Total 
 forest 
 area 
 
 Adams 
 
 acres 
 69 919 
 
 acres 
 74 584 
 
 Lawrence 
 
 acres 
 26 359 
 
 acres 
 27 114 
 
 Alexander 
 
 . . 31 177 
 
 64 048 
 
 McDonough . . 
 
 24 369 
 
 24 906 
 
 Brown 
 
 . . 33 088 
 
 33 588 
 
 Marion 
 
 59 510 
 
 59 510 
 
 Calhoun 
 
 . . 57 636 
 
 59 994 
 
 Massac 
 
 31 650 
 
 36 390 
 
 Clark 
 
 . . 48 490 
 
 48 490 
 
 Mercer 
 
 17 520 
 
 20 267 
 
 Clay . . . . 
 
 . 35 630 
 
 35 630 
 
 Perry 
 
 52 427 
 
 52 427 
 
 Coles 
 
 19 434 
 
 20 018 
 
 Pike. 
 
 76 347 
 
 79 929 
 
 Crawford 
 
 30 563 
 
 30 563 
 
 Pope 
 
 20 188 
 
 89 140 
 
 Cumberland 
 
 22 921 
 
 22 921 
 
 Pulaski 
 
 26 568 
 
 27 699 
 
 Edwards 
 
 16 163 
 
 16 471 
 
 Randolph 
 
 81 292 
 
 81 780 
 
 Effingham 
 
 44 397 
 
 44 397 
 
 Richland 
 
 22 605 
 
 22 605 
 
 Fayette 
 
 . . 80 904 
 
 80 904 
 
 Rock Island . . 
 
 20 078 
 
 24 547 
 
 Franklin 
 
 . . 52 219 
 
 52 219 
 
 Saline 
 
 26 451 
 
 39 508 
 
 Gallatin 
 
 . . 39 935 
 
 49 669 
 
 Schuyler .... 
 
 60 045 
 
 60 045 
 
 Greene 
 
 . . 51 210 
 
 51 210 
 
 Scott 
 
 18 324 
 
 18 324 
 
 Hamilton 
 
 . . 41 338 
 
 41 338 
 
 Shelby 
 
 35 660 
 
 35 660 
 
 Hancock 
 
 . . 39 058 
 
 41 145 
 
 Union 
 
 57 287 
 
 94 645 
 
 Hardin 
 
 . . 20 806 
 
 41 919 
 
 Wabash 
 
 10 124 
 
 10 316 
 
 Henderson . . 
 
 . . 22 347 
 
 24 321 
 
 Warren . . . 
 
 15 675 
 
 16 021 
 
 Jackson 
 
 . 83 395 
 
 114 391 
 
 Wayne . 
 
 65 639 
 
 65 639 
 
 Jasper. . 
 
 . . 32 892 
 
 32 892 
 
 White 
 
 28 079 
 
 28 612 
 
 Jefferson . . . 
 
 . . 59 878 
 
 59 878 
 
 Williamson 
 
 61 122 
 
 62 322 
 
 Jersey. . . 
 
 55 240 
 
 60 640 
 
 
 
 
 Johnson . . 
 
 54 142 
 
 63 489 
 
 Total . . 
 
 . . 1 880 101 
 
 2 142 125 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "Source: Forest resource appraisal, 1945. Taken from A plan for forestry in Illinois. 111. 
 Technical Forestry Association. 301 1/2 E. Monroe St., Springfield. (Processed.) 1947. 
 
422 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 Table 6. Distribution of Upland and Bottomland Timber Types by 
 
 Size Class and Crown Density in Four Type-of-Farming 
 
 Areas in Southern Illinois" 
 
 Location 
 
 Stands of sawtimber by 
 crown density classes'" 
 
 Total 
 saw- 
 timber 
 stands 
 
 Pole 
 
 stands 
 
 Young 
 growth 
 (repro- 
 duction) 
 
 Total 
 
 S-l S-2 S-3 S-l 
 
 Upland timber 
 
 Area 5b 
 
 at 
 
 5 
 
 res 
 414 
 689 
 396 
 508 
 
 007 
 
 acres 
 20 701 
 50 328 
 19 823 
 8 873 
 
 99 725 
 
 acres 
 113 357 
 172 113 
 29 545 
 234 231 
 
 549 246 
 
 acres 
 95 052 
 37 823 
 18 416 
 40 643 
 
 191 934 
 
 acres 
 234 524 
 261 953 
 74 180 
 284 255 
 
 854 912 
 
 acres 
 22 786 
 41 411 
 7 215 
 46 272 
 
 117 684 
 
 acres 
 17 312 
 60 807 
 4 677 
 69 027 
 
 151 823 
 
 acres 
 274 622 
 364 171 
 86 072 
 399 554 
 
 1 124 419 
 
 Area 7 
 
 1 
 
 AreaS 
 
 . . 6 
 
 Area 9 
 
 
 Total . 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 Bottomland timber 
 
 Area 5b 
 
 
 
 16 958 
 87 029 
 26 026 
 2 697 
 
 132 710 
 
 4 332 
 26 045 
 8 593 
 31 468 
 
 70 438 
 
 
 
 21 290 
 148 438 
 43 541 
 64 324 
 
 277 593 
 
 10 
 59 
 20 
 34 
 
 125 
 
 348 
 794 
 351 
 
 748 
 
 241 
 
 880 
 5 699 
 21 476 
 32 155 
 
 60 210 
 
 32 518 
 213 931 
 85 368 
 131 227 
 
 463 044 
 
 Area 7 
 
 29 
 
 458 
 442 
 959 
 
 859 
 
 5 
 1 
 22 
 
 29 
 
 906 
 480 
 200 
 
 586 
 
 Area 8 
 
 7 
 
 Area 9 
 
 7 
 
 Total 
 
 . . 44 
 
 
 
 Upland and bottom- 
 land 58 866 232 435 619 684 221 520 1 132 505 242 925 212 033 1 587 463 
 
 a Source: Forest resource appraisal, 1945. Taken from A plan for forestry in Illinois. 111. Technical 
 Forestry Association. 301 Yn E. Monroe St., Springfield. (Processed.) 1947. 
 
 b Only stands containing more than 1,000 board feet per acre in logs 10 inches and larger d.i.b. 
 were classed as sawtimber. 
 
 S-l : Sawtimber stands with 75 to 100 percent of ground shaded. (Dense stands.) 
 
 S-2: Sawtimber stands with 50 to 75 percent of ground shaded. 
 
 S-3: Sawtimber stands with 25 to 50 percent of ground shaded. 
 
 S-4: Sawtimber stands with to 25 percent of ground shaded. (Open stands.) 
 
 obtain the logs at a cost which will allow him to sell his products at 
 a profit in a competitive market. 
 
 Figure 1 shows those Illinois counties from which the industry 
 obtains most of its logs. In Table 5 is shown the forest acreage of 
 these counties. Of the 2,142,125 acres of woodland, about 88 percent 
 (1,880,101 acres) is classified as farm woodland. 
 
 The type-of-farming areas shown in Fig. 1 are used quite generally 
 by the Agricultural Experiment Station for summarizing data. They 
 represent areas in which one or more dominant types of farming can 
 be easily distinguished and within which natural agricultural resources 
 and biological and economic conditions are highly uniform. To a large 
 extent these natural resources and biological and economic conditions 
 apply to the woodlands. 
 
 Table 6 shows the area distribution of upland and bottomland 
 timber types by size class and crown density for four of the 
 type-of-farming areas. Three of the areas (7, 8, and 9) include 1,280,- 
 323 acres from which the Illinois industry secures most of its logs. 
 
1949] VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 423 
 
 Area 9, in addition to supplying Illinois plants, contributes a small 
 volume of logs to a Kentucky plant. Area 5b does not supply logs to 
 the Illinois industry but does supply one plant in Missouri almost 
 entirely. 
 
 The industry is primarily interested in bottomland species. In 
 Areas 7, 8, and 9 are 430,526 acres of bottomland timber on which 
 must be grown most of the 15 million board feet used by the industry 
 each year, as well as wood required for other uses. 
 
 Bottomland stands in southern Illinois have been reported to 
 produce as much as 1,500 board feet an acre annually. 11 * A growth of 
 500 board feet an acre is a reasonable expectation if the timber is 
 managed well. If each of the 64,324 acres of bottomland sawtimber in 
 Area 9 alone were to produce only 400 board feet annually, a total of 
 25,729,600 board feet about 70 percent more than the industry's 
 present requirements could be grown. The industry's present re- 
 quirement of 15,228,000 board feet annually can be produced on 
 37,750 acres if an annual rate of 400 board feet an acre is maintained. 
 
 There is, then, no lack of potential raw material for the industry. 
 The only prerequisite to a sustained flow of quality logs of the right 
 species is good woodland management. In the past, however, many 
 tree stands have not been managed as they should be. As a result, of 
 the 430,526 acres of bottomland timber in Areas 7, 8, and 9, only 
 256,303 acres are classified as sawtimber a stands, and only 160,611 
 acres are of sufficient crown density (50 percent and over) to classify 
 as reasonably well-stocked sawtimber. This means that the logs going 
 to the industry are smaller and of poorer quality than they have been 
 in the past. Unless some effort is made to improve management 
 practices, future supplies of logs will be still smaller in size and lower 
 in quality. With the type of machinery and methods now in use, the 
 industry cannot process low-quality raw materials efficiently enough 
 and economically enough to meet competition. 
 
 Managing tree stands is in many ways similar to managing other 
 farm crops. Woodlands respond to protection from fire and grazing 
 and to good cutting practices by producing a larger crop of high- 
 quality timber. b The manager must cut no more than his woodland 
 will grow each year, for overcutting and high-grading (taking only 
 
 a Only stands containing more than 1,000 board feet per acre in logs 10 
 inches and larger d.i.b. were classed as sawtimber. 
 
 b Members of the industry and woodland owners may secure assistance with 
 management and reforestation problems by contacting the nearest District 
 Forester; the State Division of Forestry, Department of Conservation, Spring- 
 field; or the Department of Forestry, University of Illinois, Urbana. 
 
424 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 This butt log was cut from a 36-year-old cottonwood tree. The log is 10 
 feet long, is 25 inches d.i.b. at the top end, and contains 276 board feet, 
 Doyle Scale. The stump was 32 inches in diameter. (Fig. 25) 
 
 the best trees) will eventually result in woodland deterioration and a 
 reduced wood yield. 
 
 Good supplies of the species required by the industry depend on 
 proper woodland management. It is possible that the various percent- 
 ages shown in Table 2 may be adjusted slightly through management. 
 For example, yellow poplar and sweet gum both highly desirable 
 veneer species are recommended for reforesting certain lands 1 * and 
 it may be possible to make available increased volumes of these species 
 for future use. This, of course, will be a slow process. At present cot- 
 tonwood is one of the most prominent bottomland woods and makes 
 up about 60 percent of the logs purchased by the industry. Cottonwood 
 can produce veneer logs in a relatively short time (Fig. 25), but special 
 attention must be given the woodlands to encourage its reproduction. 10 * 
 
 Although many of our woodlands are at present depleted because 
 of poor management in the past, efforts to conserve timber resources 
 are probably as far advanced in Illinois as in other areas. There is 
 some hope, therefore, that supplies of raw materials will gradually 
 increase as more conservation measures are practiced. 
 
 With Regard to Labor Supplies 
 
 Laborers with specialized skills are needed to harvest and deliver 
 veneer logs to the mills and to convert the logs into veneer containers. 
 Producing the logs requires more skills than most of the jobs in the 
 
1949] VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 425 
 
 plants. Even the highly specialized job of a veneer lathe operator can 
 be filled with an employe who has had only one year of training, and 
 most machine operators can be trained in less time. It takes consid- 
 erably longer to acquire the skills necessary for a woods worker. 
 
 Woods workers must develop not only the skills required for their 
 hazardous work but also the stamina for felling trees, cutting them 
 into logs, and hauling them to market. They must also acquire at least 
 a tolerance for an environment that is often uncomfortable. 
 
 That there is a potential labor supply in southern Illinois to meet 
 the needs of the industry is indicated by several recent surveys. A 
 study of a six-county 11 area 4 * containing four of the industry's plants 
 showed that only 68.5 percent of the labor force was employed in 
 1940, whereas 85.5 percent was employed in the state and 85.6 per- 
 cent in the whole United States. Eight percent of the total labor force 
 in the six counties was seeking employment. The Illinois Department 
 of Labor estimated in September, 1946, that 80 percent of the labor 
 force in the six counties was employed. These data indicate a surplus 
 of labor in the area. 
 
 Similar findings were reported in a study of the 16 southernmost 
 counties of the state in 1940. 7 * Almost one-third of the labor force was 
 unemployed, although the skill and the sex and age distribution of the 
 labor force compared favorably with that for the entire state. 
 
 Although employment in southern Illinois has increased slightly 
 since 1940, a surplus of labor still exists, according to reports from a 
 number of sources. How long there will be a surplus of labor for the 
 industry is problematical, but there is reason to believe that lack of 
 labor is not likely to limit the future of the industry. 
 
 With Regard to Competition 
 Imported containers 
 
 The industry's competition from firms in areas paying lower wages 
 has already been mentioned. These firms are located in Mexico as well 
 as in other states. Robert W. Davis, Secretary-Manager of the Amer- 
 ican Veneer Package Association, in a letter dated March 19, 1948, 
 writes that a large number of hand-woven baskets made with low- 
 paid labor are being imported into this country from Mexico. In 
 another letter (March 29, 1948) he says, "These baskets, I feel sure, 
 are imported into Chicago in fair-size amounts, and we know that 
 they have been used extensively ... in the West in shipping produce 
 into the large cities in Illinois." 
 
 a Perry, Franklin, Jackson, Williamson, Union, and Johnson counties. 
 
426 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 Since the main costs of a product are labor and raw materials, it 
 is reasonable to assume that the prices paid by the Illinois industry 
 for logs or stumpage are reduced in order to meet the competition from 
 firms paying lower wages. However, the container manufacturers are 
 also in competition with the lumber industry so that the prices offered 
 for logs must be high enough to secure the veneer-quality logs needed. 
 
 Used containers 
 
 Companies manufacturing fruit and vegetable containers have the 
 problem of marketing their products in competition with second-hand 
 or used containers. A well-made bushel basket, for example, may not 
 be physically damaged after it has delivered one load of fruit to the 
 consumer. As the cost of containers increases, the number re-used also 
 increases. For a number of reasons, however, the use of second-hand 
 containers is discouraged. Unsanitary containers obviously should not 
 be used, and containers bearing the label of one packer or distributor 
 cannot, according to law, be used by other dealers unless they destroy 
 the label. There is also the possibility that second-hand containers will 
 cause the product contained to lose its attractiveness or "consumer 
 appeal." 
 
 Fiber packages 
 
 A report made nearly 40 years ago 9 * indicated that veneer boxes 
 were then "making rapid progress in competition with the fiber pack- 
 age." More recently, however, the fiber package has been developed 
 to the point where it competes with at least some types of veneer 
 packages. It is less expensive, has an attractive appearance, and can 
 be transported and stored knocked-down. Such containers can also 
 be printed or decorated more easily than wooden containers. 
 
 New types of packages 
 
 Although the present veneer container is to its prototype what the 
 modern automobile is to the gasoline buggy, new methods of pack- 
 aging are creating competition. Many fruits, vegetables, and other 
 foods are now frozen or dried near the area where they are grown and 
 are shipped by air in other than wooden veneer containers. Packaging 
 in various paper and plastic materials has often made the foods more 
 attractive to the potential consumer. 
 
 Advantages of the veneer containers 
 
 Buyers have often complained that goods shipped in wood-sub- 
 stitutes have arrived at domestic and foreign destinations in unsatis- 
 factory condition. Modern methods of transportation still require a 
 
1949] VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 427 
 
 light, strong container that can stand punishment without deterio- 
 rating, and veneer containers satisfy these requirements. That they 
 have withstood competition from other materials for many years is 
 the result of long, satisfactory service. While modern methods of 
 harvesting certain small grains tend to create a scarcity of straw for 
 the strawboard manufacturers, wood crops can be grown continuously 
 with a minimum of effort and expense. It is predicted that the demand 
 for w r ooden veneer containers will continue into the future. 
 
 With Regard to Productive Capacity 
 
 The industry is not operating up to its potential capacity even 
 with its present equipment. Though much of the machinery now in 
 use was installed 40 to 60 years ago, these machines can be repaired 
 cheaply and will produce the volume of goods currently needed to fill 
 orders. New, more efficient equipment is expensive and not absolutely 
 necessary to continue operations. So, even though modernization would 
 increase the capacity tremendously, it is not likely that present 
 equipment will be replaced in the near future. 
 
 Increased production is discouraged for several reasons. For one 
 thing, the supply of high-quality logs is limited. Secondly, market 
 conditions vary so much that forecasting future demands is risky. 
 Finally, while cost of labor and materials has increased considerably 
 since 1940-1945, wholesale prices on some containers have remained 
 about the same. For example, one company indicated that now, when 
 labor is paid 70 cents an hour, the price for berry crates is no more 
 than when labor was paid only 46 cents an hour. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 Nine companies in southern Illinois manufacture veneer containers 
 entirely or partially from Illinois-produced wood. Seven of these com- 
 panies convert standing trees or parts of them into fruit and vegetable 
 containers, meat and poultry boxes, industrial crates, egg cases, dirt 
 bands, tree wrappers and mats, basket handles, shingle boards, and 
 other similar items. One company produces veneer for other companies 
 to assemble, and one buys custom-cut veneer for assembly. 
 
 The industry was started in 1883 by the Fruit Growers Package 
 Company, Jonesboro, which is still in operation. 
 
 A total of 15,228,000 board feet of raw materials is normally re- 
 quired, 13,908,000 of which are purchased as logs, and 1,320,000 as 
 veneer. About one-third of the logs are sawn into thick or thin lumber 
 
428 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 by sawmills operated in connection with the veneer plants, and 
 9,184,000 board feet are cut into veneer. 
 
 Of the logs purchased, 13,035,000 board feet are grown in Illinois 
 and most of this amount is produced in the farm woodlands. Farmers 
 and other woodland owners receive about $228,000 for growing the 
 logs used by the industry. 
 
 About 873,000 board feet of logs are imported from neighboring 
 states, and 1,320,000 board feet of logs produced in Illinois are 
 delivered to similar firms in neighboring states. 
 
 Sixty percent of the veneer logs used are cottonwood; 12 percent, 
 sycamore; and 10 percent, sweet gum. Yellow poplar (tuliptree), 
 elm, and soft maple total 15 percent of the volume. A very small 
 amount of the hardwoods is cut for veneer. 
 
 The logs are cut by log producers or by company cutting crews. 
 The work necessary to supply the yearly requirement of logs is equal 
 to that of 70 people working full time through the year. The woods 
 workers are paid piece-work rates, with gross income for a normal 
 year totaling $325,000. In addition, the work of cutting logs from 
 Illinois woodlands for out-of-state companies is enough to keep seven 
 men busy full-time. In an average year wages for this work amount 
 to $33,000. 
 
 The number of employes working in the factories averages about 
 550 for a year. Of these 200 are women. Employment is greatest 
 during the summer (August) and lowest in the fall and winter 
 (November). The annual payroll normally totals about $862,000. 
 
 The manufacture of veneer containers lends itself to the use of 
 mass production methods. Many companies have not made efficient 
 use of their floor space. Container components and, in particular, 
 waste materials are often handled by inefficient, expensive hand 
 methods. 
 
 The industry's sales total about $2,000,000 for a normal year. 
 About $42,000 is paid to various county, state, and federal agencies 
 for taxes. Additional taxes are paid on income. The depreciated, but 
 perhaps currently inflated, cash value of the industry's land, building, 
 and machinery is about $650,000. 
 
 Potential supplies of both raw material and labor are more than 
 adequate for future continuance and expansion of the industry. There 
 are 2,142,125 acres of woodland in the 46 counties which supply most 
 of the logs for the industry. Eighty-eight percent of this acreage 
 (1,880,101 acres) is in farm woodlands. There is enough acreage to 
 supply much more timber than the industry currently requires. Over- 
 
1949] VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 429 
 
 cutting, high-grading, fire, and grazing have, however, reduced the 
 present yields of these woodlands and resulted in an annual crop of 
 logs of lower quality than the industry desires. 
 
 At present there is a surplus of qualified labor in southern Illinois, 
 and an adequate supply is anticipated for future requirements. 
 
 LITERATURE CITED 
 
 1. DAVIS, J. E. Forest planting on Illinois farms. 111. Agr. Ext. Cir. 567. 1944. 
 
 2. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION. Important basket industry 60 years 
 
 in Little Egypt. Illinois Conservation 11 (1 and 2), 34. 1946. 
 
 3. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION. Unique method of tree packing de- 
 
 veloped at Union Tree Nursery. Forestry News 7 (1). 1944. 
 
 4. ILLINOIS STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE. Special inquiry into labor market con- 
 
 ditions in the Little Egypt area, November 1946. (Processed.) 
 
 5. ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Report of committee on fruit pack- 
 
 ages. 111. State Hort. Soc. Trans. 1867 (n.s.) 1, 99. 1868. 
 
 6. MARQUIS, RALPH W. Lumber used in manufacture, 1940; part II, state tables. 
 
 U. S. Dept. Agr., Forest Serv. 
 
 7. McNATT, E. B., assisted by CIES, V. H. The labor supply of southern Illinois. 
 
 Bureau of Economic and Business Research, Univ. of 111. (Processed.) 
 1947. Reprinted in Southern Illinois, resources and potentials of the 16 
 southernmost counties. Univ. of 111. Press, Urbana. 1949. 
 
 8. MILLER, R. B. First report on a forestry survey of Illinois. 111. Nat. Hist. 
 
 Survey 14 (Art. 8). 1923. 
 
 9. SIMMONS, R. E., BLAIR, J. C., and SACKETT, H. S. The wood-using industries 
 
 of Illinois. Univ. of 111. Dept. Hort. and U. S. Forest Serv. 1913 
 
 10. SWITZER, HARRY D. The management of cottonwood in the bottomlands of 
 
 southern Illinois. Southern Lumberman 177 (2225), 153-157. 1948. 
 
 11. WINTERS, D. W. Timber growth in southern Illinois. Report presented at 
 
 annual meeting, Central States Section, Soc. Amer. Foresters, Lake Villa, 
 Illinois. (Processed.) 1945. 
 
430 BULLETIN No. 534 [October, 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Trees Mentioned in This Study a 
 
 (All are hardwoods except the red or Norway pine.) 
 Common name Scientific name 
 
 Basswood (see Linden, American) 
 
 Beech, American Fagus grandifolia 
 
 Birch, river Betula nigra 
 
 Boxelder Acer negundo 
 
 Cottonwood 
 
 Eastern poplar Populus deltoides 
 
 Swamp poplar Populus heterophylla 
 
 Elm, American (or white) Ulmus americana 
 
 Elm, slippery (or red) Ulmus julva 
 
 Gum, black (see Tupelo, black) 
 Gum, red (see Sweetgum, American) 
 Gum, sweet (see Sweetgum, American) 
 Gum, water (see Tupelo, water) 
 
 Hackberry, common Celtis occidentalis 
 
 Hickory Carya spp. 
 
 Hickory, pecan Carya illinoiensis 
 
 Linden, American Tilia americana 
 
 Maple, silver (or soft) Acer saccharinum 
 
 Maple, sugar (or hard) Acer saccharum 
 
 Oak Quercus spp. 
 
 Pecan (see Hickory, pecan) 
 
 Pine, red (or Norway) Pinus resinosa 
 
 Poplar (see Tuliptree) 
 Poplar, yellow (see Tuliptree) 
 
 Sweetgum, American Liquidambar styraciflua 
 
 Sycamore, American Platanus occidentalis 
 
 Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipijera 
 
 Tupelo, black Nyssa sylvatica 
 
 Tupelo, water (or gum) Nyssa aquatica 
 
 "Authority: Kelsey, H. P., and Dayton, W. A. Standardized plant names, second edition. 
 J. Horace McFarland Company, Harrisburg, Pa. 1942. 
 
19491 
 
 VENEER CONTAINER INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS 
 
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 4M 10-49-^1976 
 
With good care the woodlands of Illinois can continue 
 to grow high-quality logs for the manufacture of 
 veneer containers. Bushel fruit baskets are only one 
 example of the type of container produced by this 
 industry. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 Q630.7IL6B CD02 
 
 BULLETIN. URBANA 
 529-5401948-50 
 
 30112019529350