The Commercial lmportance of Lodgepole Pine Lumber

ging of l-odgepole on a commercial scale is carried on chiefly in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming. Idaho, Montana, Washington and ()regon.

The tree has a characteristically straight, slim, gradually tapering trunk with compact, conical crown and rarely attains a height of more than 85 feet or a diameter of more than 20 inches. In typical stands, average diameter is 12 inches and height from 45 to 65 feet.

I.odgepole pine is straight grained with narrow rings in which small bands of sttmmerwood are moderately conspicuous llut relatively small. The sapwood is almost white and usually from about one to two inches thick' Ileartwood color is only slightly darker than sapwood and varies from a clear yellow or yellowish-brown to a pale brown tinged with red. The wood from trees grown in dense stands is fine grained and that frotu open stands moderately coarse. Iloth have the characteristic resinous odor and taste of the pines.

Lodgepole pine is classified as one of the soft pines and is very near Ponderosa I'ine in weight, strength and hardness. Specific gravity is .41 when the wood is dried to 12 per cent moisture content-in the lorver half of the.31 to .55 softrvood range. It rveighs 29 pounds per cullic foot at 12 per ccnt moisture content.

The species is easily worketl and takes paint well' Knot resins do not bleed, so knots reqttire no sealing pritlr to paint application. Lodgepole lends itself readily to standard commercial preservatives and is usually treated when intended for ttse in contact with the soil.

I-odgepole pine trees, growing in scattered areas throughout most of the trvelve states comprising the Western Itine' Itegion, for years stood virtually untouched by the axes of commercial loggers. Relatively small, they rvere passed over-their lunrber uses unexplorecl-in f avor of larger species of pine and other softwoods.

I-odgepole was cut for local use, for poles, timbers, ties and general utility purposes but the species remained largely unknown outside its growth region.

\\rith the unprecedented dernand of recent years, howcver, Lodgepole pine became a commercially important softrvood and distribution of its lumber spread throughout the United States. Today it is a widely recognized material for most building purposes.

Lodgepole pine takes its name from the early use by L-rdians of the small-sized trees for pole supports in their tepees. It grows in dense, pure stands throughout western United States and is manufactured into lumber by mills in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest.

The total stand of Lodgepole pine sawtimber in the \A/estern Pine region-an area comprised by the 11 rvestern states east of the Cascades and the California coast range, plus the Black Hills of South Dakota-is estimated to be in excess ol 22 brllion board feet. Post-war production averages approximately 80 rnillion board feet annually. Log-

In common l'ith the other soft pines, it ltas a low coeflicient of shrinkage and su'elling after it is properly seas<rnecl. I)ried fr<lm a green state d<>wn t<t 12 tt> 15 per cent moisture content, it rvill shrink 5.8 per cent by volume. Its lon' shrinkage and srvelling gives it an excellent dimensional stability after installation.

Nail-hol<ling power of Lodgepole pine is good. It is slightly more resistant to nail withdrar'r'al than the other commercially importar-rt soft pines' It is easily glued and the glued joints r,t'ill hold up extremely rvell under stress'

I-oclgepole pine lunrber is adaptabte to any purpose for t,hich lumber can be used and its relative lightness coupled rvith easy u,'orkability means economy either in plant or on job site. It machines to smooth, satiny surfaces and exact profiles to produce excellent drop, bevel and log cabin siding, paneling and moulding patterns.

Lodgepole pine trees yield only a small portion of clear Iumber but a high percentage of No. 1 and No' 2 Common' Knots are characteristically small and sound. Widths are ('. 6". 8" and 10" u'ith a small amount available in l7'' Lengths run from 6' b 2A- Selects and commons are customarily furnished in 1" thickness only. Factory lumber is not classified as such in Lodgepole pine.

Ir-r lumber form, the species is used for siding, sheathing and subflooring, paneling, architectural woodwork and a host of miscellaneous uses' As siding, it has long been wide-