A, or First Common.-If free from sap may have two or three small sound knots, or bright sap one-half or three-quarters inch.

B, or Second Common.-May have three or four medium size sound knots, or bright sap of one to one and a quarter inch.

C, or Third Common.-May have two to six medium knots, or two to three inches of sap, or both sap and knots to equal these.

Flooring, A or First.-Should have one face nearly clear, with but one or two small, sound knots; the other may have more knots or sap. B, or Second.-May have two to four sound, medium knots, and bright sap equal to one or one and a quarter inches.

C, or Third.-Will allow of three to six small, sound knots, or one and a half to two inches bright sap.

Fencing Flooring.—Is good, common flooring from selected fencing, and may have a large number of small, sound knots, but the general character of the piece is such as to make a good floor, practically free from shake and loose knots.

Fencing, No. 1 or Common.-Sound knots, not to weaken the piece; may have considerable sap. No. 2: black sap, coarse knots, shaky or otherwise defective. yet not so as to prevent its use as coarse fencing. Four inch lumber of any grade should have one-third less imperfections than is allowed, on six-inch widths. Norway of the same general quality is scrutinized much more closely than white pine.

Deck Plank.-Is lumber suitable for decking for vessels, and is usually three, four, five and six inches wide, and three to four inches thick, and the greater the length the more valuable is it considered. No lot averaging under twenty-five to thirty feet in length is properly classed as decking. This should be almost wholly free from sap, must be free from shake, but may have any reasonable number of small, sound, red knots. It is sometimes used two and a half inches in thickness.

Culls.-Unsound lumber, loose knots, bad, black knots, or large, coarse knots, loose or shaky hearts, unedged or waney and badly shaky lumber, black sap stain, especially if mouldy. All wormy lumber, rotten streaks, or ends badly manufactured as to thickness, wedge boards or tarved lum. ber (thick on one edge and thin on the other), or boards which won't hold water. All the above properly belong in Culls, and when unfit to be used as roofing to nail shingles on, or is generally unsightly in appearance, it is known as "Scoots," Refuse, or Mill-Culls, and has no quotable value.

Lengths.--In some yards ten feet is the standard of length, and all lumber is measured in even figures of ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen and eighteen feet; odd lengths are unknown unless in special orders and in lumber of over twenty feet. Until within the last two years twelve feet was the minimum of length in a merchantable piece of lumber, and most yards yet adhere to this rule. All lumber of less than ten feet is unsal

22

CHICAGO YARD GRADING.

able, except when in quantities, as it is often found in irregular lengths at gang saw-mills, when it is known as " clips." This is sometimes sorted as to quality, but has no classification; it is usually sold as a bulk, either by the pile or by straight measure, and is often of a desirable character for builders.

Widths and Thickness.-The wider a board is the more latitude is allowed for defects. This remark applies generally to lengths, widths and thickness, although as a rule, unless a board holds plump to an intended thickness, it is measured to the next standard below. In dimension, or bill stuff such as joist, scantling or timber, a variance in thickness is almost universally allowed by dealers and consumers, although strict rules of inspection demand full sizes in all respects.

In wholesale markets a board measuring a half inch or more over a certain width is measured at the next lower number. In retailing, however, the half inch is properly counted, while in some markets the "give and take" principle is observed; that is, if a full half inch or over, it is called at the next higher figure; if not full half inch it is called back to the last full figure.

The following table shows the average weights obtained in the actual shipment from Chicago of 20,000,000 feet of pine lumber, during an entire

CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INSPECTORS.

Inspectors of lumber are not manufacturers, and must measure and inspect lumber as they find it, of full length and width (except as to wane, which must be measured out or inspected in a lower grade), making no allowance for the purpose of raising grade, unless so instructed by the buyer and seller.

In hardwood inspection, the inspector is instructed to use his best judgment, based upon the general rules laid down for his guidance. The standard knot is to be considered as not exceeding 14 inches in diameter, and of a sound character. Splits are always of a greater or less damage to a piece of hardwood lumber, and allowance must be made either in determining the quality or quantity, according to the nature of the defect. A split extending to exceed one foot will reduce a piece to one grade lower. All hardwood lumber should be sawed 1-16 inch plump. Thin lumber is not considered marketable. No cull is considered as having a marketable value which will not work one-half its size without waste. Lumber sawed for specific purposes, as axles, bolsters, reaches, harrow timbers, newels, balusters, etc., must be inspected with a view to the adaptability of the piece for the intended use, as in many cases it cannot be utilized for other purposes. In the inspection of combined grades of firsts and seconds, an undue predominance of seconds should always be judiciously ascertained, as the purchaser is entitled to the full average in quality, based upon the average mill run of the kind of timber involved. Standard lengths are always recognized as being 12, 14 and 16 feet. Shorter than 12 feet does not come within the range of marketable, although sometimes admitted. In black walnut and cherry an exception is made, and 10 feet is recognized as a standard length. Shorter than standard lengths, in all varieties of hardwood lumber are to be reduced one grade in quality. Mill culls are never recognized as marketable, and all culls which will not work to the use for which the timber or the size is applicable, without wasting more than one-half, is a mill cull of no recognized value.

Flooring is always understood to be 4 and 6 inches in width, and 1, or 14 inches thick; other widths and thicknesses would be designated as special sizes.

Hickory never should be cut while the sap is rising, as it is then liable to powder-post, and indications of deterioration of this character should be carefully scrutinized.

Newels from all kinds of timber must be cut outside the heart, to square 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 inches when seasoned; the lengths must be 4 feet (full) or the multiples thereof.

Balusters must be cut exactly square-12x1%, 2x2, 22x2%, 3x3, and 4x4. Lengths must be 32 inches. Table legs may be 28 and 30 inches.

Black walnut counter tops must be 12, 14, 16 or 18 feet long, 1, 14, 12, and 2 inches thick, and the width must not be less than 20 inches.

Bolsters must be 4 feet and 4 feet 6 inches, or the multiples thereof, in length, and the size must be 3x4, 3x42, 32x5, and 4x5.

Reaches must be 2x4 and 22x4%, and the lengths 8, 10 and 12 feet. Harrow timber must be 22x21⁄2 and 3x3, and the lengths 5, 10, 12 and 14 feet.

Hickory axles must be clear and in lengths of 6 and 12 feet for sizes 32x42, 4x5, 4x6 and 4x6, and 7 and 14 feet for 5x6 and 5x7 on special order, all cut from tough butt logs. Brash timber is excluded.

Ash wagon tongues must be clear and 2x4 and 22x4% at one end, by 4x4 and 42x41⁄2 at the other end, 12 feet long and from tough timber.

Thickness shall be recognized at 1, 14, 12, 2, 22, 3, 4, and 5 inches in all classes of hardwood boards and planks.

When lumber is sold in this market to be measured merchantable (sometimes called "workable "), the inspector must measure full, except in culls, which are to be measured at one-half.

It is important that all lumber should be parallel in width, squareedged and with square ends. Taper lumber shall be measured at the small end. Ordinary season checks are not considered a defect.

In poplar or whitewood, marketable thicknesses shall be recognized at %, 1, 14, 11⁄2, 2, 2, 3 and 4 inches; 2, 4, 5 and 6 inches are classed as special sizes. When squared, the sizes shall be 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, 9x9 and 10x10, and should be sawed 1⁄2 inch plump.

Black stains, black specks and worm-holes are considered as serious defects in hardwood lumber, usually reducing to grades lower.

POPLAR, ALSO WHITEWOOD.

Inspection grades shall include firsts and seconds combined, select common and cull.

Firsts and seconds must be 10 inches or more in width and free from all defects up to 12 inches. At 12 inches one standard knot and 2 inches of bright sap may be allowed; at 14 inches, 2 knots and 4 inches of bright sap. Defects may increase in proportion to the size of the piece.

Selects include widths from 6 inches upward, free from defects to 8 inches, but at 8 inches may have one, and at 10 inches two standard knots. Defects may increase with the size of the piece in proportion. Bright sap shall not be considered a defect.

Common shall include all sound lumber not less than 6 inches in width, not included in the former grades. Bright or slightly discolored sap is allowed, but black knots shall be excluded. In this grade not less than seven-eighths of the piece must be workable without waste.

Culls shall comprise all widths and sizes below the description

of common, in which not less than one-half the piece is available to work without waste.

Box boards shall be 12, 14 and 16 feet long, from 13 to 17 inches wide, free from all defects except bright sap for one-third of their width. (See instructions.)

WHITE ASH, ALSO BLACK ASH.

The inspection grades shall consist of firsts and seconds, common and cull. Sap shall not be considered a material injury if bright and in good condition.

Firsts and seconds must be 6 inches wide and over, but clear up to 8 inches. At 8 inches, defects may be allowed equivalent to one standard knot, and at 10 inches two knots, and an allowance of more defects may be made in proportion to increased width. Must be free from hearts and dry rot.

Common shall include all widths 5 inches and over. At 6 inches, one standard knot may be allowed; at 8 inches, two knots. Defects may increase in proportion to the size of the piece.

Culls include all defective lumber-heart-shake, knots beyond standard, and defective sawing.

Wagon tongues must be clear, cut from tough timber, straight and free from all defects.

Flooring strips must have one face and two edges clear. (See instructions.)

OAK.

Shall be inspected as clear, second clear, common and cull. Clear must be 8 inches wide and over, free from all defects. Second clear must be 6 inches wide or over; at 8 inches wide will allow one standard knot; at 10 inches, two knots. No other defects shall be allowed in this grade, but their extent may increase with the size of the piece. Bright sap is not considered a defect.

A combined grade of firsts and seconds must not comprise more than 66% per cent of seconds.

Common must be free from heart-shake, but thick plank may contain sound hearts, if well boxed. All knots must be sound.

Culls consist of bad-heart plank, wormy or generally unsound

lumber.

Flooring must have one face and two edges clear.

Wagon stock must be of sound and tough timber.

Oak timber must be sound in all respects; sound hearts not showing on the outside of the stick shall not be considered defects. (See instructions.)

HICKORY

Hickory shall be classed as boards, plank and axles. Boards and plank shall be inspected in firsts and seconds in one grade, and must not be less than 6 inches wide. At 8 inches may have one standard knot; at 10 inches, two, or bright sap, but no other imperfections. Defects may increase with size of piece.

Axles and reaches must be clear and of tough timber.

Culls include all lumber not up to the preceding description. (See instructions.)

BLACK WALNUT AND BUTTERNUT.

Counter tops must be strictly clear.

Black walnut and butternut shall be inspected in grades firsts, seconds, common and cull.

Firsts shall not be less than 8 inches wide, and must be free from all defects.