FORESTS--STATISTICS
65
in. 1925. Abundant supplies of raw material, and a reliable supply of
labour contribute to the advantages thatthe province offersfor the establish-
ment of these subsidiary industries.
Bird's-eye view of mills at Shawinigan Falls, Quebec
Destructive Distillation of Wood.—At present there are nine
factories in Canada for destructive wood distillation of which four are
located in Quebec. Charcoal, methyl hydrate, acetate of lime, acetic
acid, formaldehyde, and turpentine are the principal products. The value,
of products in 1926 was $773,054. The woods used are birch, beech,
maple, oak, and ironwood, and for the most part only material unsuitable
for the manufacture of lumber is used, being such as would be cut for
sordwood, or wasted in lumbering operations. All portions of the tree
are used, even to the small branches, and any piece larger in diameter
than five inches in split to admit of the easier penetration of the heat of
decomposition and the freer evolution of the gases.
The capacity of the four plants in the province is 168 cords a day.
The wood is cut into about four-feet lengths and is seasoned for a year
or more to dry. When ready for distillation a cord weighs about 3,700
pounds. Wood distillation presents a good opportunity for the econo-
mical utilization of the hardwood waste in wood-using factories.
Other Wood-using Industries.—There are numerous other indus-
tries using sawn lumber and the products of the sawmill as their raw mate-
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