Half of Arkansas Wage-Earners

Arc in Sawmills

About one-half (48.7 per cent in 1929) of. all the wageearners in manufacturing industries in Arkansas are employed in sawmill and logging operations; 45 per cent of all wages paid in the state go to these employees, and 28 per cent of the total value of products of manufacturing industries is reported by this (lumber and timber products) industry, according to the National Lumber Manufacturers Associatiorl.

In the year 1909, Arkansas reported its largest lumber cut of 2,111,300,000 f.eet; lX)7 and 1913 were also peak years. Lumber production in l9D was 1,348,318,000 feet, reported by 796 mills ; in 1930, 869,379,W feet reported by 600 mills, seven of which cut between 25,000,000 and 50,000,000 feet each; 37 between 5,000,000 and 25,000,000 feet each; 69 between 1,000,000 and 5,00O,000 feet each; 487 less than 1,000,000 feet each.

Of the softwood production in 1930 of 569,684,000 feet, Southern pine claimed 533,752f/U]_ feet, and ,cypress 35,932,000 feet. The hardwood cut ol N,695,W feet was made up principally of 776,228,AN feet of oak; 66,213,000 feet of gum; 13,863,000 feet of cottonwood, and 12,494,W feet of ash.

The second industry of Arkansas after lumber and timber products in number of wage-earners and wages paid is car construction and repair. Other important wood-using industries in the state are planing mill produ'cts, furniture and boxes and crates.

About one-fourth of the retail distribution of lumber in Arkansas is within the state; approximately 35 per cent goes to the four states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio; about 6 per cent to Pennsylvania and New York; 9 per cent to Missouri; 9 per cent to Texas and Oklahoma.

Of total lumber sales by Arkansas mills in t929, the Census Bureau reports more than 47 per cent to wholesalers and commission houses, 23 per cent to manufa'cturers, 16 per cent to retailers and 14 per cent to all others, including 7.2 per cent interplant transfers and 3.6 per cent, local sales.