Remember how I started out with “Canadian History for Dummies” as a point of reference? OK, I have now graduated to the kind of reading I need for specifics, a detailed history of the industry and economics of the Ottawa River Valley in the nineteenth century where my fourth great grandfather Simon lived. His town had fewer than 1,000 people in it in the 1810s and has fewer than 2,000 now. Go Ottawa River Valley!
A quick synopsis of the difference between lumber and timber…
Lumber often refers to sawlogs – where you take enormous trees and square them for ship masts etc. They’re squared in the forest where they’re felled and then moved by water or train to their destination. It’s actually a very wasteful process as much wood is left behind to dry out and then provide kindling for massive forest fires.
Timber is in board feet for building and furniture and such, y’know, the kind of 2X4s we’re used to seeing. They’re produced at saw mills.
Oh! and then there’s pulp, which is the industry the Valley switched to at the beginning of the 20th century when the larger trees played themselves out.
Looks like “Chapter 2” is going to cover economics as one of its topics.
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