ELM - COMMERCIAL WOOD There are several species of elm in the United States, by far the most abundant being the common or white elm (Ulmus americana). Other elms are rock or cork elm (Ulmus racemosa); slippery or red elm (Ulmus pubescens); cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) of the South; and wing elm (Ulmus alata), which is most common in Texas.
White elm is among the lighter of the hardwoods in weight, is not so strong as many of them, and is not very hard. It is, however, a tough, fibrous wood of varied usefulness. Rock elm is heavy, hard, tough, and strong; and ranks next to hickory for many purposes, especially in the line of vehicle manufacture. Slippery elm is somewhat darker in color than white or rock elm, and is about midway between these two woods in mechanical properties. Wing and cedar elm are used for the same general purposes as white elm.
Table 81 Factory Uses of Elm Purpose Per Cent Boxes and Crates 29 Furniture and Fixtures. 19 Vehicles 14 Woodenware and Novelties 7 Musical Instruments Refrigerators and Kitchen Cabinets 6 Agricultural Implements 3 Trunks and Valises 3 Mill Work 3 Sporting and Athletic Goods 1 Handles 1 Other Uses 7 Total 100 The statistical reports do not distinguish between the various elms. The combined uses are summarized in Table 81.
Uses reported for white elm are: Automobile bodies Mission furniture Automobile doors Pails Bails Peavy handles Banana hampers Pews Baskets Pianos Basket handles Pikepoles Bicycle rims Potato crates Billiard tables Power-pump skids Bobsleds Press racks Boxes Printers' cabinets Bushel measures Pulpits Cant-hook handles Refrigerators Canoe-boat bottom boards Riddle rims Chairs Roll-paper cutters Chair bottoms Root cutters Cheesebox rims Seed cabinets Communion tables Shipping baskets Crating Showcases Cultivators Sieve rims Doubletrees Singletrees Drawstops Sleigh runners Eveners Spraying machines Fish backs Stone boats Flooring Store fixtures Folding machines Tanner liquor logs (pipe) Grapples Toys Hand sleds Trunks Hoops (coiled) Tubs Hose menders Wall cases Hubs Washboards Ice chests Washing-machine parts Interior finish Waste baskets Kitchen cabinets Wheelbarrows Ladders Woven boxes Rock elm is used in the manufacture of: Agricultural implements Bentwood Automobile bodies and seats Boxes Bails Crating Doubletrees (plow and har- Ladders rows) Machine handles Dowels Platforms Eveners (plow and harrow) Posts (seat) Feed cutters Rims (trucks) Handles Rockers (chairs) Hay loader parts Singletrees Hounds (vehicles) Sleigh runners and bodies Hoppers Stirrups Horizontal bars Trunks Hubs (light vehicle wheels) Trunk slats Interior finish Wheelbarrows