THE GEOGRAPHY OF DOMESTIC TIMBER MARKETS IN EUROPEAN RUSSIA IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH AND THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

Timber for domestic use was floated down the rivers of European Russia from the forested northern and central provinces to the treeless provinces of the south. Mainly pine, spruce, aspen, alder, oak, birch, ash, and linden timber was logged in royal, state, and private forests, rolled to the nearest river, and barged or floated loosely or in rafts downstream to landings at river junctions, where the roundwood was bought by wholesale dealers, who rafted it farther downstream to fairs. There the timber was sold to retailers, who had it cut at sawmills and sold as firewood, lumber, and various wooden articles like railroad ties, barrel staves, poles, shingles, egg crates, furniture, baskets, charcoal, pitch, bast, etc. (The translation was prepared by James R. Gibson of York University, Toronto.)