>>> Marilyn Harper <[log in to unmask]> 11/18/99 11:26pm >>> wrote:

"     Dear knowledgable preservationeers--"

I have to apologise for not belonging to this category.

"logs sunk in lakes and selling the waterlogged lumber.  Since the lakes are in the northern states, I assume the lumber is pine, but don't know that for a fact.  The water is fresh. Do any of you know what this lumber would be used for and/or what special (presumably desirable) qualities waterlogged lumber would have?"

When major bushfires (forest fires) destroyed 25-30% of the mature Pinus radiata plantations in SE Australia in the mid-1980s, the forestry companies felled the dead trees and stored them in the adjacent lake.  They progressively removed them for milling on demand.

I understand that the storage of green lumber in water maintains the timber in a green state, and that the later drying out is equivalent to the normal drying out of timber.  I believe that it prevents (or minimises) the risk of rot or other deterioration occurring in the timber before it is milled.

This is a recollection from reading of newspaper articles, and is not known fact.

I have forwarded both emails to a timber specialist friend and will see if he can confirm.

Cheers

david