The Sun.
London, England, 1821-03-20 00:00:00

Is there any difference in the weight of American and Baltic fir ? I believe
the weight of the red pine is nearly equal to that of timber of the Baltic; the
yellow pine'lighter.
Does the American timber appear to have grown quicker than it grows on the
shores of the Baltic, or the contrary? lam not able to answer that question.
Could you furnish the committee with an account of the times when the timber
used in the construction of the ships in 1795 and 1796 was received into the
dock yards, and when the timber used in the construction of the ships in 1813 was
received into the dock yards? I dare say we can. -
[The witness was directed to furnish this information.]
Can you state to the committee, from your own knowledge, that the timber used
in 1813 was at all times properly piled after it was received, and placed in proper
situations for seasoning ? I believe it was, agreeably to the usages of the service.
Are the committee to understand that all the timber used in the construction of
those ships in 1813 was received into the dock yards, and issued from thence? Yes.
None of the timber, so piled, was within the reach of the spring tide ? No, I
think not ; but all the timber of course was transported from the dock yards to the
merchants yards, and of course floated across the river to the merchants yards ;
those ships were built generally on the opposite side of the river, and the timber
was floated from the dock yard at Deptford, Woolwich, or Chatham.
Do you know whether it was piled carefully in a dry place in the merchants.
yards, before it .was used in the merchants yards ? I cannot tell.
Can you furnish the names of the contractors who built those ships ? I can.
TT [The witness was directed to furnish this information..]

Then, as far as respected that necessary to come for the stowage of the masts,
the alteration, of the duties would make no difference•?—None.
Is the Committee to understand, that you, are not acquainted with anydistinction
in the qualities of timber, as shipped from Canada, and shipped from New Bruns..
wick and Nova Scotia ?—We have ever given the preference to the timber shipped
from New Brunswick, but it is subject to the same disease; I think the timber
from New Brunswick is preferable; but I am not sufficiently master of the sub-
ject to say which is from the one and which is from the other.
It bears a better character ?—lt does.

Luna, 12. die Februarii, 1821.
The Right hon. THOMAS WALLACE in the chair.
Sir Robert Seppings was called in, and examined.
You are one of the surveyors of navy ?—I am.
How long have you been connected with the naval department ?—Ever since
1782.

Your attention has been officially directed to the construction of ships in the
King's dock yards ?—Yes.
In the course of the time that you have been so employed, your observation
has been particularly directed to the different kinds of timber that are used in
the dock yards ?—lt has. •
You are therefore acquainted with the timber that is brought from the north of
Europe, as well as that brought from America ?—Yes, I am.
Are both kinds used in the dock yards ?—The timber of the growth of North
America is not at this time used in the construction of ships, excepting for par-
titions or bulk-heads; also for masts, yards and bowsprits.
Was it at any time used in the construction of ships in the planking ?—lt was,
very generally I believe, from the year 1807.
How long has it ceased to be so used ?—About five or six years, I should think.
State the reasons why it has ceased to be so used ?—lt was from experience
found to be very.subject to decay, particularly in generating fungi, which is the
forerunner of dry rot.
Is the fir from the north of Europe now used in the construction of ships ?—lt
is, that-is to say in certain parts, not generally. •
• In those parts to which fir was applied about the year 1807 ?—Not so gene-
rally, but since that period (1807) ships were built with American fir ; this took
place in 1812 and 1813.
You speak of King's ships ?—Yes, of the red and yellow pine, and the pitch pine.
• Are shims now built with Baltic fir ?—We have lately built a frigate with Bal-
tic.. fir by way of experiment, to try the comparative uurabuity of that and larch.
What larch ?—Scotch larch from the Duke of Athol's estate.
Have you had any opportunity of ascertaining whether ships built of Baltic fir
are subject to the same defects as those you have attributed to the Canada timber?
I believe in the year 1796 or thereabouts, there were a number of frigates built
with Baltic fir,-and their average durability was eight years. In the years 1812
and 1813 there was a certain number of frigates built with the pine of North
imerica, and their durability averaged about four years.
In speaking of the North American timber, do you speak of that of. Canada,
or do you speak generally of all which is brought from North_America ?—I speak
of that of Canada generally ; I include in my answer every description of fir and
oak said to be of the growth of North America.
Do you happen to have made any comparison, with a view of ascertaining the
different qualities of fir brought from the different parts _of North America ?
No, I have not -made any particular comparison between the timber of Canada
404 that of New Brunswick.
Have you at any time made any experiments with a view to ascertaining the
comparative qualities of the Baltic and American timber, or do you give your
answer solely from the experience you, have had in shipbuilding ?—I give my
answer of course from my experience ; in point of strength I have made com-
Purism&
What have been the results P—The yellow pine we find to be weaker than the
Brittle timber ; the red pine possesses greater tenacity in the first instance, but
tenacity has nothing to do with durability.
Have you ever made any experiments, or has your observation been directed to
the different species of fir timber brought from the north of Europe, and the com.-
Psn'ative qualities of that brought from different countries of the north of Europe?
es; I have made a comparison of the Riga fir with the Dantzic and the
Memel fir.
Be so good as to state, what the result of that comparison is ?—I should rank
a certain description of Dantzic fir as possessing the greatest durability : the se-
cond Riga, the third Memel.
\l'hat is the reason that in enumerating the timber from the north of Europe,
You do not mention that which is grown in Sweden and Norway P—The reason
is, that it is not of sufficient dimensions; it is not used in His Majesty's yards in
consequence of its not being of sufficient scantlings.
Is it used for spars or yards ?—Yes ; small spars,
Then you mean, that it is not used in the construction of ships ?—Yes.
As compared with these, hoW do you rank the American timber 2—l should
rank the American timber for shipbuilding inferior to them all, from my positive
experience.
In speaking of the comparative durability of the different kinds of timber, do
You include the comparative subjectness to dry rot ?—I spoke of the American
timber being most prone to the growth of fungi, much more than any other tim-
ber that I am acquainted with.
Have you in many instances found the Baltic timber subject to the dry rot at
all ?—Oh yes, certainly : every description of timber is subject to the dry rot, if
Put into a situation that is friendly to it.
;What particular situation do you allude to ? —ln the confined parts of the
pall4l, such as in the wake of the bread-room, the magazines, and such other
speaWhere there is not a free circulation of air.
kwhatother respect is the American timber inferior to the Baltic ?—I can
f,() or no other respects, but its not possessing durability, in the same propor-
••
LL that the timber of the north of Europe does.
Nlll3es the dry rot apply to the planking ?—Yes ; in the oak of the growth of
°rth America particularly, I have seen a four-inch plank of American oak on
the
bottom of a ship, nearly decomposed to its surface.
pin the account you have delivered in, there are several ships built with red
ile, the average lasting of which appears to have been about four years ?—Yes ;
think that was the extent of it.
bid all those ships come under your observation ?—Yes ; I believe I may say
aeaeruy.
you superintend the building of any of them ?—Yes, I did, by occasional
‘risits.
tb_What proportion of them were built in the King's yards and what in the mer-
firs' yards ?—None of the ships built with American pine were built in the
g's yards, but the government provided the materials.
The materials therefore came under your immediate observation ?—Yes, the
government supplied the timber.
of,:tYas the timber supplied by the government for the construction of those ships,
to Lne same description and in the same state in which it would have been applied
4 the construction of ships in the King's dock yards ?!—Certainly, of the same
escription ; it was of the best quality of the kind.
t, bo you conceive, that the ships were as well built in the merchants' yards as
they
would have bee in the King's dock yards ?—I think in some instances that
'ie3r were equally son but ships at that time were not built with the same care as
they 4 are at present, namely, they were exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather,
lid now they are excluded from them in the King's yards.
the t appears that there were seventeen ships built in the year 1813 ;;were not
bu.Y built upon a sudden emergency, and in a great hurry ?—Yes, they were
on an emergency ; that is always the case with fir ships.
Iyhfas that the case with the ships built in 1798, and 1804, 1805, and 1806,
ieh appear to have been built in the King's yards P—l cannot answer that
si,.4eation exactly, the period is so long ago; but I can, by referring to documents,
gliply the period when each ship was commenced, and when she was finished.
T [The witness was directed to furnish this information.]
pr's it not generally the case, that ships built in the merchants' yards have
aved less durable than those which have been turned cut of the King's yards ?
jenerally speaking, they • are.
kin you reason to think that those ships, if they had been turned out of the
tOUiit S yardp, would have lasted longer than they appear to have done, by the ac-
w• Which has been delivered in ?—No, Ido not believe that their durability
°ll4l have been much increased.
the,l„ hen you attribute their having lasted so short a time to the wood with which
14 were constructed, and to that only ?—Yes, to that cause only.
af,,, you recollect whether the wood with which they were constructed had un-
Cgone thse seasoning which wood applied to the construction of ships usually
eLeve
before it was employed some instances the timber had been received,
IR the some years (two or three) before it was applied for the purpose of bad-
frigates.
liev ean you point out the ships that were built with that seasoned timber ?—I be-
[The witness was directed to furnish this information.]
toi ere there not several line of battle ships broken up, or obliged to undergo a
tLesiderable repair during the last war, in consequence of the dry rot ?—Yes,
hh:e Were ships that were built both in the King's and merchants' yards, that
2,1),r few years service required very considerable repair, after a comparatively
servic
11 e•
sto ere those ships built of English or Foreign tamper ?—Built of English
N°, what do you attribute ships built of English timber having been so parti-
tSariY subject to the dry rot?—ln many instances they were ships built in great
exposed during their building to the vicissitudes of the weather, and the
41\,°(1,115tion of unseasoned materials with seasoned ; it also frequently arose from
t4),1 ships being sent into hot climates and thereby deprived of what is techni-
c the second caulking, so highly necessary to new ships.
tho, termed
any of the same circumstances have been the cause of the dry rot among
'•Vre frigates built of the American timber ?—Those causes, no doubt, in some
tiq 5e facilitated their decay ; but the frigates that were built of the timber of
4,.tlorth of Europe, were equally exposed to those causes.
1414t?ii have stated as one of the causes of the dry rot in the line of battle ships,
hatin the building they were exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather ; was not
formerly the case with all ships that were built, that they were exposed for
V: years in the dock yards to the vicissitudes of the weather ?—They were so. to, 4. ere there frequent instances of the dry rot at that time ?—I believe the dry 30: was always known in the navy from its earliest period, more or less ; but a
fused
wax, and the trying services which our fleet has had to contend with, have
4-°„oed the defects of ships to be examined into considerably more than they were
*Let
late war
periods ; but I might say, if we had examined ships at an early part of
war as we have done within the last tenyears, we should have had very
few ships to have fitted out a fleet with, for although a ship may have many de-
eCtg, she still is sea-worthy.

Has any instance occurred, of a frigate being built entirely in the king's yards
of Americantimber ? None, that lam aware of : it will be right to say, though
we call them fir frigates, there is a proportion of oak.
You say, that the American pine timber is*Reculiarly subject to the dry rot ; slo
you consider the American oak so ? Yes ; the North American oak I have seen
equally so.
Were not the contractors for building the frigates in the merchants yards obliged
to furnish them within a limited period ? They were.
Was not that period much shorter than the time that is. generally allowed for
building frigates in the king's yards ? The period for building ships in the mer-
chants yards is generally shorter than that at which the same work is performed in
the king's 'yards ; they have no limited time in the king's yards, in the merchants
yards they have.
Is not that rapid building unfavourable to the durability of the timber ? Rapid
building with unseasoned materials is very unfavourable to the durability of the
ship ; but rapid building with seasoned timber is favourable to the durability of
the ship; if the ship be exposed.
Is timber that has been floated up the river to the merchants yards in a fit state
to be immediately used in the construction of frigates ? To use it immediately
would be very improper ; but timber must undergo a change in form, by being sawn
or hewn, which takes up some time, before it can be introduced into a ship.
DO you know that part of that timber, so employed in building those frigates,
was not left upon the mud, in situations where it was occasionally overflowed in
spring tides ? It is probable it was ; but I cannot speak to that.
What is the shortest period within your experience, that ships built of English
oak have been found subject to the dry rot? I have known them in so short a
period as two years; in some instances, in less time.
Do you think that English oak, used in the construction of those frigates built of
fir, being so subject to dry rot within the period of two years, it might not have
affected the fir, in place of the fir affecting the oak ? No ; I consider that the oak
was injured by the fir, as much of the oak timber was good when it was taken out.
Is it the practice in the navy to use the fir plank of Canada for deck plank ?
In some few instances the red pipe has been 'applied.
In such instances, has it been found subject to dry rot, or to premature decay
from other causes ? It has, more so than the Prussian deals.
Is it the practice, in the king's yards, at all times to keep their fir timber piled
dry in the yards, or to keep it afloat? The timber which is applied to the con-
struction of ships is generally kept dry ; that which is appropriated for masts is
immersed in the water. •
Has the dry rot been found to exist in those French and Spanish prizes (ships of
war) that have been captured and afterwards broken up in our dock yards ? Yes;
I have seen the dry rot in a very great degree in many French ships, but not to so
great .a degree in Spanish ships; they have been built chiefly in South America,
I believe.
In those instances did those 'ships appear to be of great age, or otherwise ? The
ships I have seen it to the greatest extent in, were the Hercule and the Desiree,
and many other small vessels ; I have seen it as bad as in any English ships.
Have you had occasion to remark, that the yellow pine of North America is in
general cleaner and freer from knots than the pine of the Baltic ? Yes, con-
siderably so ; for which reason we generally apply it for carved work, for ships
heads and sterns.
You have stated, that you have known of instances, of a ship, built of English
oak contracting the dry rot in two years ; can you name the ship ? I think I can;
the Foudroyant and the Bulwark; I name these two, in the king's yards; I could
mention others in the merchants yards also.
Is there not a quantity, of fir timber always used in what 'is called an oak-built
ship ? Yes, there is.
In those.two ships, was the fir timber Canadian or Baltic ? It is not absolutely
in the fabric of the ship that the fir thnber is used.
Was any Canadian fir used in those two ships ? I cannot say ; I should sup-
pose not; if there had, I do not think it would have at all injured the ship where
it is applied.
To what do you attribute the early appearance of the dry rot? I have stated
the causes before, when I referred to a ship being built in haste and sent to hot
climates, and so on.
You say that Canadian timber is still used in the yards for large masts, yards,
and bowsprits ? It is.
Can you inform the committee what is the durability of Canadian timber when
used for those purposes, as cOmpared• with Baltic timber ? That will depend
much upon the climate in which the ship served ; if in a hot climate, the durability
of the American timber, particularly the yellow pine,'would be very short; if in
a cold climate, it would be prolonged.
Upon the hole, is the Canadian timber in masts as durable as the Baltic ?
Certainly not.
Why do you use it, if it is not so durable ? Mast timber of proper dimensions
is not to be procured, I believe, from any other part of the world.
Is it likely, that in any event, except that of absolute necessity, any fir frigate
shall again be built of American or foreign fir timber ? I should Suppose not.
Is the time necessarily occupied in the conversion of the timber sufficient to
remove the effect of any moisture which the timber may have imbibed, either by
being floated from the place where it was piled into the merchants yards, or from
being exposed on the mud at high tides? I should suppose, if the timber is re-
duced, which is generally the case, in its dimensions, that little of the wet which
it receives by being transported can be injurious to the durability of the timber,
because, although the timber. is floated, I do not apprehend the water can have
penetrated further than a quarter of an inch.
Were the ships that were built in 1796, of Baltic fir, constructed in the mer-
chants yards or the king's yards ? In the king's yards. -
Have you ever seen, yourself, the effect of placing a piece of American timber in
contact with a piece of well-seasoned European timber ? Oh yes, many times.
What has that effect been ? 1t has been to inoculate it with the disease.
Yoit mean, that it has communicated the dry rot ? It has.' I have seen when
a piece of American timber has been added to another, to fashion it out, termed
an eaking, which has been of American oak, where fungus has commenced upon
it, and has considerably injured the piece that it was in contact with. I have
never seen 'fir so applied.

You speak of English oak, and American ? Yes.
Had they been equally well seasoned ? I imagine so.
Are you aware that the &timber coming.from Canada is improved in quality
within the last few years, from the period at which they cut it, or from the dif-
ferent manner in Which it is sent over? No, lam not aware of that.

You are not aware of the contrary ? No, lam not. The timber is very well
manufactured in point of shape, and so-on.
Do you suppose that any mode of preparing or manufacturing the timber could
obviate the existing objections to its quality ? No, lam afraid not. You may
prolong the durability of bad timber, but I am afraid you cannot make it equal to
the other.

What, in 'your opinion, are the relative qualities of American and English oak
for the purposes of ship-building ? I consider the English oak as superior to the
American, as the Baltic fir is to the fir of that country. The American oak is
very bad ; I think, of the two, the oak is worse than the fir.
HOW would you state the result of the experiment between live oak and British
oak ? I should think live oak better than British oak.

Has it been used in our dock yards ? No, it has not been ; I have seen ships
that have been built with it. .

Can you furnish to the committee the result of the different experiments which
you state to have been made with respect to the strength and tenacity of American
and Baltic pine and oak timber? I will furnish the information.
Is not the proportion of fir timber used in the construction of a ship compared
with oak timber very small ? Very small ; it being used only for the flats or
flooring of the upper and quarter decks, half beams, &c.
You stated, that there were scme parts of a ship, the masts, the bowsprit, and
other parts, for which you conceive the American fir to be necessary? Yes, ab-
solutely necessary, as the materials cannot be obtained of sufficient dimensions from
any other part of the world that I am aware of.
Does the same necessity apply to the large description of our merchant ships ?
I should suppose so.

Do you at know what the quantity of timber imported for those purposes is?
or can you form any conjecture upon that point? 1 have not the means of an-
swering that question.

But whatever it is, no reduction or alteration of duties can affect the importation
of timber for those purposes ? Certainly not; that is to say, the timber must be
procured.

Have you had no experience of the durability of North American timber when
used in the construction of buildings ? No, I have not.
Would it be possible for ships to come loaded with those large masts, to which
you have referred, without bringing smaller descriptions of wood by way of stowing
their cargoes ? Certainly not ; for which reason we generally make our contracts
so as to introduce a small proportion of smaller articles, for the sake of the stowage
of the larger.
You state, that whatever might be the state of the duties, the timbers for, the
masts must necessarily come ? Certainly.
And that if the timber for the masts come, a certain quantity of smaller timber
must come with it ? Yes, that has been the usage always.

. .
//„._,J7S), Tr/TiPPL IIA)VIE N. , PI/ 7rg II FIE SUN
,
THIS DAY•-•
r.
o BE DELIVERED G_RATIS.
MINUTES OF- EVIDENCE
Taken before the Select Committee appointed to consider of the
means of maintaining and improving the FOREIGN TRADE of
the Country; and to report their Opinion and Observations
thereon to the House.

e

r) 7.

Was the situation damp and confined ? Not particularly so.
With what timber did you replace those joists? I put in oak, for the purpose
of being doubly secure; that is not so liable to the dry rot, certainly.
Had you used Baltic fir for similar purposes, in the same situation ? I had, in
the same house, in a situation where it was equally exposed to damp, and there
was no dry rot.
'How many years has the oak stood with which you replaced the Canada tim,
ber ? About six or eight years ; that is perfect.
Have you any reakon to believe it has taken the dry rot ? It has not.
In very unfavourable situations, oak will take the dry rot ? Yes, in very un-
favourable situations, but not so soon as fir.
Did you use American fir joists on the first floor, in your own house ? No, I
did not.

Have you reason to believe that American fir, in that situation, would have been
affected with• the dry rot ? I have never tried the experiment, and cannot speak
to it.

You have stated, that you made this experiment seven or eight years ago ?
Yes.

Are you aware how long the pine timber had been seasoned that you placed in
that situation ? No, it was in the timber yard ; it had been recently imported.
' You state, that the instance where you saw the dry rot, in the course of a year,
was in two lanks laid together, in a timber yard ; in your timber yard there is a
great quantity•of•Canada plank and deal so placed ? Yes.
Have you found that generally the case ? We do not place them so, generally ;
lately they have been so placed as to admit of air between them.
Do you know of more than one instance ? Yes ; it was a report of my clerk
lately, that they were obliged to move some deals that had been placed for six
months ; there was a kind of mildew.
You deal very considerably' in Canada timber, as a timber merchant ? Yes;
I clo.

I Do not you find mildew and symptoms of dry rot appear where Baltic planks
are laid together in the same manner ? No, we do not.
Is not the American yellow pine in general much cleaner and freer from knots
than the fir of the Baltic ? Yes, it is cleaner, and of larger dimensions,' and on
that account it is preferred for some purposes.
Have you any experience of North American timber being used in house building
for a period of ten or twelve years, which yOu have found either subject to dry rot,
Or perfectly free from it? No, I have not ; there has been an opinion against this
timber, which has prevented its being used by all professional men in public works.
You state that Baltic deals are generally twenty per cent. inferior to Norway
deals, how much then do you consider Canada deals inferior to the Baltic deals ?,
Any opinion must be very speculative ; the present market price would be the best
guide for that; according to the present market price it would probably be from
thirty to forty per cent.
You would estimate the difference in value between Norway 'deals and Canada
deals at about fifty per cent ? Yes ; lam speaking now very generally, for, as I
said before, -I have attended very little latterly personally to the timber concern ;
the relative prices in the market at this time would be the best guide for that in-
formation. •

As Canada deals are used for other purposes than building, and for some pur-
poses are even of a superior value, is not the difference of value therefore still
greater in favour of the Baltic seals, when used simply for the purposes of build-
ing? There would be a difference ; but upon the scale in which lam speaking,
I could hardly make that distinction. •
Is not the North American timber equally suitable for all the ordinary purposes
of house building, where it is not subject to close confinement, such as floors,
skirtings, mouldings, and doors, window-shutters, and other purposes ? For some
of those purposes 1 think it is, such as mouldings; for floors it is not so durable;
for doors and window-shutters I never tried it ; I think it might where it was not
attached to the wall ; in those cases where the air gets round it, it may be equally
good, but I have had no experience to justify my observation.
Do you think that the consumption of foreign timber in this country has been
materially diminished by the existing duties ?"' No, I should not think it was.
If the duty on foreign timber was not more than a moiety of what it is, would
not the quantity consumed be greater ? I should think there would be very little
difference in that respect.
Has your importation of timber from the Baltic been considerably diminished
since the imposition of the duties ? I should think nor; but I beg to refer to my
partner for the particulars.

[Adjourned to to-morrow at 12 o'clock.l

Midis, 13 die Fcbriuirii, 1821!
The Right Hon. THOMAS WALLACE in the chair.
Mr. John, White was called in, and examined.
You arc engaged in the timber trade? To a very considerable extent.
Are you engaged in it in all its branches ? In all its branches. .
Do you import timber both from the north of Europe and front America? I
do not import it from America.
But you are acquainted with the wood that is brought from Afnerica ? Per.
fecily, I believe.
You have been engaged in a course of some experiments, to ascertain the strength
and value of different species of wood ? I have been so for the last two or three years.
Have the goodness to state the result of those experiments ? think a short
extract of the experiments which I have made, will probably give that informa-
dory, Mr. Lack wrote me a note, saying it was possible I might'be. called upcin
for the information.

The witness read the statement as follows :
" Results of experiments on the stiffness and strengths of various peci-
mens of wood.
The trials were made upon pieces carefully selected as to quality and grain,
and were in substance two feet long, one inch square; they were all front
split portions of timber. The order of stiftbess was,
No. 1. Long sound timber, bent half an inch )
in the middle, 26
by - - 5 •
1 lbs. avoirdupois.
2. Christiana white spruce fir - 261
3. English oak, young wood; suppose 60 Z 237
years; from King's Langley, Herts 5
4. American pine yellow or soft ; from t 23
Quebec - - - -
5. Riga oak (commonly called wainscot) 233
6. White spruce from Quebec - - 180
7. English oak from Godalmin, suppose ) 103
200 years ; old timber
The order of strength, as ascertained by their being broken by the applicatiQii
of weight, was,
1. English oak, King's Langley - - 482 lbs. avoirdupois.
2. Long sound yellow fir - - 396
3. Riga oak (wainscot) - - - 357
4. Christiana white spruce - - - 343
5. American pine, from Quebec - - 329
6. 'White spruce fir from Quebec - 285
7. English oak, from Godalmin - - 218
Other trials of strength were as follows :
_

1. .Alice Holt forest, full grown timber No.l 455 lbs. avoirdupois.
2. Dantzic.fir, yellow 7 7 435
3. Alice Holt forest,full grown timber, N 0.2 405
4. Christiana yellow fir - - 7' 370
5. Arehangel, ditto - - - - 330."
The only two descriptions of American fir to which you applied your experi-
ments, were the yellow and the white pine of Canada ? Yes.
Those experiments applied to the strength of the different kinds of wood ? To
their strength and flexibility.
Can you speak at all to the durability of different kinds of wood ? I think I can.
State your opinion of the durability of the different kinds of timber hrought
from the north of Europe, and brought from America ; first of the fir ? In general
use, I have no doubt that Norway timber is the most durable, because after many
years, it does not part with its resinous particles. I consider that American soft
or yellow pine is the most durable of the American firs ; [have known it last when
exposed to the action of the sun and weather, for a great period, by the side of
Norway timber, with equal effect,•fully exposed to wind and rain ; if painted, it
does not stand at all so well.
Are you acquainted with the red pine and the pitch pine of America ? lam
acquainted with both.
Have you reason to think they are less durable than the pine you have referred
to? I think so. I have sonic knowledge indeed of the fact. I remember my
father supplying to the Hampstead water company's ponds at Highgate, about
eight-and-twenty years ago, the campshottins which was taken down last year ; it
was perished; and I have seen soft pine which does not appear to me so much
affected as the pitch pine was I have not known the red pine for any thing like
the number of years that I have known the pitch pine.
The comparison you have hitherto made has been on wood placed in situations
where it was exposed to the wind and weather ; are you able to make a compari-
son between the durability of the American and northern fir placed in closer siftia-
.
tions in buildings? 1 am.
State what the result of that is ? I supplied myself to a warehouse in the city
some of the most beautiful red pine that there ever was ; it was placed in a green
wall; but two years afterwards the green wall had destroyed all its effects. I
speak of the red pine of Canada; fungus had grown out of it, and all the strength
of the wood was destroyed.
Was it the end of the beam that was so destroyed ? Yes, the end of the beam,
which came against the green wall.
Have you seen fir brought from the north of Europe placed in the same situa-
tion ? I have.
What was the appearance that exhibited ? Ido not believe it would have beep
affected in such a situation ; I have never seen it affected so.
Have you ever seen the yellow pine you are speaking of in that situation ? f
have.
What was the state of that ? That has gone also.
Equally soon ? In a building of my own in Bryitnstone-square in a shorter
period ; it was not above a year and a half.
Are the committee to infer from this, that you conceive the American timber to
be much more liable to the dry rot than that which is brought from the northern
parts of Europe ? In damp and close situations, certainly so.
Being a timber merchant to a considerable extent, can you speak to the pur-
poses to which different kinds of timber are applied ? I think I can.
State to what purposes in this country the different descriptions of fir timber are