The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1879-04-24
Long Norway.

Perhaps parties in towns an
cities along the railroad lines be
tween Saginaw and New York, ma,
be curious 10 know from whenc
comes, and where goes the larg
trains of Norway pine timber tha
may be seen moving eastward al
most daily. This timber is notable
for It's handsome appearance--of a
red cast-smooth and straight as ar
arrow-not less than fifteen inche:
in diameter at the but end, and 7(
feet in length, making altogether
the longest timber as a lot, that
has ever been shipped from this
State. This timber is shipped by
rail directly to New York City, to
be used as piles in the construction
of huge grain elevator, to be built
at Jersey City, opposite New York,
by Hoyt & Vanderbilt. This ele-
vator, which will be the largest in
the world, is intended for the Euro
pean trade. 1t is being built on
the margin of the Hudson river,
and for the foundation these long
timbers are to be used as piles,
which are driven until they strike
the bed rock below, and as close
together as can be driven; thus
making the firmest possible founda-
ton. After striking the rock the
piles are cut off even at tile top up
on which is placed the timbers for
this huge structure.
This timber comes from Clare
county, gotten out in the vicinity
Of Farwell. Three million feet of
this timber, or about 5000 pieces,
is contracted to be gotten on the
Budd Lake division of the Flint &
Pere Marquette Railroad, about
eight miles north of this place, and
the work is now progressing.
Mr.. A. Cameron, who makes
his headquarters at this place, has
also a contract of furnishing this
timber, which he hauls to the rail
road track, about a mile west of
town. Norway pine grows mostly
in clusters on dry, sandy ridges,
and shoots up to great height be.
ing usually very straight and gene
rally free from limbs until near the
top. The bark of the tree is smooth
er than the white or common pine.
The wood is yellow, hard, pitchy,
and very heavy compared with white
pine. 1t is also much fnDer and
stronger, and except the sap or out
er portion, lasts much longer. AS
merchantable timber it's value is
much lower than white pine, the
best quality in boards, selling at
the rate of common pine lumber.
For joice, scantling and long tim
ber, where strength and fiexibility,
is required, it has but few equals.
In parts of this county this timber
is plenty, and not unfrequently
rises over 100 feet without limb.
The largest trees are cut into logs,
but thousands from IL to l6 inches
in diameter, arc left standing in
the woods among the ruins of the
foreset, to be destroyed by, fire and
borers.
The timber now being shipped
by rail is oflittle commercial value,
mostly costs little or nothing, ex-
cept when quite handy to the rail
road, when it is used for ties. But
notwithstanding, it is quite expen-
sive to get out, owing to its length,
which requires considerable clear
ing and road making in order to
haul the same through the thick
woods. After the tree is felled it is
cut off at suitable length, one end
placed OH dray or log boat, and by
the aid of one or more spans ofhors.
es, hauled to the railroad track, foi
shipment.-FarUeU Reg ster.
We have to inform you, Holden,
that part of those logs came from
Nirvana, Lake county, where +.
d. and V. E. Lacy are getting out
a large number.