Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-12-08

to many uses. Ii is not a finishing
lumber in any sense of the word,
or in any of the finer uses to
which pine can be put, but it is
fully as strong as pine, fully as du-
rsble, and those who have used il
extensively will, in a majority of
cases, take it in preference to pine
for scantliug, joist, and sheathing
boards, as well as for small timber.
Carpenters will never use it in pre-
ference, just as they would never
recommend oak, because OF its
more difficult working. II is not a
pleasant wood to handle when dry
because OF the stiff and horny
character OF its slivers, but when
man gets accustomed to handling
it, his prejudices melt away and
his sober judgment recommends
its use.
If during the past season from
100000 to 100000 feet of
hemlock in 3xl2, Skill and kin
dred sizes, and in lengths Of from
20 to 2S or so feet, had been thrown
upon the Chicago market, we have
not the slightest hesitation in as
ssrting that every stick would
have been taken at perhaps triae
under the price of pine, but at re-
rates to the producer.
Hemlock timber is valued at less
than, or not to exceed one quarter
the value Of pine stumpage, and
when cut in the spring for the
bark, is as easily and chcaply haul
ed TO the streams as pine mill |
men do not like to saw it, but this
arises from prejudice more than
from legitimate cause. The knots
are hard and CLASSY and are sup
posed to be hard on a saw, but !
sswyers in regions where it is |
handled find but little difficulty on |
this score, and the objection dis
appear with familiarity in its man
pulation. There are billions of
fcet of good sound hemlock close
oy the streams which have been
stripped of pine in Michigan, and
here are many mills which being
placed in an uncertain and pre-
'arious situation as regards future
'ine stocks, might with great pro-
II run on hemlock for many years
o come, and turning their atten-
ion to the manufacture of sizes and
hspes for which il is well adapt
d, and exercising reasonable care
n its selection, avoiding the sbaky
nd poor timber, might find fully
'reater degree of profit in it than
q pine. We are free to assert that
is wanted, and would find sale
q this market, and that its alb
ence hitherto has been not only
rom the great plentifulness of the
inc supply, but also from an un-
leaning and unwarranted preju-
ice on the part both of manufac-
urers and dealers, fostered by
'rejudice OH the part of carpen-
ers, who are not inclined TO risk
few extra slivers in their hands,
IT DESTROYS Of showing the chisel or
he slick any faster than they are
low compelled to. This latter
objection is the most potent to pre-
'ent the rapid introduction of
lemlock, but as in all other parts Of
he country, will speedily give way
o the conviction that after all, the
'xtra labor was more imaginery
han real. Hemlock in most soils
S as well adapted 20 plank roads
nd will last as long as pine, and at
me dollar per thousand less in
rice than pine, would largely SUI
'ercede the use Of the latter for
DAD making, sidewalks, scantling,
DIST and small timber. With pine
scarcer each year and
more valuable in its stumpage, the
as to the development
II the existing resources in hem
ock is worthy Of the careful at
ention Of lumbermen.
STATE NEWS