Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-09-16
Our Timber.

OuF 1lMDtT.
The forests OF the north Pacific
coast differ very materially from
those of tie Middle and Western
States, The varieties are 1issimilar,
and the growth of our fir trees great
ly superior to that of any species
found elsewhere on the Continent.
Our timber consists principally Of fir,
cedar, spruce and hemlock, and in
smaller Quantities, maple, oak, cot
touwood, ash and alder The fir is,
OF course, the staple product, and
supplies annually the immense de-
mand Of the whole coast, with oc-
casional shipments to foreign ports.
AS ship-timber, it is unexcelled.
Its freedom from knots or imperfec-
tons of any kind, its even, straight
grain, and the extreme length whi>h
may be obtained froni the taller
trees, render it extremely serviceable
in the construction of vessels in
which it is desirable to utilize every
element of strength. The better
qualities of this timber bordering the
Sound have already been wrought
into lumber and piles, but inexhaust-
able quantities still exist at dis
lance which will prove no insuper-
able barrier soon as the demand may
justify improved means of convey
ance to Underwater. Fir is, likewise,
more generally used in the construc-
ton of buildings and fences, for
piles and as fuel, not only because
it is abundant, but from its adapta-
bility to those uses. There is, about
Olympia, an excellent growth of fir,
and. the supply seems inexhaustible,
from the amount yearly towed out of
our harbor, with no perceptible di-
minuation of quality or quantity.
Logs from 100 to 100 feet in length,
straight as an arrow, without knot
or flaw of any sort, are so common
as to escape especial observation, ex-
cept of visitors, and the immense
booms, aggregating thousands of
dollars in value, which are taken
every month in the Summer season
from our waters, to supply the mills
at Tacoma and Port Gamble, are the
silent harbingers of prosperity to
which we owe, more than any other
one cause, our present thrift. The
prolonged stagnation of the lumber
trade, now happily past, indicates
in an unmistakable manner it's i'm
portant bearing upon local industry
The cedar is sufficiently plentiful
to supply material for doors, blinds,
shingles, and finishing material. 1t
is likewise of superior quality. The
cottonwood, till recently considered
of little value, is found to be an in
valuable material for barrel slaves,
and one of the largest manufactur-
ing establishments in the Territory
owes its existence to this fact. The
maple, although not plentiful, is All
excellent timber for hardwood. fur
niture. Some of the most elegant
and durable articles have been
wrought from this valuable wood.
The curl in the grain of selected
pieces supplies finish that cannot
be excelled by art or nature. Fir is
sometimes used for the cheaper
kinds of furniture, and ash is brought
into requisition for the same purpose
but it does not exist in sufficient
quantity to build up hope of much
profit from it. Our supply of oak
is likewise small and of inferior
quality, although an occasional
growth may be found which rivals
Eastern oak in toughness aud elias
ITCHY. The hemlock is chiefly valu-
able for its bark, used in tanning
leather.
It will be seen from this brief
summary of the uses of our native
timber that the fir is our main reli-
ance, and the only wood OF which
we can freely boast. The supply is
sufficient at least for this generation,
but care should be taken to prevent
wanton destruction by the fires
which annually consume many mil
lions of feet of grown trees, besides
destroying the underground which
might be serviceable to those who
come after us.
The ship Palmyra left Portland
on the 9Th, with 900 tons of wheat