The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-06-29

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The Times-D smoeEat ~ advsrtis-
ed pretty extensively he advantages
Of the sweet gum - . finishing and
cabinet wood. Il was one Of the first
papers to call attention TO this timber
and the abundance Of it throughout
the South. The Yasoo valley and
the forests Of Louisiana are filed with
it. and the supply il practically mex
haustible. A our chief cabinet wood
black walnut-is rapidly giving
out, we suggested that here was the
timber to supply the deficiency.
Since then, other papers have taken
the mattea up, and the advantages Of
sweet gum have been extensively dis
cussed. It is now quoted in all the
Northern lumber markets, and large
quantities Of it are shipped to New
York and Chicago, where it is being
much used, and bringing good prices.
But, unfortunately, a sad defect
has been discovered in gum that will
destroy its usefulness, unless rem
edy can be found. OF all known
woods, it warps the worst, making it
practically valueless for cabinet pur-
poses. The Northwestern Lumber
man, which has thoroughly investi-
gated this question, finds that all at
tempts to manufacture furniture out of
sweet-gum have proved complete fail
ures. The desks made of it warped
SO that they would not shut, and
several mirrors, the frames of which
We're manufactured of this wood,
twisted SO as to break the glass.
But for this it would be the finest
cabinet material in the world, and
would drive mahogany and black
walnut from the market s1t is the
most beautiful wood to be found IN
North America, " the Lumberman de-
CLAUS; eff properly finished, walnut
by the side Of it, looks like a ceme-
terry to the starry heavens. Il out
shines mahogany two to one. For
beauty, It can be placed alongside Of
any wood, no matter how costly; no
matter from what distant land it may
be brought and it win carry OF the
premium medal every time" Fur
niture made from il Is technically
known as 'tsatin walnut" and COM
mands the very highest prices known
in the cabinet trade.
The only defect Is this exteme liza
bility Of the wood to warp but this
defect alasl is fatal An manner of
preventives have been tried. The logs
have been allowed to remain IN the
water for year or 20 before they
were sawed; the trees girdled year
before they are felled; the timber
closely piled and allowed to sour, and
then seasoned; rift saving has been
tried, and dozen other schemes, but |
all in vain; the gum still persisted IN
warping. and is. therefore, valueless
in cabinet making.
It is not wholly valueless, however,
for it makes the finest known finishing
lumber, and for this purpose quite
demand has sprung up for it in the
Northern and Western markets. For
floors subject to heavy wear it answers
admirably, while in buildings where
large lumber is needed it is Just the
thing.
But this will not content us. II is to
be hoped that some one will discover
process for preventing this varying
there's millions in it. !" The Southern
~
gum, particularly that of the Yazoo
valley and Of this State, possesses
considerably less Wrapping power than
that of Tennessee and the other bor-
der STATES. It ought to be possible
to cure and correct this defect. FL
any one can do this he viii enrich
himself, add millions to the wealth of
the South and benefit the whole
country.