The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-01
TIE crrnEss rIMnEK or LOUISIANA.

From! ne Times !,enOcrnf.
4 wood in which Louisiana has great in
terest is cypress. which the State grows in
larger quantities than any Other in the niQn.
We have valuable cypress swamps along the
throughout the southern portion of this state.
The merits Of this wood have only recently
mont and Orange, Texas began manufacturing
cypress lumber they found very little demand
for it, but they have since quadrupled their
they can saw This lumber is just beginning
TO he introduced into tho Northern markets.
The wood is fine grained. After exposure to
the air it becomes Of u dim reddish color. 1t
possesses great strength and elasticity. and is
pines. To these properties is added the faculty
Of long resistance to the heat and moisture Of
properties Of the wood vary with the nature Of
The soil Tres growing near s the t natural hed
water 10 the height Of threc or four feet have II
lighter rolored bark than those standing Where's
whiter. less resnous. and lighter. These nro
called white cypress The others are darker
Along the Mississippi River. from the delta to
the mouth of the Arkansas River. grow large
cypress swamps. Just back of the cultivated
every year deposited, by the floods. the cypress
trees are I'D feet in heght and from IS to ,'. 10
feet in circumference above the conica base
which at tho surface of the earth is always
tiamcterof the trunk, Those telling the trees
bnid scafrolds five or six feet high upon which
vegetable monsters The base is usually hol-
low for tiiree-iourths OF its bulk, Its surface is
!!2ngitndinaliy fnrrowed with deep channels.
tho ridges of which serve cramps to fix it
more firmly in the loose soil
!, In the preparati9n Of the wood both yarie-
ties, white and red, should be cut in winter.
and seasoned until perfectly dry. II iseXten-
siveI used for building purposes. Roofs coy
cred with cypress shingles from timber cut IN
winter Will last for forty The boards
are preferred to pine for the inside work Of
brick houses aud for window sashes and panels
of doors exposed TO the weather. Cabinet
makers use it for the inside Of mahogany iur-
niture 1t has been used for the sides Of ves-
trunks are frequently made into canoes. some
Of them thirty feet long and iiye feet wide;
vey, water, especially the red variety.
This truly excellent wood is now used for va
uuiry for it. Boat builders use it % consid-
cradle extent. Many OF the small boats be-
longing 10 the mnn-oi-war in the United states
service are constructed Of cypress; much is
used for water tanks, sugar coolers. and els
into tho construction Of houses and house nm
ishng, it being excellent in calling. and large
quantities a ar, made into shingles and railroad
pany ordered 10000 Of these ties to be
used upon its road this season In some
with the large end finished round and
SGagona that h9 rf m|y nrsIns
cha Sr in The rural aSriais and upon Villa"
whore the builders wish In display some ta>t.
in lines that vary from the ancient straight
and conventional methods. Some claim that
shingles, properly prepared will last 100 years.
They are certainly very durable. Wood taken
contact with tho drraying influences Of mud
and water for untold centuries is found to bo
in an excellent state of preservation.
Cypress logs have been taken from
tho soil deem underneath New Orleans
in good condition. Evidences are abun-
dunt and conclusive in regard to the
lasting properties Of the wood Hence II is
gradually creeping into use more and more
each year. Already it is being used in many
houses in Now, York city IN finishing, with
calls for more. Five million shingles II The eS-
timatrd amount of consumption in the. New
York market. with an increasing demand. At
least 3 600 900 feet Of the wood Will he required
to supply the market in IN lroad ties the pres
ent year. and about 2,0OO,OOl feet Of lumber for
general use. 1t il exported TO some extent tn
various ports. Railroad ties hay" tr"n sent Ia
Cuba France, and England. Lumber has been
sent abroad but In no great quantities