The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-30
F0RElaN WOODS.

| FORElGN WOODS.
Value and Extent OF the Importation.
Use for OrnameatalFu misrepresentation
Proportions OF Mahogany, Cedar an.
Rosewood-Uses OF American Timber
n. Y. Commercial Bulletin.
| There has lately arrived in this CITY
cargo of logs from Havre, of the kin,
known as Circassian walnut, and compris
ing among it some trees of extraordinar,
size. 1t does not apparently differ in grai1
or quality from American walnut A
dealer, who is familiarity acquainted will
the nature and extent of the importations
said to Bulletin reporter that the cargoel
had arrived here because of the scarcenes
of our own timber. formerly" sale
he, "Ohio and Indiana were covered
with excellent black walnut, but the for
mer State has been cleared off for years
and the latter finds her power for answering
the demand greatly lessened. These States
are comparatively woodless, and few very
fine trees are standing. 1 have seen the
logs brought in by the'Katie' and'I cannot
notice any difference between them and
our timber except, perhaps, they are little
redder. They came from Hayre, but
where they were grown cannot say. The
United States still have some timber, but
the immediate accessible supply is rap.
IDLY diminishing. We have for Ions
time imported the more precious woods
and suppose the time cannot be far
distant VIXEN other woods will be brought
in. There is no duty on them, and in
many places where they can be obtained
there will often be short cargoes of Other
things"
a prominent firm of importers said they
were familiar with the question of foreign
woods. There never has been a time. u
said they, when some of this commodity
was not brought in; just as in Brazil today,
covered as it is with forests from end to
end, they import pine and other lumber
from the United States and Canada. But
until lately the kinds sold here have only
been OF the varieties we do not grow.
Prominent among them is Spanish cedar.
1t seems TO have some qualities which
American cedar does not. It's use is almost
entirely for cigar boxes, while the Florida
cedar has its chief utility in lead pencils.
WHAT'S not consumed here is bought by the
Fabers and other European manufacturers
and taken abroad. The sizs of the Spanish
logs ID from twelve inches to three feet
square, which is true also of mahogany, the
next largest article of importation. This is
very rarely used in solid shape, but is
worked up5in veneers, the cutting being
done in this city and elsewhere in the
Union. For lot time this wood d. fie
the ordinary cabinet maker, but the
machinery now in use is capable of saving
OF shaving scarcely thicker than sheet
of paper with the greatest of ease. Mahog-
any has been out of favor for a number of
years, bnt of late seems to be retaining
hold. The new methods of combin-
ing it with lighter woods relieves it of
that som berness which formerly character
lzsd 1t. There never was a time, how
over, when some people did not admire it
and have articles of furniture made from it.
Next In order to these in value would
place rosewood. This comes from Rio de
Janeiro and Bahia, and is more largely
used in pianos than for anything else.
Many people admire it very much. Its
value depends upon the richness of its
color and upon its figure. 1t is sold differ
emily from other woods, being disposed of
by the pound at prices varying from two
to seven or eight cents. The importation
OF mahogany in this country last year
might have been about %, 600 logs; of cedar,
80. 700 logs, and OF rosewood, 1900 logs"
Another importer thought we had much
to gain by the introduction of more varie-
ties OF foreign woods. There has grown to
be too much sameness about our house
hold furniture and decorations. Those who
have watched the trade for many years can
remember when curled maple was the
rage, and when cherry was considered the
proper material out of which to make
everything. Mahogany and black wal cut
have each had their day, although they
will still continue to be used largely. The
last fashion has been for French walnut
red wood. But there exist in South Amer.
lea and Africa, TO say nothing about Asia,
many trees of whose qualities we are
almost entire ignorant, and which would
serve an admirable purpose in decoratin Q
our homes. We still have considerable
satinwood, although that is now out OF
favor; ebony is of great value in affording "a
contrast, and lignumvi';e is used Tor blockt
to pulleys and similar purposes "a con.
siderable Vuantity OF these various kinds
are imported year by year, but not as much
as we ought to have considering the wealth
OF our people and their disposition IL
spend money" Y
do the native woods OF the United
States compare with those we import as Il
beauty?' inquired the reporter.
"No," was the answer. "The foreign
woods are the hardest, have the best co!ol
and the finest granting, and the mos
it will sink iu water. But we still posses
an admirable variety OF woods. Our oak il
excellent, although we occasionally impor
some from England, as it is of darker
color and has more knots. No materia
for general use can be moro effective thar
black walnut, and our butternut, ash, red
wood and other treesg give us great variet,
10 choose from. Bayard Taylor had mucl
OF his house flashed off in pine, and i
looked well. The furniture which is made
in Grand Rapids is sold in considerable
quantities in Scotland, and it is sent abroad
more or less all over the world. There il
no reason why the rarest products OF the
East Indies and of Africa should not bt
used here, EXCEPT the difficulty of getting
people out of the ruts OF old habits.''
The total imports Of wood and manuflc
tured wood for the last year reported was
Sl4. 49,, G04. OF this, there was for box
" 1od, SlS29l; cedar, $3.50, 1862; ebony, ST.
344; grandma, s8,Ill: Lakewood, SlO,G34
lignumviiie, SEQ, $50; mahogany, S560,4l2
rose, $260,757; sandal, 1902, and all olhel