Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-01
FORESTRY.
What the Census Returns VIII
Show
oregon-An Interesting Subject
Our Timber Supply.

Census of 1850, the reports of which are
not yet printed, present some very interest
ing statistics relative to forestry. Such as
relate to the Pacific coast we have exam.
ined, and have made extracts Of interest for
the RECORD UNIeN reader:
THE FORESTS OF CALIFORNIA.
The heavy forests of California are con-
fined to the Coast Range and the Sierra
Nevada, and extend from the northern
boundary Of the State to latitude "a 30 n.
The most important trees of the Coast
Range forests are the red wood (see Forest
ry Bulletin, Ne. 49, and the red fir (Pseu.
dotSugd DougIdsii). The tide water spruce
tPiced Stitchensis) and the hemlock (Tsuga
MerteRsidaa) extend as far south as Cape
Mendocino, although less generally multi.
piied and less valuable than farther north.
The chestnut oak (Quercus deasjaora). of
which the bark is largely used in tanning,
is still common in the coast forests of the
northern part of the State. The valuable
forest of the western slope of the Sierra
Nevada ia confined to belt between 4, 600
and s 900 feet elevation, consisting OF the
the sugar pine (Pinus Lambertiaaa), the
yellOW pine " Ttuc HOJttNrfOHtJ aht Viz iNt
fire. Small scattered groves of the big
tree (Sequoia gigantea) stretch along the
southern portion of this belt. The slopes
of these mountains, below 1000 feet ele-
walton, are more or less densely covered
with various species of pine, of little econo-
mic Importance and the broad valleys of
the Sacramento and San Joaquin, lying
between the Coast Range and the Sierra
Nevada, are covered, except at the south,
with very open growth of large oaks of
little value except as fuel.
The eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada
is covered with an open growth of large
yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa and p. JEFF
reyi).
South of latitude 81 80 the forests are
open and scattered and OF little economic
value. Those covering the upper slopes
of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto
ranges, composed largely of yellow pine
and red fir, are, however, important, and
supply a considerable local market with
lumber.
The northeastern and nearly all the
southern and southeastern portions OF the
State are entirely destitute of tree covering.
Any estimate of the actual amount Of
lumber standing in the State, except the
red wood, is not possible with the existing
knowledge of the country, and no other
has been attempted. The scale of forest
density adopted for the different regions
is believed to considerably understate their
actual productive capacity. No attempt
has been made to show the regions from
which the forest has already been cut.
The principal lumber industry is confined
to the red wood belt; the line of the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad ON both slopes of the
Sierra Nevada; Butte, Tehama and Mono
counties, and the San Bernardino noun
tains. The total product of the State for
the census year was 304, 795, 900 feet of
lumber, 100000 laths, lSS.7lS,00
shingles, 2,063, 600 slaves and l, 203, 600
sets of headings.
THE FORESTS OF OREGON.
The heavy forest belt OF western Wash.
ipgton Territory extends through western
Oregon. The most valuable timber tree
of the region is the red or yellow fir (Pseu-
dotsuga Douglassii), which forms fully
| seven. eighths of the forest. The tide water
spruce (Picca Sitchensis) abounds along the
coast, and the red cedar (1'hua gigantea)
and hemlock (Tsuga Mertensiana) are com.
mon and of large size.
| South of Coos Bay an important forest of
| Port Oxford cedar (ChamdecypGris Ldc-
! soniand), mixed with the red tir and tide
| water spruce, occurs.
The valleys of the Willamette, Ump-
qua, and Rogue rivers contain an open
scattered growth of white oak (Quercas
Ga1Yyaaa). South of the Rogue River
valley the sugar pine (Pinas Lambertiana).
the chestnut oak (Quercus densyfora), and
other trees of the California forest, occur
| in sufficient numbers to add economic value
to the forests of the State.
East of the Cascade mountains the forests
| are confined to the mountain ranges. They
are open, scattered, and generally composed
Of small trees.
The forests of Wasco county, on the
| western slope of the Cascade Range, when
above 3, 1000 feet elevation, are important.
The most valuable are the red fir, the yell
low pine (Pinus poaderosa), and the larch
(Larir occidentals). The eastern part of
the county is covered with a light open
forest growth, composed principally of yell
low pine.
The slopes of the Blue mountains, in
Umatilla and Union counties, ars covered
with an open stunted forest, consisting OF
yellow pine, red fir, and larch, and, at
above 4, 900 feet elevation, with heavier
continuous growth Of scrub pine Pinus
Nu1rayana}.
Lake county is destitute of timber, ex-
cept on the eastern slopes of the Cascade
mountains and the southern part Of the
county, which contains light forest
growth, confined to the higher ridges, and
principally composed of yellow pine.
Grant and Baker counties are treeless,
except in the northern part, where the Blue
mountains are covered with light open
growth composed chiefly of yellow pine,
with some lsrch and scrub pine.
Any estimate of the actual amount of
timber standing in the State is not possible
with the existing knowledge of the coun.
try. and none has been attempted. The
scale of forest density adopted for the diff
ferent regious is believed to considerably
understate their actual productive capacity.
No attempt has been made to show the
small and scattered regions. principally on
the lower Columbia and Umpqua rivers
and the shores of Coos Bay, from which
the forest has already been cut.
The principal lumber industry centers
near Portland and Empire City. The pro.
duct of the coast region for the census year
was Isl, 443, 600 feet of lumber, IL, $50, 600
laths. and 2,745, 900 shingles, and that of
the State east of the Cascade Range was
25. 72S. 900 feet of lumber, 295. 600 laths,
and 2, 295, 900 shingles.
THE FORESTS OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
Washington Territory, west of the Cas-.
cade mountains, is covered by the heaviest
continuous belt of forest growth in the
United States. The most valuable and
generally distributed timber trees of this
region is the red or yellow fir (Pseudotsuga
Douglasi), forming about seven.eights of
the forest growth. The valuable red cedar
(Thuja gigdntea) and the hemlock (Tsaga
.Mertensiana) are common, and the tide
water spruce (Picea Stchenss) adds value
and Importance to the forests bordering the
coast,