Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-07-31
Native Hardwoods.

The Evening Teiegram gives infor-
nation furnished it bv Mr.. S. A. Clarke
which cnntradicls the impression gen
orally entertained that the hard woods
OF Oregon areinfelior to the lard woods
Of the eastern anil i estern states. and
OF small value for the purpose Of gen
eial Manufacture. MIR. Clarke cites
many examples of the durability of
Oregon woods under severe and long
continued use, and points out particu-
larry two wagons built of native timber
which after onstal.t hard usage in a
lanber-yald for twenty years are still
s uld and stiong. Neither has ever
required repair through the wearing
Or breaking of tinlbers, ard are still,
apparently, good for many years, more
service. An eastern wagon of cel-bra-
ted manufacture employed in precisely
the same work during the past seven
years has had frequently to be epaired.
The test, though mere accidental one,
has been perfectly fair and has proved
beyond question, net only the value Of
Oregon timber for heavy wagons,
but its superiority to average eastern
timb
Mr.. Clarke clpims that wherever Or
egon woods have been tested fairly they
have proved sufficient in all respects
and that the idea Of their untitEess
where strength and durability are re-
quired grows out of their improper
use when fresh cut and uuseasoned.
There has never been, he says, a fair
and deliberate trial between Oregon
and eastern timbers where the former
has had equal advantages of age and
preparatory treatment. The wagons
which he cites were made Cf oak and
ash thoroughly seasoned. One was
built at Sheridan, in Yamhill couaty.
and the other at Salem. They were
originally excellent pieces of workman
ship, but were.not designed for compe-
titive, or, indeed, for any special ser
vice. They illustrate the excellence
not of particular job, but of Oregon
materials when properly l.repa. ed and
properly put together.
No timber grown in the moist eli
mate OF western Oregon or Washington
III fo,: Use in its flesh-cut or green
state. Our hard woods particularly
are liable to warp and shrink end their
use before they are thoroughly seasoned
is never satisfactory. With age and
exposure to the air their qualities
changes ard they become hard as flint
and strong aud Durable as iron. The
change is not rapid one nor can it be
artitcially accelerated. Not stick of
Oregon oak should be used in a wagon
till IT has lain EXPOSED to the air four
years at least. Most Of the eastern
hardwood which comes to this market
is prepared in this way and it is not
reasonable to be expected that Oregon
| timber will harden with less exp. sure.
There is practically no limit to the
supply OF hard wood in the mountalis
and hills Of western and Southern. Ore
gon. There are hundreds of thousands
of acres heavily t5nbeted ard easily
accessible. 1t would not be bad in
vestmeht for farmers through the coun
try to store by oak and ash logs to br
sold four or FIVE years from now when
there is certain to be fne demand
at good prices. It seems a slame that
we import many thousands of dollars
worth of timber every year when by a
little foretout tht and enterprise it
might be su ppliel through home pro-
duction. -Ortgonion.