The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-07-09
THE CALIFORNIA REDwoops.
A Region OF Magnificent Timber that
81 is steadily Increasing In Value.


cutting of our lumber forests gone on,
says The San Francisco Alta, that the
country is called out of its in-attention
to face the fact that the pine lands of
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota,
which have been our main reliance,
are within few years of complete ex-
baustion. 1t is estimated that within
twenty years the logging days of those
states will be over. Therefore, from
this time on, every tree cut in that re-
gion doubles tho value of every uncut
tree on the Pacific coast. AS long as
the end of the supply in the lake states
was not in sight there was but little
attention paid to our timber region on
this side of the continent Indeed.
stories of its magnitude and excellence
were set down as travellers tales.
When proof was offered that out of one
California redwood tree large church
was built complete, pulpit and all,
down to the contributions boxes, there
were sly illusions to Baron Munchausen
having lived out of his time, or having
passed away before he suffered the
humiliation of an eclipse in prevarica-
ton by California artist in that line.
Now there is change. The solemn
and solid forests of California, Oregon,
and Washington territory are being
looked to as the future source of a sup
ply upon which at least the whole in
terror will shortly depend for its build
ing lumber There is no doubt that in
a few years an important eastern
freight by sail and rail will be the lum-
Der, lath, and shingles taken out of our
forests.
1t is fact already that Europe re-
sorts to Puget sound for masts and
other important supplies for ship-build-
inc, and an American revival of that
industry would compel us to supply a
heavy home demand for the same pur-
pose, Such revival is sure TO come,
so that we may as well count it among
our estimates of future business.
We have one timber that should be
cared for. We can remember when
black walnut was hacked down to burn
as cordwood. After the groves of that
tree had been slaughtered to fry pork
came time that it was SO valuable
that an individual tree was worth from
800 to $500 1t is sliced into veneers,
and is so priced by the furniture trade
that the process of replanting it is
going on in the certainty that lands
used in that way are an investment ex-
ceeding in value long-running go
vernment bond.
The people of the east are just learn
ing the value of our redwoods. The
stumps and roots and trunks furnish
some of the finest veneering material
that is produced by any North Amer
lean tree, The time is coming when
men will make fortunes quarrying out
its stumps, in search of the charming
curls which are to ornament the work
of the cabinet-maker.
But, besides this, the body lumber of
a redwood is of great beauty. Polished
and vanished, as an inside it is scarce
ly inferior to rosewood in richness, and
for use in furniture-frames tvery near
ly reproduces the beauty and durability
of mahogany, with the additional adj
vantage of being much lighter, and,
therefore, easier to handle.
The great redwood region of Hum
boldt county and vicinity has not been
spened long bs the lumbermen. If in
the ground beneath it there were gold
deposits of richness averaging with our
known mines, yet it would be safe to
say that there is greater wealth in this
timber. 1t is so free in working that
there is no use for which wood is sought
that it NAV not serve. Its durability
in exposed situations is one of its mar
vels. 1t has been dsed extensively for
posts, pickets, and railroad ties. The
latter purpose alone calls for supply
Of nearly one million annually, equal to
over twenty millions of feet, board
measure. In recent article in these
columns on the Hawaii reciprocity
treaty we pointed out the interests OF
our growing lumber trade with those
islands. One sawmill company in
Humboldt employs several ships'in that
trde alone, and besides that outlet the
redwood lumber goes to Central and
South America.
Ere have no doubt that thisnoble red
wood tree is destined to 60 through the
same experience as the black walnut,
and that in a few years its rich tlnts
and whorls will be priced in all cabinet
work and be valued feature in the In
side finish of houses. Of course a large
percentage of the body timbers will be
atilized in less noble ways, but such
percentage will also receive additional
value by its association with the finer
parts of the tree.
It is time for lumbermen to begin
eulling and saving for these delicate
purposes, for fashion once established
In the direction of these uses will call
rapidly for all that can be supplied.
The farmers of Indiana are tearing
down their worm fences built OF black
walnut rails, and selling the seasoned
sticks to the chairlnaker for prices that
will rafenco thai, fields with pine and