, 1886-07-20
GOING LIKE THE BLACK WALNUT.


Advice to the LumbermeD.
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 tina
tree had been slaughtered to fry pork
came a time that it vas 40 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 hat lands used in that way are
an investment exceeding in value a
~long-running government bond.
The people of the east are Just learn
ing the value of our redwoods. The
some of the finest veneering material
that is produced by any North American
tree. The time is coming when men
will make fortunes quarrying out its
stumps, in search of the charming curls
which are to ornament h work OF the
cabinet-makcr. But, besides this, the
body lumber of a redwood is of great
beauty. Polished and vanished, as an
inside finish it is scarcely inferior to rose
wood in richness, and for use in furni-
ture-frames it very nearly r%eproduces the
beauty and durability of mahogany, with
the additional advantage of being much
lighter, and, therefore, easier to handle.
The great redwood region of Humboldt
county and vicinity has not been opened
long by the lumbermen. If i'll the
ground beneath it there were gold de-
posits 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 ii may not serve. Its durability in
exposed situations is one of its marvels.
1t has been used extensively for posts,
pickets, and railroad ties. The latter
purpose alone calls for a supply of nearly
LOCO, 900 annually, equal to over 2O,0OO,-
900 of feet, board measure. In a recent
article in these columns on the Hawaii
reciprocity treaty we pointed out the in
terests of our growing lumber trade with
those islands. One sawmill company in
Humboldt employ several ships in that
trade alone, and besides that outlet the
redwood lumber goes to Central and
South America.
We have no doubt that this noble red
wood tree is destined to go through the
same experience as the black walnut,
and that in a few years its rich tints and
whorls will be priced n all cabinet work
and be a valued feature in the inside fin
ish of houses. OF curse a large per-
centage of the body timber will be util-
lied in less noble ways, but such per-
centage will also receive additional
value by its association with the finer
parts of the tree.
1t is time for lumbermen to begin Gull
ing and saving for these delicate pur-
poses, for fashion once established in the
direction of these uses will call rapidly
for all that can be supplied. The farm
ers of Indiana are tearing down their
worm fences built Of black-walnut rails,
and selling the seasoned sticks to the
chairmaker for prices that will refence
their fields with pine and paint the
boards and leave a margin of profit on
the operation. 1t will not be strange if
in n few years the pickets and base of
many a redwood fence in this state
should bring money to help pay off the
mortgage on the and it incloses. In the
eastern lumber regions there is no such
all-around tree as the redwood. 1t is
the superior of black walnut for every
use to which that timber is put, and has
every excellence Which inheres in wood
besides. For all these reasons our coast
wise mountain slopes have n treasure in
the redwood, which should make the
owners of it very firm in their holdings
and very conservative in its use, for it is
yet to see its highest priced days.-San
Francisco Alta.