Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-08-31

A correspondent writes % the
Western World Alaska Is square
shaped, with two horns projecting
\ from the southeast and southwest
corners. the former called south
eastern Alaska, the latter being the
Aleutian Islands. This southeastern
horn Is the place where Is congrega-
ted nearly AL the white population
engaged IN those industries over
which the Government has thrown
no special protection.
Nearly all Of Alaska south Of the
Arctic Circle may be said 70 be vel
covered with timber, except an i'm
material portion facing Behring Sea
aud the AIeutian Islands, although,
II the broadest sense, none Of Il Is
fit for more than local use, except
southeastern Alaska, and most Of
this, from It's remoteness. can never
expect 70 compete with the more val
liable and vast timber fields Of BTi-
sish Columbia, Oregon and Washing.
ton Territory until the latter are sx.
hausied. There Is one exception TO
this general rule, however, in q very
valuable kind Of timber found near
the tip Of the southeastern horn,
along the Pacific Coast refer 10
the yelleW cedar Of AlasksH parlance.
For q number Of years Il has been
used upon the northwest coast as q
fancy wood, from its exceeding flne
texture, great durability, and odor
which, though agreeable to the genus
homo, Is sure preventive to moths,
and other good qualities for cabinet
making, special woodwork and 80 on.
The yellow cedar attains en0r-
nous size compared with the dwarf
ed species by which il IL surrounded.
often reaching . height Of over 100
ieet and corresponding diameter ai
the butt, shown in the confer family.
When l was Ia Boca de Quadra inlet,
Alaska, not far from Dixon entrance,
which separates this Territory from
British Columbia, We had to unload
IS tons Of freight at 8 salmon can
merry there, and this was done In two
loads BY 3 raft made Of two logs Of
yellow cedar not yet thoroughly sea.
soned. ] thought they were ten feet
at the butt, 80 grand were the logs,
but probably twO-thirds that would
be about the truth. Even 10 the re.
gion that this extremely valuable tree
0ccuples-the lower third Of south.
eastern Alaska--it is not found 10
large districts, either in compact for.
ests or struggling cases among Other
kinds, but rather in little isolated
groups, or patches here and there,
10 acre and 100 acre lots, so TO speak;
but. once found, this patch Is quite
densely populated with them. This
would really be greatly In It's favor
In securing these groups as timber
land. Some of them, however, are
quite large, and many have never
been well outlined. and Others, no
doubt, are yet To be discovered In
this almost wild country. Most Of
1t grows near the water, and this
phase, in an Alpine country, cut up
by numbeFlees channels and inlets Of
water running In every direction sad
creating thousands Of islands. may
be readily appreciated. Near by the
old Russian towns the clumps have
been exterminated by them before
we came in possession of Russian
America, and had they held il | have
bat little doubt It would now be
worked on 3 large scale, or monopo-
LIKED by some Muscovite iavorites.
While living In Oregon and the ad-
jaceut Territories, / have often heard
these valuable fields of timber dis
cussed by parties who desired some
law TO protect them In securing them,
and was more than impressed with
their sayings when ! afterwards visi-
ted the districts look on the In.
dustry based on this timber as one Of
the future 'bouaRzas' Of Alaska, and
the only one IN the line Of timber"