The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-04-08
A Suggestion 10 the Railroad Com.
panfes of the state.

The vast destruction of the forests of Florida
is a subject that should closely interest not only
the ruiroad companies but also every cOmmu-
niy In the State. Prompt action looking 10 l.
not remote future for profitable returns would
very largely obviate this wasteful destruction OF
the forests which is sweeping away all the small
growth which, if not prcmaturely cut, would in
a few generations yield in full-grown timber
several hundred times as many cubic feet. The
suggestion is that the companies shall plant
along their right Of way, on either side OF their
roads the live oak, either as acorns or small
or Is years growth, would yield from to ties
al 20 years would. if sawed, yield from 8 to ~,
and one of 30 would give al least 90
The tree grows rapidly-no forest tree Of The
country more 80. can point out tree in Tai
ahassee, growing in a most unfavorable posi-
ton, which is about As years old. and which, one
foot from the ground, would give a diameter Of
four feet. This tree would give 81 ties, 6 inches
square to the cut. By digging this tree up,
trimming off the roots, so as to lenghen the
trunk TO the utmost, two cuts could be obtained,
yielding 1913 ties, while the limbs, which are
massy and long, would yield at least as many
more. or 256 ties, by 8.
To show the durability OF this timber will
cite three cases:
No l. About 1S34-5 there stood on the plan
tatiou east Of Tallahassee two and half miles,
called Nahamathla-afer the Indian Chief
whose town was there and who was the Chief o!
the Seminoles, but deposed by Governor Duval-
nd hf.;r,
made of live oak. About % years afterwards Wis
tied the place, and found what had been field
grown into a dense forest forcing myself
through the underground 1 at last found the
spot, marked by the crumbDg rema.:s Of the
furnace. In depression, marking the site Of The
ash pit, stood pine tree about two feet in diam
eter, and close by there lay upon the ground two
live oak rollers about l6 inches in diameter.
Around the circumference of one the cogs were
ranged and corresponding mortices were let into
the other. These cOgs and mOrtices had their
edges az we'll defined and were sound as if
made the year before, being only stained by the
weather; by them laid a limb OF live oak about
five inches in diameter at the but, and between
three and four at the smaller end. There had
been no attempt At shaping il, except al a point
about six feet from the larger end where it had
been fattened and mortice cut through, per
haps six inches by two. This limb had parted
only with its bark, being otherwise sound 10
every respect The edges OF the mortice were
also sharply defined. although lying flat upon
the ground for 80 many years.
Case ID. In 1928 my uncle erected at his plan
tation home q bee house Ii stood upon four
posts cut from live oak sspplings no, large
enough 10 square seven inches. They were
about seven feet long, being placed about three
feet in the ground. In 1881 one OF these posts
was placed on exhibit at the fair held that year,
on the Tallahassee race course, and was The sub
iect Of interesting examination to many. It was
at that time perfectly sound, the portion which
had stood in the ground alone showing any de-
cay whatever, and this only thin superficial
surrounding whose removal TO perfectly sound
wood, would not reduce its proportions to the
extent Of half an inch on the four faces. The
tree from which this post was cut was about IL
yea. old, and at the time OF the exhibit had been
exposed 70 al the elements OF decay for SO years.
and there were NO indications 70 show that it
would NOT, under like conditions, have endured
a. long again.
Sd Case. There now stands at the corner of a
square IN Tallahassee live oak which, during
the condagration Of 1843 which swept away all
the business portion Of the city. was completely
burned and killed a. to its body, Limits and top,
with the exception Of . strip OF about six inches
al the angie most remote from the burning
buildings, On the corner Of the square-exteDd
Ing from the ground 10 the lower limbs The
wood thus killed h, after an exposure Of 4S years.
perfectly sound, and the small "trip which es-
eop00 the burning no3 exp8uAc0 anu grown uu
I'll more than hall Of the dead trunk has been en-
velopsd with new wood, and . top covering an
area Of more than 10 feet In diameter, some of
whose limbs arc eight inches In diameter.
Here then are three Illustrations Of the dura-
bility Of this timber well worthy Of the consider.
atica Of those who have in charge the Interests Of
tbess grsst cofponlionA whose treasures are
depleted annually BY about two hundred dollars
\ r. -
thst thsss tio have TO b replaced every four
yeas In toto. Thers = also % illustration Of
the rapidity 81 growth encouraging 70 the plan
ter and giving promise 81 speedy rstuFna
SCRAP Book.
Mz- Lsoposs Keep Greeley, wife of
Hon. J. g. Gresley, Of Jacksonville, died
last Saturday after ; long and painful i'll
nsse.