Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-20
THE CALIFORNIA REDwOODs.
A Region OF Magnificent Timber that
isSteadiDy Increasing I'm Value.

A Region or MAGNIFICENT Timber that
isSteadiIy Increasing I'm Value.
So speedily and yet so quietly has the
cutting OF our lumber forests gone on,
says the San Francisco Alta. that the coun-
try is called out Of its inattentian 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 exhaustion. III 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-
pion doubles the value Of every uncut tree
on tie 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 Con-
tinenf. Indeed. stories OF its magnitude
and excellence were set down a. travellers
tales. When proof was offered that out OF
one California redwood tree a large church
was built complete, pulpit and all. down 10
the contribution boxes. there were sly allu.
sions 10 Baron Munchausen having lived
out OF his time. or having passed away be-
fore he suffered the humiliation OF an eclipse
in preyarication by a California artist in
that line.
Now there is a change. The solemn and
solid forests OF California, Oregon, and
Washington Territory are being looked to
as the future source OF supply upon
which. at least, the whole interior will
shortly depend for it, building lumber.
There Is no doubt that in few years an
important eastern freight by sail and rail
will be the lumber, ath, and shingles taken
out Of our forests.
IL is fact already that Europe resorts to
Puget sound for masis and other Important
supplies for ship-building, and an Ameri-
can revival OF that industry would compel
us TO supply heavy home demand for the
same purpose. Such revival Is sure 10
come. so that we may as well count 1t
among our estimates OF future business.
We have one timber that should be cared
for. We can ememher when black walnut
was hacked down to burn as coTd-wood.
After the groves OF that tree had been
slaughtered TO fry pork came a time that II
was so valuable that an individual tree was
worth from 800 10 $500. IL is sliced INTO
veneers, and is so priced by the furniture
trade that the process o. replanting II Is
going OIL in the certainty that lands used in
that way are an investment exceeding in
value a long-running Government bond.
The people Of the East sre just learning
the value of our rcdwoOds. The slumpS
and roots and trunks furnish some Of the
finest vcnecring materials that is produced
by any North American tree. The time Il
coming when men will make fortunes quar-
rying out its stumpN in search OF the charm
ing cur's which are TO ornament the work
OF the cabinet-maker.
Rut. besides this, the body lumber OF
redwood is u great beauty. Polished and
vanished. rs an inside finish il Is scarcely
inferior 10 rosewood in richness, and for
use in iurniturc-lramcs 1t very nearly re-
pIoducos the beauty and durability OF
mahogany. with the additional advantage
Of being much lighter, aud, therefore,
easier To handle.
The great redwood region OF humboldt
county and vicinity has not been opened
Tong by the lumbcrmen. II in the ground
beneath il there were gold deposits OF rich
ness averaging with our known mines,
vet Il would be safe to say that
here + greater wealth in this timber.
II i so free in working that there
i no use for which wood is sought that il
nav not serve. Its durability in exposed
situations i one Of its maryels. II has been
used extensively for posts. pickets. and
railroad ties. The latter purpose alone
calls for a 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 81 our
growing lumber trade with those Islands.
One saw-mil company in Humboldt en-
ploys several ships in that trade alone. ana
iesides that outlet the redwood lumber
goes 10 Central and south America.
We have no doubt that this noble red
wood. tree is destined TO 20 tSrough the
same experience ~ the black walnut, ana
that in a few years its rich tnts and whorlr
will he priced in all cabinet work, and be
valued feature in the Inside uniSh Of
houses. OF course a large percentage OF
the body-timber VIII be utilized m less no.
bic ways. but such percentage VIII also re-
coive additional value by its association
with the finer parts of the tree.
II is time for lumbermen to begin culIing
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 season.
ed Sticks 10 the chair-maller for prices that
will refence their fields with pine and paint
| the boards and leave margin OF prott on
the operatIon. II Will not be strange II In
4
few wears the pickets and base Of many red
wood fence in this state should bring money
70 help pay OF the mortgage on the land II
| inclo.Cs. In the eastern lumber regions
| there il 10 such all-around tree as the red
wood. II Is the superior Of black-walnut
for every Use to which that timber is put,
and has every excellence which inhcre- IN
wood besides. For all these reasons our
roa>iWise mountain slopes have n treasure
| in the redwood which should make the
owners Of il very firm IN their holdings and
very conservative in its Use, FOR II Is yet to
see rs hlgbcst-priced days.
We are not informed as to the renewal Of
| redwood forests. II ii be possible it should
| be foatered 10y the exclusion Of timber
ircs and protection Of the young trees. for
| in that way the limited areas upon which
I grows in commercial quantity and per-
| lection will he invested with the same per-
| manent value that would fall 10 mine In
| which the bOnanzas were sure OF reproduc'
tion at fixed neriods