Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-06
EAST TEXAS TIMBER.
Description of Few of Our Valuable
Trees.
A Nine Of Natural Wealth Whiting for the
Manufacturer OF Tanks, windmills, Pumps,
wagons, Carriages, PIOws, Etc.
Sew Birn1ingham Times.

southwestern Iron ana Lumber RECORD
the monthly industrial journal published
IN New Birmingham, and contains some
useful information concerning our tim
Der:
Nature was indeed prodigal when she
endowed East Texas. A review of all
the resources of this favored region might
well lead one to believe that every want
of man could here be supplied. In no
one respect is it more blessed than in the
variety and extent of its
forests. If the timber now stand
ing in East Texas were cut into
marketable shape it would have higher
value than the entire state of Georgia,
her mines and railroads included. The
variety of this timber is commensurate
with its extent.
In this communication it is not my in
tention to enter into an exhaustive
treatise of our forests, but simply to
mention, in as brief q form as possible,
the common names and common uses of
our common trees.
Pine is the most abundant and the
most Important; tall, straight as an
arrow, smooth, brown scaly bark IN
broken by limbs for fifty feet or more,
then crowned with an evergreen, needle
like foliage. Such is our pine that even
familiarity cannot rob it OF its majestic
beauty. OF this tree there are three
varieties similar in appearance. The
wood of the curly yellow is probably the
most beautiful in the world its intricate
shades, waves aud curls defy description.
II is fine, smooth and hard. This wood
is used extensively for ornamental finish
ing, and is superior to mahogany in
nearly all the uses for which that wood is
celebrated.
Long leaf yellow pine is noted for
being nearly all heart. 1t is beautiful
and most serviceable wood, being used
for flooring, building and shingles
= Long leaf white is also an excellent
lumber wood but is chiefly valued for
the important articles of commerce it
furnishes-tar, pitch, turRentine and
rosin.
Red sweet gum-If ''pretty is as pretty
does'' can be applied, this tree is indeed
beauty. Growing in unnum cred
thousands, it reaches an immense size,
often exceeding six feet in diameter
and eighty feet in height. The grain
Is fine, smooth and hard, the
wood is of medium weight, and in
color resembles white walnut, having
slight reddish caste. None of our native
wood is susceptible OF higher finish and
no wood takes so kindly to stains. Once
seasoned the sweet gum possesses great
stability and is Invaluable for ceilings.
1t also makes excellent furniture.
Black thorne Is on nearly all the hills
and mountains of Eastern Texas. It
reaches growth of nearly two feet. The
wood is of light color and is the hardest
native to this section of country. The
grain is fine and exceedingly tough, and
for buggy hubs, mallets, awl handles,
chisels, etc. it has few equals.
Black locust grows in what is known
as "second bottoms. 1t reaches
growth of about twenty inches in di-
ameter and is the heaviest of our woods
and probably the most durable. For
wagon and carriage hubs its equal has
meyer been discovered.
Linn is the lightest wood that grows in
this country. 1t has grain as fine as
hickory and in color it resembles white
pine. For hoe handles, broom handles
and such purposes it has no equal. In
East Texas this tree grows to immense
size in the greatest quantities.
Sugar maple is abundant along nearly
every stream in the billy regions of
Texas. When mature it is about three
feet in diameter. The wood is of medium
weight and light straw in color. The
grain is close and smooth, marked with
beautiful waving dapples. It takes q
fine polish, and when finished in its nat
ural color makes the most beautiful fur
niture, and is valuable for any purpose
requiring a strong flexible wood. An
large flow of sap from this
tree is converted into syrup and sugar.
White or shoe-peg maple, as it is COM
monty called, is an even, straight
grained wood, nearly white. quite hard
and heavy. It is abundant, and is used
for making furniture, shoe-pegs, etc.
Birds-eye maple, the most valued |
member of the maple family, Is used al
most exclusively for the better grades of |
furniture and interior finishings. The |
wood is nearly as white as holly, with |
small brown dapples. It is one of our
prettiest trees, aud grows to large size !
IN limited quantities.
White ash grows three feet or more in |
diameter. The wood is tough and hard, |
aid makes fairly good ak handles, buggy |
;pokes, plow stocks, etc.
Blue ash is general favorite with |
hard wood workers. 1t is extra hard,
strong and springy. The grain is close |
ana even. For car cOacneSs T6apeTS ana |
blow stocks il has no rival. In Fact |
Texas this tree reaches a growth of three
md one-half feet in diameter, and is |
found in any quantity.
Red elm is one of the best light wood |
rees we have. It is exceedingly strong, |
.ough and hard. There is nothing bet |
er adapted to OK Jokes, and the wood |
llso makes excellent axle and saddle |
rees
Slippery elm also reaches quite large |
ze in all our bottoms. The grain is
inc. smooth and tough. 1t will neither
plit nor crack and is valuable for hubs,
addle trees, etc.
Sycamore-This tree is rapid grower, |
having a rather hard and coarse grain, |
,ut its beautiful sIlvery bark and |
of growth makes it valuable
ornamental shade tree.
Cypress is an evergreen tree, known
Ind appreciated for thousands of years
n the swamps and lowlands of East
Texas 1t reaches an immense size and is
Ound in great abundance. The grain
5 straight, even and hard. The wood is /
,ale yellow in color and very durable. 1t /
S the best Single wood known and is
iighly valued for buckets, tubs and
rays.
II