Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-05-09
The State Of Washington.

Inc west Is gettlnS East, and get
ting a large part of the East. The
Baltimore Journal of Commerce de-
voted nearly an entire issue lately,
towards setting forth the resources and
advantages of the wonderful State
From it we select the following:
PRODUCTION OF LUMBER AND EXTENT OF
FORESTS.
laundering was the first industry
developed in Washington. and is still
the most important. The entire
western slope of the Cascade Mount
aims down to the Pacific Ocean is cov-
cred with dense growth of the finest
timber. The area of this timber tract
is estimated at 2O,OOO,OOO acres. The
Douglas fir, known in the markets as
Oregon pine, constitutes the greater
part of the fOrests-probably One-half
and is the most valuable. Trees of
this 200 feet in height and 10 feet in
diameter are not uncommon. Last
year lumberman shipped to San
Francisco stick OF this timber "a
inches thick and 154 feet long.
The Whatcom Rercile says: "Our
land will cut 100000 feet to the
quarter section-mostly fir, with a
sprinkling OF cedar. One fir tree was
800 feet high and A. feet in circum-
ference. 1t was Is feet to the first
limb, and at that point was 10 feet
through. Much of the timbered lands
of the county will yield 12,OOO,OOO feet
to the l6O acres, and there is, at low
estimate, an average of 100000 fee:
of lumber to the square mile through
out the county"
These instances, which might be
multiplied indefinitely, are mentioned
as indicating the wonderful growth Of
timber in the Puget Sound region.
Many sawmills OF great capacity,
equipped with all modern appliances,
are in operation at various points
along the Sound, at Gray's Harbor,
and on the Columbia River. Steam
power is the chief reliance at present,
and rs fuel is exceedingly cheap will
no doubt continue to be the power
employed.
As the shores of the bays and inlets
and the tributary streams are denuded
of their timber, logging railroads are
constructed into the forests. A num-
ber OF these are already in operation.
1t is we'll known that no lumber in
the world equals Puget Sound fir in
the construction of bridges, ware
houses, freight cars Md buildings
which are required to sustain great
weight, nor is there such serviceable
lumber for ships decks; and wherever
this lumber is introduced there springs
up demand which soon becomes per-
manent. The newest customer for
Puget Sound is the city of London,
England. At last the most conserva-
tive Britisher has been forced to ad-
nit that fir for certain purposes excels
all ether lumber, and he pays the
price, together with the freight charges
for a haul of 1900 miles. Until last
year Puget Sound had shipped only
two cargOs to England's metropolis,
and these were clear stuff. Last year
the shipments were nine cargos, most
ly No. l merchantable and the re-
mainder clear. To what use the Lon
don buyers put the lumber is not
know to the mill owners here. A fair
share of cargoes has been made up of
deck plank and flooring, but q great
part OF the orders consist OF sticks l6
K 16 to 24x24 and from 6l to 90 feet
long.
h The annual cut, which is something
enormous, is shown in the tables be-
low. A partial list of these ports is
given with the view of demons
trating clearly the extent of the mar
kct, which is open to the mill men OF
Washington. Actual shipments are
made yearly to each of these ports:
Melbourne, New Caledonia, Ensenada
(Mexico), Shanghai, Valpa, Hilo, Ade-
laide, San Diego, Honolulu, Callao,
Guaymas. Iquiqui, Autofogasta, San
Francisco, Cadera, West Coast, San
Pedro, Sydney, Montevideo, Sandwich
Islands. Rio de Janerio, Kohalul,
Townsville, Brisbane, Hong Kong,
Mollendo, Falmouth, Taxa, Suava,
Fuga Islands, Broken Bay, Coquimbo.
As nearly as can be ascertained, the
number OF sawmills in Washington is
lS1; shingle mills, IL; planning mills,
1852; and logging railroads, %. Many
of the sawmills are of great capacity.
ANNUAL LUMBER CUT FOR THE YEAR
1889.
Puget Sound Mills 6s4is2,65l
Gray's HarbOr &,5OO,OOO