The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-10-29

as the New South, an excellent in
dustrial journal recently started in
Richmond, Va, correctly observes.
Pursuing the subject further that paper
says:
We publish below an article from
the Houston (Tex) Post, which con-
tains some practical remarks concern
ing an industry that could be establish
ed throughout the entire South,
although the need is greatest in the
districts of the far South. 1t is graft
flying to see that the Press Of the South
is taking hold of this important ques-
ton and their labor may result in the
development of an industry that has
been too long neglected. The saw
mills of the South have made the
manufacture of pine lumber pay, and
there is no reason why they should
not be equally as successful with the
hard woods. As the Nezv South has
previously stated we have abundant
room for the establishment Of small
industries, and furniture and wood
working plants should be as successful
as many of our factories, in other lines
that are in profitable operation now.
Enormous quantities of furniture are
annually sold here and the bulk is
made at the West. Our people are
large purchasers of pianos, organs,
wagons, implements, and other articles
which could be made here as cheaply,
and sold cheaper, because there would
be double saving in transportation,
in many instances. 1t only wants to
be talked up sufficiently and a new
field of ofprofitable labor will soon be
opened in this section of almost un-
limited resources.
Although Texas is one of the richest
States in the Union, not only in soft
woods, but also in nearly every variety
of hard woods, it is comparatively with
out facilities to consume the latter
product.
Nearly every stick of hard wood
used by the people Of the State is
shipped here from the North, and
though this is somewhat remarkable,
it is easily verified.
Even in Houston, the acknowledged
lumber market of Texas, manufacturers
and merchants are compelled to ship
in their seasoned hard woods from the
Northern States.
Furniture dealers are selling goods
manufactured in Northern cities out
of material shipped from Texas and
Arkansas.
The Cotton Belt Railroad Company
is doing heavy freight business in
hauling raw logs from these two States
to Illinois and Indiana, to be converted
into the finished product and then re-
shipped to the consumer, who may,
probably, in this manner repurchase
the wood grown upon his own farm.
Recently merchant in Houston
spent S12oo for new fixtures for his
store, and purchased every foot of the
material he used in Chicago.
There is large and constantly in
creasing trade in Texas for hard wood.
1t is believed plant to manufacture
hard wood lumber will be a paying
investment in Houston.
In speaking of an enterprise of the
kind, Mr.. George L. Porter said yester-
day:
"Among the enterprises that would
pay here nothing appeals stronger to
the common sense of the practical
manufacturer than a plant for the
manufacture of hard wood lumber.
Texas has any number of saw mills
fully equipped and prepared for cutting
and marketing pine and cypress lum-
Der, but not one for making hard wood
lumber. Pine and cypress lumber
can be had at low prices in all our
lumber markets, but all the hard wood
material is imported from other States
at great cost. 1t is strange that no
effort has been made to utilize this vast
wealth o. hard wood timber to be
found in great quantities over vast
section Of country to the East and
near Houston. Such timber as white
oak, burr oak, red oak, ash, hickory,
gum, cotton wood, magnolia, red
cypress, and curly pine, grow in great
quantities near Houston on lands that
can now be bought at from S per
acre, and the timber goes begging
for a market. A hard wood mill with
steam and dry kilns established here
can buy this timber delivered here
as wanted. cut, season, and market it