The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-13
WOODS OF WASHINGTON.
Not Alone Fir and Spruce, But Man,
Others of Great Value.

Not Alone Fir and Spruce, But Many
Others OF Great Value.
Puget Sound Lumberman.
To the Eastern man the name of our
great state of Washington IS associated
with big trees. He knows of but three
kinds of trees-fir, Washington pine
(spruce) and cedar. So much has been
said and written Of these woods that the
idea has gone abroad that we have no
other woods. Even the lumberman and
wood working men of our own state have
but little knowledge of the different exist
ing woods outside the three named, and
when asked if we have any furniture
woods they are apt to say no. A visit to
the Tacoma exposition is, therefore. a rev.
elation. Among the most attractive
exhibits is a collection of Washing
ton woods that will open the
eyes of the manufacturer to the
possibilities that exist in the near future
in the way of manufacturing furniture.
The collection, which is a part of the
Worlds fair exhibit, includes sections of
the following trees of the diameters men,
toned: Upland or native willow: year
growth of elder from Chehalis, IS feet in
height; a specimen of elder Is inches in
" =
a soft maple, feet in diameter; tama-
rack, feet 6 inches in diameter; an alder,
2.foot 6-inch oak, a vine maple, 8 inches
in diameter; 4-foot 6-inch cottonwood, a
2-foot 6-inch ash, an 1S-inch yew, a 3-foot
6-inch white pine, 3-foot yellow pine,
pencil cedar, IS inches; 3-foot
white birch "a rare wood in the state), q
2-foot quaking aspen from Sprague, and a
g. L.
about seventy specimens. Each specimen
is fashioned in the form Of chair and is
sawn SO as to show the bark, grain and
cross grain.
1t must not be understood that the
above mentioned trees exist in great
forests; the trees are scattered, but enough
hard wood is often found on a section of
land to warrant the starting of small saw
mills. The cottonwood. for instance, is
found in almost every county in the state
and is valuable wood. Its grain is so
fine that properly stained it makes, so far
as looks go. a good substitute for walnut.
Larch is found in many places in West
ern Washington, and is used more than
any of the so-called rare woods. 1t Is
beautiful wood and commands a good
price. 1t is especially useful in shipbuild-
ing.
Hemlock Tor Alaska pine) exists in great
forests in Western Washington, and is a
highly priced wood. 1t is entirely differ
ent from the despised (?l Eastern hemiock.
1t grows to large size, has pretty grain
and is often paimed off on innocent pur-
chasers for larch. The greatest value
hemlock has is for its tannin. Recent
tests made at the works of the Wiliapa
Uarbor Tannin Extract Company on
Gray's harbor. show that the tannin ex-
l. n
per cent better than that OF the Pennsyl-
yania article. Besides, so good wood is
il that at a recent meeting of the Lumber
mems Association it was decided to put
he nlock under the name of Alaska pine"
on the price list. Next TO fir and spruce
the hemlocl1 forests OF Washington are the
most extensive.
Cherry will be a valuable furniture wood
within the next ten years. Washington is
a fruit country, and nowhere in the
United States is found larger and sweeter
cherries than the ones raised IN the Ever
green state. The trees grow rapidlv and
OF large size. The South Bend Herald of a
recent issue mentions the fact that one
cherry tree in that vicinity measures three
feet IN diameter. Washington and Oregon
are covered with cherry orchards that are
valuable to the lumberman and wood
worker
The oak of this state does not compare
WIFI tine anu southern WOOD
either IN size or quality, but for cheaper
grades OF work it answers the purpose
very well indeed
The maple of Washington is soft. but il
fully as handsome as that of the East 1t
grows rapidly and attalns a large size,
Like the oak. il is scattered.
Ash Is plentiful and of the best kind. Il
Is used every day in the year by the wood
working factories Of Washington and Ore
gon, and considerable is being shipped TO
interior points. II is as plentiful as larch,
Is exceedingly strong aud is a most useful
wood.
There is but little birch in the state
White birch. very rare wood, is found in
Eastern Washington.
Pencil cedar is found in this state.
"hile not as common as the red cedar Of
commerce, several tracts of il have been
found. 90 far there has been no demand
Tor 1t because the fact that il exists in this
state Is not generally known, Il isayal-
liable wood. The writer knows but one
stste-Ftorida-tnat produces pencil cedar,
and the available supply has been goboled
up by Faber. the pencil manufacturer
The pencil cedar of Washington will prove
OF great value in a few years.
Alaska cedar Is also found in Western
Washington. 1t is q highly prlzed wood,
but the supply Is limited. The only place
where II exists IN large Quantities Is in the
Olympic range OF mountains, and the ioca-