The morning call., 1893-05-28

Ae0QOClUO, anu dNOHcluoi ~ mas DSSh 49,
mated that the annual production OF lulhoef lh
the Stale is not less than 300, 600, 600 feet.
Dr. Kellogg, in his "Forest Trees OF Cali
fornia" says that probably from fair esil-
mate of the redwood along our coast il would
NOT comprise more than 5000 square miles OF
forest land
The amount OF timber now standing has been
variously estimated, rating all the way from
25, ,OoO 600 600 10 100000, 100000 feet board
measure. While in some sections the land VIII
not Weld more than from 10000 10 $4,000
feet per acre, there are others which will yield
from 25O.ooo to 100000 feet, so IL VIII be seen
how difficult it is o figure the total closely.
spreviou>ly Indicated the redwood belt Is
located ON tile coast of the Pacific Ocean, and
between il and the Interior of the STATE lies
the Coast Range. For this reason the railroad
touches it at only one or TWO points, ana
almost the entire product Is transported by
water. Both steam aud sailing vessels are
used for this purpose. and The capital en-
ployed in the understanding trade is very
important factor In the commercial interests OF
our State.
There are about forty mills engaged in cut
ting redwood, The largest having capacity or
75OOC 10 $4,000 per day. Perhaps tn aver
age capacity of them all would be about $4,000
feet per day.
There was manufactured and shipped from
counties during the year 1891 about $50 0O0,
900 feet. or THIS about 12,000,Oo0 went to
foreign countries, while the balanc p s. o0o,-
600, was -consum in lie Pacific States or
shipped to interior States.
recent writer thus enumerateS the widely
divers, purposes for which this rema kable
wood is so largely in demand:
'Tbe heavy wood placed III the underpinnInG
of house or for fence posts lasts Tor many
fian IL is H. ed n IA q
sion OF all other timber on the Pacific Coast,
the ordinary life of a redwood lie being f. ON,
ten to tweve years, while a pine VIII hardly
last four or an oak six. Toof covered WIN
redwood shngIs will last until the nails rust
off. For outside or inside finish The ease with
which it Is worked into brackets and holdings,
and The quality of never swelling or shrinking
when once dried. causes il to stand without Il
rival, willie its great variety of color and grain
and lis susce pubiity of receiving higD finish
bring II into great favor with those who desire
novel effects in interior decorations.
Containing no pitch resin, IL does not
burn with Tie readiness or heat of pine, and is
more easily eXiuguished, an important quality
which Insurance agents have recognized In
fixing the rates of insurance. There Is In
humboldt County 'hreprooP warehouse built
OF heavy redwood plank; also iheater BOW
building, which is being protected from sur
rounding buildings in the same manner.
''F0r feimenting wine tanks it is far superior
to pine or any other wood. The insect which
frequently troubles wine makers by boring
through the rank-staVes never troubles red
wood. -
The attention of California has been directed
of late years to the intelligent preservation of
her valuable forests by the limiting Of waste.
During recent years many petitions and
memorials have been addressed TO Congress by
citizens of the State urging the extension of
the reservation system and the Withdrawal
from entry OF al timber lands in the Slerras
remaining unsold.
The Paddock bill 'for the protection and ad-
ministratIon Of the public forest reservations
is one immediate result ofthis movement.
II is not intended to hamper or retald the
legitimate lumber interest,", but has for its aim
the nuSbandiy of that great interest as we'll as
the preservation of valuable watersheds which
may be maintained as the s!orehouses of great
agricultural wealth.
On this point the State Board of Forestry
says: 1.-The water flowing in California rivers is
more precious than the gold lying hidden in
tEeir sands. So long as the forests cover The
mountainsides the streams Will flow with some
evenneSs throughout the year; but when the
forests disapT ear the rivers will become rush
ing torrents in the spring aud dry arroyos all
the rest OF the year. The forests of the Sierra
Nevada are the natural reservoirs for irrigation
of the San joaquin valley.
Hitherto the mountains have been left to
the sheep-herder and the mllman, who have
wrought destruction unheeded and unchecked.
Sheep-raising and timber cutting are legitimate
pursuits and entitled to fair treatment. but as
conducted in California for many years they
have not been conducive oth general welfare.
The milman has sashed The forests reckleSsly,
wasting mole than he used and not confining
his operations to his own property. The sheep
nil, liz, hos
the brush annually. burning off the young
growth and killing The large trees. The seed
lings and shoots that ESCAPED the forest fires
were destroyed by the sheep. And not only
has the mature forest been greatly injured but
the total extinction of the forest growth made
inevitable unless the work of devastation be
| stopped"
This indictment, of course, covers a particu-
| lar section. but redwood forests everywhere
should be guarded on account of their immense
value, which is probably greater than any for
ests OF equal area on the EARTH