The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-09-20
Oreg0n'S Unearned Credit.

useb oound TIMBER goes everywhere
even into the masts of the fleet Yacht:
made by both America and England
to race for the Americas cup. But
the point of most interest to the peo-
PIE OF this region is that the great spars
OF the noble Douglas fir shipped from
this region as soon as they pass beyond
the state line have fastened upon then
the name of "Oregon pine" The
sparS from which the masts of the De-
fender and Valkyrie have been made
were cut in Sol Simpsons logging
camp at kamilchie, Wash, and after
ward shipped from Port Blakely, vet
| this Is what the Boston Globe of Au-
gust "A says of the Defenders spars
"The massive sticks of Oregon pine
which will replace those in position
upon the cup defender, and which it is
confidently asserted are of sufficient
strength to stand the force of anv
breeze, were carried across the CITY of
Boston yesterday on logging truck
without exciting any unusual com
ment
"At the freight yard Of the n. Y. n.
ii. d II. railroad at Park square, where
the purpose for which they were made
was known, they were objects of great
interest. Little knots of freight hand
lers and officials gathered about the
special train, upon which they were
loaded with expedition Immediately
upon their arrival, inspected the tim
bers and exchanged conjectures as to
their power, strength and cost, and up
on the outcome of the races, the all-ab-
sorbing topic.
"The spars, the larger one of which
is intended for the mainmast. and its
smaller companion, which will be shap-
ed into the topmast, were loaded upon
a train of four fat cars, and rested in
acradle especially prepared for their re-
ception. After being firmly choked
and chained in position, and every por-
tion that rested upon the wooden
frames carefully protected from injury
by rubbing or friction by padding or
mats, the order to go ahead was given,
and at 5 40 pm. the cars rolled out
from the station for fast run to
Bristol.
"The spars were furnished by the
Boston Spar company Of East Boston.
The sticks are of selected Oregon pine,
carefully inspected, and chosen for
their particular fitness for the work for
which they are intended. The largest
spar measured slightly over 80 feet in
length and looked fully two feet in di-
ameter."
The Oregonian reprints the above
clipping, along with the statement
that the news that Oregon furnished
the spars will be surprise to many
people of that state In view of the
fact that Oregon practically has no
cargo trade, local lumbermen are in
clined to think that the Oregonians
may well be surprised. Oregon ships
about six vessels a year, none of which
pass around Cape Horn, while Wash
ington annually sends out at least 100
vessels timber laden, in every direction,
all the way from Korea to Australia
and the Hawaiian islands, and even to
Kimberly diamond mines and the Jo-
hanasburg gold mines in Africa. 1t is
stated that the flag of the Emperor of
japan flies from a stick of Puget Sound
timber, and it is known positively that
the flagstaff on Winsdor castle, from
which waves the Union Jack IN the
daily view OF Queen Victoria, is a specl-
men of Douglas fir from Puget Sound
a Yankee contribution to the furniture
of the monarch of the British isles. 1t
is also true that the largest flagstaff IN
Maine, the Pine Tree state, Is at Lewis
ton, and it came from Puget Sound.
Nor is it a remarkable piece OF timber,
as one comes to think who lives IN
Washington. II is all the Douglas fir,
vet it is known abroad as Oregon pine.
In reference to the particular spars
for the Defender, they were selected by
Adam Pigeon, of the firm of Pigeon and
son, who was in this city about year
ago. The same firm, it is understood,
furnished the masts for the famous
Observation-Disclosures.
Omaha Police Controversy.
81 IL