The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-27

Again. the plans for flooring are such
that small pieces two feet long can be used
and put together by some process which
will permit our scrap oak TO be used. Or,
in other words, sort of crazy quilt pat
tern is proposed. The fact Is that the oak
of Washington Is limited and scattered.
II can never have any commercial value.
IL might be used IN the historical room-if
there is one-to show remains" or be used
for cases in which to place the dodo. white
elephants and other extinct species. Mr..
Byron Barlow. contractor for the govern
ment dry dock at Port Orchard, Wash,
says that about 5000 feet of oak was
wanted for the docks. He made extensive
inquiry in this state. but was not able TO
secure 1t. He could have obtained 1t in
Oregon. but finally bought II in the East
at a lower cost
The specifications call for nearly all the
doors TO be made from white pine strips,
though again fir is permitted in the attic
doors. IL there Is a back yard perhaps
the back gate may be made of FIR. though
few people "in the East use fir in such
places. Oregon fir door frames are al
lowed in the attic and basement. This is
kind and considerate. IF an Eastern lum-
herman should visit the capitol he could
see fir finish in the attic IL he happened TO
get up that far In the senate room. house
OF representatives. supreme court room
and in all corridors the specifications call
for quarter sawn oak floors: oak finish
almost everywhere. with n few bits or
cherry here and there. In short, the spe-
cifcations practically ignore fir.
1t is immaterial from the Washington
standpoint whether oak IS generally used
in England or the East for finishing. II
IS not essential that the capitol OF this
great lumber state~should conform TO the
Eastern idea II is settled beyond dispute
that fir makes a handsome interior finish;
though light in color II grows dark with
age, as does oak.
I am not up TO date in wooden VS.. iron
beams In large public buildings, and can
not speak ex cathadra on that point, but
I am positive that n the architect had been
earnestly striving 10 insert Washington
timber he could have easily adjusted the
plans 10 show handsome ceiling effects
with our immense FIR beams. and al the
same time secure strength and the slow
combustion idea. II not absolute fire proof
results IL would not be an entirely novel
idea as he well knows TO use wooden
beams I'm large public buildings IN
fact the recent big fires In New York nave
caused a slight change OF opinion as ~
the relative merits OF iron ana WOODEN
Orders.
The assistant architect seems 10 infer
that because the capitol building Is 10 De
psf for from the sale OF state lands the
Iunbermen OF the state have no taxes 10
pay: ergo. should keep out Of the night !
am glad 10 know that the lumDermen OF
this state have 10 interest in this fund.
one learns a great deal from others. some
times am taking up great deal OF your
space. but feel that row or never ~ 'he
tine 70 protest against an outrage about
To he contaminated, through ignorance ana
prejudice II II succeeds little notice about
IKE this Will sometime appear IN al the
Eastern lumber journals: Jones smith
are making heavy shipments OF OAK from
their Michigan mill 10 Washington. IL -
10 be used for flooring and hnssnlng me
c,as,ol q. c1vrnpta' FRANK II COLE.