The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-22

pressIy states that the building is TO be
constructed Of stone, brick and iron
AS 20 the taxes, il seems strange that
the West Coast Lumberman and your cor
respondent we're not aware that me Duttd-
ing is to be erected from money derived
fror1 the sale Of granted lands. and so even
the lumbe-nen don't pay any taxes Tor i.
Victor Fl Beckman. editor Of the Pa
ciiic Coast Lumber Trade journal, was
asked yesterday as 10 his views on the
points made hy Mr. White. and the reply
OF Mr Copeland. He said.
\ Great Deal In 1t.
"Mr Copeland Is mistaken in his state
ment that there Is nothing in IT. There is
q great deal in it. 7 have not Yet seen
copy Of the specifications, and so ] can not
state with authority to what extent they
VII exclude Washington woods from the
capitol But + can say thai they exclude
them iusf so far a. white oak IS called Tor.
The use o. white oak instead Of fr In any
portion % the building wsu De serious
matter 10 Washington lumbermen.
"Afr Copeland appears 20 rest under
INSTRUMENTATION as 10 the ground on which
the use OF Eastern oak viii &c criticised or
objected 20. II certainly Is not because
Washington lumbermen are 10 pay for IL
with their taxes: FOR although they have
done so much for the development OF the
state ard are Justly entitled to have their
interests considered the manner OF paying
for the Eastern oak would cut no figure
with them Neither would the amount OF
oak used be the basis OF their protest The
real ground OF the wrong would be il me
apparent preference thus 70 he given 20
Eastern oak over Washington Or. " IS
not the money. not the method Of payment.
not the proDortionate distribution Of the
various woods. bat the apparent conces-
sion that Washington fir is Inferior 10 oak.
"If the architect puts oak into the build
hear the last Of such remarks as Wash
ington FIR Is no good. Even Washington
men don't use il in their own public build
ings'
MI Copeland's statement about the
small amount OF wood TO be used is frrele-
want as is his talk about having the build
ing up TO date. No intelligent lumberman
will object to having the building mainly
Of stone brick and IRON but however
much or little wood IS used II should prop
erly come from within our own state Dor
ders. more particularly as II has been dem
onstrated time and again that our own
wood is preferred even by Eastern men.
Take, for example, the great Philadelphia
depot of the Pennsylvania railroad, in
which some 500 600 feet Of our fir is used,
with Eastern oak far more accessible on
every hand. and cheaper"
Then Mr.. Beckman ran over some facts
and figures about the tests in which Wash
Ington fir has proved its superiority. and
If be could have had Architect Fiagg for
an auditor even that gentleman might have
been convinced.
\ Lumbcrman's View.
John L. Bell, practical lumberman with
many years of experience in both Eastern
and Western lumber fields. who has just
purchased the Standard mill at Kirkland
aBd is moving il 70 Everett to put In Dig
plant there. was in tho city yesterday, and
in discussing the issue thus raised, said:
MIR Beckman Is entirely right 1t win
rot do TO pat Eastern oak into the new
capitol. Such a proceeding would give
Washington lumbermen a black eye all
over the country. This is the most impor-
tant consideration involved. and perhaps
only a lumberman can appreciate the full
influence OF such comment as would fol-
low. But there are at least two other rea-
sons why oak should not be used.
First. our fir actually makes a better
flooring than oak. This is not a matter OF
theory with me, but Of actual demonstra-
ton I have seen the tests made, and know
! what / am talking about.
Second. / am entirely within the bounds
OF moderation when l say that oak would
cost four times as much as fir The choic-
est fir can be had az SIS. and under favor
able contract possibly for less The select
/ stock OF OAK required would cost from $50
/ 20 $50 In the East. and there would be S25
freight 20 pay al thus END OF the line.
The idea = 50 preposterous TO me, l
/ mean that OF using oak. that / should like
1 % know the considerations that determined
! the architect in introducing such speci-
/ ncatjon. Why, take the Chicago. Milw3u-
1 kee 4 81. Paul road. 1t runs right through
! the heart OF the finest belt of oak. yet
/ Forbes. the head storeKecper, now orders
/ nr from this state. and the freight cars
OF the Milwaukee road. flooring. sills and
y all are built entirely OF nr. except the
! humping block NJ the end OF the car. where
/ oak Is used. because III splits easily With
! the grain"