Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-07-07


The progress of the trade in west coast
lumber has been wonderful to behold.
But few years ago there was nothing
heard or seen of the lumber products of
the forests of Washington, Oregon and
California outside the confines OF the
three states named. Sawmiling was in
its infancy ON the Pacific coast and the
wonderful value OF the forests was not
known to many people east OF the Rocky
mountains. Gradually, lumber manu-
facturers who had closed up their opera
tons IN the east, driited to the west in
quest OF new occupation and they were
attracted by the immense forest trees in
their virgin state.
LAUNDERING on the west coast has pres.
ented some new problems to the manu-
facturer OF lumber Those who came
from the far east or from the newer fields
of the old northwest had never seen trees
that grew to the enormous size of the frs
of Washington and Oregon and the red
woods of California Logging where the
trees ale ten feet in diameter requires
different methods from logging where
they rarely exceed five and six feet
However these conditions have been
met and the trade in west coast lumber
and ehngles is eyer widening.
At first it was thought that the freight
| to the states east of Tie Rockies would
prohibit much extension of trade in that
direction, and as the population OF Wash
ington and Oregon, particularly outside
Of the few cities, was small and widely
scattered, it was expected that it would
be many years before the lumber indus
try would amount to much. The progress
that has been made has proven that first
thoughts did not comprehend the rapid
advancement that was possible. Not
only has the lumber manufactured on the
coast been able to find purchasers in the
central west, but it has pushed onward
toward the east until cedar doors and
shingles are as well known in the states
along the Atlantic seaboard as they were
/ u ICN yCttic et,c III tliC SltltCO tIlttI
ed them. Fir, spruce, cedas redwood
and larch is shipped to the old northwest
I in immense quantities and finds ready
sale in competition with the white pine
manufactured there. Fir lumber and
cedar shingles are invading the territory
of yellow pine and cypress.
But the greatest victory for the manu-
factufefs OF lumber from the forests OF
the Pacific northwest is the gaining Of the
MAJ llet5 OF the western coast Of the entire
continent almost to the southern eXtrcn-
ily Of South America, and the markets
across the broad Pacific. 4 few years
ago it would have seemed an idle dream
to think Of shipping lumber products to
the countries Of Asia, Australia and even
far Africa. For the past four years i'm
mensc shipments ol lumber have been
sent to South Africa and the civilized
islands OF the Pacific, and the counties OF
eastern Asia have been in the market for
still larger quantities. The enterprise Of
Americans and their advanced methods
of manufacture have made it possible for
them TO sell lumber in these ian countries
in competition with anything that can be
produced at home.
There is still another prospect opening
up ior the manufacturers oi west coast
lumber. Recent action by the congress
OF the United States makes it probable
that the canal across the connecting land
between. North and south America will
be finished before many years. With
the water route to the eastern coast OF TIE
western continent shortened by thousands
OF miles there will open up new posi-