The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-06
Eastern Magazine Notes Condi-
tions in the Northwest.
EVER INCREASING MARKET.
Frank Hatnes Lamb, In = Treatise
which II Likely to Attract Atten-
s. tics, Sets Forth the Great taiue
anA Needs of Lumber business
On Puget sound-systematfc Re-
FOrestatfOn the Thing Required.

An extended article appears n the De-
cember number Of the Engineering Maya
sine relative 70 t5e timber Of the Pacific
Northwest. The article Is by Frank HaEes
Lamb. Its appearance in standard mag
azIne such as the Engineering. which Is
published In New York, and is one OF the
most progressive IL watching the develop
Ment OF new industries affecting the eSgs-
neering trade. indicates the increasing i'm
portance In the general worlds market OF
the tipaber products Of this section.
There are many fgufes In t1e article
which have been pu ned hitherto by the
enserprising and careful editor Of the Pa
cific Lumber Trade Journal. OF tbs city,
Mr.. Victor II. Beekman, bat the genera.
tenor Of the material presented by Mr..
Lamb has a somewhat wider significance
owirle TO the book In Nhich iE appears.
Mr.. Lamb notes thai the Puget sound l.
first 3n importance of all the numbering dss-
trfstk Of the Pacific enass. This bears out
Dir. Beckmaas statistics, where he showed
that for 1881 Washington shipped TO Call
fornia more timber and lumber OF al! kinds
than California exported 10 ali sections OF
the world.
This great inland waterway" says Mr..
Lamb. with It's multitude Of exceilent har-
bors and It's intricate network of deep va
ter bays and ln4ers. affords ideal situations
for manufacturing establishments OF ali
kinds. Bordering the water on all sides
are almost continuous forests or virgin
timber. Hardly a town Of the Sound region
that In accessible IL without sawmiil of
some kind.
THE opening of the East continues Mr.
Lamb, the extension Of railways In China.
the growth of mining IN South Africa-aIi
Afford markets directly tributary tn the
Pacific coast Of North America. from the
Northwest territory through British Coz
sumbia into Oregon, Washington and Cali
fornia. The distances are great. and the
reckless methods Of the past have to be
paid for by increased difficulties TO the
present mills: but improved methods %
transportation. combined with improved
and more economical methods OF telling.
the application Of mechanical means 10 the
reduction of labor costs, and more careful
study and discrimination in the selection
and utilization Of different woods-these
offer great opportunities which appeal most
strongly IN the lumber Interests of the ex-
treme Northwest
Incrensca Demand for Wood.
~. Lamb thinks the popular fear that in
creasin1 use Of steel ia building will lessen
the market for timber groundless. Says
he: 'Tbe actual posiiion OF wood is not
one OF impending disuse. bas Of modified
fand more intelitgent1 use. 1t would only
parallel phenomena in other lines of en-
gineer!ng progress IL the new order. which
ut first seeing 10 threaten the old should
eventually enlarge II. and wood. In some
what different range Of Applications. should
be even more extensively employed through
the larger works which steel has made
possible"
The superiority of Douglas fir, the staple
wood OF this state. Mr.. Lamb emphasizes
for the benefit OF Eastern readers. He
notes the scientific tests OF is strength
and hardness. its extended use In preference
IN all other timber by the Northern Pa
cific railroad in it's bridges.
He also notes the value or the tide land
spruce. whose nearly white wood. without
pitch. odor or faint and whose toughness
have established II In general favor In
spite OF Its comparatively recent introduc-
ton. The transverse breaking strength, ne
observes. II almost equal 10 that Of the
Eastern white pine.
In peikng OF the red cedar. whose head
quarters are IN the neighhorhood Of Puget
sound. Mr.. Lamb mentions one OF the fea-
lures OF Washington timber which gives Il
great advantage IN reaching Eastern and
foreign markets. That is the comparative
hghtness OF the wood Its specific gravity
IL considerably under that OF the California
woods. and hence ia contribution TO the
freight department Of railroads and steam
ers IL proportionately reduced
Most Valuable Of the Conifers.
The mos, inherently valuable Of all Coast
woods MIR. Lamb finds 10 be the Alaska
cedar. or Sitka spruce. and the Port Or
fard cedar. .'Fhese two trees says he
so little known in the market on account
Of their scarcity and inaccessihillty. are
the most valuable OF all the Pacific roas,
trees They are probably the strongest and
finest nniSh'
llfEs ~ itHRi III fffffHiS or the
state. Mr.. Lamb does not think will ana
any place IN the general market outside
Of It's present use for mining timhcrs and
rough building.
Washington. IN common with adjoining
states, has 4 beautiful timber which IL ~
tie appreciated and much abused hut
which. as IL grows In the Eastern states in
inferior quality is valned most highly
This Is the hemlnck The Western variety
y superior 20 taat OF the East II has a
beautiful grain ard takes a splendid finish
for use IN all sorts az fire woodwork Rut
foresters are cutting u oNt rftfalesSfv
along with the cedar and dr and leaving
II 70 decay. Mr.. Lamb looks upon th4s as
'the greatest crime that can lie iail a eAe
doors Of the hi0hermen - the Pacfac
Northwest"
The fret opening NJ ard ne fan'f sub
segment growth of she Pacific coast ur,ser
trade js traced al some length Mr. lamb
saws. In 1864 the first cargo II }un,her
Was shipped from Coos hay "a HAWAII ana