The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-26

but of greater diameter, are often to
be seen upon wharfs of this port. These
come from India: the logwood comes
from South and Central America. In
appearance the two woods are some
what similar in the rough though east
ly distinguished from the fact while
the bark is nearly always stripped from
the logwood it never is from the other:
and, moreover, the latter is not even
cut into lengths. This is because,
though admitted free if in a positively
raw or unprepared state any mark
of saw or axe beyond what is necessary
to cut the tree, subjects the commodity
to duty of $3.50 for every 100 pounds.
This is sandalwood, and you would
have no difficulty in identifying it if
you are familiar with the odor of SAN
dalwood oil, or the dainty boxes some
times fabricated from the wood itself.
Because of the provisions for taxing
sandalwood when partially prepared
for use it is scrutnized closely by the
custom inspectors.
Ii is not easy to determine the value
of a heap of SandalwCGd sticks and
roots, as it fluctuates tremendously in
India even. Great numbers of natives
spend good port of their time search
ing for the fragrant trees and cutting
them for market AT a certain season
of the year the sandalwood hunters
troop into the cities by the hundreds,
bearing bundles of the precious wood,
which is stacked up in the market
places To inspect and dicker. sandal
wood buyers gather from all parts of
the world. many being from the United
States. No set price is put on sandal
wood. The gathers want all they can
get for it, and it goes to the man who
will pay the most for it. The roots of
both sandalwood and logwood bring
higher prices than the branches, though
~,
able. When cut and scraped every
silver and chip and every mite of saw
dust is saved and made use of.
Umbrella sticks valued at cents
each "in the rough are brought to
this country by the thousands. Walk
ing sticks come in the same manner,
but their worth varies. of course, ac-
on the wharf one would never suspect
the uses to which they are put. Great
quantities of fancy cabinet and other
woods, such as rosewood. ebony tulip
wood, lockwood and the like, reach New
York with the bark still on and show
ing up to no better advantage than
would the wood of the ordinary forest
tree if cut into logs.
One day in the early summer snip
sailed into this port from one of the
south sea islands. The crew piled on
the wharf some decidedly common-look-
ing SUCKS or WOOD. w men the inspector
in attendance picked up one of them
puzzled expression came over his
face. He didn't know how to classify
the wood and sought out the captain OF
the ship.
Why said the captain, taking the
stick in his hand, that's lakewood.
Never seen it before? Well We amt
likely to see it again in hurry Meth
er, for them trees are mighty scarce
even in the south sea islands. Just you
watch me minute"
Then the old seadog began to peel the
wood with his fingers. 1t came off in
strips as fine as tissue paper and when
gently stretched looked almost exactly
like lace of the finest texture, light
and flimsy and remarkably strong. Mr..
Wanamaker, United States assistant
appraiser in the first division at this
port, has a piece of this curious wood
on his desk. He has stripped the stick
halfway, SO that the lacelike fiber folds
over in the manner of a ballet dancers
skirts.
Another wood, which comes here
Finished" consigned mostly to China
men, would easily be taken for tissue
/ paper. 1t is put to religious uses in
the josshouse.