The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-05-06
W00DSRAREANDC COSTLY
HlCH-PRlCEO LOGS IN NEW YORK
LUMBER YARDS.


East River. between Fifth and Tenth
streets. there lie piled up in rough, IN
symmetrical heaps large numbers of
coarsely hewn dirty logs An ignorant
observer might take these TO be sup
plies for a kindling wood factory. and
certainly would be surprised to learn
that the dirty sticks of timber are the
most valuable woods i'm the world i'm
their rough form. for that is what they
are
There is mahogany there, any guam
tity of it; ebony, Black Sea walnut and
costly Snakewood. but It all lies there
seemingly unguardod ana beaten 10y
the weather as though it were the
cheapest sort of white pine
1T doesn't look very valuable. does
itF' said the manager OF one of the
companies which sell much of the
costly timber; but that is the wood
that some day will be worked over.
polished and made into the most beau.
tiful woodwork that money can buy.
That one big log that those work
men are carrying is worth $1,000. and
l have seen log Of mahogany only
little larger than that which was sold
for $4,000. 1t was twenty eight feet
long and five feet thick. and was the
finest piece of the wood that 1 have
ever seen
Pretty good price for a single stick.
isn't itE 1t was n perfectly sound
log, though, and its coloring and mark
ing Were remarkable. That is why it
brought such a high price.
Mahogany is like diamonds" ne con
tinued The value of each stick is
determined by its marking and free
dom from flaws. When the logs are
sold in the rough. as you see them
here there is big element of chance
in their purchase.
The expert can judge them only by
outward appearances, and must be able
to tell by the general look of the logs
whether they are sound and whether
the marking which shows on the out
side is apt TO continue through the
piece. After a good deal of expert
ence one is able TO size up a piece of
timber pretty correctly. but we are
fooled once in a while. and that is one
or the uncertainties of the business.
Someone once said that mahogany
was the king of woods. and he was
not far wrong. 1t is certainly the most
durable on account of Its hardness ana
the polish that it takes gives it a right
TO the title. 1t isn't what it used to be
though
Thirty years ago all the best of the
wood was designated as San Domingo.
from the place In which it grew. 1t
was the best that was ever cut and
attained a great reputation. but it is
almost impossible to get now. The
choice wood is all gone. and there is
not enough to be had now to supply
one-hundredth part of the demand for
it.
Its texture was the very finest and
the coloring superior to any other. We
still get the wood from San Domingo.
but it is all second growth smaller
than the old mahogany and much in
ferior to it,
Mahogany from Central America
was sold in large quantities here years
ago, also, but it was found TO be soft
ana straight grained, and now it has
practically stopped coming TO this mar
ket. Nowadays we get the wood from
Cuba and Mexico.
The Cuban product comes in small
sizes, but is of good texture and hard
1t is from Mexico. though. that the
great markets Of the world are now
supplied, not only with the best ma
hogany, but also with much that is
soft, though much better than the
old South American product.
Many people have the idea that
there is no more good mahogany and
that all that is cut now is soft. This
assertion is the outcome Of individual
experience in procuring good or Door
wood; those who have received the bcst
grades pronounce the Mexican wesd
hard and beautiful in texture.
IAN impression also exists that ma
hosany Is expensive and only to be in
dulged in by few. That is untrue
The facilities for procuring thc wood
and the devices for reducing If into
lumber have so improved thaj its cost
today compares fuvorauly with some
OF our domestic hard woods. such ms
cherry
"The cost OF working it is certainly
NOT greater than amy OF the domestic
woods. 1t lasts better than the do.
nestle article. though
lhe process o. rcnccrinE is what
makes all th' hard woods expensive. as
This work costs aus much as the timber.
in the rough. Tie wood Is cut very
thin, about onc-thigt.eth OF am inch