The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-25
TIMBER WEALTH IN ALABAMA.
 In a recent issue of The Richmond Times Dispatch we find this:

 Times Dispatch we find this:
 Hickory timber is becoming scarce, and it seems that 1t sells well. at good hg- ures. At recent meeting of the Hickory Handle Manufacturers Association, held in St. Lotus, there were present sixty persons. representing 90 per cent. of the manufacturers who use this wood. Ac- cording to the statements made by sew been able to meet the demands on them on account of their inability to secure the raw material. The market price of green sawed hickory was said to be 80 per 1000 feet. Manufacturers, however, buy hickory in any form that It can be obtained. ani prices are ranged accord ingly-l In the last seven months the price of hickory products has advanced 100 per suggested that will satisfactorily fll the place of hickory in manufactures. The statement was made that the manufacture of buggies.. which has greatly increased inroads on the hickory supply.
 From a time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary the Northern section of our country has sup piled the South and West with almost of which that wood forms part. Every thing from gimlet handles to wagons and buggies. if made of hickory wood, has come to us from forests, mills and shops of the North. Meanwhile no effort was made looking towards the conservation of and burned in the fields or used for fire wood with Title knowledge of its pros- pective and future value, and with no thought of a time when the world would need it.
 As a general proposition the hardest, finest and most valuable members of the hickory family grow in the colder re- gions. Whether it is the climate or the soil is immaterial, but the fact remains that the Northern portions of our coun- try contained the best specimens of nick ory for ali purposes where a hard. close grained wool was needed which could be easily polished and which possessed the double advantages of elasticity and dura- biiity.
 But while this Is true 1t is equally true that in Alabama, for example, there is much hickory which will compare favor
  land or elsewhere. True. much of our native hickory belongs to the coarse. grained varieties which is not suitable for work where hard and fine-grained wood is required. It is useful for many pur- poses, but lacks some of the qualities which places hickory above all woods for certain purposes.
 On the other hand there is yet to be found in all sections of Alabama as fine hickory as ever grew out of the earth. It is tough, fine-grained. bears a fine polish and for various manufacturing purposes is not excelled by any wood on the continent. Millions of cords of it have been ruthlessly destroyed. but there are other millions yet standing and the owners of 1t have a source of wealth of which most of them have little knowl- edge.
 ed about the scarcity and high price of hickory wood is pointer for our people We have not at hand the data for comparison o1 prices, but should say that 80 per 1000 feet is not excessive. The sawn timber. however, is not the only shape in which this wood is marketable or valuable. As stated by The Times Dispatch manufacturers of hard wood buy the hickory in any form they can get 1t. and there is always a market for 1t, and the demand and price will in- crease in proportion as the wood grows scarcer and more difficult to obtain.
 The opening of new railways into all sections of cur State tends to bring the people into touch with the markets, the mills and manufacturers. Time was when the discovery or opening of coal or iron mine or an; other valuable mineral de- posit meant the building of a railroad to it. Now the railroads are reaching out their arms in search of good timber and lumber, and that will continue until every forest and swamp can be reached and de- pleted. Right now our Southern yellow pine is in demand throughout the coun- try. Sash. doors, blinds and the like are shipped from Montgomery shops thous- ands of miles. and sent right into the Northern and Western States which for merry supplied tnlS reSlon with every thing of the kind. The supply of North ern pine timber is becoming exhausted and our yellow pine is taking it's place.
 The same result is inevitable in the case of our hard woods, and the land owner who still has hickory, oak. beech and other timber left is standing very much in his own light if he fails to get the most out of it. And that is not all, nor really the most important point. While the owners of the timber are getting money out of it manufacturers here in our city ought to get portion of the benefits. The rough hickory can be brought hers at reasonable expense, mo- tive power IS unlimited and skilled labor is not lacking. Why not reverse things and send carloads of spokes, handles and various other things to the people who have been supplying us so long? Why not?
 The Montgomery Advertiser calls The Daily News lightning summersetter. " We don't know what that is, but will bet 1t isn't so for the esteemed Adver- tiser is consistently, perpetually and unanimously wrong on any proposition