Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-03-29
Fine Lewis and Clark
Fair Publication
Information About the Lum-
Der Industry and Allied
Manufactures

many Yaraties or trees growing IN the
state. The work is edited by Edmund
p. Sheldon, under the direction Of the
Lewis and Clark Exposition commit
tee and has four full page half tones
OF timber scenes in Oregon. The first
eight pages are filled with an inter
esting write-up OF the history OF the
development Of the forestN Of the
state from the first writing by John
athan Carver to the present date.
A portion of the Introductory says:
The state Of Oregon has approxl-
mately three hundred billion feet, b.
NJ, of standing timber according to
the average estimates made by diff
ferent timber men and experts who
have made the matter a thorough
study. This is a much greater amount
than is possessed by any state in the
Union, and is nearly one-sixth of the
total amount Of standing merchant
able timber Of the United States.
The value Of this immense body of
timber is twofold; First, as a source
of lumber supply; second, as a factor
In the maintenance of a perpetual
flow of water In the streams and
rivers of the State, by retarding the
melting OF the snow and holding a
continuous supply Of moisture in the
ground during the summer months.
Other minor uses OF forests are as
a fuel supply. and rs a source of
ornamental trees and shrubs, and in
the production Of medicinal and edible
products useful TO mankind. Com.
merclally. the value Of the standing
timber Of Oregon when manufactured
into lumber and sold at the rate OF
$12 per M. would be 49, 00, OOO, 900, a
sum in excess Of the total amount OF
money In currency in the United
States at the present day. The most
densely timbered area in the state
is west Of the Cascade range. This Is
due TO more humid conditions. favor
able to rapid and abundant develop
ment OF plant life, Thus we find
that eighty per cent OF the total
stand OF timber is found on an area
which Is thirty per cent OF the total
area Of the state. The average stand
OF timber on the forested area west
OF the Cascade range is 1900 feet, b.
NJ, per acre, Localities where the
stand Is $4,000 feet per acre are
common, as in portions of Clatsop.
Tillamook, Polk, and other coast
counties.
Turning for a moment to a consider
alton Of the principal trees OF Oregon.
We find that the Douglas nr. the most
valuable tree OF the Pacific coast. and
one Of the worlds greatest trees. Is
the dominant species. Il furnishes
eighty per cent OF the total timber OF
the state, The western hemlock. that
valuable but little appreciated west.
ern tree, furnishes one OF the most
beautiful finishing woods in exist
ence, and forms Ave per cent Of Ore
CONS timber The giant udeland
sprue, which grows up to twenty feet
in diameter, furnishes another five
per cent Of the states valuable supply
OF timber.
The lumber industry al the present
time is n Of oregon's chief sources.
OF revenue, The total output In
sawed lumber for the year 1903 was
about i,000,O coo, 600 feet b. NJ. The
value Of this output was $4,000, goo.
Besides this, the state had an output
OF forest products in the form Of logs,
poles, hardwood. wood veneering,
ties, cordwood, etc, valued at s12,-
000,O 600; OF paper and wood pulp
valued at s 10000 900; OF trunk ma.
%terials valued at $50. 600; OF boxes
valued at $3.50 900; OF shingles valued
az $500, 600; and casoara bark valued
at $1,000 o This would make a total
OF $26, 0 1000 as the value OF the out.
put OF Oregon forests during the year
1898, Oregon ships the longest
squared timber In the world; sticks
1925 to 100 feet long are often cut In
the mills at Portland and at other VIII
lamettc and Columbia river points.
Portland holds the record for shippias
more large lumber eargoes than any
other port in the world One com
pany dispatched sevon vesaels with
~oargoes Of 1850, 600 feet during 1908.
The largest OF these ships carried
S,ds4.495 feet.
A glance at the number OF sawmils
in the state shows a total OF S57
co~nsidering the present condition q
the lumber market this Is certainly