Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-05
CHRISTMAS TREES.
Thousands Of Them Being Shipped to
Boston and the West,

| The daily spectacle Of carloads Of
| Christmas trees now passing through
the city. brings to mind the proportions
which this winter industry has attained
III the northern part Of the State. 1t is
an annual harvest which begins in
| November. and from that time. to
within a * " days Of Christmas. sapling
fir trees all the way rom six 10 20 feet
III height Will be shipped to the whole
sal" dealers iii Boston, New York. and
Philadelphia.
Maine furnishes hy far the greatest
| number Of Christmas trees used in the
eastern portion Of the country. This
| fan it is expected that nearly l.0Oo, 600
! will b. sent.
While many Of the trees will be sent
| from towns along the coast line in
s"hooNerS and ON steamboats, full 500
fiat cars vii! be loaded with them and
brought down OVER the Bangor &
! Aroostcok and Maine Central roads
Many men in the Vicinity Of Bangor
engage extensively in this Christmas
tree business and thousands ana thou
sands of the trees are sent from this
| city.
! The work of cutting the trees and
tying them into bundles mas already
been commenced and those who have
large orders to fill DO not get through
their work before Dec. Is. by which
time the last of the trees must be on
/ the way to market During the next
| few weeks probably 500 men, women
and children will find employment here
i'll Maine in the Christmas tree indus
try. To supply these trees mere than
| Loco acres of Maine woodland will be
gone over
when the work is finished and all the
bills have been paid. the people of tn"
state Will be nearly ai10C00 richer than
before. The contractors pay from
| three to four cents FOR the small trees
ami from % to 81 for the larger AMI
more symmetrical onas, delivered at
steamboat wilarves and railroad sta
tons. After paying me freight to the
plac" If destination. they realize about
25 per cent. on the transaction.
The dealers in Boston. New York and
| Philadelphia. t. whom the Maine con-
tractors ship their goods. pay carriage
and sell the trees for Ill that their GUS
! TONERS are able or willing to pay. The
| more StiN tllti anu ptIit- VII u! Tic tItt
| the higher the price. AS rule the
prices asked for tres early in Decent
be- arc twice as large as those asked
a few days lore Christmas. In case.
however. thA demand proves larger
than was anticipated. the asking prire
is advanced every day until Christmas.
unless, perchance the arrival of other
| consignnents CUTS the market. In that
case the dealers are generally glad to
unload at any price.
AS rule a large tree which costs the
contractors 8 cents delivered at the
railroad will sell at from $1.2o to s. in
The city until Christmas, after when
date those left over are sold for bank
ing brush or given TO anybody who will
take them away.
The balean fir tree, which is used al
most exclusively at Christmas time. il
re most worthless ~ooh that grows in
the northern forest. IT is net fit for
lumber or for fuel. When mixed with
five times its own bulk ri wnits. spruce.
it can be sparingly used in the making
OF sulphite pulp for paper stock.
The trees grow rapidly on barren hill
sides where nothing else will thrive.
and when once a stand is made the
thickctS' become SO dense that nothing
but a rabbit can penetrate them. For
this reason thousands Of acres Of land
are. made worthless until the trees are
removed and the stumpS burned out
so that the ground may be pl"ughed.
The demand fnl Christmas trees in the
ci,i..s has therefore proved double
blessing tn all fairness who have lands
that art uVrrgrown with iirs.