Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-07-05
A LETTER FROM
CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA
The Redwood Belt.-Compact and
Incombustible--Forests Will
Renew Themselves if Left Un.
disturbed.
One of the finest pieces of timber in
California, if not in the world, can be
found in Humboldt county AS we
view this county from the ocean it.
seems to be almost an unbroken
forest, extending from the mountain
summit nearly to the ocean beach.
The redwood forest constitutes the
richest available resources of Hum
boldt county. Originally it was an
almost unbrcken belt extending from
the northern to the southern bound
ary parallel to the coast, a strip of
timber almost as exclusive in it's
possession of land as it was remarkable
for its size and exceptional as to it's
kind and quality, stretching one
hundred miles along the Pacific, with
an average width of eight miles. 1t
is estimated that this timber will cut
100000 feet of good lumber per acre.
AS Humboldt county has been manu-
featuring about 1000, 600, 900 feet Of
lumber year, it is claimed they will
have over one hundred years. run be-
fore the timber is exhausted ia this
one county.
Compactness Of the Timber Tract.
California contains but two large
bodies of valuable timber. One, COM
monty known as the redwood belt,
occupies a comparatively narrow strip
of fog swept mountains, deep canyons
and narrow valleys near the ocean.
In Humboldt county this timber is
very thick, and it's fame has been
sung in every language. 1t does not
attract attention SO much on account
of the extreme size as the evenneSs of
the timber. But few redwood trees
measure more than fifteen feet in
diameter or are over two hundred
feet in height, yet on almost any sim
gle acre in the redwood belt may be
counted from fifteen to forty trees
measuring over five feet in diameter.
On Russian river Mr.. Guerne cut
"a. 900, 900 feet OF redwood from 16O
acres of land, but it was undoubtedly
one of the best quarter sections in
California. 1t is difficult to form a
truthful conception of the redwood
forest without viewing them, for they
cannot be pictured or adequately
described. No equal area on the globe
probably contains SO compact J body.
of timber.
Peculiarities Of Redwood.
The redwood forests are almost
imperishable, except by mans in
genuity and waste. Even the stumpS
refuse to decay or even to die, but
send forth shoots or sprouts, which, if
left undistUrbed, would renew the
forests in course of centuries Red
wood forests are never injured by
fires. It is difficult to burn even when
dry. The forests are SO dense that
they exclude the sun and absorb to
much dampness from the ocean fog
and breezeS that fire makes no pro-
gress, even in the dry season, nor does
any land insect ever attack redwood,
whether standing or fallen. The
outer part of fallen redwood will de-
cay, but the inner part of the log will
last for centuries. The timber, when
seasoned, very much resembles red
cedar. One curious thing connected
with the tree is the smallness of the;
cone which produces it. The cones
are no larger than hens egg and the
seed is a mere speck, about one
twentieth the weight Of an apple
seed.
When Hum boldt county has been
connected with the outside world by
railroad it will be one of the most
desirable locations for home in the
state, as it's climate, soil and timber
are everything that could be desired.
The saw mills and lumber camps that
handle this timber are especially
adapted for hauling and saving Of
larger timber, which is not only drawn
the to mill by steam power, but drawn
out to the railroad by stationary
engine and endless cable. This system
has driven nearly all of the large OK
and horse teams out Of the woods in
some localities.
Extensive Sugar Pine Products.
The sugar pine forests, not only in
Humboldt, but in Shasta county, are
very extensive. After travelling
through these great belts of timber it
is very difficult to impress on per-
son the necessity of protecting forests.
I think it is quite probable that our
children's children, like ourselves,
will be looking to the dim and distant
future for timber famine, but will
enjoy many more of the comforts and
luxuries of life than we do today. My
experience has been that with the
farmer of the prairie states where a
good corn crop is a certainty, that a
piece of forest timber is one Of his
imaginary wants. 1t is fact, and