Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-02-04
THE PULLHHV HERALD.
Saturday, Feb. a, 1905
Uses of Inferior Woods,

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When there was an abundant
supply of the best quality of timber
it was the habit of lumbermen to
neglect all but the best species. For
instance, in Indiana and Ohio the
white oak trees were cut and the red
oaks were left. In the South only
a few years ago the gum, which is
now of considerable commercial
importance, was left to rot in the
woods. On the Pacific coast the
western hemlock was not considered
worth transporting from the forest
to the mill. In consequence the
supply of high class timbers has been
seriously depleted, and the character
of the forest has been changed by
the reproduction of the inferior
species which were left in possession;
while the lumberman has had to ex-
tend his operations over a large area
in order to secure the necessary
amount of timber. If these inferior
species can be cut and marketed at
a profit, it will be possible in the
future to lumber with far less detri-
ment to the forest, and at the same
time the available supply of timber
will be greatly increased.
The current unfavorable opinions
concerning these so-called inferior
species are largely matters of tradi-
ton. which investigation proves
was unwarranted. Indeed i'll some
cases, lumber such as gum and sap
pine is exported from the country
and held i'll high esteem abroad.
Our engineers and architects, as a
rule, consider sapwood weaker and
much less fit for structural use than
heartwood. OF course in the mat
ter of durability of unpreserved
timber under severe conditions of
exposure, there is no question but
that heartwood is very much to be
preferred to sapwood. But for use
indoors sapwood tirnbers are abun-
dainty strong. Carriage manufac-
turers know that the strongest and
most resilient wood for spokes,
shafts, ETC., is rapid grown sapling
hickory. 1t has lately been discov-
cred that fast grown second growth
red oak, SO far as strength is con-
cerned, is fully equal to white oak.
Much work remains to be done to
bring out the facts underlying the
practicability of a more extensive
use of inferior timbers, and to dis
seminate information as to the rela-
tive advantages of first and second
growth timbers and the value of
such woods as western hemlock and
loblolly pine, which are of increas-
ing Importance in the national sup
ply of structural timber. The tim
Der tests which the Bureau of
Forestry is making are bringing the
facts concerning these matters before
the users of timber.
The introduction of western hem
lock to the market as a building
material has met with many obstac-
les. The hemlock ofthe East is far
inferior to the Western species as a
building wood and the prejudice
existing against the Eastern species
IS unJustly extended to that of the
West The latter IS hard, straight,
and even-grained wood, nearly
white in color. 1t does not split
readily, and is light and tough.
These characteristics peculiarly fit
it for manufacture into boxes. 1t
is also a superior wood for all inside
finishing, as it takes a high polish
and has excellent wearing qualities.
1t can be rapidly kiln dried at high
temperature without injury. Me-
chanical tests have shown it to pos
sess about 70 per cent of the
strength Of red fir and to be suited
for all except the heaviest structural