The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-01-05
LEADS IN LUMBER.
WASHINGTON OUTPUT LlRGEsT
OF ANY STATE.
Nearly Four Billion Feet Cut IN
1905 According to the Stats
tics--Shingle Production More
Than Half That of Entire
Country.


Country.
Washington, Jan. 2.-For the first
time in the history of the state, Wash
ington in 1905 led all other states In
the output of lumber.
Up to 1890 it's output was so small
that it was given no position on the
producers scale, but in that year 1t
started out in sixth place, being led
by Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsy lvanla,
Wisconsin, and with Michigan in first
place. Ten years later, or in 1900,
Washington had advanced but one
place, with Wisconsin at the head.
But in 1904 Washington is found in
second place, and Wisconsin still in
the lead; and in 1905 Wisconsin relin-
uuished its lead and Washington
marched into first place with a total
cut of 3,9l7, 1853, 900 feet.
It is a noticeable fact that, while
the state of New York had 1,l67 lum.
Der mills, as against 557 like establish
ments in the state of Washington, that
states lumber production in 1905 was
about one-sixth the product of the
Western state. Outside of New York,
Washington has the greatest number
of mills of any state in the Union.
Although Washington is steadily
gaining in the number of it's lumber
plants, it is fact that the number of
plants in the United States is as stead
lily decreasing. This is attributed to
the rapidly disappearing forests in
some parts of the country and to the
incorporation of many small plants
into a. few large ones in other sections.
The census figures show falling off,
between the years 1899 and 1904, of
nearly 4, 900 establishments.
Douglas Fir Output.
Washington greatest output-in
fact nearly three-fourths of the entire
output of the state-is of Douglas fir,
which amounts to 3.125, 1875, 600 feet.
The only other producer of this species
of material which comes anywhere
near to Washington OUTPUT is Ore
gon, which comes in with cut of
1,O76, sos, 600 feet, while CALIFORNIA;
product constitutes but 3.S per cent
of the enti-e output.
Washington's next largest produc-
ton is in cedar, which foots up for
1905 to 253, II, 900 feet. This is fol-
lowed by q cut of 2l7, O74, 900 feet in
Western yellow pine. The lowest cut
is Hemlock, which constitutes per
cent Of the entire output of this
species.
Washington also led In the produc-
ton of shingles in 1905, it's output
being little more than 68 per cent
of the entire years production in that
line. The state has 515 mills hand
ling this production, and the total
number OF shingles put out by these
mills in 1905 was 10, 560, 914 thousand.
Michigan comes in next, with q cut
equalling ut 81 per cent of the entire
cut for the year.
The majority of these shingles were
made from Western cedar, this spec
les amounting to 81 per cent of this
total.
Washington was also first in the
production of lath. the total output
last year being 559, 813. 900 laths,
or Is per cent Of the total.
The rarid rise of Washintgon's lum-
Der products from almost obscurity in
1890 to the head of the list in 1905 is
another remarkable instance Of the
states progress, and 1t will be expect
ed to retain this high. position from
now on.
These facts and figures, which were
collected by the forest service, are
especially commented upon in an off,
cial report on the subject
"There is large amount of Doug
las FIR stumpage in Washington and
Oregon" the report Gays, land the
cut of this species will largely increase
in the near future. In fact, the out
put Of Douglas FIR promises before
many years to equal that of Southern
pine and eventually to surpass it, as
the stumpage OF the latter is reduced. ,"