Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-28
GROWING FIELD
FOR EUCALYPTUS
TAKES PLACE OF MAHOGANY
IN FURNITURE
FINDS WAY INTO PIANOS AND
FINE BUILDINGS
Demand for Wood Causes CaIifornians
to Consider Themselves Fortunate
in Being Able to Raise 1t
Commercially

Eucalyptus is rapidly taking the place
of mahogany, which it closely RESENT
bles. 1t is being used for pianos and
other high class furniture, and for the
finishing of fine buildings.
Cahfornians are becoming aware they
are most fortunate in being able to
raise eucalyptus wood.
The United States bureau of forestry
is authority for the statement that at
the present rate of destruction the
hardwood timber supply of the country
will be exhausted in sixteen years. The
situation is so serious that manufac-
lures, transportation and commerce are
all threatened. Government forestry
circular No. 81 states: "In q few years
California will be the only source of
hardwood supply for the United
States Trees are being planted in
other states, but as eucalyptus grows
five times faster than any other COM
mercial tree, and lasts many times
longer, the government authorities are
urgently asking for the rapid planting
of the eucalyptus trees in California
The price of lumber has doubled during
the past ten years, and those best quail
flied to know predict the increase i'll
price during the next ten years will be
even more rapid.
Mining, lumber and furniture compa-
MES are already buying land and plant
ing eucalyptus trees In some instances
land that has been prepared for lemon
and orange groves has been planted
with eucalyptus, as the return will be
much greater.
Cannot overpIant
Some think the industry of planting
eucalyptus trees may be overdone, but
the contrary of this supposition can
easily be proved. Only one-tenth of the
land in California can be planted to
eucalyptus trees, owing to the temper
f,,,. xr,htI cyfo
the forests are being cut at the rate of
30,000,000 acres each year. Millions OF
acres of eucalyptus trees must be
planted to meet the ever increasing de-
mand.
The blue gum, or globulus. is the eu-
ca1yptus that grows most rapidly along
the coast of California. In the interior
valleys, where the soil is rich and the
water not far from the surface. the red
gum or rostrata, makes remarkable
growth.
The work of planting trees, cutting
the lumber and making furniture, floor
| ing, farming implements, ETC.. Will
| bring large population and busy days
| to California. Then the demand for
electric light, telephone telegraph and
electric car poles is enormous, to say
| nothing of the strong timber required
| for piles and wharves. The eucalyptus
| is the best possible wood for all these
| purposes, as it is very firm and lasts
much longer than other woods. The
prices now being paid for such poles
bring an enormous return from the
eucalyptus planting that far surpasses
the return from fruit or grain culture.
Prices of Poles
The prices being paid at present by
the Pacific Electric company of Los
Angeles for poles is at follows:
Thirty-five-foot poles, $6 40-foot
poles, 81: 45-foot poles, So; 50-foot
poles, 1925; 55-foot poles, $11.75; 60
foot poles, $12.50
AS hundreds of trees can be raised
Oh one acre, the return an acre is nat
urally creating widespread interest.
Eastern furniture companies are buy
ing land and preparing to move their
manufactures to California. Seven eu-
calyptus companies are planting trees
near Delano, where much of the SOIL is
very rich and an abundance of water Is
available. on account of the nature of
the soil. we'll known capitalists ike
John Hayes Hammond and Harry
Payne Whitney have made large IN
vestments at Delano.
The Delano Eucalyptus Timber COM
pany is fortunate in having for its
president and manager Mr.. Wise, who
has had many years successful expert
ence in eucalyptus growing. Owing TO
his practical inventions for wood cut
ting and for plant raising, he is en-
abled to make a great saving In cuttlng
wood, and can raise better trees than
can be obtained in the nurseries. This
company IS also fortunate in its land,
as is attested by an old resident VINO
has been postmaster at Delano for the
past eight years.
J England, whose timber supply was
exhausted ten or twelve years ago, is
now wholly dependent upon eucalyptus
wood imported from Australia Cali
fornia seeks to prevent a similar condi-
tion being the fate of the United States