Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-03
PANAMA's HARD WOODS
Standing Timber of Four Varieties
Valued at Soy0oo,ooo.

Standing Timber Of Four Varieties
Valued at s48o,0o0,o0o.
The republic of Panama contains a
great quantity Of standing timber.
Much of this is hard wood. A consul
lar report from Colon says that the
cacique is a small tree, growing about
As feet high and a foot thick, in scat
tered clumps or thickets on the hills.
1t is comparatively rare and Is the
most valuable in the republic, being
durable, hard, impervious to insects
and very beautiful. The ground color
of the wood, when cut and aged, Is a
rich deep red, with black spots and
stripes. The natives demand at least
So for a cacique whipstock or cane, and
such canes have sold in New York for
s25. The cured timber Is quoted at 35
cents a pound. There are probably
about 100000 trees of timber size in
the republic, and the value Of the tim
ber aside from the cost Of getting 1t
out, would be about 100000. The
name Of this tree comes from the fact
that the ancient Indian chiefs (caci-
ques), used the wood for their sceptres
or batons Of office. The ground wood
Is used by the natives as a styptic- i
The word caoba refers in common
Central American usage. to three kinds
of trees that occur in the higher parts
of Panama. Two attain height OF !
100 feet or more. Their timber is so
similar to Honduras mahogany that 1t
is equally valuable-about 50 0a thous-
and feet The amount now standing in
the country Is valued at S1S0,000,000.
The espave, often five feet thick at
the base, grows to a height of 80 to 120
feet, Of which 40 feet from the base Is
clear Some Of the large branches are
available for lumber Some forests av-
erage fifteen big trees to the acre. The
leaves are large, somewhat heart -shap-
ed, light green and very abundant. The
espave is priced so much by the ma
tives as shade tree that they usually
spare it in clearing for planting. They
use the timber, however, for their ca
noes, many Of which last for genera
ton or more The wood is Of a reddish
bay color, resembling mahogany, for
which it is often mistaken. 1t Is close
grained, durable, uniform in texture,
takes a polish and works readily. There
are probably 100000 Of these trees in
Panama. The timber Is worth $50 a
thousand feet and the total value is
about $13O,0O0,OO0.
The guayacan Is somewhat smaller
than most hardwood trees averaging
70 feet high and feet thick, and
branching 80 feet from the ground. The
leaves are small and compound, and
the grayish black bark is rough and
shaggy, with longitudinal burrows. The
inflorescence Is mass of magnificent
golden blossoms. The wood, hardest
and most durable Of the timbers Of
Panama, is akin to the lignum vitae Of
the West Indies. 1t Is much heavier
than water, and to be RATED must be
carried with lighter wood Railway
ties Of guayacan have been in use on
the Panama railroad for more than 80
years. The small waste of the industry
might be used for shuttle blocks, Of
which the supply in the United States
is fast becoming exhausted. There are
probably 100000 Of these trees in
Panama, worth about $40, 900.
The laurel, three feet in diameter,
grows on hillsides to height Of 10
feet. The bark is white. The wood is
yellow, hard, fine grained, durable and
easily worked 1t is said to be good |
for piling. There are probably more
than 100000 laurel trees in Panama, |
with an average yield Of 100 feet a
tree. and a total value Of s6O,0O0,00O.
The Santa Maria or calabra Is an
evergreen, attaining a height Of 100
feet or over with more than fifty feet |
clear, and with q diameter at the base |
of about three feet. The bark Is COM
paratively thin, mottled gray and black |
and slightly rough. It peels from the
wood readily. The wood is graying |
white, as hard and elastic as hickory |
and also similar to teak. 1t Is durable,
straight and close grained, takes a !
good polish, and splits longitudinally |
better than most tropical hardwoods. 1t |
was used by the Indians for bows, and
is employed almost exclusively for pal !
anquin poles. There is probably $70,-
600 900 worth Of this timber in Panama. |
ttS- Cleveland in 1913 gave nearly 49, |
000, 900 to charities.