Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-06
new INDUSTRY COMES As
REsUlTO EUROPEANW WAR
Impetus Giyen to Manufacture OF
Toys for Millions. OF, Lattio ~
Children.
"AIADE M AMERloA," SLOGAN

thousands May he Made in Virginia
and CarO1inn--Capital Ready to
Be Invosted-Bid for Toy Fac
tories Now.
Because of the European war. there
has been considerable comment to tho
effect that there Will be dearth OF
Christmas toys this year, since the toy
sources OF France and Germany will
not be available to American children.
French dolls have been the standard
during at least two generations, and
Nuremberg, Germany, Is famed through
out the world as a toy centre.
1t must not be supposed, however,
that little girls will have to go with
out dolls this year. Several manufac-
turers in the United States are turn
ing out dolls by the thousands, and
they arc OF the very best type. Ono
large factory in Pennsylvania is
mal<inSS special processes, a type
OF indcstructlble doll from Eastwood,
which is light and easily worked ma
teria!, and is not likely to split or
break. Those who have made study
or this manufacture, in connection with
tho study OF the wood-using. industries
OF the State OF Pennsylvania. predict
that dolls OF the type made by this
and other similar factories can gain
first place for America in this branch
or manufacture. and there Is no rea-
son why the making of toys may not
become great industry In Virginia
much material suitable for tho work
II ID worry certain that the war In
Europe will have side effect Of turn
ing this couptry's attention to what is
TO certain extent new industry, ono
In which millions OF dollars may no
trade slogan, Made in the u. S. A.
which is being taken up more extern
sively since the European war began,
viii have direct bearing in shifting
the centre OF doll manufacture from
Europe TO America. and why not Vir-
ginia and tho South?
LONG LIST OF WOODEN
TOYS THAT ARE MADE.
The following toys arc now made in
this country from American woods:
toy animals. blocks, boats, cannon and
forts, childrens chairs, circus sets,
dolls, doll furniture, games, Christmas
tree holders, swing jumpers, children'si
pianos. pastry sets. babies play yards,
toy shooting galleries, hobby horses,
popsuns. toy wagons, toy autos and
wheelbarrows. Eastwood Ia the prin-
cipnl material for wooden toys and for
wooden parts OF metal toys. Tho basa-
wood doll in particular Ia unique and
Ingenious. All parts OF 1t arc made OF
wood, and are artistically carved and
enameled in color. 1t IA difficult to toll
that 1t is made OF wood when It is An
ished. The various parts OF the body
are Joined with steel bands, which not
only give great fcxlbility and free
dom or movement, but, together with
the wood. make the doll practically in
destructlble.
Next to basswood. sugar maple,
beech. birch and white pine are the
principal woods used for toys, although
ohm, oak. chestnut. ash. yellow poplar
ana others enter into toy manufacture.
Pennsylvania, which stands first among
the States In toy manufacture, alone
uses the equivalent OF nearly $500. 600
board feet Of timber for toys, with a
total value of $4,000, each year The
total amount of wood used annually In
the United States for toy manufacture
Is nearly 100000 feet. and the prin-
cipal toy manufacturing States, after
pennsylvania, arc. In order, Wisconsin.
Maine. Michigan, New York. Ohio Yer
mont. Massachusetts and New Hnmp.
shire. Virginia can easily get In this
list, for it has the right kind OF timber
Basswood Is the favorite for such
toys as toy animals boats dolls. circus
sets and childrens pianos. Blocks and
dolis furniture and toy vehicles arc
generally made of white pine, for
which Virginia and the Carolinas arc
famous. Stick >horees. with horses
head and stick to ride upon. more
pretentious variation OF tho old fash
toned broom horse, arc likely to bc
made OF white pine. although tho stick
head may be made OF different material
Rocking horses are usually made of
white ash, that Is plentiful In Vir-
ginia.
Thus IL may be seen that the United
States has a good start In the toy in
dustry. and. with such n start and
with the European toy production de-
moralized. there is said to DO every
reason TO expect that Il will go for
ward under q new impetus.
BASSWOOD FOR SPECIAL USES
Is RATHER SCARCE
In the NATIVE forests. Eastwood oc-
ours spnringly. and very seldom in
groups or In solid stands. In the Lake
States in particular it is sawed incl
dentally with other timber, but the
logs are usually kept separate and gem
orally sawed in accordance with stand
Ing orders from special industries 1t
Is utilized FOR many other products be-
sides toys. because It has qualities
which mt II for Wide. range of uses
1t Is one OF the softest of the 40 called
hard woods, It lacks taste and odor, Is
very easily worried does not warp or
check badly, is tough and takes paint
well. 1t la ono of tho woods preferred
for boxes to contain food products
likely to be contaminated by the tastes
or doors which might be derived from
j
finds considerable use In the manu-
fncture of Kitchen woodenware 1t is
In some demand rs q material for house
finish. and n great deal OF II goes into
the unseen parts Of furniture and
musical instruments. Other important
uses are for trunks. picture frames and
excelsior.
In farmera' woodiots. In particular,
1t Ia tree which should be favored,
because IT Is fairly rapid grower, is
free from defects, and ie usually
salabie. In selling this tree from a
woodlot. the Department OF Agricul-
ture advises that II should be held for
special prices, and not sold in q lump
with others.
Eastwood has several advantages as
n standing tree In the woodlot. In
the FIRST place. It's blossoms furnish n
considerable source OF honey, which is
always In good demand. and whom the
tree liz cut II readily regeneratee itself
from sprouts. tho best of which should