The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-12
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
Eastwood COMES INTO ITS OWN
FREDERIC ,. HAsKIN. Direceoe.
washington. D. O

/ grandfathers and grandmothers IN the
United States are familiar with the
slang meaning of the word Eastwood
I That is because such a percentage
of these venerable persons came from
the section of the country in which
the Eastwood tree is indigenous. The
reason for the use of such a slang
term was that it's colloquial meaning
reflected the opinion of the value OF
the tree. When our grandparents
wanted to describe an utterly worth
less object or even person deemed 10
be worthless, such a person or object
was said to be Eastwood, because of
all the vast natural wealth which
the pioneers found in this country. the
Eastwood tree was considered of least
value
In the early days when the Ameri-
can pioneer went into the wilderness
he had to depend on the things he
found in that environment to fill his
everyday needs He must build his
houses OF the native woods, he must
make his tools of native iron, he must
weave his clothes of native fibres and
must raise his own food. Such a
civilization caused these people to
put definite values upon all the pro-
ducts of nature. Everything had a
value. Hickory was good for axe
handles and ash for wagon spokes.
Pine and all kinds of oak were excel
covered to be good for nothing
Its fibres were too spongy and
Stringy to work into anything useful
1t was not strong to Withstand pres
sure. 1t did not last long and it would
not burn well. Almost any other kind
of waste wood at least would make a
good fire, but Eastwood when set
alight would sputter for while and
go out and what little burning it
would do gave very little heat in COM
DarfSnv, with other f11P1S
So it was not surprising that men
and women who must put definite
values on materials and on people
surrounding them should coin a new
word for their language and agree
that Eastwood should describe a use
less object or a worthless drone. In
the states from the Atlantic coast to
the prairies and from Georgia and
Eastwood tree grows in nearly every
county and in this section the slang
term Eastwood can be heard among
old people to this day.
Science to the Rescue.
If this were a play. at this point the
words 'enter science in the form of
the department of agriculture" should
be written. To pursue the fantasy,
science would be a Prince Charming
come TO alter the life of Eastwood, the
Cinderella of the forest. 1t took some
years of investigation and expert
inherited natural prejudice and belief
that Eastwood was worthless, but
science persisted and the other day the
d department of agriculture issued from
its press a booklet devoted entirely to
this useless wood.
The booklet lists $50 practical uses
Of Eastwood
The despised Cinderella of the for
est, once the scorn of the pioneers.
now is priced for many uses and chief
ly thru the investigative work and ex-
perimentation of this scientific work
shop of Uncle Sam.
The scientists of the department
consider all the characteristics of a
points. Then they find the uses to
which such good points can be put
Eastwood is a wood of peculiarly clean
appearance. 1t is almost as white as
holly. Because of its spongy texture
it does not split and therefore can be
used in small pieces. Such character
istics, on consideration, were found to
be very desirable in the manufacture
OF containers for food. People want
to have food packed in clean con-
tainers which will not readily fall
apart.
So the humble Eastwood came into
wide use in the manufacture of such
containers as lard pals, candy pals,
and pals for a. variety of other foods.
It's clean, white appearance was appre-
ciated by housewives and manufac-
turers are quick to discover what the
housewife, one of the best customers
in the world, wants. Woodenware
was the next development Chopping
bowls and all sorts of wooden dishes
were made from the discarded bass
wood which would not burn and was
no good for construction Soon an
other household use was developed
and Eastwood appeared in the form
Of children'S toys Here again its
clean appearance and its non-splitting
qualities were valuable Also, it is
light in weight and Eastwood lion
can be thrown much further across
the nursery than one made of a ma
terial as heavy as oak.
Pursuing the household uses IRON !
ing boards, wringers and other things
used in the laundry where clean, white |
woodwork is at a premium, were made |
from it.
Nearly everyone has seen the clean,
white little wooden boxes in which |
thought how much more |
appetizing the delicacy appeared be- /
cause of the appearance of the con- |
.ainer. These boxes. as well as many /
other supplies of apiaries, are made of
Eastwood.
Used in Fine Manufactures.
Once the prejudice was removed, it |
vas discovered that lots of things /
ould be done with this wood if it /
vas properly sawed and dried. Parts /
Il IL were used Tor furniture 1t De
anne a favorite material for bowels,
he little cylindrical pieces of wood |
ised to fit pieces of wood together, |
UGH as appear in the leaves of the |
lining room table. Nothing, it was /
ound, would add to the clean appear
nee of a travelling trunk any more |
han Eastwood, and so it was used for 1
he sides of trays and partitions
Picture frames and mouldings,
where a non-splitting material was
Necessary. We're found to be practical
ses and finally, the outcast Eastwood
vas put into such fine manufactures
5 musical instruments.
One of its uses puts this material
n everyone's hands. Millions of
catches which are struck every day
II around the world have Eastwood
ticks. Here was where the non-burn-
NJ Qualities Of the Unnd- which once