White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-03-18

@OUGLAS FIR, generally Known
IL abroad as "Oregon fir" Is gain
ing on redwood and other CHIEF COM
petitors in the markets OF Australia.
A large mining company in South
Australia finds the Oregon essen
tial for mine timbers, because 1t Is
light in handling and gives warning
before a break, according to report
on the Australian market from Julian
B. Foster, American assistant trade
commissioner at Melbourne.
Over 80 per cent of the Douglas fir
imported into Australia has to be re-
sawed, he says, this because the tariff
favors the large sizes. Its use is
especially increasing for door stock
and finishing purposes, but it also is
entering into general construction.
The new city hall at Brisbane,
Queensland, has before it a sign in
forming the public that Oregon fir is
being used in it.
New South Wales is the principal
importing state, taking in 1925 over
104,000000 feet of fir, 100000 feet
of hemlock and spruce and 100000
feet Of redwood.
douglas fir stock predominates in
New South Wales" says Mr.. Foster,
"and is said to be used to twice the
extent that redwood door stock is en-
ployed. The popularity of fir door
stock is due to the fact that architects
and the consuming public have been
educated by the dealers to ask for 1T.
Oregon has supplanted redwood to a
considerable degree for joinery and
moulding purposes. 1t looks as
though Douglas fir will continue to
grow in popularity, and sales should
show material increase in the next
few years"
Redwood has it's strongest hold in
the state of Victoria, Mr.. Foster re-
ports, but fir imports are increasing,
and on the basis of the last yearly
figures available were 46,000,000 feet,
100000 feet in advance of redwood.
It is easily first at Melbourne for
studding, rafters and general house
building. Victorians still prefer red
wood for door stock and use the fir
sparingly.
The market for fir is expanding no
tably in Queensland, the commission
er says, with the discovery Of it's uses
for joinery, mouldings and weather
boarding. Here, as elsewhere in Aus
tralia, much trouble is caused by the
attack of white ants on the native
woods from which attacks fir and red
wood are free. Queensland timber
formerly used for doors is being con-
favored.
book that an attempt has been made
to incorporate comprehensive and
detailed guide to the principal trad
ing areas of the Far East, including
Australia, prepared primarily for the
use of commercial travellers. How
ever, it is pointed out that casual
travellers will find the guide conve
nient reference book, since many OF
it's suggestions apply equally to the
tourist, the journalist, or the econo
mic or social Investigator who has to
cover any part Of the area.
Although of considerably fewer
pages, the Guide to the Far East
follows the general plan of the Com
mercial Travellers Guide to Latin
2, America" published some time ago
1t first offers general plan for TRIP
throughout all of the countries de
scribed and then takes up the coun
tries separately.
While the subject of advertising is
not directly treated, the principal
newspapers published in each impor
tant commercial center are men
toned. In regard to trade journals
the guide states that there are hun