Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1902, SECOND SECTION, Page 30, Image 30

30
THE MORNING OEEGOITCAN, WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 1, 1902.
r
WORLD'S GREATEST FORESTS
Stand of Merchantable Timber in Oregon Aggregates
J Over 335,000,000,000 FeetReview of Lumber Trade
ESTIMATES made specially for The
Oregonlan a annual number show
ii i that In the year just ended the
sawmills of Oregon cut 9SS.563.000 feet or
lumber, valued at $S,94S,900. This Is the
first time In the history of the state that
the lumber cut has so closely pressed the
3,000,000,000-foot mark. In Washington the
cut was 1,300.000,000 feet, valued at $11,000.
(00. The total cut of the two states, 2,288,
05,000 feet, valued at $19,348,000. Washing
ton also manufactured 5,000.000,000 shingles,
valued at $7,000,000. In Oregon the figures
of lumber manufacture by counties have
been furnished by firms connected with the
Industry. The Washington figures are the
ostlmates of the West Coast Lumberman,
of Tacoma.
While the demand for lumber kept the
mills busy, the year was not a satisfac
tory one for the manufacturers. Prices
ruled low, while logs were high, and the
margin of profit was about equally di
vided between the logger and the con
sumer. Ocean freights ruled high except
for the short period of the dull season In
wheat exports. Building activity all along
the Pacific Coast was one of the saving
features of the situation. Bail shipments,
which had dragged a bit In the early
months of the year, spruced up with the
opening of Spring, and March's shipment
of 1294 carloads broke the record for
Poitland. Three times afterward the
March record was broken in April, with
1453 carloads. In May, -with 14GG carloads,
and in June, with 129S carloads. April
found Eastern buyers showing a tendency
to hold off until they were satisfied that
prices would be maintained. Most of the
mills, however, -were well filled up with
old orders, and the new business offering
was sufficient to keep the plants running
on full time. In May the car trade
touched Its top notch with heavy cargo
shipments foreign and coastwise, and a
strong demand in California. The East
Bent in a steady call for the large timbers
that only the Pacific Coast can supply.
The annual car shortage set In In June,
much earlier than usual, and complaints
came from every lumber shipping center.
The Portland mills were all but excluded
from the Utan trade on account of this
shortage. In the last few months of the
year the Oregon mills were handicapped
in the California market on account of
the lack of cars. The teamsters strike
in San Francisco in the Summer was a
serious disturbance to trade, as It was
practically impossible to handle lumber in
the California port. Coast mills that ship
their product to San Francisco by vessel
were forced to shut down. Business in
the Fall months was good, but prices
continued low, and the car shortage kept
down trade. The box and sash and door
plants were crowded with orders.
The growth of the Chinese lumber
trade in 1901 was remarkable. As the
complete figures for the year will not be
available for some time, reference is
made to the shipments for the first six
months. Oregon, Washington and British
Columbia are, of course, the largest ship
pers, California sending only an occa
bional cargo of redwood. Total shipments
of lumber to China in 1900 were 26.7S1.000
feet. Of this amount Washington con
tributed 17.875.057 feet, and Oregon 7,329,
3S3 feet. For the six months ended June
20. 1901, Portland shipped to China 14.
231,525 feet, compared with E.S23.822 feet
in the same period of 1900. Washington's
China shipments for the first six months
of 1901 aggregated 10,324,000 feet, com
pared with 7.672,749 feet in the same pe
riod in 1900. British Columbia's ship
ments to China for the first six months
of 1901 were L9S5.441 feet, making the ship
ments from Oregon. Washington and
British Columbia for the six months 26,
790,966, a little more than was shipped
in all of 1900.
Portland, the Leading Shipping: City.
In the manufacture and shipment of
lumber, Portland is the leading city ot
the world's greatest timber belt. Tacoma
is second, Seattle third and Aberdeen
fourth. Rail shipments from Portland,
cargo shipments from the Columbia River
and shipments from the coast ports of
Oregon for the 12 months ended Septem
ber 30. 1901, aggregated 347,254,422 feet, as
follows:
Feet.
Rail shipments 22?',?S
Columbia River cargoes 6L661.102
I'oos Bay 21,135,ob
Sitwlaw 20.016,000
Coquille River 20.000
Tillamook S.010,io3
Umpqua River 'SJHSS
Kehaiem Bay 3.,000
Total 347.254,422
The rail .shipments by months are given
below. A "carload varies In amount, but
it will average 12,000 feet of wet lumber
and 18,000 feet of dried lumber, averaging
for both classes about 15,000 feet.
i
1900-190L 11899-1900.
MONTH.
October ...
November
December
January ..
February .
March
April
May
June
July
August ...
September
LOSS
994!
9Gb
742
925
1.294
1,453
1.46G
1.29S
645
728
4S2
597
571
9111
1.002
1,156;
1.103
1.037
1.1
1,016
919
1.164
962
Total ..
....ll3.335 7S7il0.35Si 584
The detail of the cargo shipments from
the mouth of the Columbia River follows:
1899-1900. 1900-1901.
Month Feet. Feet.
October 3.21S.691 3.362,612
Nocember 5.S03.452 3.032,522
December 6.074.420 1.4S4.o00
januarv 4.159.512 7.031.862
February 3.699,230 998,v00
March .. 5.S9L605 11.832.703
Anrll 3.618.000 8.018.922
&y 2.028.260 2.474.856
June 7.387.167 5.21C.321
julv 7.031.126 G.541.6S?
AuiruSt 2.307.000 7.175,271
September 5,403.543 5.14S.823
Total 56.131,006 61,661,102
Shipments from ports along the Oregon
coast were:
MONTH.
October. 1900
November, 1900 ..
December, 1900 ...
January. 1901 ....
February. 1901 ..
March. 1901
April. 1901
May, 1901
June, 1901
July. 1901
August. 1901
September, 1901 .
CS1.285
1.937.958
1.933.32S
1,643.850
1.034 063
2.329.076
2.ROS.O00
G.109.000
1,553.000
663.9S1
440.016
Total
21,135:567
Shipments from
River Tlmberman.
Portland and Oregon,
Waslilnjrton Lumber Shipments.
Foreign, coastwise and rail shipments
of lumber from the State of Washington
for the year ended June 30, 1901, aggre-
gated 719.972.047 feet, compared with 715,
428,229 feet In 1899-1900. The year was the
best on record for foreign account. This
is noteworthy, as freights were relative
ly high most of the year, and carriers
were scarce. The new year Is full of
promise for good export business. De
mand, particularly for China and Russia
building account, may prove a big item.
FOREIGN CARGOES BY MONTHS.
1900-01. Tonnage.
July 13,210
August 15.074
September .... 20,550
October 27,302
November .... 1G.215
December .... 18,163
January 18,370
February 1S.360
March 15,107
April 13.684
May 14,539
June 17.81G
Feet.
9.162,137
9,831.604
17.462,305
17,694.506
14.822.169
15,760,267
12.374,137
10.1SS.030
9,322.514
16.697.499
12.360.121
13.413,260
Value.
$ 96,011
95,122
182,302
198.S41
157.351
174.834
123.009
141.253
103.919
179.704
121.129
141,451
Totals 208,390 159.0SS.549 $1,717,936
" 1899-00.... 199.140 176.9U.5S2 1,8.3.329
" 1S9J-99....18S.525 150,776.665 1.393,740
" 1S97-9S.... 139,699 120.017.6S1 1.020,30$
FOREIGN CARGOES BY COUNTRIES.
Countries Feet.
Orient 19.S13.61S
Australia 69.219.SfcS
Africa 12,934.401
Germany 2.461.962
Fiji Islands 2,331,034
South America 32,971,157
Great Britain 1,552.361
Philippines 1.2S7.633
Mexico 11,543,)7
Samoa 16S.547
Cuba 174,276
Friendly Islands 834.445
India 2,980.453
Russia .... 2S7.3W
Society Islands 488.107
Total 159.0SS.549
The statement of rail shipments ap
pended also shows a gratifying increase
for the year. The figure shown of 322.
O4S.0O0 feet Is a record, and Indicates the
consistent growth of lumber sawing in
tills state for Eastern account. The
domestic cargo shipments on the contrary
fahow a large decrease when It Is consid
ered that the year tabled in detail In
cludes Hawaiian shipments. The exact
figures of lumber shipped to Hawaii are
not reported, but It Is probable there has
been a large decrease this year to tne
islands compared with the figure of 0A
499,199 feet of 1S99-1900.
Following Is the report of the lumber
and shingle rail shipments during the fis
cal year:
1900-0L Lumber, ft. Shingles.
July 27,824,000 370,260,000
August 24,672,000 3S1.4S0.O00
September 22.272.OjO 375.700,000
October 20.8SO.000 397,800,03
November 18,112,000 30S.S90.000
December 15.712,000 277.7S0.O00
January 17.SOS.000 194,650,000
February .....'. 25.024,000 275,400.000
March 34.704,000 434.C9O.O0O
April 35.792,000 40G.330.OiW
May 41.776.000 495.550.000
Juno 37,472.000 475,150,000
Totals 322,018,000 4.393.CS0.000
" 1899-1900 304.205.000 No report
" 1S9S-1S99 161,800,000 No report
Following is a statement of the coaswise
lumber shipments for the fiscal year:
1900-01. Lumber, ft. Lath. Shingles.
July 20.553,126 3,462,525
August 23,034,207 4,636,893 1,170,000
September .. 22,196,692 5,055,900 792.000
October 24.533,307 4,476,785 350.000
November .. 22,066,490 5,901,725 30S.200
December .. 14,763,425 3,733.200 470,000
January 21,277,717 5,302,475 1,036.037
February ... 16.641,789 3,251.000 SOS.OOO
March lo.S61.703 E.000,670 657.000
April 17,134,878 3,873,025 733,000
May 19,618,107 4.170.000 818.000
June 16,610,239 4,176,300 740,000
Totals 234,291, 6S0 53,099.493 7,6S2,237j
Various Uses of Oresron Timber.
Manufacture of lumber, rough ot
dressed, is not the only use to which the
timber of Oregon can be put 'In the
forests may be found any variety of trees
for the making of superior furniture to
say nothing of developing shipbuilding as
a great industry. Then the enlargement
of horticulture opens a big field for boxes.
Oregon annually uses between 35,000,000
and 40,000.000 feet of lumber, principally
spruce, for this purpose,, and the possibil
ities In the line of box-making are great.
Hemlock Is good for boxes and Is used
also for paper manufapture. Kiln dried
hemlock tested by a Government expert
showed a specific gravity of 2240 pounds to
the 1000 feet. Southern Oregon uses su
gar pine and Eastern Oregon yellow pine
for boxes. Hemlock Is valuable also for
tanning purposes. An unofficial test of
Oregon hemlock showed 17 per cent or
tannic acid. Eastern oak, which monop
olizes this field, shows but 10 per cent
and Eastern hemlock goes as low at 7 per
cent. The making of broomhandles is a
live Industry along the Coquille River,
and the annual product is about 3,000,000.
White cedar forms one-sixth of the raw
material and hardwood the remainder.
Oregon, by reason of Its large supply of
timber offers extraordinary Inducements
the building of wooden vessels. A. T.
Kelllher, of Salem, recently visited tne
shipyards at Bath. Me., and returned con
vinced that Oregon can distance Maine in
shipbuilding. Bath buys its materials
fiom Maine, Canada, Oregon and Florida.
Southern pine costs, laid down at the.
yards, from $2S to $30 a thousand feet.
Tamarack knees and top timbers are
hauled from Michigan, Wisconsin and
Canada on a 31-cent freight rate. The
spars are Oregon pine and they cost from
$400 to $300 each, with jlbbooms and bow
sprits In proportion. Labor and some
classes of material, notably Iron, aro
higher in Oregon than In Maine, but the
cheapness of lumber more than equalizes
conditions.
At a recent test by Naval Constructor
Hlbbs at Bremerton, Wash., of the rela
tive strength of Oregon pine as against
yellow pine from specimens taken from
Puget Sound and Gray's Harbor, the fol
lowing results were obtained: In the
llrst test the stick of fir withstood a
breaking train of 90602 pounds; the yel
low pine broke at 10,660 prehsure. In the
second test the fir broke at 8310 pounds
and the pine at the same pressure. In the
third and last test the native wood suc
cumbed at 9040 pounds and the pine at
7640. Thus it will be seen that the native
wood held its onn with the wood from the
South. In the tensile tests each stick was
placed In a lath and the center turned
down to a spindle only one Inch In diam
ater. At each end was left a large knob
to furnish a grip for the clutch. In the
first test the fir yielded to a pulling strain
of 19.200 pounds, In the second to a strain
of 1S.200 pounds and In the last test to a
strain of 17,000 pounds. In each Instance
d
3
3
c
5J
475.000
5S5.0W
1.066,1001
2,763.000
1.5o3,000i
LS51S0I
440.COO
280.003
825 000
79S.O00!
SoO.OjO
1.780.000
1 1 O -TTA'
1.111.000
3S5.000
400.0CO
4si(yvo
4S0.000
500.000
421.000
5TO.O00
520.000
2.4G5.0i 0
3 000 000
2.002,816 2,
1.345,3
1 63.431 ! 1,
1.P33.249'
4.534.0001
2S0.CC0, 1
670.000.
,;W OM 417.0' 0
325O0OI 1,227.000
3.206
5.325 OfO
3,393 000
3S7.851
1.K1.00M
935.000!
W3 XO
500.0COI 1,535.0001
232.000 1,0:6.000
1.275,0001
700,9021 598.000
20,016.000 20.61S,C03 S.010.753 12.011.003 3.777.W0
compiled from -the Oregon and Columbia
j the specimen did not break, but the fiber
j as pulled out, leaving a hole at each
j end of the stick of the same size as the
1 spindle. The best sample of the yellow
pine submitted was able to withstand a
strain of only 11,000 pounds.
Billions of Feet of Standing Timber.
The timber in Oregon reaches the enor
mous total of 234,653,000.000 feet, board
measure. This timber Is found mainly in
the Coast Range, and on the west slope
of the Cascade Range. Lane County has
more timber than any omer :n the state,
with a total of 28,854,000.006 board feet,
while Douglas County comes In a close
second, with 23.S54.000.000 feet; Clatsop,
with 15.476.000.000 feet, follows, and from
that it runs down to but 470,000,000 feet In
Morrow County, and none In Sherman.
The amount of Umber In the various
sections of Oregon Is estimated as fol
lows: Stand. Feet
Location. per acre, board meas.
Coast ranges IC.000.000 102.10S.000.000
West slope Cascades..l4,0OO,O00 S7.083.000.000
.East slope cascades.. 6.000,030 27.534.ow.ouo
Eastern Oregon ...... 1,500,000 17.92S,000,000
Total 234,653.000,000
The following table gives the estimates
of Oregon timber by counties:
Timbered Feet
Counts. area, sq. m. board meas.
Baker 1,200 1,200.000,000
Benton ISO 1.723,000.000
Clackamas 1,330 13,338,000,000
Clatsop C51 15.476,000.000
Columbia 552 9.6S3.O00.000
Coos 1.295 12.S2C.000.000
Crook 3,750 7.300,000,000
Curry 1.0S0 8,000,030.000
BER CO
" gTRA LONG- TIMBER? "gr RAIL SStf
hi rW,z&?V"&?ftS$ ; s&Sv .j&3'dBiBU9l4ajKSBBBBkBEBBBBFr4flE9ft 2&Sr &t t'SBMISBBHBBBHBL
1 jkPP W'W?&'K "i't"1 Pt ilgil: qbkHBHPHk I
H Je t&5P53k3ES. " "wjf 1T11M' t n .F TrrrrTJlMnnHf nlrlB mil Writ &. MzCi3SgggSSgk M j
H ! 3p:2&ifej- 5? JLtfW 'HtC&a Wfy- 'ixt ILVywR 'BSEk&tBHm tiL-rsSHE? s"J$ al 4Ptt(''JitWBVJH B
'li& SliLfe -TJfiBr liffl'lilii .JiTnfBmBFn 1
fM w&MFwBMfr&&S&i&'W9!kxt& h WAkfiB JPJfr !Ss 9wEi?aE rli.4--i ll&SBBBBft cflS
H'nPiyfKHl h, rafwa&jKfm9 ijr .IsPIoNsbbbbwM e
5IPim-llP1iJi IrPwl'lH ISbbbII
f Wit SHRbHH frafiPnflraSSt .S'SSSfllS- fifl iSr 7?iaHt I
F t. AMM:TmLlfyI&miSeii:t.i m tflmt JBt-WZinBI BB1 iM T- 3&; Hrer S v mbBbHBBBBBb u
I hitMM&aSfKli Jpl bS fra& . && ,. ifflS?ffPiHI 1
iSTS'Sirl fS3MUfSK cIKKj '?, BBliPrf,J jMBhSbbkhI -iiWm? &i&3&ro,iiBBHHBl 1
kn B9BbBb3J &i3B 'jtWfkmBdmBiAw si '"SUBtflFS yflgf Wrwtz fa 5 -! wi'xJNm " BIKSSldSBEaBfii
xTCk9e9BBBBuk. jSM5zMM&&vm&&y& ScKKi. ffiwfi S 1 jOB3t& St " JeSsGhBmvbVM iBV i
' gifalPilr-Br':W3 I
r Or TIMRro ..... . ..? rP tii. - VV
F" VJZ V-l4 11 fsP TS.V ,'S?rS"'' -.- L.-?-!-l-xa "- -W- -rrrrr :3nmtr?miiJin I c i-xxrj. rUimm
uj &, Mjrjy. rr i t i v "v:vs -' Wt "saa
quo rr x" -"i sffl
IUM
Douglas 3,600 23,54.000.000
GUlIaci 400 400.000.000
Grant 4,700 4,700,000.000 '
Harney 1,150 1,150,000.000 t
Jackson l.s?J 12,000.000.000
Josophlne 1.514 5.S00.0OO.O0O
Klamath 3.420 13.834.000,000
Lake 2.000 2,000.000,000
Lane 3.420 2S,SOO,000.000
Lincoln 612 9.S00 000,000
Linn 1,620 18,300.000.000
Malheur 1,003 1.000.000,000
Marion 575 4,615,000,000
Morrow 470 470,000.000
Multnomah 03 1.200.000.000
Polk 400 3.32S.0OO.O00
Tillamook 864 14.490.000.000
Umatilla 1.300 1,300.000,000
Union 2,200 2,200.000.000
Wallowa 2.S0S 2,80,O00.C0O
Washington 350 4.500.000.000
Wasco 1.116 7,100.000.000
Yamhill 167 1,223,000.000
Total ! 234.653,000.000
A. J. Johnson, Government Forestry ex
pert, who has seen more of the timber
of Oregon than any one, estimates tne
stand of merchantable timber at 333,030,
000.000 feet, over 100,000,000.000 feat In ex
cess o'f the figures given out by the Unit
ed States Geological Survey. He says:
Tho world's greatest timber belt Is to be
found In tho Counties ot Clatsop, Columbia,
Washington, Tillamook, Coos. Douglas and
Lane. There Is also magnlnccnt timber In
Polk. Lincoln. Benton. Yamhill. Marlon. Linn.
Clackamas, Multnomah, Wasco, Crook. Kla
math. Jackson, Josephine, Curry. Lake, Har
ney, Gilliam, Grant, Baker, Umatilla, Union
Wendungj Lame 6.Qreih
and Wallowa. There are about 53,000 square j
miles of timber land In Oregon, most ot it be- ,
lng on the western slope of the Cascade Moun- !
tains and of the Coast Range. This forest
would yield from 20,000 to 200,000 feet per acre.
The estimate of the different species of mer
chantable timber In Oregon Is as follows:
Yellow or red fir (Oregon pine)... 255,000,000,000
Spruce 15.000,000.000
Hemlock 7.000.000.000
Yellow pine 20.000,000,000
Sugar pine .., 8.000.000.000
White pine 3.O0O.O00.00O
Noble flr ; 2.000.00O.0CO
Sliver flr 1.000.000.000
Red cedar 2,000.000.000
White cedar 1.000.000.000
Tamarack 2,000,000,000
White flr 2,000.000,000
Miscellaneous oak, ash, maple,
etc. 17.000,000.000
Total . 335.000.000.000
One-eighth of the timber lands has been
burned over. Two years ago It was not known
there was any redwood In Oregon, but In Cur
ry Ccunty there are 1000 acres.
There are billions of feet of lumber ot tho
smaller woods used for finishing and cabinet
purposes. The varieties are maple, myrtle,
ash, black oak. hite oak. live oak, tan bark
oak. madrona. dogwood, wild cherry, yew. Ju
niper, mountain mahogany, chinquapin, alder,
willow, birch, hawthorn, crabapple. barberry
and manzanita.
At the low valuation of $6 50 per thou
sand feet of manufactured lumber, the
BaOTH-TCETZTf rrti MILL A axtenll,uxw
-.,f
standing timber of Oregon represents on
the basis of Mr. Johnson's estimate an as
set, available at some time, of nearly
$2,200,000,000.
In Western Oregon the merchantable
timber consists of red flr, Sitka spruce, I
cedar and hemlock. Besides these tnere
are found In the southwestern part of
the state sugar pine, noble flr and yellow
pine. By far the greatest part of the
timber of Western Oregon consists of the
red flr. It occupies the entire timbered
portion of the depression, between the
Coast and Cascade Ranges, with the east
ern slope of the former and the western
slope of the latter. Throughout most of
this area It forms more than three-fourths
of the forest, but becomes less In propor
tion near the southern boundary of the
state. The distribution of cedar corre
sponds In Oregon to Its distribution la
Washington, there being none in the val
ley, while upon the Coast Range and the
Cascade Range, at middle altitudes, it
forms a small proportion of the forest.
It Increases In proportion as the shores
of the Pacific are approached.
The distribution of hemlock in Western
Oregon is similar to that in Western
Washington, there being none In the val
ley, while upon the wesr slope of the
Cascade Range It forms a notable propor
tion of the forest, reaching Its maximum
at mid altitudes. In the Coast Mountains
It forms also a notable proportion of the
forest, and probably Increases toward the
Coast.
The forests of Oregon east of the Cas
cade Range are composed largely of yel
low pine. This species crosses the range
a little north of laltude 44 degrees. Here,
the western limit crosses the range and
immediately runs northwestward down its
slopes, then, turning to the south and
southwest, It crosses the valley Just south
of Roseburg and passes Into the Coast
Range. Sugar pine enters the state from
California, extends northward over tho
entire breadth of the Cascade Range, and
probably nearly to the Coast, Its northern
limit running as far north as the latitude
of Oakland.
Tillamook Bay Is one of the grandest
timber sections of the world, but lumber
manufacture Is retarded by lack of trans
portation facilities. In a report made to
the United States Government, F. Batter
says that about 21 townships of good tim
ber land are tributary to the bay. The
estimate made of above timber lands la
6,000.000 feet to each quarter section, or a
total number of feet, board measure, oc
timber of 15.120,000.000. The above esti
mate has been made from the report or
estimate of a number of persons- who aro
considered competent cruisers of timber
lands . Its value cannot be given here for
the reason that the price paid for stump
age varies from 50 cents to $2 per thou
sand feet, board measure, depending large
ly upon the location of the timber and the
facilities for shipping same.
FORESTS OF WASHINGTON.
Densest, Heaviest and Mont Contin
uous In the United States.
With the exception of the redwoods of
California the forests of Washington are
'the densest, heaviest and most continuous
in the United States. Except for a few
prairie openings, and except where re
moved by fire or the ax, they cover the
country as a thick mantle from high up
on the Cascade Range westward to the
Pacific In all this region only the Olym
pics rear a few summits above tho forests.
Not only are the forests dense overhead,
but the undergrowth is dense and tan
gled beneath. The trees are large, reach
ing 12 and 15 feet in diameter and 250 feet
in height, with clear trunks for 100 or
more feet. The timber is mainly red or
yellow fir, mingled with spruce, hemlock
and cedar.
The United States Geological Survey es
timates the total amount of standing tim
ber In the state to be in the neighborhood
of 114,778,000,000 feet, board measure. Of
this amount more than six-sevenths, or
104,500,000,000 feet are west of the crest
of the Cascades, the remainder, 10.000,000,
000 feet, being upon its eastern slope and
in the northern and eastern portions of
the state. This total is much leas than
that of Oregon, which is explained by the
following considerations: The wooded
area Is not so great, that of Oregon being
64,300 square miles; that of Washington
being 47.700 square miles; a considerable
part of Washington, in the Cascade Range
and the Olympic Mountains, is at a great
altitude, upon which the timber is very
scattering; much of the eastern slope of
the Cascade Range, especially in Oka
nogan County, Is covered with a very
sparse growth of timber, although it ap
pears as timber land; the lumber indus
try la Washington was until recent years
much more important than In Oregon, and
consequently a much larger area has been
cut and burned.
The distribution of the lumber trees of
Washington is simple: West of the Cas
cade Range the country, with the excep
tion of the high mountains, Is occupied
in the main by four species red fir, ce
dar, hemlock and spruce. The forests
west of the higher part of the Cascades
are composed of 64 per cent of flr, 13 per
cent of cedar, 14 per cent of hemlock and
6 per cent of spruce. Towards the coast
the proportions of cedar and spruce in
crease. Upon the mountains the fir disap
pears and hemlock and cedar, especially
the former. Increase greatly In proportion.
In this- region the fir Is by far the most
valuable tree, and while other species oc
curring with the flr are used, areas which
do not contain flr are regarded at pres
ent as of little value. High up in tho
mountains only sub-alpine species occur.
East of the mountains the timber consists
almost entirely of lodgopolo and yellow
pine, with some white pine in Stevens
County, In tho northeastern part of tho
state. A little flr also is found at the
eastern base of the range, scattered
through the pine forests.
Stand in tne Counties.
The following table gives the estimated
amount of merchantable timber In each
county, according to the best obtainable
Information, based upon crulsings and
other data. If it were cut under the
practice which prevail at present, these
figures represent a close approximation to
the amount which would be realized.
, There is no question, however, that, as
BVH.R.ROSS. EUGENE .
In the case of the Eastern white pine, a
much larger amount will ultimately be
realized.
Feet.
Asotin 81,000.000
ChehalLs 18.575.000,000
Clallam 9.072.000.000
Clark 2,342.000,000
Columbia 213,000,000
Cowlitz 5,216,000.000
Douglas 31.000.003
Feiry 1.6G7.000.0UO
Garfield 170.000.OiX)
Island 430.000.uOO
Jefferson 4,230,000,00i3
King 7.644.000,000
Kitsap 1,141.000.000
Kittitas 1.260.0CO 000
Klickitat 743.000.OuO
Lewis S.5S6.000.000
Lincoln 14,000.00.)
Mason 2.091.000.000
Okanogan 2.665.000 000
Pacific 7.S13.000.0U)
Pierce 6.520.000,000
Skagit 10.362.000.003
Skamania 4.661,000,000
Snohomish 7.7O9.000.00O
Spokane 766.000,003
Stevens 2.702.000.000
Thurston 2.7S7,000,000
Wahkiakum 2,974,O00.CM)
Walla Walla 5.000.COO
WTiatcom L346.C0O.00O
Whitman S5.O0O.CV)
Yakima .-. 893.O0O,O0'3
Total 114,77S,O0O.CO)
Data about the timber standing in the
counties of Waehlncton in the belt di
rectly tributary to Portland will be found
interesting. Following Is a summary:
Chehalls County The northern portion
Is so high and rugged as to contain little
or no merchantable timber, and in other
portions are numerous small prairio
tracts. Aside from these areas, the coun
ty was originally heavily forested, main
ly with fir In the interior and with epruce
and cedar upon the coast. Lumbering
has been carried on extensively. Estimate
of timber:
Feet, board
measure.
Flr 9.799,418.000
Spruce 3,063.307,000
Cedar 3,474.350,000
Hemlock 2,236,9S3,0OJ
Total 1S,579,05S,000
Average per acre 21,300
Clark County This county, which bor
ders upon the Columbia River, was origi
nally entirely covered with heavy forests,
with the exception of a few small prairie
tracts. The forest consists almost exclu
sively of flr, there being very little cedar
and hemlock, and no spruce. Estimate of
timber:
Feet, board
. measure.
Flr 2,124.126.000
Cedar 132,700.000
Hemlock 84.860,000
. Total 2,341.686.000
Average per acre 19,000
Cowlitz County Tho eastern portion
comprises the westward slopes of (Mount
St. Helens, and Includes a considerable
area tho timber on which is not regarded
as merchantable. Aside from this, and a
few areas of prairie, the county was origi
nally covered with fine merchantable for
ests. Considerable areas have been de
nuded by lumbering, but these bear little
comparison to the areas denuded by fire,
which comprise fully one-half of the por
tion originally covered with merchantable
timber. Estimate of standing timber:
Feet, board
measure.
Flr 3,932.591.000
Spruce 1,089,000
Cedar - 627,571,000
Hemlock -. 655,184.000
Total 5.216,435.CO0
Average per acre 20.400
LewiB County A considerable portion of
the area of Lewis County is included
within the Cascade Range, where the
timber Is not regarded as of present mer
chantable value". There are many prairies
which farther reduce the original area of
merchantable timber. Estimate of tim
ber: Feet, board
measure.
Flr 7,236.170.000
Spruce 1.311.003
Cedar SS3.627.O00
Hemlock 465.154.000
Total S.586,262.000
Average, per acre 16.500
Pacific County The surface in the Inte
rior Is somewhat broken by mountains,
although the relief 13 nowhere great. It
is drained by the Wlllapa and Nasel
Rivers. Estimate of timber:
Feet, board
measure.
Fir 5.49S.224.000
Spruce S14.953.00i3
Hemlock 786.652,000
Cedar ., 713,23S,C00
Total 7,813,067,000
Average, per acre 16,300
Skamanli County In the northwestern
portion is Mount St. Helens, while well
to the northeast extend the western spurs
of Mount Adams. The northern division
of the county Is, therefore, extremely
rugged, mountainous and elevated, and
the spurs from these mountains extend
southward nearly to tho Columbia River.
The northern half of the county Is not re
garded by lumbermen as containing any
accessible merchantable timber, although
with the exception of the summits of the
highest mountains, which aro above tho
timber line, it was formerly wooded. The
southern half was at one time timbered
quite heavily, especially toward the west.
Fires have destroyed tho timber In more
than half the area of the county. The
forests consist mainly of flr and hemlock.
The amount of cedar is trifling, and there
is no hemlock. Estimate of timber:
Feet, board
measure.
Fir - 3,675.960,000
Cedar - 21.411,000
Hemlock 963.759.CO0
Total 4.661,130.000
Average, per acre 17,000
Wahkiakum County With tho excep
tion of certain Islands in the Columbia
and small tracts about the mouths of
certain tributary streams, the entire area
was once heavily forested. Fires have
caused some damage, but more than two
thirds of the area of the county is still
covered by fine forests. Estimates of tim
ber: Feet, board
measure.
Flr 1,947,150.000
Spruce 182,520.000
Cedar 301,757,000
Hemlock 542.6SO.000
Total 2.974.10.000
Average, per acre 27,000
Distribution of Species.
The distribution of the different species
recognized a3 lumber In Washington, fol
lows a few definite and simple laws. On
the west shore of Puget Sound the forest
Is practically pure flr. Southward as. far
as the Columbia River, throughout the
valley of the eastern slope of the Cas
cade Range, more than three-fourths of
the forest Is composed of this species.
The proportion diminishes as the Pacific
Coast is approached, and on the Coast
and In an area or belt extending from
10 to 25 iriiles Inland, there Is practically
no red flr to be found. On the east coast
of Puget Sound and southward, between
one-half and three-fourths of the forest is
composed of flr. The proportion Increases
somewhat away from Puget Sound, but
at an altitude of 3000 feet In the Cascade
Range the flr disappears.
The distribution of spruce Is equally
characteristic. There Is practically no
spruce on the Cascade Range or on Its
eastern slope. It is more abundant im
mediately upon the Pacific Coast and di
minishes thenco inland.
Of cedar there is scarcely any to ba
found on the Islands and the west coast
of Puget Sound, and but very little In the
valley to the southward. It Increases
westward toward the coast, and reaches a
maximum immediately upon the coast.
The east coast of Puget Sound contains a
large proportion of cedar, ranging from
cue-fourth to one-half of the forests, and
the proportion diminishes as one ascends
the Cascades.
Hemlock 13 almost entirely wanting on
both shores- of Puget Sound and in tho
valley to the south.
It increases westward and forms a no
ticeable proportion of the forest In the
Catcaoe Range and In the northwestern
part of the Olympic peninsula. It In
creases also as one ascends the Cascades,