24 THE WESTERN HEMLOCK. 



concern even in the West. The United States Geological Survey esti- 

 mates the quantity of standing Spruce in Washington at less than 6^ 

 billion feet. Oregon contains much less. Spruce is in demand for 

 pulp as well as for box material and woodenware stock, and the avail- 

 able supply is going rapidly. Spruce logs are the dearest in the 

 market, and Spruce is not easy to get at any price. 



Hemlock is not used for pulp in Washington. Probably half the 

 quantity now .sawed in that State goes into "Spruce" boxes, for the 

 manufacture of which it is admirably adapted in color, weight, and 

 tastelessness. The objections are that very thin stock is more apt than 

 Spruce to split and that on account of "black knots" only clear lum- 

 ber can be used. The latter objection is confined mainly to timber 

 from near the coast. With the failing supply of Spruce the necessity 

 for the general use of Hemlock becomes urgent, but so far few 

 manufacturers have had courage to use it under its own name, and 

 its substitution for Spruce can be carried on only to a limited extent. 

 Were it well understood that Hemlock boxes are practically as light 

 and tasteless as those of Spruce, a market for Hemlock would be 

 opened immediately. An evidence of the adaptation of Hemlock for 

 food packages is the fact that early settlers in Washington invariably 

 used it for hewn tubs in which to pack their winter butter. 



After considerable experiment a large paper mill at Lowell, Wash., 

 has decided unfavorably against Hemlock. On the other hand, it is 

 largel} T used in Oregon, where it is pronounced better than the East- 

 ern species. Since it is impossible altogether to avoid red-hearted or 

 "black" logs, the color is the chief objection and makes the use of 

 ground Hemlock pulp impracticable for the manufacture of better 

 grades of paper, although soda and sulphite processes bleach the wood 

 sufficiently unless it is unusually bad. The Oregon mills buy only 

 upland logs. Those from the coast are apt to be faster grown, of 

 coarser fiber, darker, and more frequently affected Ixy black knots. 

 Several camps in Oregon put in large quantities of Hemlock for pulp 

 alone and receive on an average $4.50 per thousand. The bark is fre- 

 quently given away on condition that it be removed from the log. It 

 brings $10 to $12 a cord at the tannery. 



MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. 

 PRESENT MARKET STANDING. 



Except to a limited extent for pulp, Western Hemlock is at present 

 absolutelv without standing in the market. A few million feet are cut 

 annually, but are manufactured and sold under the name of Spruce or 

 Fir. It is a breach of confidence for the logger to disclose the name 

 of a customer to whom he sells Hemlock. It is never quoted in local 

 trade journals. Notwithstanding these facts, mill men almost uni- 



