314 ARBORICULTURE. 



The Catalpa as a Lumber Tree. 



For more than a hundred years the wood in a region where it was never 



Catalpa tree of Indiana has been known abundant — growing only here and there 



as a tree of very great value to the pio- among the forest trees — it is not strange 



neer settlers in the lower valley of the that the supply had practically become 



Wabash. exhausted before the first half of. the 



It was fo'und useful in making canoes nineteenth century was passed, 



by the pioneers, following the practice of With the advent of the railways of 



the American Indians, who traveled bun- Southwestern Indiana and Southern Illi- 



dreds of miles to obtain Catalpa logs, nois, the engineers were not ignorant oi 



which they could fashion with their own the many qualities of the Catalpa, and 



tools, was very light for carrying from hence it was diligently sought for ties 



stream to stream in portage, did not and telegraph proles, 



check with alternate wet and dry condi- The Illinois Central, Louisville & 



tions, and possessed the endliring quali- Nashville, Big Four, and the Albion & 



ties so necessary for the aborigines, who Oakland City Railway, now part of the 



did not possess the tools of the white Southern System, all used large num- 



man with which to make others rapidly, bers of Catalpa ties, many thousands ; 



The wood was chiefly used for posts while in Southeastern Missouri the Iron 



and rails ; many fences of early days in Mountain Road was largely constructed 



Indiana being made of morticed posts, upon Catalpa ties within the limit O'f the 



into which the rails were inserted ; also region of its growth, 



the old worm fences eight or ten rails This constant drain upon the native 



high, staked and ridered. forest has almost exterminated the Ca- 



Where Catalpa could be obtained it talpa — only a few trees here and there 



was always the first choice ; walnut, oak can now be found. 



and ash being used as second choice. So far the uses of this wood were con- 



If a plow beam was broken, or an fined to the articles which we have enu- 



evener disabled, the Catalpa sapling sup- merated, except in a very small way. 



plied a stronger wood for such repairs. When it was determined to make an 



Handles of various kinds were made exhibit oi the Catalpa speciosa at the St. 



of Catalpa, which was strong, elastic, Louis World's Fair, I began an exhaus- 



light and easily worked. tive search for timber, purchasing a few 



In the absence of sawmills the frame trees along the Wabash Valley, had them 



stuff was hewn out of Catalpa, with s'hipped to^ Connersville, sawed intO' lum- 



wihich tO' build the house. ber, put into the dry kiln, and prepared 



Hay frames for wagons, ladders, and for manufacture, 



articles in common use upon the farm There was an extensive correspond- 



were preferably made from the Catalpa ence with manufacturers in an effort to 



tree, while no timber equaled the Catalpa have a number of articles made for the 



for s'hingles. exhibit. A majority refused to render 



With such a demand for this special any assistance, but enough manufactur- 



