HARDWOOD RECORD 



19 



them than we would from a whole Inimh of 

 papers, yet we do the latter thing all the time, 



.7, V, Stim.so.n', 



Interested in Eucalyptus. 



Wkst Cuf.stkh, V.K.. .lul.v IT, — Kilitni- ll.^itn- 

 wutut ItKCdKit : \^'e are nuich interi'sted in the 

 article in .vonr journal of .July Ici about Eiiiii- 

 llllitiis nlohiilm. We have some land in Florida 

 that we think perhaps adapted to its growth : 

 would like to try the experiment, and if you 

 could advise us where \vc could secure seed and 

 information about propagation, we would be 

 very much obliged, — IIcmu'KS, Kro, & DiiiLi.vu- 

 T<t.\', I.xc, 



The Fancher Creek Nurseries at Fresno, 

 Cal,, and the Armstrong Xnrferies at (lutario. 



Cal., (leal in the young trees anil probably in 

 seeds also, while Theodore Payne, 345 South 

 Main street, Los Angeles, sells the seeds of all 

 the standard varieties. As regards the fit- 

 ness of your land for the planting of this 

 tree you might write John P. Brown, editor 

 Arboriculture, Connersville, Ind., who has 

 made a study of it and has traveled all over 

 the United States making e.\periments in 

 growing various trees comparatively unknown 

 as timber. He can tell you whether or not 

 it woulil lie practicable if anyone can, 



— Editor. 



Hardwood Articles from Sunken 



Timbers. 



Formerly when heavy timber became 

 water-logged and sank it was left at the 

 bottom of the river to decay ; but it has 

 been discovered that logs are unharmed by 

 long submersion in water. Sound timber of 

 certain species does not deteriorate, even 

 though it may have been under water for 

 many years. The log-raising industry is ex- 

 tensive, and is particularly concerned with 

 pine, ovring to the fact that large rafts of 

 these logs have been moved on the rivers in 

 years past, many of which were lost and 

 sank; however, there are many kinds of 

 hardwoods represented in the ' ' deadheads ' ' 

 which have been brought to the surface. 

 These hardwood logs, although soggy and 

 weighty, are put through certain drying and 

 treating operations, which make them service- 

 able once more in woodworking lines. 



Records indicate that millions of feet of 

 water-soaked logs lie in various rivers, a 

 large proportion of which are suitable for 

 use if redeemed. In recent years lumber- 

 men have undertaken to get some of the 

 submerged timber, and have succeeded very 

 well. They have chosen for their opera- 

 tions those rivers on which large rafts of 

 logs have been floated for the past half cen- 

 tury. It has been stated that the bottom of 

 the Mississippi river is well sprinkled with 

 good logs at lumbering points. Hoisting 

 engines have been fitted up on floating rafts 

 and with grappling devices the river bot- 

 toms have been dragged and the logs haided 

 to the surface by means of hooks. They 

 are bolstered up with floating contrivances, 

 and the accumulated moss, weeds, shells and 

 mud are scraped off to lighten them as much 

 as possible, after which they are transported 

 to the point of drying. Upon arrival at the 

 place where the logs are to be treated they 

 are piled in order for seasoning in the sun, 

 as in Fig, 1, the air being allowed to cir- 

 culate around them freely. After about 

 three -weeks of exposure to air and sun the 

 fiber gets comparatively dry. The heart of 

 the timber may not be completely dried out 

 until the timber is subiected to more strenu- 

 ous treatment. In some cases, drying ovens 

 or kilns are used. 



After the timber is thus prepared it is 



worked up into a variety of commercial ar- 

 ticles. The long saturation to which the 

 fiber of the wood has been exposed often 

 serves to make the log firmer. Hence much 

 of the water-logged stock is close-grained 

 and suitable for use in the manufacture of 

 special articles. Ordinarily the logs are re- 

 duced to convenient billets, as in Fig. 2, 

 averaging about a foot square and 4 feet in 

 length, or the sticks are made as in Fig, 

 3, about 5 inches square and 8 feet long. 

 House trimmings are often made from the 



be produced from the lumber. The usual 

 operation of turning down the lumber is 

 followed. Fig. 4 is a drawing of one of the 

 lathes arranged for special work. In this 

 case balls are made. Fig. 5 is a type of 

 box made from the once submerged material. 

 This is an age of canned and boxed stuffs. 

 Makers of tin cans and small boxes are con- 

 stantly increasing the capacity of their 

 plants in order to manufacture these re- 

 ceptacles in larger number. The fancy 

 wood box will often sell the soap, the candy, 

 the gum, or the article of merchandise which 

 it contains. In fact, many of the wooden 

 boxes are now made with a view to future 

 use. Some are fitted with sewing outfits, so 

 that when the candy is gone the work-l)OX 

 can be used. The log raisers manufacture 

 many of these handy boxes from stock which 

 was once hidden in the muddy bottom of a 

 river or lake. 



There are forms turned out, as in Fig. 7, 

 for use in ornamental work in buildings. 

 Likewise studs are made from this kind of 

 lumber. Fig. 8 shows the plan of construc- 

 tion. The stud is turned to the form of a 

 ball and then the flanged section is inserted 

 and pinned or cemented as shown. 



Fig. 9 shows one of the forms of buttons 



STi/O 



I I I ■ I I I I I I I I' 



DRYING Wt^T£fi So/t/ceo Logs 



redeemed lumber ; also picture frames. 

 Balls are manufactured with good results, 

 as are tops, clothespins, small boxes, buttons, 

 cabinets, etc. Woodenware of all kinds can 



made from submerged wood. Of course these 

 articles have to be thoroughly polished in 

 order to fit them for sale. The polishing is 

 done ou emery wheels, followed with bulling 



