AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 227 



RAILROADS AND STREET PAVING. 



For railroad building, wooden ties are gradually being replaced by 

 iron ties, the latter being cheap and more durable. 



Swiss cities have begun to pave their streets with wooden blocks, 

 and, if results prove satisfactory, the use of wooden paving blocks will 

 be increased. 



HOUSE FINISHINGS. 



During the two years 1893-1894 not less than 1,180 new houses have 

 been erected in the city of Zurich alone, and although not much timber 

 is used, stone and iron being the principal materials, a large quantity 

 of wood is worked up for finishing purposes, as, for instance, for par- 

 quetry flooring, sashes, window frames, stairs, etc. 



Parquet floors are very extensively used in this country, such being 

 found in almost every house in Swiss cities. There are quite a number 

 of factories in Switzerland that make parquet flooring a specialty for 

 home as well as for export requirements. 



Messrs. Haldirnann, Wissler & Co., Gloldbach, Canton Berne, write: 



We think that in a few years some of the American woods will play an important 

 r61e in the Swiss markets. So far the Swiss parquetry factories have been getting 

 their supplies from Hungary, mostly, however, through Genoa, Antwerp, or Ham- 

 burg commission houses. 



Pitch pine, cut in longitudinal sections (long friezes), sells in sizes of 25 to 33 

 millimeters thick at 90 to 95 francs per cubic meter ($18 per 1.308 cubic yards) 

 delivered free on board track at Swiss stations. 



Some American oak is also imported from time to time. If American exporters 

 are desirous of competing with the Hungarian oak, they must sell the Swiss par- 

 quetry factories friezes, 25 to 33 millimeters (0.98 inch to 1.3 inches) thick and 30 

 centimeters to 2 meters (11.8 to 78.4 inches) and more in length, at a price not to 

 exceed 100 to 155 francs ($19.30 to $29.91) per cubic meter, according to quality and 

 dimensions, delivered and duty paid. 



Other American woods, such as mahogany, hickory, walnut, etc., are 

 imported for the manufacture of furniture. 



Mr. Ferdinand Haldimanu is the president of the Swiss Association of 

 Parquetry Manufacturers, and this gentleman is willing to give inter- 

 ested parties all the necessary information, with a view to enter into 

 direct trade relations, especially in the line of oak friezes, samples of 

 which he solicits. 



CABINET WOOD FOR FURNITURE FACTORIES. 



Messrs. Wolff & Aschbacher, furniture makers of Zurich, write: 



American woods mostly imported into Switzerland are walnut, oak, palissander, 

 mahogany, rosewood, etc., all being delivered in the shape of logs, lumber, or planks 

 with angular edges. 



We are aware that there are still a number of other American woods fit for the 

 manufacture of furniture, and up to the present time not imported, but are said to 

 be rather cheap that is to say, they are sold at about the same prices which we 

 have to pay here for our native woods, namely, 130 to 220 francs ($25.09 to $42.40). 



