30 REDWOOD LUMBERING. 



timber most convenient to the lines of construction, for the 

 simple reason that railway corporations have been forced to 

 hasten their completion in most instances to secure subsidies 

 that might lapse within a given period. Hence, material for 

 construction, especially ties, was selected without regard to 

 their future worth. It was "Drive her through fast as you 

 can," during the late boom in railroad building on the North- 

 ern Pacific, Southern Pacific, Mexican and other roads ; and 

 consequently the necessities of the hour allowed material to 

 be used that in repairing would be excluded. Upon what 

 quality of timber for ties the New Orleans " Bulletin " based 

 its estimate, of course, is a matter of conjecture ; but a reason- 

 able supposition is that it is much inferior to redwood ties, 

 for these will last for a generation, where no more than 

 ordinary wear and tear is required. Taking, then, into con- 

 sideration, the destruction of eastern timber from the " Bul- 

 letin's" estimate, and r.'.l must confess that in the special line 

 of consumption for railroad ties alone, there can be no ques- 

 tion that our redwoods will be called upon to supply, before 

 many years, the principal railroads in the southwest and 

 west of the Mississippi. More particularly may we anticipate 

 this when corporate officials have become fully satisfied of its 

 lasting qualities,. 



SHAKES AND SHINGLES 



While both these products of the lumberman in early 

 days came under the head of "split-stuff." they are now to a 

 great extent manufactured by machinery. At any rate, with 

 the latter mode of preparation for the builder, the quality of 



