COMMERCIAL USES OF LONGLEAF PINE 



907 



more perfectly suited to fine interior finish. As it ages, 

 the color of the wood changes from a light yellow and 

 brown to a rich golden brown which takes a fine polish 

 and becomes extraordinarily beautiful. 



IN A CHURCH OF REVOLUTIONARY DAYS 



There is an old Episcopal church at Raleigh, North 

 Carolina, built in Revolutionary times. It is of stone. 

 Its rafters, pews, and other furnishings are of prime 

 longleaf, finished in the natural wood, now darkened and 



chiefly longleaf, than of any other wood. Although we 

 have no statistics at hand to prove it, it is almost safe to 

 assert that more freight cars are built of it than of all" 

 other American woods combined. 



In the last few years the popularity of wood paving 

 blocks in our cities has increased. They are soundless, 

 sanitary and very durable if treated with preservatives 

 and made of the right kind of wood. They are also easy 

 both on the feet of horses and the tires of motor vehicles. 

 Yellow pine, because of its hardness and density, meets 



LONGLEAF PINE TIMBERS 



The most important of the yellow pine group for heavy structural and hridge timhers is the longleaf. Owing to its strength and last properties 

 it was long considered supreme among American woods as a structural timber and only with the exploitation of the forests of the Pacific 

 Coast in tlie last decade has it had to share this place with Douglas fir. 



deepened in color by age. One has a new conception of 

 the value of this wood for decorative purposes after a 

 visit to this cathedral-like building. It is a pity that 

 more manufacturers do not specialize in the curly grained 

 pine which has as pleasing grain and color as curly maple, 

 and could be sold much cheaper. 



As a general flooring wood, longleaf has no superior. 

 whether it be thick planking for mills and factories, 

 where strength and durability are the consideraton, or 

 in the home of the average citizen, where it combines in- 

 expensiveness with beauty and utility. The so-called 

 edge-grain, quartersawn, or rift flooring is the most dur- 

 able, and takes the best polish. 



We can pause to di.scuss only lightly a few of the 

 other uses, one of the most important being car stock. 

 More American railroad cars are built of yellow pine. 



these requirements, and it is far and away the leading 

 wood for this purpose. 



In 1907 the railroads of the country purchased 34,- 

 215,000 yellow pine ties. The life of an untreated long- 

 leaf tie averages between 5 and 7 years, which compares 

 favorably with that obtained from white oak or locust 

 and other hardwoods. Many of these ties are hewn. 

 Dead trees are often preferred, only the seasoned and 

 durable heartwood being used. Many are treated with 

 chemical preservatives. 



An industry is beginning to grow up in the South in 

 the manufacture of paper pulp from longleaf, chiefly 

 from sawmill waste. It is in the interests of conserva- 

 tion that this industry be increased, since the waste from 

 the manufacture of Southern pines is far in excess of 

 what it should be. Tests by the Government Forest 



