THE REDWOOD OF CALIFORNIA 



797 



In this country Redwood 

 is used very largely for exte- 

 rior finish. It is particularly 

 valuable for this sort of work 

 because of its lasting qualities 

 and its resistance to fire. 

 Redwood contains a pecu- 

 liar acid which preserves the 

 wood. Many examples can 

 be given of buildings sided 

 with Redw r ood boards and cov- 

 ered with Redwood shingles 

 that are today in first-class 

 condition after fifty or sixty 

 years of continuous use with- 

 out paint or treatment of any 

 kind. Redwood contains no 

 pitch of any kind, will not 

 ignite easily, burns very slow- 

 ly and absorbs moisture read- 

 ily, making it easy to put out 

 a fire. After the great San 

 Francisco earthquake and fire 

 in April, 1906, the Building 

 Committee appointed by the 

 Mayor to determine the char- 

 acter of buildings and mater- 

 ials to be used in constructing 

 same, adopted the following 

 resolution : 



"RESOLVED that no per- 

 mits will be given at the pres- 

 ent time for the construction 

 of any buildings in San Fran- 

 cisco, but owners of property 

 will be allowed to proceed and 

 erect upon their premises 

 temporary one-story build- 

 ings constructed of galvanized 

 iron or Redwood, without a 

 permit." 



The United States Govern- 

 ment has compiled a list of 

 woods designating the degree 

 of inflammability by the po- 

 sition on the list. Redwood 

 heads this list. 



Redwood is also peculiarly 

 fitted for the better class of 

 interior finishing. The nat- 

 ural grain of the wood is beau- 

 tiful, so that it is not neces- 

 sary to select special pieces 

 in order to obtain a hand- 

 some effect. It is easily 

 worked and takes'a beautiful 

 polish. When the wood is 

 once properly dried, it will 

 not shrink or swell, there- 



DEEP IN THE REDWOODS. 



A TYPICAL SCENE AMONG THE BEAUTIFUL TREES WHERE JOURNEYING 

 IS ALWAYS A SOURCE OF WONDER AND DELIGHT. 



