TIMBER VALUATION 133 



On Nov. 24, 1920, the following prices prevailed f.o.b. the mills 

 for the principal grades of Douglas fir: 



Flooring (vertical) $40 per M 



Finish 35 " 



Drop siding 35 " 



Boards and shiplap No. i 19 " 



Dimension No. iS&E 16 " 



The average mill run price in 191 2 was $11.58. 



Lawson cypress is important locally but does not reach the 

 general eastern market at least under its own name. In the first 

 place there is not enough of it to make it an important factor in 

 the lumber market and secondly it is used for purposes which do 

 not demand high priced lumber. Hence, while it is a common 

 wood in Oregon for fence posts, railway ties and poles, it is only 

 occasionally cut into lurnber and then only for local consumption. 

 Its sale value per M is accordingly low. At the mills it does not 

 exceed $10 per M for the mill run. 



Red cedar is of more than local importance but not as lumber. 

 It is in the form of shingles that it has invaded the eastern market. 

 This western species is not to be confused with the eastern red 

 cedar which belongs to another genus. The latter finds its 

 highest use as pencil wood and usually grows too small for high 

 grade shingles. The western red cedar on the other hand is 

 a magnificent tree four to six feet in diameter and yields the 

 widest shingles on the general market. But even for this pur- 

 pose the mill run value will not exceed $15 per M. 



Sitka spruce is another species which has not been sold in the 

 general markets, at least before the Great War. Recently, how- 

 ever, it has been in great demand as airplane stock where its 

 lightness and strength meet a special need and help to relieve the 

 strain on the producers of eastern spruce. The two woods are 

 essentially the same in structure and properties so that it is safe 

 to predict a widening market for Sitka spruce when it can be sup- 

 pHed to the manufacturers of musical instruments, pulp manu- 

 facturers, etc. At present, however, the mill run cannot be sold 

 for more than $15 per M. 



Western hemlock is in an even worse plight. It has no special 



