348 
PAPER READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 
HAWAIIAN SUGAR PLANTERS' ASSOCIA- 
TION NOV. ii, 1908. 
By L. A. Thurston, for Committee on Forestry. 
EXPORT OF OH I A TIES AND LUMBER. 
The most notable event has been the beginning of operations 
by the Hawaiian Mahogany Lumber Company, Limited, in the 
production and export of Ohia ties, in filling the order for 
2,500,000 ties contracted to be delivered to the Santa Fe Railroad. 
A large saw mill has been erected at Pahoa, in the District of 
Puna and Island of Hawaii, and operations were begun there late 
in September last. The first shipment of approximately 20,000 
ties is now being loaded on to the Emily F. Whitney at Hilo. 
UTILIZING WASTE. 
There is a very large waste in making ties which the lumber 
company is endeavoring to utilize in by-products. Hardwood 
boards and battens to a considerable amount have been incidentally 
produced and a shipment of 15,000 feet were sent to San Fran- 
cisco on the last Enterprise. It is believed that a market for a 
considerable amount of by-product lumber of this nature can be 
found, both here and at the Coast. 
The chief drawback to this lumber is its tendency to warp ; 
but it is believed that by piling and curing the same under proper 
conditions this difficulty can be obviated. 
The Ohia lumber is so hard and tough that it is believed that 
it can be used to good advantage as flooring and siding for cane 
cars which, when made of Douglas fir, wear out rapidly. The 
company will soon have stock enough on hand to furnish this lum- 
ber to those desiring to try it. 
The company is also taking steps to produce telephone pins and 
brackets from other portions of the waste lumber, there being a 
large demand for this on the mainland. 
TIES FOR ISLAND USE. 
Incidental to the manufacture of ties for the Santa Fe contract, 
the company is also producing from the smaller timber ties for 
local use at prices which compete with redwood ties, while being 
much better and more lasting in quality than the redwood ties. 
Ties have been furnished by the company to the Hilo Railroad, 
the West Hawaii Railroad, the Koolau Railroad, the Oahu Rail- 
road and to the Ewa, Waialua, Makee Sugar Company, Maka- 
weli, Lihue and Koloa sugar plantations. 
Ties are also being furnished to Lewers & Cooke, who intend 
f o keep them in stock. 
