A Review of the Resources and Industries of the State of Washington, 1909 | Page 3

to attract and hold a large population. But
the vision of the white man was different. His eye scanned the peaks of
the Cascades with its great eternal white Rainier having its head thrust
up among the clouds, and he realized that around and beneath them
must be a vast hoard of the precious metals. His eye caught the
dazzling grandeur of the white-capped Olympics, but he realized that
they held in reserve something more substantial to his needs than
scenery and hunting grounds. The impenetrable barriers of the
forest-covered foothills were to him a treasure worth the struggle for an
empire. He scanned the glittering waters of the bays and inlets of Puget
Sound and its great open way to the Pacific Ocean and realized that it
meant more to him and to his children than a place to catch a few fish.
He viewed the vast plains of "barren" land within the great winding
course of the Columbia river and believed it worth more than pasturage
for a few bands of ponies.
The thousand tumbling water-falls that hastened the course of the rivers
toward the sea meant more than resting places for the chase. No wonder
the hardy pioneers whose vision saw the grandeur of Washington and
comprehended its meaning dared a mighty journey, vast hardships and
trying and dangerous hazards to save this empire to Uncle Sam.
Washington, saved by the energy and foresight of a few, has become
the [Page 9] delightful home of a million and more, and their
possession is one that Alexander or Napoleon would have coveted, had
they known.
[Illustration: Plate No. 3.--Chehalis County Timber.]

[Illustration: Plate No. 4.--The Logging Industry in Chehalis County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 5.--View of Harbor, Aberdeen, Chehalis
County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 6.--Limb Cut from a Chelan County Peach
Tree.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 7.--Six-Year-Old Winesap Apple Tree on Farm
of Blackmont Bros., Chelan County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 8.--Farm of Wm. Turner, Chelan County. From
Sage Brush to Bearing Orchard, Showing How Living Is Made While
Orchard Is Coming Into Bearing.]
FORESTS.
From British Columbia to the majestic Columbia river and from the
Cascade mountains westward to the ocean a vast forest of magnificent
timber stretches out over mountain and hill and valley, covering the
whole landscape of western Washington in a mantle of living green.
The majestic fir trees, which, as small evergreens, adorn the lawns of
other climes, here stretch their ancient heads 300 feet heavenward and
give the logger a chance to stand upon his springboard and, leaving a
fifteen foot stump, cut off a log 100 feet in length and 7 feet in diameter
free from limbs or knots. Side by side with these giants of fir are other
giants of cedar, hemlock and spruce crowded in groups, sometimes all
alike and sometimes promiscuously mingled, which offer to the logger
often 50,000 feet of lumber from an acre of ground.
But these great forests of western Washington are not all the forests
within the state. The eastern slope of the Cascade mountains well down
toward the lands of the valleys is mostly covered with timber. A belt
from 30 to 50 miles wide stretching clear across the north boundary of
eastern Washington is mostly a forest, while a large area in the
southeastern corner of the state, probably 24 miles square, is also forest
covered.
To estimate the amount of timber which can be cut from these vast
forest areas is difficult; estimates are not accurate, yet it is probable that
the lumber made will in time far exceed any estimate yet placed upon
this chief source of the wealth of the State of Washington. Of the fir the
estimate has been made that shows still standing enough timber to
make 120 billion feet; for the cedar the estimate is 25 billion feet, while
the same amount of 25 billion feet is credited to hemlock; 12 billion

feet of spruce are claimed, 12 billion feet of yellow pine and probably 6
billion feet of other woods, including maple, alder, oak, yew, ash and
many others, together forming the great mass of 200 billion feet of
lumber. Where forest areas are cut off, the [Page 10] sun and air at once
start to life seeds which lie dormant in the shade and a new crop at once
starts and the old ground is in a few years reforested in nature's
prodigal way, a thousand seeds sprouting and growing where only one
giant can ultimately stand.
Of these timbers, the fir, largest in quantity, is also largest in usefulness.
For bridge work, shipbuilding, the construction of houses, etc. it is
unsurpassed. Cedar is lighter and more easily worked and for shingles
chiefly and many other special uses is superior. Spruce is fine grained,
odorless and valuable for butter tubs,