The description of the resources of a state naturally suggests what
its industries are. The forests of western Washington inevitably lead
to the lumber industry and the fertile soil of eastern Washington
point as unerringly to agriculture. These are the two great industries
of the state. The lumberman and the farmer are in the majority.
Already there are sawmills enough in operation to cut up all the
standing timber in the state within fifty years. They employ probably
100,000 men. This includes those engaged in logging and the subsidiary
industries.
Of the trees the fir is pre-eminently useful, and more than half of
the forests of the state are fir trees. It is of greater strength
than any of the others and hence is used for all structural work
where strength is of special importance. It is rather coarse grained,
but when quarter sawed produces a great variety of grains very
beautiful and capable of high finish and is extensively used for
inside finishings for houses as well as for frame work. Its strength
makes it ideal for the construction of ships. The yellow pine is
strong, medium grained and well fitted for general building purposes,
and is very extensively used in eastern Washington.
Cedar is very light and close grained and is chiefly used for shingles,
and for this purpose has no superior. The cheaper grades are also
used for boxes and sheathing for houses and many other purposes.
The spruce furnishes an odorless wood especially useful for butter
tubs; for shelving and similar uses it is superior to either the
fir or cedar. It is a white, close grained lumber, and appreciating
in value.
The hemlock, whose bark produces tannin for the tanneries, is also
a close grained light wood coming more and more into
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general use, for many purposes, especially where it will not be
exposed to the weather.
Logs frequently seven feet in diameter require big saws, and big
carriers 50 to 100 feet long, and hence Washington has probably
the largest sawmills in the world.
Our lumber is used at home and shipped all over the world to make
bridges, ships, houses, floors, sash, doors, boxes, barrels, tubs,
etc. Factories for the manufacture of wood products are scattered
all over the state. Most of the sawmills and some factories are
driven by steam made by burning sawdust, slabs, and other refuse
of the mills. Coal and electricity, however, are both in use.