*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 049--- [ad] Demorest Patterns and all kinds of Fashion Books at J. E. Mathews [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 49 The "Band" saw is rapidly coming into prominence, at the present writing this style of saw is used exclusively by the "Elk River Milling Co." and the "Union Mill," it is destined to supplant the circular saw entirely. Since it has been practically demonstrated to be a saving of lumber, the "Band" saw is prophesied to be the "saw" of the future. There are about forty mills engaged in cutting redwood. The largest have a capacity of 75,000 or 80,000 feet per day. Perhaps the average would be 40,000 feed daily. SOME OTHER USES. In addition to the uses, quoted above, to which the wood of this noble tree can be put, are given, and the tree thus minutely described, in "Forest Trees of California," a pamphlet issued in 1882 by the State Mining Bureau: "The foliage is like that of the yew—-the same flat and final starry spray or twiglets of small leaves, say one-half to one inch long, distinctly in two rows-—flat and line-like, with a sharp point; dark-green above, soft grayish-green underneath. The limbs are spreading or drooping; cones of an oblong shape from one to one and a quarter inches long and one-half to three-quarters of an inch thick, consisting of numerous trapezoidal-disked scales, with three to five flat, oval or obovate, dark, reddish- brown seeds to each scale. The wood is red, with a faint coppery or metallic iridescent gloss, the hues deepening to richer, darker shades with age. Choice curl grained wood is very ornamental for cabinet finishing and similar work—takes a fine polish with a simple stain of varnish. Well-matured heart-wood of the base of these trees is so solid and heavy as to sink in water. These will last for ages under the most trying circumstance, like cedars and yews. Insects seem never to trouble any of it. The bark, reduced to bast, has been utilized for upholstering-- an excellent material." ORNAMENTAL USES. There is such variety to this redwood--variety as well of color, as of grain and texture (hard or soft)--as to make it very serviceable to the furniture and cabinet-maker. Of late there is being used extensively in these branches what is known as burhls, or the huge knots that sometimes grow on the tree trunks, frequently eight or ten feet in length or breadth. These burhls--harder than ironwood--consist of innumerable small birds’-eye or tiny knots, so compactly put together as to leave no grain whatever. The wood of these burhls, when worked is if a rich, dark mottled brown, and highly ornamental. Side-boards, tables, mirror- frames and other articles made from these knots are of the most exquisite beauty and durable as iron. It is destined to be used more extensively for veneering purposes, for it is doubtful if any wood could give better results. Of late great attention is being given to redwood as a valuable material for the details of woodwork. Architects, in response to the popular taste, are leaning to a more general use of it for ornamental purposes. No wood gives better results at the band-saw or in the shaping-machine--by means of which implements almost any conceivable design is obtained. The fact that seasoned redwood neither [ad] Gibbard & Lever Manufacture DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES, BRACKETS SCROLL WORK, TURNING, ETC. ETC. Factory Second & L Streets. [ad] ---end---