uurmiy Dtunuuub to tne Kanheact.
ONE of the greatest drawbacks
of a forester’s profession is
that he rarely lives long
enough to see the results of
his labors. This is particularly the
case in India, where a forest officer
hardly ever remains more than five
years in one division. And what is
five years in the life of a tree? But
with bamboos it is different, for the
shoots attain their full dimensions in
the course of a few months and are
ripe for felling after three years, says
Country Life. It is this that makes
the bamboo one of the most interest
ing species the Indian forest officer
has to deal with, for he can literally
watch its growth and observe with
certainty the results ot his care and
attention.
In many places, where distance
from the market makes it valueless
for export, the bamboo is still looked
upon as a weed cumbering up the
ground beneath more valuable forest
trees. But elsewhere it is one of the
most valuable forest products. In
deed, few forests in India can show
a net revenue of nearly a pound an
acre per annum, which is what is now
being derived from the Hoshiarpur
bamboo forests in the Punjab. These
two forests—Kara pur and Bindraban
—situated at the eastern end of the
Siwaliks, overlooking the Keas river
as it passes from the hills into the
plains, cover .altogether an area of
000 «cres, of which nearly 4.000
jicns comprise almost pure bamboo.
Bamboo Cutting.
For many years these forests were
worked on what is known as the “roy
alty” system. That is to say, 'each
year the right of felling was put' up
to tender, the would-be purchasers
offering to fell a minimum number
of stems during the season and paying
for the same at a fixed rate per hun
dred for each class of bamboo, the
classification being made according to
size. The large bamboo traders of
the Punjab are, however, all more or
less closely connected with one an
other. Many of them are intimately
related, and they made it their busi
ness to insure that there was little or
no competition for the contract. Year
after year-they offered Hie same rates,
and the number of stems they agreed
to fell was never more than that for
which they already had an assured
market. They were woefully lacking
in enterprise, and took no steps to
create a larger market for their prod- ,
uce. In consequence nothing ap
proaching the full possible turn-out
was ever obtained from these forests
vindef the royalty system, and while ,
rhe more accessible portions were con- j
tinually overfelled, the outlying tracts
were hardly ever touched.
Taken Over by Government
It was decided, therefore, that as i
soon as the necessary labor and trans- «
port arrangements could be made, the
department should take over the en- i
tire exploitation of these forests. A 1
beginning was made in departmental 1
working during the winter of 1917-18,
and th© success which has followed i
has far more than justified the change
of policy, for during the last thr*» ,
. : ■ i
years the revenue obtained from these
two forests has increased fourfold,
while the actual net amount now re
ceived for every hundred bamboos
is more than double what was previ
ously paid by way of royalty.
In the Punjab the felling season foi
bamboos is a comparatively short
one. Operations do not commence
much before October and have to be
completed by the end of January, al
though another month’s work can be
got in between May 15 and June 15,
There are thus only five months in the
year in which fellings can be made,
the reason being that stems felled at
any other time of the year are very
liable to be attacked by the bamboo
borer, a small insect which eats away
the inside of the stem and renders it
useless for anything. To fell more
than a million stems during five
months requires, however, a large
amount of labor. Fortunately, there
is a fairly large local population in
the neighborhood of these forests who,
being for the most part agriculturists,
have little to do in their fields during
the winter months. When tne work
is in full swing as many as 300 or 400
men are employed on felling alone.
How the Bamboo Is Handled.
For felling a primitive form of bill
hook is used, which is exeremely use
ful for getting among the crowded
stems at the base of the clump, though
in unskillful hands a great deal of
damage may be done to other shoots
in the clump. The bamboos, having
been felled, are next roughly dressed
of their side shoots and tops, and are
then tied into bundles of five, ten or
twenty, according to size. For the
time being these bundles are thrown
out on the compartment lines, but at
the close of the day's work are collect
ed together and carried on the coolies’
heads to the forest depots. Here those
which are to be manufactured, that is,
fifed and straightened, are put on one
side, while the others which are to
be marketed green are loaded into
carts and sent off to the sale depot
at the railhead.
i\ r.-. i t. _ i— i- ;a
im, uaiuuuuo iiilvj,
maybe, tent poles or lance staves is
by l'ar the most interesting part of
ihe work in these bamboo forests.
The first stage in making up is care
fully to clean off all the knots. This
is usually done by a gang of small
boys armed witli sharp adzes. They
soon become clever at this work and
rarely spoil a bamboo by making a
had shot and damaging the skin. The
poles are then cut to length, according
to the purpose for which they are re
quired, and handed over to the skilled
workmen, known as kanniggars, for
straightening. Each pole is now put
through a hot wood fire. This not
only makes it supple, but also gives
it a rich brown color, and by melting
the dirty waxy covering gives it a
clean and highly polished appearance.
After this all curves are removed by
bending the stem with some force in
an opposite direction. The instru
ments used for this are either an up
right pole planted in the ground, with
slanting holes bored through it to take
the bamboos, or a small implement
held in the hand, which is used only
for small stems and delicate work,
such as lance staves.
Loyal to Her Church.
Shortly after the birth of Liberty
3onds, the principle of them was be
ng explained to a group of people
iround a first Liberty loan booth.
After the explanation of the fact that
hey earned 3y2 per cent interest,
vere nontaxable, etc., the solicitor con
inued: “These bonds are issued in
ill denominations.”
A woman in the rear of ."•.e crowd,
vho had been hesitating for some time,
hen stepped to the front, saying: “I’ll
;ign up for a hundred-dollar Baptist
)ond!”
Fleeting Glimpse.
“You will be able to see Mr. Bllton
s a few minutes,” said the private
secretary.
“Thanks,” replied the persistent vl*.
tor. “As Mr. Bllton Is a man of such
arge affairs, I was afraid I would not
>e able to get an Interview so easily.**
“Oh, Mr. Bllton will be leaving for
he golf links. He told me to tell yoa
o take a good look at him as he passed
>ut.”—Birmingham Age-Herald.
J. C. McBRIDE
(OF JUNEAU)
Candidate for Republican National
Committeeman
m
Twenty-two years’ continuous residence in Alaska.
Thoroughly conversant with Alaska’s needs. For many years
engaged in mining, merchandising and the fisheries of Alaska.
Stands unequivocally for Alaskans for all offices and the fullest
development of Alaska’s resources advantageously to all interested.
A VOTE FOR M’BRIDE AT THE PRIMARY ELECTION,
APRIL 27, MEANS TERRITORIAL PROGRESS AND PROS
PERITY.
JACK CHOVIN
THE PEOPLE’S CANDIDATE FOR
Republican National Committeeman
Twenty-three years in Alaska. An independent Republican.
The only candidate for National Committeeman who has received
the indorsement of the Republican Club of his own town.
GEORGE C. HAZELET
CANDIDATE FOR
Delegate to Republican National Convention
i
» 1 lrrr 1 ..
YOUR SUPPORT APPRECIATE®
Primary Election, Tuesday, April 27
\
E. E. CHAMBERLAIN
OF SEWARD
Republican Candidate for Territorial Senator
THIRD DIVISION
i
—_
PRIMARIES APRIL 27
JOHN J. FINNEGAN
*
Republican Candidate for Attorney General
Primaries April 27 I
——————————————————————X—■———*
I ALASKA TRACER COMPANY |
TRANSFER AND STORAGE
COAL AND WOOD
!
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AUTO SERVICE
DAY OR NIGHT
Office, Northern Hotel Bldg. Phone 85
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Sixty Steam-Heated Rooms, Electric-Lighted
Hot and Cold Water in Every Room
With or Without Bath
Cordova House
DOOLEY & GREENIG
Headquarters for Railroad and Mining Men
Satisfaction Guaranteed :: Rates Reasonable
■ -- in r- - i
si......,, , .,. , . • '•
Alaska h
Steamship Company
Regular Sailings Between Seattle,
Ketchikan, Juneau, Cordova, Valdez,
Ellamar, Liscum, Latouche, Seward
I
FROM SEATTLE— SAILS SOUTH
APRIL 8. ALAMEDA APRIL 16
April 15. NORTHWESTERN APRIL 23
APRIL 22. ALASKA APRIL 30
Frequent sailings of freighters carrying explosives.
This schedule subject to change without notice.
F. B. TRACY, Agent
' ;—”1
I! ipper River and |
Northwestern Ry.
Trains leave Cordova for Chitina Monday and Thursday.
Trains leave Chitina for Kennecott. Tuesday and Friday.
Trains leave Kenneeott for Chitina Sunday and Thursday.
Trains leave Chitina for Cordova Tuesday and Friday.
Diming Car in Connection with all Regular
Passenger Trains between Cordova and Chitina.
Freight received and delivered at Cordova
Wharf from 9 a. m. to 5 p m., except Sundays. *
Tickets on sale at Second Street Depot office ;
oik* hour before departure of trains.
CALEB CORSER Superintendent [I
MARK M'ALLEN, TICKET AGENT
THE NORTHERN CLUB
FRED HAEF, PROP.
__
POOL, CARDS, TOBACCO
Soft Drinks of All Kinds
• -I ,
The Popular Cornejr
PHONE 47 CORDOVA, ALASKA »
FRED M. SCHAUPP '
SANITARY PLUMBING
Steam-Fitting, Marine Pipe and Tank Work
Sheet Metal Work
SECOND STREET, NEXT DOOR TO FEDERAL JAIL
PHONE 72
CLOTHES
THAT WEAR LONGER
There is economy in getting a tailor-made Suit, made of the best p
woolens, and good workmanship.
Call and see the new Spring Woolens, just received.
HARRY NELSON, MERCHANT TAILOR
NORTHERN HOTEL BLDG.
CLEANING, DYEING AND TAILORING
Fancy Cleaning and Repairing a Spec ialty. We have the only Cleaning
plant In town where your clothes are t horoughly renovated and not shrank.
Hats Steamed and Blocked in the latest shapes.
TOM N. HUBBERT, TAILOR
Phone 130
•ert trier's New Samples Just Arrived. 8UITS $39.00 and up
' I
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