Published March 1989 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd A Longtime West Virginia Industry Shows New Vigor In earlier decades, the timber and wood products industries were among West Virginia's economic mainstays. Following World War I, however, with West Virginia's forests largely reduced, our state's timber and wood-related industries became secondary performers to other manufacturing and extractive enterprises. Subsequent to my entering the U.S. Senate, I saw the potential for renewing West Virginia's forestry products industry. Consequently, I obtained federal funds to establish the Forestry Sciences Laboratories in Mercer County and at Morgantown, and in 1987, I obtained an appropriation of $600,000 to launch the Advanced Hardwood Resource Center at the Mercer County laboratory, to research and develop hardwoods for greater commercial use. Last year, I also obtained an appropriation of $3.3 million to establish the Timber Bridge Resource Center at the Morgantown laboratory, to open an important new market for West Virginia's renewable hardwood potential. Currently, an estimated 240,000 bridges serving rural and secondary roads across the United States need to be repaired or replaced. Research into timber bridge design, wood treatment, and fabrication techniques has demonstrated that timber bridges can enjoy lifespans of more than 70 years. As a result of my initiative, the U.S. Forest Service has developed a $1.8 million program; $1 million in federal funds and the rest in state money to replace or rehabilitate 33 bridges in West Virginia using modern timber design, processing, and construction. The 33 bridges are located in 24 West Virginia counties: Mason, Wayne, Logan, Mingo, Wood, Jackson, Wirt, Ritchie, Marion, Grant, Jefferson, Hancock, Wetzel, Brooke, Gilmer, Lewis, Webster, Upshur, Pendleton, Randolph, Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, and Wyoming. At least three spans are to be placed in each of the ten West Virginia Department of Highways districts. I am pleased to see my Timber Bridge Initiative start so well. As well as developing new markets for West Virginia's fine hardwoods and upgrading our rural highways, this new industry promises to create jobs through increased timber demand and production, bridge fabrication, and construction. State officials recently announced that, for the second year running, West Virginia's 1988 timber industry accounted for more than $1 billion in sales. Certainly, West Virginia's timber and wood products industry is on a promising trajectory! March 22, 1989