The Sun.
London, England, 1821-03-20 00:00:00

Mr. Alexander Copland, called in ; and examined.

In .what business ate you engaged ?—I have been until recently a timber mer-
chant and builder ; I have lately retired from the latter branch of business.
How long did you continue a builder ?—About six or eight and twenty years.
In that time your observation has been directed to the different kinds of timber
used in the construction of houses ?,—Yes, it has.
Have you been in the habit of using the fir timber brought from the north of
Europe, and also that brought from North America ?—I have used a very large
quantity from the north of Europe, but only a small quantity of the American.
Have you used sufficient to ascertain, to your own satisfaction, the comparative
value of those two descriptions of timber in the construction of houses ?—I can
judge more extensively of the timber from the north of Europe than I could of
that from ,Americaahaving used but a very small quantity of that in building.
What has been, your reason for having used so small a quantity of the American
timber?—The American timber has not been so generally introduced Until the
latter years, at which time I was not carrying on works to that great extent, and
I should not have felt myself justified in using American timber, particularly in
public buildings, until it had been proved by experiment that the quality was
equal to that brought from the-north of Europe.
: Then it was not from any experience you had had of the American timber not
being equally good, but from a doubt upon the subject, that you did not avail your-
self :of it ?—I have seen American timber used, and have used a small portion my-
self,:whml2Tpeared to be very subject to the dry rot ; and I have also seen, in
instanees w ere the American deals have been laid in contact with each other,.that
they have a great tendency towards encouraging the growth of The dry rot.
Are you enabled to compare the American timber in 'that respect with the tim-
ber from the Baltic ?—Only in the particular instances I have named.
In the use of the Baltic timber, have you observed that it was subject in the same
manner to the dry rot ?—I have not found it so, except in situations where it has
been subjected to a damp or stagnant atmosphere, and I have, in those circum-
stances, seen the Baltic timber also subject to the 'dry rot; but from what I have
seen, I do not think it is so liable as the American.
In the, cases in which you have observed the American timber to be so affected
by the dry rot, was it placed in situations similar to those in' which you have de-
scribed the Baltic timber when affected with the dry rot to be placed ?—No ; I do
not think the Baltic timber would have had the dry rot in the space of tithe in
which the American timber I have spoken of had it in the same situation.
Have you ever had an opportunity of observing the use of the American timber
in contact with the Baltic ?—No I have not to my recollection ; in my fortner
answer, I-spoke of the yellow pine.
Is the yellow pine that which is imported into this country for common and in-
ferior purposes ? It is,
You have had great experience of the qualities of the Baltic timber ? I have.
State to the Committee the result of any d:bservations you have made upon the
different qualities of the Baltic timber, as brought from the different 'countries of
the north of Europe ?—The superior timbers are drawn from the ports of Memel,
Dantzic, and Riga ; that from NOrway is generally of a small dimension, although
equal in quality ; Swedigh timber is also considered nearly equal in quality, but
not of so large a dimensiOn in general ; for some purposes Dantzic is preferred, it
being of larger dimensions ; Riga perhaps is considered the next in point of su-
periority, and Memel the next to' that.
Have you had an opportunity of observing the comparative liability of the Baltic
and the American deals to the disease of the dry rot ?—I have seen many in-
stances similar to what I have stated, the American deals being placed close to
each other, that the dry rot would be created in the course of a twelvemonth ; and
I have also seen Norway d&.als placed in a similar situation for eight or ten years,
that have shown no such symptom. • -
Do you mean-that in both cases the deals have been equally well seasoned?—
Yes, both recently imported : I do not speak from experience in buildings, for
I have never used the American myself; I have seen it put into buildings, but
I have not known the result.
In what situations did you observe deals, where the dry rot was, placed
Lying in piles in the timber yard.
Are you aware that the quantity of deal shipped from the North American co-
lonies is very small have attended to the concern as a timber merchant so
little for the last two or three years, that I cannot speak to particulars or to prices,
and I would beg to refer to my partner; I have understood, latterly, the importa-
tion from North America has been very c,onsiderable.
' Have they not come for the purposes of stow-age only ?—No ; numbers of car,-
goes have groe.
Do you/ consider the inferiority of the American to the Baltic timber as ap-'
plicable to timber as well as to deals ?—Yes, it is applicable particularly to tim-
ber, the inferiority of the yellow pine. •
As much in timber as in deals?—Yes, I should think more so in timber than in
deals, because deals are not used in contact with walls or under floors, in damp
situations.

Do yin; see any objection, in your branch of trade, to making the duties on the
Norway deals equivalent to the duties on the Prussian and Russian deals, by regu-
lating the &ides on the whole by the cubic measurement?—l should see no objec-
tion to that mode of fixing the duty, provided a scale were made in favour of those
countries where the qualities of the timber are not similar ; for instance, I conceive
that the Russian deals would not sell in the market, if Norway deals were at the
same price; there would also be a considerable difference in the value between
Norway and Swedish and Prusisian deals in favour of the Norway ; therefore,
althcugh the duty might be laid on the cubical contents, it might be proper to
vary it in favour of the different countries.
You conceive, therefor, the Norway deals to be the most valuable ?—Yes,
I do.

Can you state to the Committee what difference it would be necessary to make
in the duty for the purpose of bringing the Norway deal upon an equality with the
deals of Prussia and Russia 7—Generally speaking, should think the Prussian
and Russian, deals, perhaps, -night be worth one-fifthl less than those of Norway.
Should you, as a builder, consider the Norway deal to be twenty per cent. better
than the Russian and Prussian deals ?—Yes, about that.
What advantage do you suppose there would be in laying a tax, so as to induce
the people of this country to buy the worst timber in preference to the better ?
That is a political question I cannot answer.
Is the difference between the American fir timber and European fir timber di-
stinguishable to the common eye when worked up ?—A professional man would
know the difference; but I do not think any gentleman who had not professional
knowledge, would. •
Do you not conceive that great deception is frequently practised upon persons
who have not professional skill, in the value of the timber, by the use of the in-
ferior instead of the- better ? I think it very probable that it may be so.
Do you not think, that in consequence of the encouragement that has been
given by the legislature to American over European timber, the buildings that
have been generally erected in London within the last four or five years, are much
less solid than the buildings of former times ?—Where the American timber has
been used, I conceive they would be very inferior to those where the timber from
the north of Europe has been made use of, from the circumstance of their being
more liable to the dry rot.
Do you not suppose that the same objection applies to the new buildings
throughout the three kingdoms in the same period ? Yes, as being more subject
tb the dry rot ; a great deal of timber of course is used for other purposes, than
building, for which it might answer.
In the new buildings, constructed within the period mentioned, have not peculiar
precautions been taken to preserve the timber from the dry rot, by admitting the
air ?—I think if that were done, it might have a good effect, but I am not aware
of it ; I never used any American timber in houses myself; I do not know whe-
ther the precaution has been made use of in other instances.

Do you know, either as a timber-merchant or a builder, the comparative value
between the fir brought from the different ports of North America, from the
United States, the province of Canada, and that of New Brunswick ?—I cannot
speak very correctly upon that point.
As far as your experience goes, you consider the American timber as very infe-
rior to the Baltic 2—Yes ; except in the instance which I have particularized be-
fore, which is that of the pitch pine, of which a very small part comes to this
country; and the red pine, which f have had no experience in using, but which'
appears tolbe very fine in quality.
Are you an importer ?—Yes ; we import timber from the north of Europe, not
from America.

Do you know whether the red pine and the pitch pine do not come principally
from the United States ?—I believe they do.
lndependant of its use in buiding, is not the American fir used for a great many
of the inferior purposes ?—Yes, to a considerable extent, I should think.
What proportion do you conceive that wood used in those purposes bears to the
general consumption of wood in the country ?—lt is difficult to answer that, ex-
cept in a very general manner; the deals would be nearly altogether used for those
purposes I should think ; of the timber, probably one-third for such purposes.
Ilas the American timber any particular advantages, as applicable to those pur-
poses, besides its cheapness ?—lt has some advantages in particular instances ; such
as for picture-frame carving where soft wood is required, and packing cases where
great width is required.
Then supposing an alteration to take place in the duties, so that both com-
modities are brought into the market at the same expense of freight and charges, do
not you think that a considerable quantity of American timber would still be im-
ported and sold for those inferior purposes ?—I conceive very little in that case.
Can you state any instance of houses built with American timber, in which the
dry rot has broken out ?—I am sorry to say I put some of it into my own house,
and it had the dry rot in a year and a half ; I had it cut out immediately.
Do yOu know that one of the wings of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, which was
built with the best Baltic timber, has been lately found so much affected with the
dry rot, that it was obliged to undergo a very thorough repair ?—I am not aware
of circumstance. '•

Can you state .to the Committee for what purpose, in the building your own
house, the American timber was used, which you found decayed through dry
rot ?—For joists, made use of on the ground floor, where there were cellars
beneath it.