The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-04-23
Oregon Lumber in China.

trade, and trade which could De
vastly enlarged by the commonest
attention thereto, is likely to fall
into the hands of foreign dealers.
We thoroughly agree with Judge
Denny, consul general, that when
we have once entered a market we
should never again neglect its sup
ply, even to meet the demands of
more profitable markets. Our
merchants must strain all efforts TO |
keep their hold upon ali trade, and
not suffer themselves to be lured |
of for any acquired market by
hopes of greater gain elsewhere.
To do otherwise will be 10 totally |
forfeit the trade of the deserted |
markets, for the dealers therein |
will purchase from parties on whom
they can depend for constant sup
plies rather than enter into relations
with those who will leave them on
the first favorable opportunity.
The moment our merchants enter
any market it should be a well
established principle that they have
entered therein to stay. The re-
marks of Consul-General Denny
in connection with the lumber
trade are equally applicable to all
other branches of trade, and as
such should be carefully weighed
by all exporters. He says:
The trade in pine lumber from
the west coast of America is very
important, in view of the probable
demand and her capabilities for
shipping it. In 1877, 100000
superficial feet, and in 1878, $780,
600 superficial feet were imported,
while during the last eighteen
months there has been almost a
total absence of arrivals. Most of
this lumber is shipped from Puget
sound, and Oregon. 1t would
seem that the Oregon and Wash
ington mills, having the advantage
of the San Francisco market, Go
not look abroad so much for
market as they should consistent
with their interests. Such a pol
icy for the present may be quite
reasonable, but nevertheless the
China market ought never to be
entirely neglected. At no distant
dav it will be seen that those who
have been constantly in the mar
ket will reap the benefit which is
bound to accrue from it sooner or
later, to the exclusion of those who
have remained out of it. For this
reason | think it OF the greatest
importance that the lumber mer-
chants of Oregon and Washing
ton, representing as they do, a
country which can boast Of the
finest lumber forests the world
ever produced, should not longer
neglect a market which might be
made to draw very largely upon
their inexhaustible supply. Tim
ber-and particularly soft timber
is getting scarcer every year. For
centuries the forests of China
have been drawn upon regardless
of preservation; and with the ex-
ception of provinces in the remote
west, some thousands of miles
inland, and some of the southern
provinces, the lumber districts of
this country NAV be said to be
entirely exhausted. Some good
timber is also still to be found in
northern Mauchunia and in the
confines OF Gorea, but the means
Of communication are so defect
i've that before it reaches a point
of shipping and the central mark
cts, the cost becomes almost pro-
hibitory. In late years Japan has
beeen furnishing large quantities
of inferior soft wood, which has
always been eagerly taken up at
prices which must be remunera-
tive to the sellers. But Japan has
for the last fifteen years also been
carrying on the cutting down of
timber in most reckless manner,
without replanting. 1t is only
quite lately that the authorities
have Justly taken alarm. Then,
again, the timber is short, furnish
ing but small amount of timber
to the tree and frequently full OF
knots at that; we may therefore
reasonably expect a check in the
export of Japan, and correspond
ingly high prices. Next TO the
Russian sea provinces and Amour
country, whence export of timber
is prohibited bv the government
Oregon and Washington territory
on the Pacific coast, will be Cainas
nearest and best source of sup.
ply for soft timber. This branch oI
trade only requires being studied
a little to make it a very large
and paying one; it has an almost
inexhaustible field in the supply
of furniture, which might be sent
out in pieces, in a rough state,
left to be put together by the
Chinese on this side. The ordi-
nary nse of the lumber hitherto