Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-12-24
Michigan Industries I'm the National
Tariff Convention.

At the tariff convention at Cooper
institute. New York, November 20 and 80
many different industries of the country
were called upon, and among others the
lumber and salt of Michigan, for brief
statements of conditions and views
Mr.. G. B. Stebbins, a delegate from the
Saginaw board of trade, responded
for these in brief speech, of which the
following is an abstract: Mr. Stebbins
said: ION behalf of our Michigan lum-
Der and salt interests, and also for the
western lumber manufacturers assOcia-
ton of Chicago, wisconsin and
Minnesota, would say that the idea of a
tariff commission meets their approval.
Personal attention to tariff legislation
in Washington for some years has con-
WINGED me that members of congress, for
want of time and practical information,
cannot give this subject the comprehen-
sive examination 1t needs. Many of our
best congressman will welcome the help
of commission of practical men, versed
In such matters, who shall take time to
visit leading points in different parts of
the country, gather facts and gain infOr-
nation, and report schedule Of customs
duties that shall be basis and guide
for just and wise legislation, such as
will give fair protection, needed revenue
and stability, and will supplant all frag-
mentary tariff tinkering. A few state
ments touching our Michigan industries
will give some facts such commission
might learn in one STAGE, and much
much more not told here would be laid
before them. Our lumber product last
year was 100000, 900 feet, valued at $780,
100000; our salt wells yielded 100000
bushels, worth $2,700OO0. The $4,000
men working in mills and lumber camps
were paid $25, 100000 wages, at rates 25
per cent. above those paid for like work
by our near neighbOrs in Canada. The
duty of 81 per thousand on lumber is
nearly an equivalent for that difference
In wages. In other words, fair prOtec-
ton enables us to pay our wOrkmen So.
10000 year more than Canada would
pay for the same labor. A like statement
could be made of of our salt-making.
Our lumbermen pay farmers $S,OOO,OOO
for their products, and home mechanics
and manufactures $7,0OOOO0, giving
home market for $15,O00,OOO worth of
products of farm and shop and mill.
This is interdependence and common
interest,". Wisconsin and Minnesota
lumbermen pay farmers some 100000
yearly, and we all keep millions of capt.
tai from going abroad.
1.-The iron ore beds of our upper PENN
sula, on Lake Superior, yielded last year
100000 tons of ore worth $12,OOO,OOO.
and employed 1000 men. Our copper
mines yielded 10000 tons worth $4,000
600, employing 5000 men. These 1900
workmen are paid over so per day on the
average, or double foreign wages for
like work. Our wool grOwers,put on the
market 100000 pounds of wool worth
100000, and our manufactures make
a home market for enough of it to make
their goods worth over 100000 yearly.
OF iron, shipbuilding, slaves and impor-
tant sundries, and last but not least, of
our large farm products, time fails to
speak. If we look at transportation by
ship and rail a thousand vessels and
host Of industries and skilled workers
spring up before us. Under protection
these vast and varied industries pros
per-"