West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-01-27
TREES AND rHE TARIFF.

TREES AND the Tariff.
DURING the pss' few years, Gays the
Baltimore american, observing per
sons have become alarmed at the
reckless rapidity with which our for.
ests are being cut down. 1t is be.
heved that denudlng the earth Of its
fores,s affects the climate, diminishes
rainfall, causes drouth and a lower
ing OF the levels OF inland streams.
Careful estimates fix the date
wien the supply OF white pine will!
be exhaust ed a, the ehort period Of
eight years. At the present rate Of
cutting II cannot last longer. When
It IL gone what will wedo1 Import it
from Canada. But why not begin
to import 1t from Canada now ? Be-
cause there is a tariff on CANADIAN
lumber that is virtually prohibiiorv
The American pine lumbe lie pro
tectsd' by duty OF 30 per cent =
wh'ch' OF course, puts a premium
uron cutting down our pine forests.
That tariff, 1t is evident, haste the
destruction OF the forests on the
southern side OF the ST. Lawrence
and the .akes, and protects tbs for
est growth on the Canadian side
Is no' thus precIseIy the reverse OF
what shou:d be Would it not be
better even to pay bounty to Can
adlan timber than 10 lay tax on il
II by paying the bounty we would
preserve our own Valuable fores;
growths. which when once gons will
be hardly susceptible OF restoration ?
Do+s not the duty on foreign timber
ca aloud for repeal for " it lasts
eight years longer the pine forests
will he gone.
THIS tariff is bad on economic as
well AZ on feres ry grounds. Pro-
lection 10 the timbercutter, OF couFe,
means destruction TO the timber; but
l. means. in addition to this, iniua-
tlce to the builder. Public prosper
ny dependsIn n large dezee noon
the rapid deve lop pment OF lhe conn
try, and cheap lumber Tor houses
barns, wbsrves and bridges il an I'M
portaDt element IN the development.
To require the builder to pay thirty
per cent. more for bis timber than
be could get IL for from Canad .sD
lumbermen protects the timber cut.
ter at the expense Of the develop
ment OF the country. And this duty
is all the mere Objectionable because
It is a tx upon the necessity Of the
poor man, since 1t applies 10 build
ing tim her, and not 10 the woods oi
luxury. Tbs exactly reveraes The
ordinary rule, which ls to tax luxur.
les, and not the necessaries for
is tax Of from twenty Eve TO rhir-
ty per cen. laid on spruce ao1 10
ferior grades Of pioes, the mshoqany,
rosewood, sstinwood, &C., ar sddmrt-
ted free Of duty.
There are several sorts Of timber
that have already suffered such
beavp destruction as to point TO
their spee Iy disappearance. 3 ack
walnut is one ol these. The con
sumption OF this wood by furniture
makers Is 30 great that the price II
rising with exceeding swlftness. The
high price, OF course, ncr eases the
inducements 20 CIT down the httle
ths. ~ left, and Ia some parts Of the
country where u Was ones abundant
ther ~ none left The -eokless de-
situCtion Of mountain oak farests
merely 10 get the bark Tor tanoeriep.
is another source ot Wauion waste.
ln Europe the forests are preserved
with great care, and ase under the
protection OF the law. In this coun.
lry our foresis are felled with = scrt
Of ierocuy. ssii clviugation consisted
90 cuit ng down trees. The Turks
have the propensity TO cut down
rers, aud have INDUCED u freely
aud wherever the Turk goes he car
RES he desert with him. H4s not
tbe.tins come for American, to use
their forest wealth in more ration
81 aud economical way7