New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-09
THE TARIFF ON LUMBER.
HOW TO PROTECT THE STANDING PINE


TO the Edttor OF the Tribune.
SIR: What theory of protection justife. the i'm
position OF high duty upon an article when the
supply of raw material from which it is manufao-
tured is so limited that it can satisfy the home de-
mand tor only faw years at the furthestf Sup
pose, for illustration. the supply of iron ore was
known 10 be nearly exhausted. Suppose it was adj
united that at the present rate Of the consumption
of iron and steel at home every ton could be smelted
before 1900 Would any sane man advocate tariff
on iron and steel products to protect an industry
which must be extinct within eight years The
argument for the protection Of iron and steel
makers. which is now nteligible. would be absurd
under the condi ions assumed. The thing to pro.
tect would DO the supply Of raw material. Public
policy would demand free importation Of iron and
ssee 50 that our own scanty supply might be pre-
| served for q time OF need.
| Now the Census Bureau assures the country that
the supply of standing white pine in 1880 was less
than $4,000, 100000 feet. The cut for the present
year will amount to nearly 10.00O,0O0,O 900 feet.
Pine lumber, too. is an article Of prime
necessity, tho white piue being the most
generally useful of our timber trees and one whose
place be filled by other. The present condi-
ton of our white pine forests then Is strkngy
analogous to that Of the supply in the case
supposed above. And yet Congress is asked to i'm
pose duty of 81 for every thousand feet of lumber
imported from Canada for the apparent purpose Of
making the attack upon our pineries more persist
ent and deadly. Indeed, tho argument for free
lumber Is stronger than that for free iron in the
case supposed above For the iron orc is
worth nothing while it remains under
ground, and is only valuable when manufactured,
while the standing pine has almost priceless
value as forest apart from its value as the raw
material for lumber. THE TRIBUNE has rendered
genuine public service by calling attention to The
conservative functions of forests IN the economy of
Nature. Ii has pointed out the dangers from
drought and flood, the degradation of the soil, tae
disastrous effects upon climate aud comfort and
health which must follow the reckless destrur ton
of woods Ii has called upon Congress To protect
the source of our rivers. Ii has urged upon
our ) ATE Legislature the necessity OF preserving
tho Adirondack woods as the salvation Of the
Hudson.
Why not then take the first important step to-
ward rcscuing our forests from swift ruin by
admitting Canadian lumber fires Ind thus relieving
them from he necessity of bearing alone the ex-
haustlng burden of this codntTy's growing demandsf
Tho argument Tor tree lumber does NOT derive its
force from any general considerations upon which
free traders base their theories. Free lum-
Der means protection; only 1t IS the
OF the NatI0n rather than protection OF the pockets
ca those VINO nave been waniOnly squanderlng II.
Ii means even more than prolonging the supply OF
pine. walnut, hickory, ash ana other valuable
woods which are already scarce. IL means q check
to the encroaohments on our forest area-so that
when popular sentiment IS fully aroused, as 1t sOon
llust be, to take measures for fO est projection,
there will be something left to preserve.
President Arthur deemed the su ject of sufficient
importance 10 deserve mention IN his message Con-
gress should heed ho warning by making Lumber
iree and then creating the commission advocated
by The TRIBUNE. B.
AeU- YORK., Jan. 1. 1888.