Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-21
necessary in order that Western pine lumber

rllln- IuIelul c5llnlaIcS ny DraCllCal lum-
beruen show that there is enough standing
timber in the States of Michigan and Wis
Consln to last fifty years. thus showing the
Governments forestry bulletin to be entirely
erroneous
SXth--There cannot possibly be airy scare
iiy of lumber for century after every tree
has been cut in Michigan and Wisconsin, for
The reason thst there are larger tracts of vel
low pine In the Southern States than ever
existed of white pine in the NOrther- States.
This can all be used where white pine is now
used and the duty Gu lumber should be re-
tanned, 80 that the Southern States may have
the benefit of Northern capital to develop
this vast industry, which will not be done
for years if Canadian lumber is admitted
free.
Seventh-Consider the difference it will
make to the States having these large tracts
of yellow Mississippi, Georgia, Flor
idN. Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and
North and South Carolina whether they
are developed or left comparatively uniorch-
| cd as they certainly will I've for years if Ca
| madam lumber comes in free OF duty
To this Mr.. Potter answered MS loows :
In reply TO your first position, that lumber
| can be produced at least % per cent cheaper
in Canada than in the United States. | saw.
if this is limited TO white pine, wholly
agree to your statement. This is 'hc best
and strongest reason why ihie lumber should
be admitted free OF duty. White pine, as
YOU know, has already, on account of its
growing scarcity in the United States, reach
ed price which makes its use in dwellings
OF the middle and laboriDg classes very bur
dcnsOmc if not beyond reach. Why should
the use of this lumber hc made difficult or
| impossible in The dwellings OF the great ma
jority Of the people Of The country III ordc,
| to increase the profits Of the capital engaged
\ in the lumber business, and to hasten The
| destruction of the remnants of our pine for
| osts in Michigan and elsewhere in the NORTH
ern States !?
To your second point, reply If the
| $500, 100000 and l,0p0,000 men now en-
gagged in fastening The premature destruction
| OF our remaining pine forests csrnot con.
| TIME this destruction pro0ta',iy without the
stimulus OF tax, 10 n3 raid by the 35, 900,
900 in the Northern States, to whom thi,
white pine Inmbcr Is a necessity, am glad
The removal Of the duty will Then nroseryt
| TOT some time longer our own Pine forests
| While they grow and greatly increase In
| value FOR Cur future use, the growth CT 0ul
| towns and oitie5 and the building OF houses
for our people will not ~ retarded, but
| helped and hasene6 bv cheaper white piuc
| lumber.
Your third point that "ninl.,enths OF the
| people who use lumber are above the labor
| ing classes, and the duty il not in any sense
| burden upon the community" canno, be
maintained. This duty Is most oppressive
and unnecessary tax upon and against The
| homes Of the middle and laboring classe7
1t Is within my own experience that houses
10 New England have remained for wears
| unfinished in order to meet the more rucas.
| sery expenses OF education, while sCDr glcD-
| under bare rsftcrs in unfinished rooms |
am mistaken if this is not the case now with
| many homcG throughout the country of large
| l3miliee and small means, who would ap.
! rrecitte and enjoy well.gurnishcd rooms
| 10 your fourth point, that without this
| duty lumber Tor the Eastern States will come
from Canada and that railroads will lose the
| profits which would result from the CarlY
| destruction Of the forests still r.maning :,
| the West and their transportation by rail tC
| the East, hope this g e., because then, wiki
| the removal CT this duty, thn E3s. Wi! be
more c!leaply supplied with lumhsr while
| he forests Of Michigan wil remain for tbs
use OF the great ana growing W,st, In
which they will soon all be nceted ami viii
he wholly inadequate. eau uct think 81
0OO, 600 people should be oppressive!y taxed
In order TO enable railroads - make profits
| in the premature destruction and tranapnrla-
| ton of our rcmaining Western forests.
To your fifth point | answer, thai the
price of pine lumber wholly negatives Your
| position. This price has nearly or quite
| double within thirty years and is constantly
advancing. But if yout statement be true,
that the forests of NJ chigan and Wisconsin
will last for fifty years, ask what vii! lee
the condition Of the vast and still growing
| will lac.
and no forests rcmainingi Fifty years Is a
| short time In the life of a nation.
| In reply to your sixth ant seventh pJinls :
| You cannot be unaware that the yellow pine
Of the Southern States is not, and never can
be, advantageously used for the inside finish
OF houses, including doors, sasLcs and cas-.
lngs; nor in the manufacture OF furniture,
where white pine is q necessity nor for any
thing beyond beams, floors and wauscpting.
| Yellow pine and white pine arc, as YOU
know, best used together in the same struc
ture, and the cheaper white pine is supplied
Tor finishing purposes, the greater will be the
demand for Southern pine for beams floors
| and other purposes for which it can hc used
All the white pine and yellow pine of the
country will not be too much for its certain
growth during the lives OF those now born
II our Government shall be steadily admin.
istercd to the great ends OF liberty aud self
| government for whiCH ii was created,
1t seems to US that the weight Of argu
ment is altogether on Congressman Po!cr's
side. The present tariff simply gives ,
bonus to lumbermcn for DESTROYING on,
forests and keeping up the price of lumber
Even admitting the lumberman's claim that {
million men are engaged in the business o.
producing luuber (Which we do not belicvc)
there are fifty million who arc not so en-.
gagged, and it is not obvious why the pros
perity OF the fifty should be mor,gpgcd 70,
the benefit Of the one
1