Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-11-21
Canada Increases the Export Duty on
Pine Logs 70 IS.

4
the Canadian government explains
that the increase is directed against
the American lumbcrmeD. The large
lumber firms in Michigan have taken
up enormous timber limits in Ontario
and are cutting down the choicest
timber very rapidly. The duty has
twice been put up, with the view of
discouraging operations, but with each
increase the lumbermen enlarged their
facilities. This winters cut promises
to be unprecedently large. The
whole of the lumber so cut is taken
across the lakes and at once used in
the American mills, not a cent being
expended for Canadian labor. The
government is resolved 10 make the
business Improbable, and if the So
will not do it still heavier tax will
be imposed and other measures adopt
ed, says the telegram.
"The principal numbering points in
Canada" said Geo. B. Smith, presi-
dent of the Tonawanda lumber COM
pany, to the Journal to-day, "from
which logs would be exported into the
United States are on French and
Spanish rivers which flow into the
Georgian bay. The manufacturing
points there are Pentanguishene,
Midland, Victoria Harbor and Wau-
beshene, which are at the southern
end of Georgian Bay. The cost Of
towing logs from French and Spanish
rivers to these points is about 81 per
900 feet. The cost Of towing them
to Alpena, Oscoda, Saginaw and other
Michigan points is about s1.50 per
900 feet. If the Canadian export
duty is SO OH logs, and the American
import duty on lumber remains at ~,
it will be discrimination in favor of
Canadian manufacturers of 81 per / ;.
600 feet. This difference of 81 will
therefore undoubtedly have the effect
of stopping the importation of logs
from Canada into Michigan. The
Georgian Bay mills are more advan-
tageously located as shipping points to
the eastern market than the Michigan
mills, and would be very strong COM
petitors even without this discrimina-
ton of 81 in their favor"
'In my opinion the effect will be
to stop the bringing of logs into this
country" said John Dalzel, agent for
the big lumber firm of Skelling,
Whitney Il Barnes, of Boston, of
which ID. Whitney, jr., of Detroit is
president. "The bulk of the good
pine in Canada lies between the head
waters Of the Ottawa river and Georg-
ian Bay and extending north of the lat.
ter towards Lake Superior. Some of
this timber has been RATED to Alpena
and Saginaw, but ! think no more
will come, under this change in the
Canadian law"
"This raise from 81 to SO per 1000
feet by the Canadian government will
certainly stop importation of logs into
this country" said Simon j. Murphy,
Of this city. "The Canada export du-
ty was first 81 on logs and then 81 at
the present time, hut the imposition
of an additional one dollar will afford
no margin Of profit. 1t will certainly
force the manufacture of lumber into
Canada"
81 do not think there is a lumber
man in Detroit engaged in shipping
Canadian logs into this country" said
S. NJ. Cutcheon. vice-president of the
Moore lumber company. 1--WE have
not imported any Canadian logs SO
far. When ] was in Alpena recently
l heard some speculation among the
sawmill proprictcrs there on the SUBJ
ject. The area of pine lands tributa-
ry to these mills is gradually growing
smaller and will soon be exhausted.
and they are beginning to look to Cam
ada for supply Of material to keep
their investments profitable. Still
the movement Of Canadian logs to
this State has been very small. Fl.
M. Loud h Sons, Of Oscoda, have
brought over few, and so have I'm.
cry Bros, Of East Tawas, brought
over some in one of their steambarges.
| suppose that the additional import
tax will stop it altogether
M. S. Smith, of Alger, Smith Il Co
said that in his opinion there would
still he Canadian logs imported to this
side. but that the quantity would be
diminished by the increase of the
Canadian export tax.-Detroit Jour-
nal.