The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-14

MIC lOllONAAlH AASAAA bAAS FNNf''g $1,000
0er anil Neu;, OF Ronceverte, is report
OF a speech made recently by Col. John
Driscol, at Ronceverte. Col. Driscol
was until recently Democrat, and in
this speech he gives his reasons for
joining tho party Of protection.
In the course OF his address Col.
Driscol said that he had been nominated
by the Republicans of the Eighth soma
torial district of West Virginia as their
candidate for state senator. Although
this honor was entirely unsolicited
upon his part, he had accepted it for
the reason that he felt it was peculiarly
his interest and duty to do everything
in his power to prevent the success OF
the party that was now boldly advo-
eating tho doctrine OF free trade. That
this same party in its efforts to remove
all protection from lumber had already
done much to embarrass the operations
OF the company over which he presided.
Canada is already sending vast
quantities OF pine lumber into our
markets and ii all duty is to be re.
moved, with her unlimited forests OF
pine, cheap labor and water carriage,
we would have but poor show in the
markets in which We sell the larger por-
ton OF our lumber. AS alumber man
uiacturer and q citizen OF West Vir-
ginia, he could not act with party that
openly advocated free trade SO lar as all
the important interests of our state arc
concerned. Free lumber, free coal, free
iron ore and free wool would mean COM
mercial death to West Virginia. He
could not see how any man who felt the
slightest interest in the business OF our
country could agree that foreigners
should be allowed to dump their manu-
featured articles and their woolinto the
markets OF this country free from taxa
ton, while our own manufacturers and
farmers were required to pay heavy
taxes to keep up our cities, counties
and states. Ii this is. to be done, let
them take off the taxes upon manufac-
turing plants, farm lands and give US at
least some show with the favored for
eigner. -
To show you that our fears OF Canada
are not entirely imaginary, in 1883
there was g tariff on white pine lum-
Der; in 1890 it was reduced to Sl00. AS
result Canada shipped lumber into
the United States in 1891 to the amount
OF SIS, 100000, which represents about
S9,0OOOOO that would have been paid
out to tho labor OF this country, If the
lumber had been manufactured here.
Now, gentlemen, we in this country
labor under great many disadvantages
which do not exist in Canada. In the
first place the American lumberman
buys his timber land. He invests in
these lands large amount OF money
originally before he starts out to manu-
facture. The policy OF tho Canadian
government has been to sell what are
known rs timber limits, sim
ply requiring the payment OF
a small ROYALTY or bonus,
per annum, SO that the Canadian lum-
herman, when he starts to manutac-
ture, has practically no investment in
timber lands, and consequently the
capital to conduct the business over
there is very much less than is re-
quircd in this country. That is very
important item, going to make up the
cost OF the manufactured article here.
In many instances the Canadian does
not pay for his timber until it is cut
into lumber or until the logs are cut, so
that he has no interest account Then
he has no taxes to pay. He in no way
helps to support the American govern
ment, and indeed he does not help to
support his own government, except SO
lar as he pays the price OF tho timber
limit, which is only fifty cents per
thousand. Again, we all know that the
cost OF provisions in Canada are very
much less than the cost here. The
camp supplies there are very much less
also, wages are less than one-half what
We pay in this country.
The policy OF tho Canadian govern
ment has been to encourage numbering
operations The government has con-
constructed fumes and dams, has
cleaned out the streams and given the
lumberman the best OF highways, and
other means OF transportation. The
American government does nothing Of
this kind. The American lumberman
when he goes into the forest constructs
his own means Of transportation. He
builds his own railroads; cleans out his
own streams aud builds his own fumes
and dams. He also has to pay for the
right Of crossing other properties in
order to reach his timber lands. In
very many other ways the American
lumberman is placed at many disadvan-
tages as contrasted with the Canadian.
Now gentlemen, for these reasons, we are
unable to compete with our Canadian
neighbors. Tho lumber supply OF this
country is to-day entirely inadequate for
the wants OF our people. We have a
forest area that is abundant for this
and for many coming generations.
There is no lack in the supply OF the
material to build homes for our people.
Lumber to-day has reached price, in
the downward trend, that is already
causing disaster to great many manu-
tacturers in various sections OF the
country. do not think there is an in
dustry in this country to-day that is
suffering so severely from low prices as
the southern Pine industry. Only the
best. grades are handled, the balance
lies in the woods and rots.
How can We compete with Canada in
this business? We think it would be
very disastrous not only to the manu-
iacturer but the people OF this country.
We think this in view OF the fact that
the st. Lawrence Boom & Manufacturing
Company has been paying out in the
counties OF Greenbrior and Pocahontas
IN this state to the farmer and laborer
about 100000 year. The loss OF this
amount would certainly fall heavily
upon the laborers of this country.
Gentlerien, do not make this state