The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-05
PUGET SOUND TIMBER
II Il IN Great Demand IN the
Australian Colonies
THE DUTIES on THE PRODUCT.
Better Care Ohoula - Taken h Bert
Ia ed IeoAine-Conoul.0 oaosal
Wallaee'o InAePoeting Doeas

wAsurxeros CrrY, June A-lSpecial r
Consul General Wallace. this counsrys
representative ct Melbourne. Australia,
has just sent . report 70 the state depart
ment giving some valuable Information IN
reference to the American lumber trade
with Australia.
The large infux Of population flowing 70
Australia, dating a. far back as 1859, ana
following tho discovery of rich deposits OF
gold, developed IN extraordinary demand
for building material. Al the timber M
digenous to Australia il hard wood ana
not sell adapted for joinery or building.
its place Was supplied by the Importation
of Swedish deals, flooring, ciapboards ana
square timber. At first the trade was en-
tirelv in the hands of English houses. ous
American firms soon entered into eompe-
tition, bringing readymade sash and doors
and lumber of the usual sizes and erades
from the eastern coast Of the United
States and Canada. This lumber was fol-
lowed by pitch pine, which IN its turn has
had to give place to lumber from
Puget sound. What 10 known
TO the trade as Oregon, mas
become a standard ouiidin8
timber. and the demand for it will keep
pace with whatever building or improve
ment is done in the colonies. This Is
shown By the importations into the colony
of Victoria during the past seven years,
the greatest period Of building and im-
provement the colony has ever known.
The impor,ations of Oregon, which
amounted in 1896 to 81. 341. 159 superficial
feet rose 10 IS, 4s. ,69l supercial feet in 1855.
but declined TO Il, 900 900 feet in 1892. and
IL is estimated that there are now in im-
porters' and trade hands about l2,OoO.OO
superficial feet, which, with from 3.0OO.OOO
to 5000, 900 feet afoat. will furnish . full
supply for twelve months or more TO come.
as the normal consumption is not more
than that amount per annum. 1t Is the
opinion of the trade generally that the
demand for timber In the near future must
be comparatively small, a. it cannot we'll
recover quickly from the severe blows
dealt it by the collapse of building socie.
ties and the bursting OF the land boom"
The kinds Of timber imported into the
colony of Victoria from the western coast
of America are Oregon" sugar pine, red
wood and spruce. "Oregon" is principally
used for the rough and heavy work in
building. bridge work. etc. In former
years this timber arrived in good condi.
ton and was of good quality. but iatterly
complaints have been made under both
counts and moe care should be taking in
loading and sorting at the port Of ship
ment. Sugar pine, which Is used mainly
in the manufacture of doors, fittings and
for the better class Of joiners work, 10
gradually growing more and more into
the favor of architects. to the detriment Of
Michigan clear pine. which has been used
almost exclusively tor this kind OF work
for many years. The average annual con-
sumption for the past few years was about
2.OOO. 600 superficial feet. but for the same
reason as "Oregon" has decreased: this
average is far from being maintained at the
present time. The stock on hand is about
100000 superficial feet. Redwood
supplies the demand for the
OF this timber the usual annual eonsump-
ton is about 1885, 900 superficial feet and
the estimated stock ON hand Is about
100000 superficial feet. Spruce from
Puget sound Is also imported. but the last
shipment was sold as ''Oregon." The sup
ply can be obtained from st. Johns OF .
better quality and at cheaper rates. The
present market quotations arc much be-
low what they would be If there was de-
mand. The present freights ruling from
Puget sound to this market are from 80 to
$500. and it is understood that they are
not satisfactory to ship owners.
The future importations Of timber into
this colony may be affected somewhat by
the customs duties, which were finally set
tied by parliament last October upon the
following basis: Under XXX, $40 Der
100 superficial feet; under l2x6 and over,
36 cents per 100 superficial feet; logs,
rough or undressed. any size, free. No
discrimination is made against American
timber. and the decline in trade and the
reduction Of imports is due wholly to the
financial depression existing in the colony
at this time. On the return OF prosperity
there will be an immediate demand for
such stock.
The fostering Of this trade with the
Australian colonies is Of the utmost i'm
portance to the state of Washington, and
with better transportation facilities there
is no reason why that state should not
have a monopoly in this business.
1.-THE phrase Oregon" applied to lumber 10 not
from the state Of Oregon, but all from Puget
sound and tributary waters OF all the lumber
cargoes going foreign I'm the past eight mouths,
that 10. from October l. is92. TO May 81, not one
cargo OF lunber went on, from the Columbia
river, aud in the past twelve months only four
iumber cargocs went foreign from the Columbia
riyerl