The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-28


Labor is cheaper in British Columoia
than on cur side Owing 10 their laws.
they avail themselves OF cheap Chinese
labor. and tAey employ japanese anu In
diaas in considerable numbers.
The cost OF manufacturing lumber from
tree 10 log. and from log 10 luncer. IS AZ
least 20 per crnt. labor, perhaps 20 per
cent. under some circumstances. Besides
the cost of stumpage il Il all LABOR. Lun-
Der should not De considered a raw mate
rial in our part OF the country. IL IS our
main business As I said, from 80 TO 90
per cent. Of the cost of lumber Is IN labor.
the oalv raw material being the
tree standing in the woods. The balance
OF the cost from the time the tree Is cut
until il is landed on the dock as lumber IS
labor. for il takes labor 10 build the roads,
TO fall the trees, 10 cut them up into log
lengths. 70 raft in booms, 10 manage
steamers in towing. and 10 handle them
and man ufaeture into lumber at the mills
ANY further reduction in The cost OF pro-
drction in logs and manufactured lumber
must result in marked reduction IN the
price paid for labor. A reduction in cost
of manufacturing lumber of IS cents per
thousand means = reduction on wages.
The shipping ports of British Columbia
are adjacent 10 those on the American
side and no farther distant from points of
cousum ption, whether the shipments are
BY way of the Pacific ocean TO do
mestic coast ports, or by rail to the East
ern states.
You know that the Canadian Pacific
transcontinentaI railroad, one of the
great competing systems crossing the
continent. having q great subsidy from
the government Was construcfed
with view TO the interests of
the British government not solely
as q commercial road. but for its useful
r - - - NsF
have heard that the British government
does not hesitate TO promote such great
enterprises by the use Of public money OF
the government tor that purpose
/ suppose most of this subsidy
must come from the Canadian gov
eminent. but practically IL Is the same
thing. Now, We have 10 compete
with those mills, with those lumber inter-
esis under such circumstances, not only
rs TO the production of lumber. but IS to
bringing il by rail from the Pacific coast
and the vicinity of the coast 10 the cities
aud towns of the West and Middle states.
and even as far east perhaps as Boston. FOR
there are markets for our lumber In Bos-
ton and Philadelphia. l do not suppose
IL will be very long before we shall trans
fer large amounts of lumber by rail, espe-
cially after IL has been dried and the water
taken out of it. Ii mas been estimated
that Ii can be done. They can
practically do il now. If not inter
fered with We could do that business.
1t has been done heretofore. but not on
large scale. excepting IN cedar shingles. OF
which We have enjoyed a trade of over 50
car loads per day for some time, and that
lumber business TO the East is contem-
plated especially. believe, by the Great
Northern railroad.
THE coAsTISa TRADE
Now, here is point to which should
like to have the attention of senator's:
The American mill owner is by the laws
OF the nation compelled TO use in the coast
ing trade tonnage of American register
exclusively, while if our domestic mar
kets are opened 10 the mills of British Co
lumbia without restriction, the owners on
that side would have the choice of all tiags
in their carriers; thus TO all intents and
purposes throwing open the coasting trade
10 foSeigh ships though technically the
voyage is from a foreign port.
Among the other benefits which the do
velopment OF the lumber interests of the
Pacific Northwest has conferred on the
community, is the great aid il has given TO
the increase of the merchant marine.
During the depression in the shipbuild-
ing industry in other parts of the United
States such industry has been fairly active
on the Pacific coast, and It's fostering IS of
more than local importance, inasmuch as
the majority of vessels of recent conssruc-
ton are carrying our dag to foreign ports,
whers IL has been for many years almost
unknown. The effect of permitting for
eign tonnage. built and run at low cost, 10
invade the coasting trade would be thu
same as upon American deep water ship
ping, now practically driven from the sea-
as also perhaps to effectually put an end
as an industry TO shipbailding on the Pa
citic coast.
Lumber and coal are the two great in
dustries OF the state of Washington. The
lumber business in all that area west of
the Cascades represents larger invest
ment. and affords labor to greater num-
Der OF people than any other industry. Ii
has increased taxable wealth and given
to thousands on land and sea-
Its commerce. and the trade necessary to
supply the mechanical wants of its estab-
lishments and the physical requirements
Of the thousands deriving their livelihood
from il. have built up populous aud thriv-
ing cities on the shores of Puget sound,
and il seems incredible that the scheme
can be contemplated to hand 10 over TO
foreigners. when snch surrender involves
the certain obliteration of taxable wealth
created by this industry, destroys the labor
and trade of thousands. and transfers 10
alien ships and railroads the traffic our
own require.
THE fEoTNsT OF WARRINGTON.
From every business organization in nv
state / am receiving protests against this
upon our interests, and from In
dividuals of every shade of political opin-
too. One of our leading citizens, a life
long Democrat, recently wrote TO me as
follows:
The only effect ] can that tasing on the
duty viii have viii bs 10 reduce wages 10 the
same level a. those In England, Australia and
Csnsda Taking OF the duty Will not aid
single industry or lit single burden In aay
one OF the Pacific states IL will not sxtend our
markets in any direction. There y nothing 10
DO gained by the proposed tariff law and much
may be lost III q man IL in favor of low wages
he should favor the bill; II not, ne should OPP
pose it.
From the Chamber of Commerce of one
OF our snterprising cities comes u protest
from which | make the following extract:
WHEREAS. The state of Washington, in her
four and hall years of statehood, waieh
have been ia large degree years Of De preston
ia business on the PaciEe coast and financial
disaster IN many parts Of the world. finas her
VAST natural resources vet largely undSys.eped.
with her manufacturing industries in their tu-
fancy aud vita but little diversity, and greatly
IN nsed Of the protective duties which bsve ia
years goee BY done so much IN tbs dsyalOrlnent
OF ether localities in the nation; and
NHEEKAs. Her immense forests, her large
coal srea, Der iron mines, gEieua ores, agrieul-
At4@s 80 sbSSP yatiG pfOlueta
nearly all OF which are brought into aggressive
competition with British Columbla. aud 10
remove the protective duties on these products
On the Plea OF free raw material for the bsueat
oil tins manufacturing plants 81 the East aud
interior portions of the eountEy. built up uader
pFotsctlo2 aud yet TO ~ fosteFed thereby. 10
FlFfas4ly decree that the people Of Washing.
soE shall hs heweFs % wood and drawers of
wster fer ths localities that have their manu-.
factories established aud resources developed;
therefore,
heseIred, By The Chamber Of commsrca Of