The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-28
WHY CANADIAN LUMBER Is CHEAP.

WHY CANADIAN LUMBER rs CHEAP.
British Columbia Is our competitor for
this great commerce. and enjoys many
advantages not available to our lumber
men. It has an area greater than our
three Pacific coast states combined, and is
said TO have a greater area of timber land,
with heavy growths of the same kind that
exist in Washington-fir, cedar, pine.
hemlock, etc. Our people have 10 buy
their lands and pay taxes on them. while
our Canadian nsighbofs can obtain leases
from the government, paying for them on
an estimated amount OF timer on the land,
which makes the average cost TO them
for stumpage about IS cents per thou
sand feet, or perhaps less; in many in
stances 10 cents per thousand; and they
have no tax to pay on the land. On our
side OF the line iumbermen have TO buy
stumpage at IS cents 10 81 per thousand
feet. or else TO lock up their capital in large
tracts of timber land. subject to heavy
taxation. At the present time there are
so leased in British Columbia $50. i22 acres
upon which it 10 estimated 5000. 000, 900
feet of merchandise timber is standing.
The sawmills of the province at present
in operation have a cutting capacity of
i.75O, coo feet q day.
The industry there has grown rapidly of
late as indicated by their exports, valued
At 1925 ssh in 1890, $37i. e96 in 1891, $I25, 27s
in is93, st54, 9o4 in 1893
But il is not only in the export trade
that the mills of British Columbia are be-
coming dangerous competitors. Notwith-
standing the present tariff duty they are
shipping lumber into the United States.
In the year 1899 i've vessels carried car
goes from their mills to our ports, as fol-
lows:
Fset.
American schooner Reporter, to San
ntl,i.b s.rt Mlstistoe. TO Wilmington. 5S.g7S
Brtt.sh bark Toboggsa. 10 Wilmington. 6S2.s1s
British oarx Zeh'na Gowdy, 10 Whining
British .Gh bark scamnsi Bros, TO Phiis. -
deiphia WI 90
Saw logs to the amount of 600. 900 feet
have been brought from the forests OF
British Columbia into the state OF Wash
ington during the year 1903
CALIFORNIA WOULD BUT CANADIAN LUMBER
Another reason why placing lumber on
the free list will injure Pacific coast in
terests 10 that il will give British Column
hia the benefit OF our California aud our
Eastern rail market. and give British Coz
lumbia mills the opportunity to dispose of
the small sizes, short lengths aud low
grades, necessarily manufactured while
saving the high grades. large sixes and
long lengths required by foreign mar
kets, Every man who knows anything
ABOUT the lumber business must under
stand the importance of disposing of these
small sizes, the short lengths, and iow
grades IN order 10 make q profitable busi-
ness. Our local trade and California trade
new absorbs these small sizes and low
grades necessarily manufactured by the
mills OF Washington and Oregon.
The total foreign consumption Of
Douglas fir for the year 1898, ending De-
eember 10. has been, according 10 figures
above. IS follows:
shipments from British columeia. 4s,lsssis
Making ne total foreign shipments
for the year i.23. lS2.Sl7,fa&
Which is not over ons-third OF The total
amount Of the same variety Of timber con-
sumsd by California alone, and not over
one-hfth OF the whole amount OF this va
riety of timeer consumed IN the markets
of the United States.
This show. that our best market is do
nestle, and that the domestic market
should be reserved 10 American lumber
men.
on account OF the limited population in
British Columbia. there IS no local de-
mAnd with British Columbia mills for the
small sizss and lox grades necessarily
Manufactured, and not being aDle 20
sell this Is dssadvantaxe TO mills
on that side; bat they are looking
for an early change in the tariff
laws Of the United States which
wia place lumber on the free List and
awe Ihem the advantage Of competing
With us IN our domestic markets. oae
flrm-and I have sE fEona good authority
IS net cutting any lumber 81 present, but
has twsnty-ssght of its principal men on
its pas roll dong nothing; the managers
reasoning that wita lumber on the free
list ibsg can shsp 10 the United States,
thereby enjoying market four or I've
times larger than ali the rest OF the mar
ksis pat together, And ths: when taas
tlms comes they viii need their principal
rasn. AMI, consequently. consider them.
selves justified in retaining them. under
the circumstances.