The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-06-06
and which rallied to the support of the
Republican candidates in certain doubt
full sections of the state.
THE LUMBER MARKET.


The Telegraph a few days ago pointed
out that owing to the shortage in the
supply Of growing timber in Wisconsin
and Michigan the mills in what is
known as the Middle river section Of
the Mississippi valley were being closed
and that large area, which usually
consumed on an average 700,00O,00O feet
OF lumber, would have to look to the
south or the northwest for its supply.
We find in the Tacoma Ledger very
interesting article bearing upon this
point from which we quote The article
refers to the early connection of the
Chicago Burlington e Quincy with the
Northern Pacific at Billings, and says:
1t is important because 1t opens up
the whole Of the vast lower Missouri
river country TO practically direct con-
nection with the Sound. All this vast
region consumes lumber and produces
none. The Burlington railroad system,
with more than 5000 miles of track has
no lumber interest in its territory to
foster The immense territory through
" hlch it runs has long been supplied
from the pinerles of Wisconsin, Michi-
gan and the south. 1t Is wealthy
region, producing more corn, pork and
beef than that covered by any other
railroad, besides a large amount Of
wheat and other farm products, and a
large proportion of minerals. Heretofore
we have been able to send some lum-
Der into this region by way Of St. Paul
ard Chicago, and Oregon has sent some
over the Union Pacific, but scarcely
more has gone than enough to introduce
II and make people familiar with its
superior qualities. The distance has
been so great because OF the round
about route, and rates so high that we
have never been able to compete with
the pineries of the east and south upon
anything like fair terms.
But by the completion of this cutoff,
now under construction, and In fact
nearing completion, Omaha, Kansas
/
the product Of our lumber and shlngle
mills as st. Paul itself The treeless
plains Of Nebraska, Kansas and Color
ado and the great areas of Iowa, Mis-
souri,, South Dakota and Eastern Wyo-
ming will be as accessible to us as If
the Burlington were already extended
J here direct. We shall perhaps not I'M
medately get the full advantage of
competing rates, but we shall have some
advantage in this direction, and 1t will
be considerable because the Burlington
will no longer be affected by arrange
ments with parallel lines, drawing their
/ lumber freight wholly from their east
ern terminals, and having no lumber
region of its own to protect will natur-
ally seek all the business from this di-
rection 1t can obtain.
The completion of this cutoff Is OF
far more Importance to this state than
the extension of the Union Pacific from
Portland to the Sound could possibly be,
for the reason that 1t opens up to us
much larger area, a better area for
our purposes, and because the Union
Pacific already has lumber supply
from Oregon, while the Burlington, by
this cutoff, will get its entire supply
from Washington. AS this connection
will be completed in Il few weeks it Is
already time we should begin to be
alive to the advantages 1t will offer.
Some of our business men are already
awake to 1t. They are making known
in this new market, one Of the most eX-
tensive that will ever be open to us, the
advantages Of what we have to sell
They will be the first to reap the ad-
vantages of the extended trade that
must soon begin. If others would share
1t with them they will need to be mov-
ing The state and the city are inter
ested, and ought to be more deeply in
terested in their success, for their pros
perity must man prosperity for all
Seattle Telegraph.