The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1894-11-16
THE LUMBER TRADE
An Interesting Article on the
Principal Interests of
Lake Charles.
R. RS ARBITRARY POLICY.
Practically Our Market is Shut Ont from
Competition With Those Of the North.
Some of the Difficulties to
be Overcome.


w VNtIVViut'
Northwestern Lumberman.
There ia no ono timber region in the
south country more widely or distinctly
celebrated in the lumber world than that
known as the CaleaSieu.
Pursuing a northerly direction from
the line of the Southern Pacific railway,
it embraces portions Of east Texas and
west Louisiana. This territory of vast
area and richness is trayorsed by the
Calcasieu, Sabine aud Neches rivers,
which streams afford exceptionally pro-
pitious driving waters and are exten-
sively utilized in the operation of groups
of almost world-renowned mills at Lake
Charles, La, Orange and Beaumont,
Tex. Those referred to at tho first
named point comprehend Others at West
lake and LOckport in the immediate
vicinity, all on the Calcasieu river those
at Orange are on the Sabine, with Beau
mont situated on the Neehes, which
empties into the Sabine a short distance
below. The mills at Lake Charles have
marine outlet for small craft and fine
egress by rail TO the northwald over the
Kansas City, Watkins a. Gulf railway,
connect at Alexandria, La, 100 miles
distant, with the Iron Mountain and
Texas & Pacific systems. The mills at
Beaumont and Orange, both on the main
line of the Southern Pacific, have no
lateral outlets by rail, but there is now
seventeen feet of winter at Sabine Pass,
with assurance of additional depth in
the near future that win admit of still
heavier craft. As appears from recent
correspondence on this general subject,
the current trading at these points con
sists in large part Of exports to foreign
countries and coastwise TO points on the
Atlantic coast The exports proper, it
may be added, are mainly to Mexico,
Argentine Republic, Uruguay, and other
South American states. Brazil is barred
by the abrogation of the reciprocity Sec
tion of the Mckinley tariff bill. The
mills at Beaumont, with one exception,
ars operating their export traffic through
what is known as the Consolidated Ex-
port Company, corporation regularly
organized under the laws of Texas. At
Orange there IL no pretense Of eo-Opera-
tion in any direction, but o very large
quantity Of stuff Is nevertheless shipped
from there into the waters Of the Gulf Of
Mexico, destined to yaFions parts of the
American continent.
Referring now 10 the situation at
Orange and beaumont, q curious and,
withal, embarrassing state of facts is
found to exist at those points. The
Southern Pacific railway system, extend
ing from New Orleans to the Pacific
coast, passes through both places and Is
the only railway outlet at present af
forded either. The road, in other respects
notably enterprising and remarkably
well-managed system, persists in the
maintenanee Of an arbitrary policy
toward these great numbering eenters,
the effect Of which Is to absolutely shut
them ont from all northern markets
Many of the western states, notably
Kansas, Nebraska and Illinois, are thus
cut off from tbissonrce ofsupply, Another
result Of the arbitrary exaetions of The
Southern Pacific is to let products inte
portions of Texas to the exclusion Of hel
own ana Louisiana mills,
Very naturally the Orange and Beau
mont manufacturers, . powerful com
mnnitg Of interests, are chatting npdel
the inauspiclops state Of facts ahoYi
outlined, and the question Of procuring
the construction Of lateral connection
with some other comprehensive systep
than tls Southern Pacific Is just now mn
defgoing vigorous agitation,
Some embarrassment and p0ssibll
hipdrapee may, however, develop out Q
the question Of the southern terminus o
suel connection, as, Of conrse, neitne
point weuld consent to its being at on
10 the exclusion of tle other or, miles
both can be snclndel, no eo-operatiQl
could be secured 10 common end. I
yonld seem, though, that the obyion
logic Of the situation would suggest, as !
means 1T once Of harmony and promp
relief, that the two points would be WIS
to abjnre past rivalry for the time belpl
and act in concert to that end.
There baye been Instances Of dressed
material shipped by rail to New orleanI
and thence 10 New York c0astwiso, hn
the route II an awkward and presamabl,
q costly ono, III case, then, that thl
Southern Pacific persists in its refusal 4
afford shese mills an available antiet
tle only ether relief seens 10 iie n thi
prosposed lateral e0ansction, and u
view Of tile large fnapcial resenTesl
represented by the pastles ct ipteres
aud the short distance 10 W coyerea
such eonsummatiep ought neither /.
be diaiealt nor loHg deferred,
4 Women are 70 De admitted IN fltgre =
the odd Fellows thrQugh the Rebeecl
Lodge The now law passed "a NV Feesa
meeting II ehassapQpga Gepn queiisie
fer molnheraiip ali Qaa kell99s asss
I wives aud All white womep oyeg teei
years 81 aee Who t'gelieyg n re sfgier z