The San Francisco call., 1896-08-04
II Protective Tariff Is Shown to Be the Only Defense
Lumbermen Have against Low Prices and
Foreign Pauperism.

coasting trade, though technically the voyage
is from foreign port
Analogous conditions exist in the relation OF
the lumber manufacturers and shippers OF
Maine TO those of the provinces east OF that
State, while the markets of the Middle West
and Eastern States, that the Pacific Coast man
ufacturers are now cultivating, would be di-
vided with British Columbi ana the ship
ments to points closest to destination on the
Canadian border be made over a foreign rail-
road, built and subsidized by foreign capital
tparalleling competing roads on the American
side), to the exclusion of traffic desired by and
due to the transcontinental roads in the United
States.
Again, the stimulation of the lumber indus
try on this coast is a great aid to the develop
ment of its merchant marine. During the de-
preston in the shipbuilding industry in other
parts of the United States such industry mas
been fairly active on this coast, and It's foster
ing is of more than local Importance, mas
much as the majority of vessels of recent con-
struction are carrying our flag to foreign ports,
where t has been hitherto almost unknown.
The effect of permitting foreign tonnage, built
and run at lower cost to invade the coasting
trade would be the same as upon American
deep-water shipping, now practically driven
from the seas, as also to effectualIy end as an
industry shipbuilding on this coast.
We most respectfully submit to your honor
able committee that the protective tendencies
OF English governments to the north of us in
subsidizing railroads, steamship lines and
offering to industrial enterpris es concessions
in the way of land, etc., and especially in the
system of rentals to mills at a nominal sum
per acre per annum of timber lands, by which
investment therein is avoided, is OF marked
advantage to the lumber industry on that side
as compared with the ruling rates of stump
age on the American side or the otherwise
necessity of large investments in timber lands
by purchase, the interest on which, with taxes,
etc., exceeds said rentals, unless the American
industry has maintained to it the present pro-
lection, which it is feared your honorable
committee is about to disturb.
We further submit to your honorable COM
nittee that the lumber trade of the United
States represents q larger investment and
affords labor to greater number of employees
than any other single industry, while on the
Pacific Coast the ratio of both investment and
employees, as applied to volume of business, is
far beyond that of other sections. No other
industry, not its outgrowth, except coal (Which
is likewise menaced by the proposed tariff
changes), exists in the new Northwest in all
that area west of the Cascade Noun tains; 1t in
ereases the taxable wealth, gives employment
to hundreds of thousands, in mills, in woods,
and on land and sea its commerce and the
trade stimulated to supply the mechanical
wants of its plants and the physical require
ments of the myriads depending upon ii for q
livelihood has made populous magnificent
cities on the shores OF Puget Sound, and 1t is
incredible that its destruction cen be consid-
cred, when such destruction will be the inev-
liable result of the abrogation of the tariff as
to this industry.
1t Is not to be expected that the lumber man.