davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The advocate., 1896-07-01
Free Silver win Relieve the Congestion.


not enthusiastic in my advocacy OF free
silver; and that / don't think the
coinage Of more silver dollars is going
TO bring the millennium. That issue,
looked at broadly, Is comparatively un-
important. While free silver alone will
relieve the congestion, set the wheels OF
industry in motion and furnish employ
ment to labor now idle, it will not change
the conditions and tendencies which are
concentrating the wealth of the nation
in the hands Of the few. 1t will merely
postpone, not avert the catastrophe.
And yet, the way the contest is shap-
ing now, the fight over silver is assuming
greater Importance. II islike the battle
the Republican party waged in 1860
against the extension Of slavery into the
Territories. The abolition Of slavery in
the States where it existed was not on
the program at all. They disclaimed
any intention Of interfering with it
there. Their whole demand was that
slavery should be quarantined where it
existed and not allowed to spread. The
world knows what the outcome was,
The arrogant slave power resented any
such dictation. It spurned the idea Of
being restrained within bounds. Sonow,
the money and banking interests Of the
East are preparing to fight free coinage
to the death. The people are only de-
manding that their burdens be eased
up little by permitting the coinage OF
silver money. The fight against that
will be 80 bitter, though, that it won't
stop there. A victory over Wall street
now may result, as the victory Of the
party that opposed the extension OF
slavery did, in the destruction Of the
system. It ls for this reason that l
welcome the battle that is coming. |
can see more in it than appears on the
surface. Iwon't keep out Of fight for
free coinage any more than the old sboli-
tionists refused to help along the party
that merely proposed to limit the in
stitution they wanted to kill. There 10
so much Of injustice and wrong in the
present capitalis'ic system Of industry,
that you can't attack it at any point
without endangering the whole edifce.
When the people abolish the gold stand
ard, because it has become an instru-
ment Of oppression and robbery, they
will have their eyes opened to see that
there are still other means by which
idleness robs industry. Silver is the
bone Of contention now, as slavery in the
Territories was in 1860; but it, like that,
may be lost sight Of before the contest 10
over, in the larger and wider issues that
are liable to develop from it. While we
are, by insisting on the free coinage Of
silver, saying 10 the money power that
is enslaving US, "thus far shalt thou
come and no farther" by that very act
we challenge this power to mortal combat.
It cannot afford to submit to the peo-
ple's dictation in this matter, for IL it
does, there is no telling what they will
ask next. "Give an inch and take an
ell" Once entered on, the conflict now
impending can hardly be closed until
the people submit to be slaves, or 90
victors dictate terms to the plutOcrScy.
There is going to be an Appomsttox for
some one before this war is over.
Things can't continue as they are.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

wood and other causes, has a spruce stand
and growth that are extremely small.
AS regards growth itself, some salient
figures may well be laid before you. On
the Moose river for instance, which Is
perhaps now the best spruce district on the
kennehec drainage, the yearly growth on
certain hard cut tracts was set at about
~ or 30 board feet per acre. This is at the
ratio of about, 900, 900 feet of lumber for
each 30 square miles of productive land.
The same amount, 1,000 900 feet board
measure, might again be attached to a
thrifty, unburnt, but moderately hard
cut town. Down along the main river,
and on some portions of the Dead river
wherever in fact pulp emitting has been
extensively carried on-the yearly produc-
ton at the present time must be much
smaller.
The general conclusion reached sets the
yearly growth of spruce on the kennebee
drainage, under present conditions, at 10,
000 900 to so 600, 600 feet board measure
This amount, it is to be noted, equals
about half the annual cut while it appears
TO be just about sufficient for the perma-
nent supply, as now running, of the pulp
and paper mills.
Taking for granted that the statements
here made are approximately correct what
are the movements of business which the
circumstances seem to prophesy? The first
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

conclusion to be drawn is an important
one, and it must be put in unmistakabe
terms. Ii Is to the effect that the yearly
cut of spruce lumber Oh the river must
soon shrink. shrinkage which involves,
of courses similar decrease in the volume
OF manufacturing business which is de-
pendent on spruce or its raw material
This conclusion, / can safely say, comedies
with the Judgment of most and the best
informed of our business men Those
who hold to the contrary, who still believe
that supplies are inexhaustible or con
stantly replenished, can best he ans wered
by referring to the experience of other
rivers. 1t seems to be a rule in the lumber
history of the State that the smaller the
river, the sooner does exhaustion of TIT
original stand overtake it. Take for in
stance the rivers of Washington and Han
cock counties, from the Machias to the
Union. The sixth decade of the century
Witnessed the height of their prosperity
ship building kept pace with lum boring
Many cargo of lumber was yearly loaded
for the Vast Indies, Us we'll as our own.
domestic ports And then as no men
thought their lumber supplies were IN
limited and paid no attention to their
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

the interests of the manufacturers Of pulp
and paper run In harmony with those of
the community, that they ctatc con
sentative cutting policy, the management
Of land for steady and permanent return
Just one consideration Is intended here
1t is the heavy capital involved in plant
designed for the manufacture of pulp and
paper. A saw mill that will manufacture
10, 600, 600 or 10, 600 900 feet of lumber in
a year may be built with all modern i'm
provements for about $50, 900 or $40, 900
Many old mills now doing business do not
represent in present invs stment near half
that amount. A saw mill plant when
lumber gives out can be abandoned often
without great loss or 1t can be moved to
another point. Different far with a pulp
mill. 1t is substantially built, provided
often with expensive hydraulic works,
equipped with expensive machenery. A
plant to convert I. 900, coo of spruce into
pulp or fibre cost as rule at least $500,
600; and when the manufacture of paper
is added, and allowance made for the float
ing capital required to run the business.
the total amount of capital necessary to
eauip and run n plant of this size must
fall not very much below 81 900 900. And
all this is depending for Its income on its
due allowance of spruce logs. The pulp
mill man cannot desert his plant when
lumber gets scarce He cannot even let
it be idle without great loss He must
have steady supply of raw material, or
bankruptcy stares him in the face.
So it is that the interests of pulp and
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

paper mill owners are bound up With
having regular and permanent supply.
They are the men who more than any
others are interested in having our timber
lands kept in constant and permanent
bearing. Personally, | have met with
direct evidence that such is the fact In
my travels about the State | find 1t is the
pulp mill men rather than other classes of
manufacturers who are most generally in
terested IN our forests. 1t is they who are
thinking must pointedly about the ques
ton of lumber supply. They are the men,
in my Judgment who, if spruce continues
as essential to their business as it is now,
will be the first to adopt in our great
forest areas a rational system of forest
management.
Is there. however, anything that can be
done to help things. Particularly, is there
any way IN which the State may intervene
either to promote economy or 10 increase
supply: It seems to me that there is.
First in this connection is the matter of
scaling, or measuring, timber, This topic
could hardly be omitted from any address
to business men which touches the lumber
business of the State The means for this
purpose now employed in the State are
extremely unsatisfactory. No measure or
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

Hon. Henry Lord. Bangor. president; G..
N. Weymouth, Esq. treasurer, n. NJ.
Rich. Esq, secretary.
Officers of the Waterville Board OF
Trade-Hon. NJ. &. Foster, president
Perbam g. Heald treasurer; T.. 7. Wy
man, secretary.
Gov. Cleaves was unable to be present
and sent regrets.
After cigars had been lighted and two
gentlemen were comfortably squared
away for listening. Hon. W. r. Haines OF
this city, who had been selected for toast
master for the occasion called tho Assem-
blsge to quiet and spoke as follows:
Mr.. President Gentlemen If the State
Board of Trade;
1t seems to me that this time Of year L.
most fitting season for the business men
Of Maine to meet and take counsel to-
gether. The long and uncertain winter
through which we have passed Is soon to
be matter of history The lumbermen
are about to close their camps, and will
soon open their mills. Our textile manu-
facturers have long ago gotten out their
samples, and are now working indus
triously at their orders. The farmer has
eaten up all his apples, his wood pile IS
up and sawed up, and his ideas will soon
turn TO new and better methods of hus-
bandry The merchant is about to put
in his new stock Of goods, and every in
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

mountains and forests. our lakes -,
seashores. ah
In kindly skies, beauty Of scar.
In health-giving air, we have y.
whole reserve supply Of the repuhl,'
Artificial conditions cannot nrevs.,
against our fixed monopolies: they ~.
in Divine mandate.
We want to see our State fur,t.
developed. We have large unda~.,
oped area that should be under *,
hand Of the husbandman.
Our early population and Indu.,-..
were upon the shores Of the sea 49,
the banks Of our rivers. Transnor-.
ton required this. but our 1860 MIL.
of railroads reach out from the wa,s.
ways and send population and b,,
ness into the remote interior: they !.
back from the shores and rivers ,Ss
carry settlements with them
Populous and prosperous commrrs
ties are established far from the e..
and the river BY the application !.
steam and electricity. distance is no,.
ing railroads are everything. Ttsv
make the partition between us ana
Boston. and New York. and chicags
very thin. In these days the peonle Z.
the country are in close communio,.
with each other. Methods hav.
changed; new conditions have arisen
Aroostook county, the home Of on,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

method is sanctioned by law, as it is in
most neighboring states The Bangor
or Maine" or Holland" rule so called
Is, however. used almost everywhere
through the State except on the Andre
scogein river. From the length of log
and its top diameter, it gives its contents
In buard feet. 1t is, however. very I'M
satisfactory measure. Its readings are
Inaccurate and irregular 1t was CON
structed many years ago. when all logs
were cut short and sawed into lumber
Conditions are quite different now. Logs
are cut long and have consequently a yerv
considerable taper. Much of the lumber
cut goes into pulp. for which purpose tho
board rule in different sizes of logs is No
fair measure. The rule too is used in all
sorts OF ways and these give widely vary
ing results. Methods vary greatly on
diiterent rivers. A business man moving
from one river to another would have to
study the scaling methods there prevalent
bffore he conld make any trade ia lnmher
These faults in our scaling methods
cause not only uncertainty and dispute
nus actual loss as we'll. In the opinion If
the writer, many thousands of dollars
worth of lumber are annually thrown
away on just this account 1t is all due
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

to the poor construction of the rule, and
especially to its inadaptibility to th5 ser
vice now required Of It,, The matter needs
regulation by the State. and business men
are the ones to secure 1t.
Finally, gentlemen. in few words, !
wish to commend to you tho science OF
forestry. 1t comes simply Offering its aid
in making the most Of our natural re
sources.
Forests we must believe were meant for
human use, That use may be wssteful
and needless. 1t may on the other hand
be provident and wise. Forestry designs
the wisest and most profitable use Of tim
bered lands. 1nquiring into the facts OF
the case the nature OF trees, their require
ments from the soil and air, their reprodrc
ton habits and their relations with one
another, IL enables US to use these in the
production of valuable material. Genuine
forestry, forestry which studies thoroughly
our own resources ami needs. forestry
which uses the experience of other coun
tires for the bctterment Of our own condi
tions. Is the only sufficient solution Of all
our problems of timber supply and utiliza
ton.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19
NAMES WELFARE
CONTINUED from page IL

lumbermen's estimates. The inaccura cies
Of such figures are we'll known to all
who are acquainted with the history of
timber land They are, however, the best
that can be had without great expense
and they can, believe, with the conclu-
sions based upon them, be relied upon as
approximately correct. The condition of
the river is strikingly indicated in the fol-
lowing way OF the whole spruce bearing
area Of the Kennebec, only one seventh can
be called virgin spruce land. The re-
rnainder has all been cut through, much
of Is in very thorough and severe way
Not SO, however, is our main question
wholly answered. There remains yet an
important and difficult topic to be con
sidered one which is currently much de
bated with little result. l mean the sub
ject of growth. On this subject there is
the utmost divergence of opinion. Prcmi-
nent names endorse the most different
views. Some consider that growth is
nothing, and make no account of il in
their management. Others set it at a
large figure, while few hold stIll to the
idea that even on this kenncbec river, so
long and SO hard cut, the yearly replace
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

care, Almost down to the point OF exhaus
ton, fires were allowed to rage without
hindrance. because men thought that
however much might be taken, enough
must be left In time, however, they
learned their mistake. The business of
those rivers has shIunk to fraction of
its former dimensions and now worries
along on the comparatively small supplies
which the country, crippled by reckless
cutting and by fires can supply by growth.
SO will it be in time with the large
rivers of the State. The ST. Johns will
some time be all cut over The magpifi
cent stand OF the Androscoggin must some
tine fall before the sweeping methods of
her lumhermPn The Penobscot saved
largely so far by the immensely of it's drain,
age. can not always stand the drain. AZ
for the kennebec, lis day Of reckonino
cannot be far of Ten years in all proha
nifty will see a marked change A.
length. If the estimates of growth bare
STARED prove correct. and unless measures
ne taken to increase it the cut must shrink
haif, or less than half. its present ,Iiunn.
sions. The pressure for spruce lumber is
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

ment is equal to the demand. 1t is toward
this object-safe and trustworthy knowl-
edge OF the amount and value of growth
that the work done under the State
forest commissioner has been chiefly
directed. In order to meet the neces tiles
OF the case, guesses and notions had to be
exchanged for facts. Mere opinion had
to be cast aside, and methods of real in
vestigation devised which should ascertain
directly the fundamental facts from which
alone could safe conclusions be drawn
Facts at first hands has been our motto,
and they were to be obtaiaed only in the
woods. Work prosecuted b. the United
States forestry division carried on inter
mittently during a period of two years.
contributed largely to the results TIE
greater part of last summer was spent in
exploration and inquiry hearing On the
immediate question. A majority Of the
spruce bearing towns ON the kennebec
drainage were visited, and a number Of
them carefully explored Different
methods Of cutting, their effect on the
growing power of the land, were inquired
into. The burnt lands were mapped. and
the area ascertained which is sim virgin
growth. Above all, searching inquiry WAS
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

maze at first hands into the amount and
va'ne OF growth, yielding results that
mh.,e they are only approximate, yet with
~ the limits of accuracy to which they Law
..aim cannot be discredited because for
.ne FACTS no authority was taken but the
woods themselves.
rms body is concerned with nothino
except results The Kennebeo dra;naye
az near as can he determined from the
very imperfect maps, in existence contains
an area of $500 square miles. or this
area, however, only about e-haIf ia II,
any significant sense spruce .bearino-its
more northern and rougher portion of
TINS area OF $500 square miles, 3(, ner cant
again has to be thrown out, per cent ~
water bog and mountain, DER cen, -,
ianos burnt less than 80 years ago. to re.
Gently to have any valuable l1mber %
per cent or older burns which thorah
having frequently valuable stands of nj 10
and birch, are yet in regard to the snr r1,,e
snppiy, OF trifling consequences ahous
lsoo square miles are thus left AZ the ~.
sprnce-prnd, ng area. large nor,;,n ~ y
winch again, from the dominance Of bar +,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

advent was unavailable for use. Tho pulp
mill toe, wastes a less proportion ot n
log than ITS competitor, 1t makes no slab
and little sawduSt. knotty top logs
however, are used to little advantage hy
the saw. On that account the greatest
economy is sometimes secured when the
two lines of business are run together
There is much more to the new line of
businsse than to the mere saving of lum
her. Particularly to labor is the change a
benefit. The labor required in the manu-
facture of pulp and paper is more varied
and of a higher grade than most of that
required in a saw mill, 1t is as a rule
better paid, and it has toe great advantage
of lasting all the year round There is
| again much more Of it. Manufacturers
inform me that to convert 1000 feet of
spruce logs into either fibre or ground
wood pulp costs in labor more than twice
as much as does its manufacture into long
lumber. And when we consider in addi-
ton the business of paper making, "A fur
Their use Of the same material, We see
plainly that every thousand feet of spruce
put into paper is worth to the labor of the
state many times as much as the same
material converted into sawed lumber
And the paper business we are told ia fol-
lowing more and more closely the pulp
business, aud both together are working
back to the forests which are their source
OF supply. Together they seem destined
to be, indeed now are, one of the greatest
and most valuable industries of Maine
You are thinking perhaps that the real
| objection to pulp mills has not yet been
met. There is widespread dislike to-
ward pulp mills because they use often
large amounts of small timber, the cutting
of which Is thought to be an injury to tn.
land. SO widely is this opinion held, and
so great an injury to the country do many
esteem this to be, that it Is not unusual
to hear talk of restrictive law, prohibit
ing the cutting of trees below a certain
set size.
In regard to this proposition. can ONLY
register the opinion, based on three years'
| study of timber land and much study of
facts bearing directly on the point at is
sue, that such law would be inadyisabIe
ana burdensome that it would cause great
waste Of lumber, and really defeat it's own
end There Is no time here to justify that
view lie could only be done by reference
tn facts that only those familiar with tho
woods and with lun. bering would prob-
ably understand. Those who are con-
cerned can only refer to the Forthcoming
REPORT OF the forest commissioner.
Let me offer, however, one positive CON
sideration that seems to indicate that
such restriction will not be needed. that
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

even now begun. The hauling of pulp
lumber by rail from other portions OF the
State, importations from Canada, by the
Canadian Pacific, of pulp stuff to DC
fioated to the mills at Scion and Madison,
the chain carrier at Northwest Garry
bringing logs from the west branch of the
Penobscot into Moosehead lake, are all
true signs of the times, pointing to impend
ing scarcity on the Kennebec drainage.
In connection with this general move
ment, there are two or three matters which
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

swift moving and efficient walters
neatly attired, won many compliments
on the perfect manner in which The
event was caused to be a successful
issua Promptly at 2 O'Clock the
doors Of the spacious dining hall We're
thrown open and the guests were
ushered in under the management OF
Mr. Judkins himself The arrange
ment of the tables was such that the
large number in attendance We're all
situated conveniently to hear the post
prandial exercises which followed the
banquet
The menu folder for the occasion
was a very neat affair containing on
the first side a half tone cut of Ticonie.
Falls, and Maine Central Railroad
bridges and The Waterville Board of
Trade entertains the State Board of
Trade and Invited Guests at Dinner. =
EimW God, Waterville Wednesday.
March IL, 1895 Music by Dinsmore's
Orchestra.
on the second page was the follow
ing:
MENU.
Little Neck CLANS.
Cucumbers. Olives,
Green Turtle Clear.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-19

would seem to he of peculiar interest to
this body, composed as it is of influential
business men. Competing for spruce logs
in the market, today, ara two classes of
manufacturers the pulp mill men aud
those who manufacture sawed lumber.
On logs of large SIZE and good quality the
saw mills are now overbidding the pulp
mills which latter. draw their supply
largely from crooked and seamy logs and
those of smaller size than are usually
sawed, The Indications are, however,
that in staying qualities the pulp mills
are the best Off that when the cut shrinks
it will rs q rule be the saw mill men and
not the manufacturers of pulp and paper
who will have to drop out of the race.
This movement, If the signs have been
read Alright. cannot be escaped. 1t Is my
purpose next to state some reasons why,
rs it seems to me, this movement
should be welcomed by all classes in the
State
First is the fact That in the utilization
of lumber the pulp mills are more
economical than their competitors. The
spruce of our timber lands is by no means
All composed of p'rfect trees On noun
tain lands especially there is n large pro
portion of crooked. rough and seamy trees
which the saw mill either cannot use at
all or only at a great disadvantage. All
this. which the hauler OF saw logs passed
by, leaving it to rot in the forest, the pulp
mill makes available. Sometimes tract
of land that under the old conditions was
worth nothing could not be numbered at
a profit, even if no stumpage was charged
becomes of distinct value in this way
All sizes and grades the pulp mill renders
valuable, the crooked and seamy trees, the
stuntcd growth of our swamps and noun
tains, material which up to the time of its