New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-21
TIMBER FROM CANADA.
MIR CHARLTON REPLIES TO STATEMENTS
MADE BEFORE THE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE

Washington Jan oo-Mr Charlton NJ P who IS
engaged in umbcTing operations in Canada and
Michigan. replying to-day to the statements made
by Mr. Goodyear and others before the Ways and
Means Committee, said ths; Of these state
nents misleading. especially those relating to
the price Of stumpage in Canada. His own expert
enabled him to say positively that the cost or
getting out logs was higher in Canada than IN
Michigan Wisconsin. This was owing to the
rough rocky character Of the country north Of
Lake Huron and in other Canadian pineries. AS 10
the cost Of stumpage the timber limits or berths
in the Canadian provinces, when sold put up
at auction and sold to the highest bidder. subject
TO the payment of Crown dues the timber when
cut and OF annual ground rent. At the last Gov
eminent sale in Ontario The bonuses paid for limits
amounted to over s. a thousand feet. board measure
on the average the sales being made subject the
payment Of Crown dues of 81 y thousand feet.
In Quebec the Crown dues are 81 % thousand feet
In both provinces limits sell in private transfer at
from 50 TO s. a thousand feet on the estimated
amount OF pine. exclusive OF Crown dues. which
must be paid as the timber s cut.
The supply OF white pine in the United States IL
now "A limited one Little remains except in the
portion OF Michigan bordering on Lake Superior. in
Wisconsin and in Minnesota. and il Is doubtful
whether there Is enough white pine timber left in
the United States fairly to timber 2Deo square
miles of territory. At the present rate OF cutting
ii is supposed that this supply will be pretty well
thinks, to question the wisdom OF policy he de-
sign Of which H. TO shut out the supply of foreign
white pine and 10 hasten the destruction OF this
small remnant OF the great supply of white pine
timber which the United States formerly possessed.
The export OF forest products OF all descriptions
from Canada TO the United States for the fiscal
year ended June 81 1895. was ,5M10 This en-
braced lumber OF spruce pine and an other woods:
logs and pulp for American mills timber, ties
posts. poles. wood anbark. etc. The export Of um-
Der TO the United States has not increase d RAPIDLY
since the passage OF the Wilson bill he says For
the seven years prior TO the passage that bill the
average annual expor, to the United States from
Canada only about 2l.5ooO fee; less than the
annual export to the United States since the pas
sage OF that Dill, or an average annual Increase az
compared with the former period of shout per
cent Inc depressed state of the lumber market
the last three years was. in Mr. Charlton's opinion
largely due to other causes than Canadian com.
petition and the condition of affairs In the lumber
trade was simply IN line with the OF trade I'm
other branches. ."
The Sport OF lumber Of ali kinds from Canada
to the United States last year was less than 7in :
oO,c') feet The same year Canada furnished ~
American sawms over 800 100000 feet OF logs rhis
trade is rapidly growing. Formerly it was dis
port duty OF 81 thousand feet. Under the Wilson
Dill lumber was made free by the United States
Under the Mckinley bill the lumber duty was
placed at s. provided Canada RETAINED from I'M
posing export duties on logs. As the import OF
Canadian lumber was just about double In quantity
the amount OF logs furnished by Canada for Amcri-
can sawnills the provision for reducing Ameri-
can lumber duty. provided one half OF The Canadian
log export duty was repealed. was held be equi-
table and fair
II may fairly be presumed. said Mr. Charlton
that the imposing OF lumber duty exceeding 81 a
thousand will ind the Canadian Government ind!s-
export duties logs ana that II will be likely 10
include pulp wood in the Hat. This will lead TO