The times., 1897-08-03
FATAL TO LUMBER EXPORTS.
Effect of the Dingley Bill Upon
Southern White Pine.


1t will not be many weeks before the
people OF the South will begin TO feel the
disastrous effect OF the duty of So u
thousand feet placed by the Dingiey bill
upon white pine. The export trade In
Southern pine has Increased wonderfully,
and this increased trade has been great
boon to the Southern states.
This export trade viii be the first and
the worst sufferer from Canadian COM
petition In the general markets of the
world II the Canadian lumber is shut out
from tho United States. This is for the
simple reason that the 50 rate or du5y Will
be prohibitory and shut out this Canadian
pine from entering into our Northern
States. and consequently oblige the Cana
dian exporters to look else where for q mar
keG. They viii seek and find this market
in the ports OF Great Britain and British
colonies, and in Mexico. the West Indies
and South America; so that the Southern
people win find that the effort 20 find
larger market for their Southern pine In
the Northern States by shutting out the
Canadian pine will simply result in their
losing very large part Of the Southern
and British markets, which they already
have. and W here, for natural reasons, their
wood can be extensively used AT the same
time they win not, for climatic reasons, be
able to find as large a market for their
wood in the Northern States as they may
expect. In other words, they viii find
that their representatives, in Congress who
Joined the protectionists in imposing the
81 duty ON lumber have been throwing
boomerang.
har in oP fi1o
wrapped up in the southern pine This
wood constitutes the bulk or the exports
OF lumber from the Southern States, and
is the southern wood which comes into
Competition with Northern pine The ex-
ports OF Southern woods contain little
poplar and oak, which go from the Vir-
ginia ports, and Some oak and cypress.
which 20. for the most part. from tho
gulf ports" but these are inoonside rable
in quantity and do not compete with the
Northern pine. 1t is a well-known fact
that In cert tain latitudes the Southern pine
cannot, for climatic reasons, compete with
the Northern pine, exoeptin a very limited
way This is the case In the New Eng
land States and in the Northwest.
In Sertain other latitudes the South
ern pine completes on much more even
terms With the Northern pine. These lat
itudes are little farther south than the
ones above mentioned and have more
moderate climate. In these climates the
Southern pine does not detrriorate so
rapidly or so much, and gives better ser
vice In every way when used for building.
or course in these latitudes the cheaper
prices at which Southern pine can be
sold enables it TO go into quite extensive
use. Climates like this. which permit of
the extensive use OF the Southern pine are
by no means confined to the United
States. This situation prevails also in
Great britain and many of her colonies
In climate ike that OF Germany, tco.
a Wood of this kind can be used: here
however, the woods from the Russian and
scandinavian forests practically occupy
the whole field.
The Northern pine can, OF course. be
used almost anywhere. The greatest
obstacle to It's use is It's cost. In Southern
climates, such as the Southern States,
Me xico, the West Indies, and South
America, either the Northern pine or the
Southern pine can be used for practically
tie same purpose. or course, in the South
ern States the Southern pine practically
occupies he field by reason of its prox-
Unity and cheapness. In the other South
ern climates above mentipned, our South
ern woods have gradually been finding
their way In increased quantities The
Canadian pine, under the low rate OF duty
or free entry prevailing since $50, found
ready and convenient market in the
Northern States, and SO as not been
pressed to any great extent into the South
ern markets OF Mexico, the West Indies,
and South America, or, as much as 1T migh
have been, into the markets of Great
britain and the British colonies generally.
This is the main reason why our exports
of lumber to Great Britain have increased.
and for the same reason our exports O,
Southern wood TO the Mexican, West
InGian, and South American ports have
very largely increased.
or al the exports OF lumber from both
the gulf ports and the Virginia Atlantic
por:s about 95 per cent is the Southern
pine The balance of the expectations
consist mostly Of poplar, oak and cypress
Naturally the exports that go from the
gulf ports" go for the most part to
Mexico. the West indies and South A merica.
ou the other hand, very large part OF the
exports Inat go from the Virginia At
lantic ports go to Great Britain and Brit
ish colonies. even to Australia. While
our total exports OF lumber increased from
1892 to 1896 about Is per cent our
exports Of Southern pine Increased q great
deal more than this, averaging from 40 to
90 per cent during the same period.
All Of this was due to free lumber from
Canada or a nominal duty only. and the
| creation Of a condition that prevented
| Canada from competing with Southern
| lumber In other markets of the world Tho
| duty of So on white pine changes the whole
situation and will effectuaiiy destroy the
| advance made by Southern timber 10
| foreign markets il it does not destroy
! this industry altogether. 1t Is situation
upon which the Southern people canno,
| look with complacency