The morning times., 1897-01-01


wolves so large number, iti should appeal
to you as reason for giving the subject
due consideration.
I'm representing our views we would
not consider 1t appropriate to undertake
to advise you upon the general advantages
OF high or low tariffs, yet, as we are TO
ask you to favor us with certain rate of
protection, it would seem appropriate that
we should give the reasons for believing
that the amount for which we ask will
not reflect upon other occupations and
equal degree OF advantage and profit.
THAT is to say, il you give to us the
amount OF tariff which we would ask it
will not be a burden upon other occupa-
ions, but will indirectly give to them an
equal share OF advantage in their labors
and to measure to them a sufficient return
to cover the prospective additional prices
which they viii pay for our product
.In Minneapolis, which is the largest
primary lumber producing point In this
country, and so far as I know, in any
other, the prices which We're in October,
1893, $12f dropped to $3.50 in Octo-
Der OF 1894, and In the same month OF
1895 it was $40 ,and in 1896 it was
again to $3.50. 1t cost $3.50 at the
rates that have been prevailing to bring
the logs and manufacture and ship the
lumber.
This would leave for the present price
| of lumber. which is in this country mostly
Of the grade mentioned here, only So for
stumpage for profits, for renewal OF plants
! and other necessary items to be consitl-
cred before the expenses are covered
And if conditions are continued during
another year the lumber men will be
| necessitated to make further reductions
| in labor rates and to curtail their business
| for each year to the extent that it has
| been curtailed during the past year.
There has been general apparent irn-
| preston in the tariff bills that lumber is
raw material and does not need pro
| lection. The fact is, there is no raw ma
| terial in the lumber interest except the
| tree standing in the woods 1t requires
hard, and in some respects skinful, labor
| to turn it into lumber and furnish it to
the market
III fact, everything almost from the
stump to the finished lumber delivered
on the ears is labor, and as the pre-
vailing labor rates in this country are
considerably higher than in Canada, aver
| aging almost so per cent, IL follows that
if other industries are protected and this
one is not to an equally appropriate eX-
tent. then our industry must 60 down.
| and it will help to pull the others down
| with it, because the rates for labor must
be reduced to meet the present conditions.
| IF we get them below those prevailing
i'll other industries and occupations, il Will
| turn them from this To those that are more
profitable, and this will help to pull them
| all down to the common level.
| AS to the amount OF protection which
| we should give to lumber, unless we are
| intending to return To lower rate OF
| wages than has prevailed, the amount OF
So per thousand would certainly not be
| more than sufficient 10 balance the cost
| of producing the lumber Its importa-
| tions from Canada into the markets along
the lake is no more than would be the
cost TO bring it from any of our competing
points, and in fact the Canadian rail
ways are especially favoring their lumber
| interests the same as their government is
helping the lumbermen in the purchase of
timber.
The actual cost of the pine timber III
Canada, which consists very largely Of
white pine, is not more than one-half of
the amount charged by our government. a.
Shown in the recent sale of timber on the
| White Earth Reservation, in Northern
Minnesota. The Canadian price aver
ages from SIPS To $1.5O all told. and the
payments, excepting in small part, are
made on the scale Of the logs after they
are cut, and time given to put the lumber
into market, or at least 20 convert a con
siderable portion of it.
with us the best that any lumber firm
can do is TO obtain certain pieces of la nd
in a given township or district where
other lumber firm have ownership Of
pieces mixed through the same territory.
and this makes it more expensive, trouble
some and unsatisfactory.
land, when added to the general fact
that Canadian timber is better quality
and the stumpage cost less than half as
much and labor only two thirds much,
the part of our lumber to cover the diff
ference in cost of production and, in fact,
the duty asked Will not let the lumberInen
outhold under present circumstances as
compared to the iumbermen of Canada.
Their profits will be large, while ours
will be small or minus quantity.
This competition from the British line
will cause loss TO the people of this
country i'll wages and in sad experience
much greater than the entire value OF
the product that comes INTO the country,
and there seems no possible escape ex
ceptiDg to at least eGuaiize the conditions
of difference in laIor in this country and
in Canada The minimum amount that