The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-21
TARIFF ON LUMBER
FREDERICK WEYERHAEUSER,T THE
LEADING EXPONENT OF THE
TRADE IN THE COUNTRY,
TALKS ABOUT ITS NEEDS.
CANADIANS, HE SAYS, CAN OBTAIN
AND CUT LUMBER MUCH
CHEAPER
THAN is DONE IN THIS COUNTRY.
the Industry Will Practically
Fail in United States.

The numbering interests of the North
west are watching with keen interest
the progress Of the tariff bill, as tho
proposed duty Of 81 on lumber will vi
tally effect one of the greatest indus
tries of Minnesota.
The numbering trade Of Minnesota, Of
which Frederick Weyerhaeuser stands
at the head, is greatly in favor of the
proposed duty. as it will, they claim,
redeem the numbering interests of the
country from absolute bankruptcy. In
discussing the bill to a reporter for
the Gil b yesterday, Mr.. Weyer-
haeuser explained the position Of the
lumber manufacturers in very concise
language. r.tz b, sSa4S.
First, let me state the dimensions
of the numbering interests Of the coun-
try" said Mr.. Weyerhaeuser. '"Thers
are no less than 100000 men who earn
their livelihood at working in the
pineries during the winter, and in the
saw mills during the summer. 1t Is a
vast army Of men. There are no less
than "a, 900 saw mills and lumber man
ufacturing plants in the United States.
This is an important fact, for you
could never organize so many lumber
ing concerns into pool for their own
protection and preservation, conse-
quently it develops upon the govern
ment to protect the industry by impos-
ing duty upon foreign importations.
LAUNDERING interests are carried on In
thirty states of the Union. 1t Is the
only single industry in the long list Of
American industries which is not pro-
tected
1.-The duty which was asked for is
only a protective duty. 1t is very small,
but 1t will serve the dual purpose Of
protecting our interests, and will, at
the same time. furnish the government
with neat revenue. The proposed
81 duty Is only IS per cent of the wall
uation, while the duty proposed under
the Wilson bill was SO per cent, If |
remember rightly. Under the regime
Of the Cleveland administration, when
lumber was on the free list, you have
no idea Of the amount of Canadian
stuff that was imported into the United
States without duty. I believe the
total was not less than 1000, 900, 900 feet
last year alone.
much of this stuff comes in under
the classification Of raw material in
the 4OuIH OIL lOSSp out logs are not Ie-
ultimately In the class of raw mate
rails. The explanation Of that state
ment is simple. 1t costs from $3.50 to
81 per 1000 feet to cut the logs, pay
labor and get the material to the mills
Logs are not like ore, for instance
which can come in under 'the raw ma
terial classification.
1.-THE wages of the Canadian lumber
man, to cite another reason for impos-
irNrr &Ia IV14xy
cents a day. We are paying $1.40 a
day, a big difference in favor Of the
American wage schedule. Now, we
will figure and say that it costs 81 per
1000 feet for labor, cutting and mar
keting Of lumber. There is a difference
of $2.10 in favor Of the Canadian lurn-
Der. for the reason that their labor and
their lan6s are cheaper. Timber lands
in Canada are sold in what is called
limits These limits are sold on
easy conditions. There is a small cash
payment and the balance is paid when
the cutting progresses. Taxes in Can
ada average about S. a section. In the
United States we are paying from $40
to $50 a section on a fortya acre tract.
This money is used. Of course, in build
ing township roads, school houses, etc.
All this shows wherein the Canadian
lumber concerns can produce at so mucn
smaller cost than we can, and why
they can undersell US on the cheaper
grades.
There has been no profit in the lum-
Der business since 1884, said Mr. Wey-
erhaeuser, with emphasis. 1--WE have
lost more and failed heavier than any
other class Of business in the United
States, without excluding one. There
have been no new mills opened or in
dustries started. Three or four years
ago I bought the Crosby tract near
MENDOZA of 250 acres with the intention
of building a large mill there, but there