The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-14
IN THE HOTEL CORRIDORS.


that spruce pulp wood in many vast
stretches CT country, in Maine, Michigan.
Wisconsin, and Minnesota. were consid-
cred valueless. When the price reached
% cents a cord standing on the ground
paper mill owners thought they were be-
ing robbed. White paper was then worth
about sl.25 hundred A couple OF years
ago print paper prices started up the hill
and advanced rapidly to 50. The price of
standing spruce timber kept pace with
the paper. and is Gaoted at 81 cord
today, even when far away from the mills.
Even before this time arrived powerful
combinations of capital had either secured
options or actually purchased most of the
valuable tracts OF spruce, and this left
the independent mills throughout the
United States the alternative Of either he
ing robbed gradually by buying their tim
Der in small lots or making one bold
plunge by buying timber limits and sub
hitting to a single sandbagging. The
most powerful paper interest in the coun-
try is the International Paper Company.
otherwise known as the Paper Trust,
which. with unlimited capital behind it,
has bought vast tracts of spruce imber
and is supposed to be in q position to
dictate terms to the independent mills
not only in this country but Canada. After
the trust had pushed up prices on white
paper to So the Indignation of consumers,
especially the newspapers became SO
great that the trust considered it wise to
ease away on prices, fearing a raid on
Congress not only to limit the trust pow
ers but to take away certain tariff priri-
leges they enjoyed. This easing off in the
market has been allowed to continue to
date. but the trust was never before so
well fortified in its position, and can any
day establish a new scale of prices that
will work untold hardships on publishers.
1t is in position to either break prices
and force the independent mill to close
or lose money heavily, or, on the ether
hand. to compel them to enter the combi-
nation
II. q. Steel, editor and manager of the
Nome (Alaska> Daily News is regis
tered at the National. Mr.. Steel intends
to remain In this country until spring. In
the mean time his paper will be managed
By an assistant. He says that Geographic
communication will soon be had with all
points in Alaska. a line has been con-
structed as far as Michaels. and as soon as
the weather breaks work will again be
started in the hope that telegraphic COM
munication with the States can be made
complete Mr. Steel says that the attack
made upon Judge Noyes has no founda-
ton in fact. but is the work of enemies
Judge Noyes. he says, is an upright and
honest man. one who fearlessly admins
tiers the laws. and for this reason has made
enemies. Mr.. Steel says that Nome is de-
stined to be q city OF some consequence
within the next few years. Gold is still to
be had in large quantities. and all the
claims are paying good profits. The city is
fast losing its lawless element. and sub
stantial citizenship is being formed When
the tough class has been forced away from
the city Nome will become thriving bust
ness city.
THE moneyed men OF the United States
are doing a great deal toward the devel-
opment of Mexico" said Henry X. Haven,
of Las Minas, at the Arlington last night.
Il am in Washington for the purpose of
interesting capital in some of our enter
prises. | do not mean that ! have come
here for that purpose. l am here on mat
tsr tiers ,inlf eidental to the projects we have
will be made in New York You would
be surprised to know how much money
Wall Street has sent into our country
1t is building our railroads. developing our
mines, ard putting a great many manu-
featuring plants in operation. The cost
of operating a railroad in our country is
not very great. Our labor is cheap. Here
is another point in favor of the American
who comes to Mexico. He pays good
wages. The engineer and conductor of
railroad trains are usually Americans
The crew is made up of natives. he
engineer and conductor, of course, receive
good salaries, as they are usually i'm
ported into the country. but the crew does
"a wai1 Nat fa1g inn 1t
into consideration, very few members of
the train crew quit their jobs unless
forced 10 do so. While their pay is not
large. il is a great deal more than they
could obtain from any but Americans.
We hope that more Americans will come
into the country. No, am not native |
OF Mexico. as my name would indicate. |
but | have lived in that country for the |
past thirty-fve years, and have adopted |
1t as my permanent home.
Clay c. Cooper. of Detroit, is registered
at the Shoreham. For q great many years
he was connected in an editorial capacity
with a prominent Western newspaper but
has left the ranks OF active journalism and
Is now an agency manager for a Detroit
financial institution Mr.. Coooper's work
axes him in all parts of the country. and
!e has excellent opportunities to judge of
he development of the ground over which
re travels. He has just returned from a
Southern trip, and says that Virginia is I'M
developing more rapidly than
my OF the States in which he Travelled
This il particularly true along the coast
inc, said Mr. Cooper. Ten years ago
Newport News was bat a small village
Today 1t is thriving little city. with a
nf a hoe !
he largest shipyards in the country, and
learned from good authority that this
ard has contracts on hand that will keep
/ busy for five years. There are other
laces in the State that have developed
lmost as rapidly
THE people of Seattle and Tacoma are !
til at war over the census returns"
aid +. +. Travers of Seattle. at the St.
ames last night. You know when the
eople swore that the Seattle returns were /
added. They accused us of taking the !
otel registers. the hospital lists. and {
ven going 10 the jails and station houses a
our efforts to make a good showing.
'e could do not less than make count er Y
harges, for we felt that the charges were
rought with malicious intent. This has
suited In free-for-aIl charge contest |
'e are accused of all the crimes en- the '
llendar while We do not lose an op-
TO charge the Tacoma recple C
it'll any old thing We can find This is l.
)t a very neighborly condition. / admit. E
1t At helps business Tremendously The II
ght has been carried into commercial I
relies, and is being wnged most earn n
,tly. Our business men are doing ali in n
.eir power to secure all the outside h
ade, and the Tacoma people are doing =
lie same. Ii makes keen competition. and
t,upd thing for %,