The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-05

Cy AOOLs
as yet have made little impression. With
a reasonable concession. her lumber men
could cut into the trade of the eastern
states. Here they would meet the white
pine lumber from Duluth and Wisconsin
shipped by lake and rail, and the present
rapidly increasing trade Of the yellow pine
from the south. The trade Of the eastern
states is expected to do much for the de-
velopment Of the southern mills in the
future. The yellow pine manufacturers
and the Pacific coast lumbermen are inn
patiently waiting for the time when the
reduced supply of white pine will give
them the markets of the Missouri river
territory. They will not regard with any
degree of favor proposition that opens
the Canadian timber supply to competi-
tion in those markets. 1t is on these two
propositions that the southern lumbermen
must take the prominent part for the first
time in any future tariff consideration af-
fecting lumber.
Before the British high joint commission
Canadian lumbermen made long fight
for tariff of 81 per thousand on manu-
factured lumber. They finally expressed
willingness to do business on a tariff
of $1.40. The past six months have de-
veloped sentiment among white pine
manufacturers which favors making $1.4O
or $1.50 the basis of the first concession.
ir hoI; he
with no injury to trade. There are men
prominent in the northwest lumber trade
who are willing to go farther.
U. S. Capital in Canada.
The investment of American capital in
Canadian industries is expected to do much
to promote better trade relations with
Canada. This is especially true of the
lumber trade. Many men formerly engaged
in numbering in Wisconsin and Michigan
have purchased timber and built mills in
Canada. These men will work hard for
concessions in tariff by both countries. A
few years ago they were fighting for
a high American tariff and were among
its most powerful advocates at Washing
ton. Their position is reversed. They are
for low tariff now and will fight for it,
while their former free trade antagonists
from the south must eventually line up on
the protection side of the fence.
Millers Might Gain Much.
No business enterprise Of the north
west has as little to lose and as much
to gain by reciprocity as -four manufac-
turing. The flour interests are strong
advocates of the principle. There are some
details to be decided before the north
western mills can unite on definite prop
osition, but the flour interests see in reci-
procity a great opportunity for trade.
Reciprocity, by adding to the general vol
ume of business done between this and al
most any other country, is bound to carry
with it, under ordinary conditions, an in
crease in the flour trade. This is especial
ly true of the South American countries
which territory the Minneapolis millers
are anxious to canvass thoroughly. The
matter of duty enters into this situation
but little. 1t is more question of turn
ing the attention of those countries to
the United States as the big source OF
their supplies.
Great Britain at the present time is the
big market for Minneapolis flour. The
flour interests realize that conditions may
so change as to affect their prestige In
what are. now considered sure markets.
Reciprocity will do much to open the way
to new markets The protection sentf-
ment in Holland, which takes a large
amount of Minneapolis flour, is growing.
The time is ripe for a reciprocity treaty
with Holland that will greatly aid the
Minneapolis flour trade with that country
without any great concession being made
by the United States. The two hardest
propositions are France and Germany.
Both would make excellent markets for
Minneapolis flour. The agricultural ele-
ment in both countries is strong and have
hitherto fought hard to Keep American
flour out. Reciprocity Is considered by
the flour manufacturers as the only di-
rect avenue to French and German mar
kets.
Canada is a territory which the Min
neapolis -four men have given much con-
sideration. Reciprocity with Canada would
not only add to the -four trade of Mime
apolis mills but would also result in
bringing a large amount of Canadian
wheat this way which now goes to eastern
Canadian ports The western provinces
of Canada are to become one of the great
wheat producing sections of the world,
and the Minneapolis mills could use a
great deal Of it.
Larger minneapolis Territory.
There has never been a time when the
jobbing interests of the northwest were
SO thoroughly awake to the opportunities
in reciprocal trade relations with Canada
as at present. This also includes manu-
facturers Of the many lines represented
in Minneapolis. For reasonable conces-
sions on duties from the Canadian gov
ernment the jobbers of Minneapolis could
add vast territory to that from which it
now draws trade. The. new conditions
created would add largely to the lines of
goods wholesaled from this point The
opportunity is recognized to, be so great.
that no stronger advocates of reciprocity
can be found in the United States than
the jobbers and general manufacturers of
Minneapolis.
t.n XkIo.I