The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-16
AN OPENING FOR LUMBER
4 Fine Field for American Weeds
in Germany.
Consul Diederich Places the Flame
for "a Limited Trade at Present
Partly Upon Dealers in This C"un-
try Who Are Disposed to Dfsre-
gard Orders for propsp: Shipment.

The State Department has received from
Henry W Diederich. United States Cen
sui at Bremen, a report on the German
market for American lumber in which he
blames to some extent the dealers in this
country for not having a more extensive
trade with the subjects Of the Kaiser. Mr..
Diedericl says:
I fnd German importers of wood gen
orally ready to talk American lumber, but
frequently they wind up by remarking that
they would be quite willing TO buy. but,
from their experience with American
dealers, il is useless to try. Evidently
they are discouraged. It seems that many
German firms have been disappointed by
not getting promptly what they ordered.
In fact. I know Of firm which placed an
order in the United States early last year
and was repeatedly informed that The
wood was in course Of Shipment but
it did not reach The consignee until few
days ago. Others complainant this is a
more serious difficulty in the way Of in
creasing the sales OF American lumber
that American mIlIers and dealers viii not
make UP their minds to cut the wood ex-
actly as the German market demands. If
this were done. I am sure the export Of
American lumber would soon be doubled
and trebled.
There are a number Of American firms
who have taken the pains to closely in
VeStigate conditions here and TO fully
meet the requirements. and who are now
.lgiDcr
my object is to show that d great deal
more American lumber San be sold, and
that there Is & good opening for many
other enterprisipg firms. This becomes
patent at once when It is remembered
that only : per cent Of the lumber i'm
ported into Germany comes from the
United States while Austria supplies -
Per cent; Russia. IS per cent, and 81 eden,
Il per cent
OF course the American dealer IN
lumber viii always have 70 meet in this
market q fierce competition on the part
o. Russian. Austrian. and Swedish rivals.
Who have the advantage Of chea per
freighLS. Thus. the Government Of Aus
JrIa-HUDgaTy last year made specially
low rates on all shipments of lumber
thai went from G6licIa and BUEOEina and
other points into Germany But The de-
maGd Tor lumber is steadily increasing
and It is utterly out of the question for
Germany to ever supply that demand. IN
spite Of all the high import duties placed
On all foreign woods which average 3
cents for every 2I0 pounds OF rough i'm
Der OF logs and SIS for every 21n pounds
OF Tor one cubic meter OF dressed timber
Germany has been unable to materially
increase her forestry supply.
In the year 1893 there were imported
into Germany not less than $50. 100 coo Gu
bic feet Of timber. During the same Pc
rod. GermaEy's own production amounted
10 from SO, 656.O00 to COS. 372. Geo cubic
feet Il Germany were to supply this de-
Hciency Of 333. 100 Geo cubic feet of timber
from her own soil she would need an adj
Gtioual acreage of 1878. Gee acres In
other words. the percentage Of soil now de-
voted 20 forestry would have to be in
creased from Z6 per cent 10 10 per cent
Bat il Is claimed that throughout all this
Empire not more than 2.f7IGG0 acres fit
for that purpose might be found
Even II every available nook and cor
rsr were thus utilized ard al Of the waste
lands that are not well adapted for aeri-
culture were planted il pine and other fer
est trees. Il would require. on an average.
fifty years Tor them 10 be ready for mar
Eet, and then Jhs supply would not -begtn
20 satisfy the demand OF all sections CT
Germany. only Bavaria and Wurtt enserg
have a suTplusage Of home lumber all the
other districts needing q great deal more
Than they can ever produce And as the
United States supplies only 7 per cert OF
This great demand. II VIII be readily seen
thar there is an important opening in Ger
many fer American lumber.
But there Is another great difficulty
under which the American shippers of
timber and lumber labor. According 10
the rules Of the German railroads. q spe-
ciaI freight is collected on American
pitch pine, yellow pine. hickory. and black
walnut which must pay much higher
rate for inland transportation than wood
coming into Germany from other coun~
tries. Thus. he freight on a carload of
2.zh0 pounds Of American pitch pine from
Bremen to ChemLitz wilkcost so. 03. while
the freight for the same distance and for
the same amount Of pine coming from
Norway and Sweden costs but $3.50 be
ing 2 difference Of $I7-I4 IA favor of the
Scandinavian competitor
When II is remembered that the rail
roads IN Germany are nearly all owned
and managed by the Government. this spe-
cial freight tariff is virtually a discrlmina-
tion against American lumber As the
new commercial treaties are now under
discussion. II might be well for American
lumber merchants TO take steps TO have
this matter settled on a basis Of justice
ana equity. With good qualities OF wood.
properly cut and dressed. and with a fair