Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-18


lots just as they are levied upon the
owners Of wild lands. These public lots
are located in eight counties of the
State and were valued in 1900 as fol-
lows: ArOOstook, $127,4l6; Franklin.
S34,S90: Hancock, $10,291; Oxford, s29,-
52s; Penobscot, $3977O; Piscataquis,
s142. 1870; Somerset, 500, $50: Washington.
s23, i93. making Il total of $5O4,34S. The
State tax ut the present time is 2A
mills on the dollar Of valuation.
Choppers are already well at work
in the Maine woods and State Land
Agent f. f. Ring of Orono, says that
when the seasons cut is footed up 1t
will be found that it is fully as large
as the last winters cut. 1t was
thought that it might be somewhat re-
duced. but present indications point
to Il full cut.
Times have changed" says Mr..
Ring, land where a few years ago ten
men would cut a million apiece, one
firm now goes in and cuts ten million.
The great pulp and paper mills must
be fed and the cut cannot be much re-
duced from year to year with these
mills doing the business they are to-
day and plan to do in the future.
There is Il great scarcity of men.
though wages are up to the top notch,
he continued. The operators are
sending the men into the woods as fast
as they can get them. but men are
scarce at any price. For wOOdsmen
who a few years ago called it good pay
when they received from SIS to $26 per
month, the operators are now glad to
Ssxr-,,,,
whose old wage averaged little bet
| ter than 81 per month, are now get
ting s26 Sled-tenders formerly got
$40 and now they are getting *3V.
Transfers and choppers. who We're
once satisfied with from s24 to SIG per
month won't look mt Il job this ran
that doesn't promise them from $50 TO
$40. And so it goes. The outsider
might think that such an increase IN
wages would find plenty of men. but
the fact is the operators are nara
pushed for men enough to fill their
early crews.
, "The reason for it? Well, there are
q number of things which work to-
! pether to bring it about, l think. Years
| ago there used to be a large immigra-
| ton Of red-shirted lumbermen from
the Provinces every fall. who came to
work the winter out in the Maine
woods. They came to Maine because
the wages they commanded here were
far in excess of what they could get at
home. But things have changed in
this respect Today the Canadian
mills are calling on for large quantities
Of lumber and the lumber operators
have been obliged to raise their wage
| schedule TO "A point where the Ca
madam can make more money by stay
| ing at home, So we have lost MN.
| He is one factor in the tightness OF the
labor market.
| "Tbe pulp mills which are using
l mn so much lumber are another inn
| pOrtant factor. They have given EN-
] n,ovment the year round to a large
number of men who formerly went IN
| to The woods in the winter. onto the
! drive in the spring and got along as
hest thew could between times. Ine
min mills have given these men
steady employment and the lumber
orerators have been the losers. Inc
cra,t Northern Paper Companys mil
mt MiIlinocket has taken great NUM-
her of men in one capacity ana an
other. The same is true of every large
~, no., mil, in the State and the same -
trne on the other side of the line, 10
less degree So the number 81 men
available for woods service is yer!
much reduced. -,
Asked il lumber is likely to g" hish-
or Mr.. Ring said that it was u naru
ouestiou to answer. Lumber Is sell
ing WELL" he said. land is hish no"
hut whether il will go higher IS
question. Stumpage has advanced th's
wear. but as to whether the price "
lumber will rise, I hardly feel ike ven
turing an opinion
MIR. Ring. as forestry comniss'oiei
keeps n close watch on the Maine ioi
ests and his practical experience !
the lumber business makes him VA
uable man for the State. he Is 'hoi
ouyhIy conversant with the forest pos
sibilities of the State and his forth-
coming report as land agent VIII
one of the most exhaustive State re
ports that has been issued in recei
wears. and Mr.. Rings close touch VII
the timberlands of Maine will give 4
&