The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-02
PERIL CONFRONTS
LUMBER INTEREST
Russian Competition May Sc
riOusIy Damage an Ameri-
can Industry.
Globe Special Washington Service,
1417 q SfrAe+

14tl u Street.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April l.
The flour millers and exporters of the
Northwest have deprecated the idea,
advanced on reliable authority in these
dispatches, that there is danger to our
flour trade on account of Russian
competition in the Orient. A similar
view may be taken of the lumber mar
ket in Siberia, China and Korea by
the lumbermen of the Northwest.
Nevertheless, the peril which threatens
both American flour and American
lumber is vivid one in the opinion Of
some well informed persons who have
resided for years in the far East and
whose business it is 70 make an i'm
Mr.. Miller with anOthe enlighteuing
There was no intention in these dis
patches of alarming the commercial
interests without cause, and they re-
fuse to be alarmed. As for the infor-
NATION on which the conditions sur
rounding the flour trade in China was
written, that is another matter.
Henry r. Miller, the consul of the
United States at New chwang, China,
has spent several years in that part of
OF the Far East, with headquarters ct
their face value by the department of
commerce, for he has never misrepre-
scented anything to the government, so
far as anybody knows. Now comes
Mr.. Miller with another enlighening
report as to the lumber trade in ST.
IBERIA, Korea. and Manchuria 1t was
written for the special information of
the lumber trade in the Pacific North
west, and he appears to know what he
is talking about. There are many
numbering enterprises being establish
ed in Manchuria, Siberia and Sakha-
lin" he says, preparing to compete
with the Pacific coast lumber"
The most important concern is the
Russian Timber and Mining Company
of the far East, with headquarters at
Port Arthur. 1t is backed by some Of
the most powerful men in Russia and
has a capital said to be SO. 300 000
This company will operate chiefly on
the Yalu river, which taps the great
timber areas of Manchuria and Korea,
and affords a splendid waterway for
floating the lumber to market.
Orders to Buy at Home.
ct is clear" says Mr.. Miller, 'that
Russia intends to provide for all the
requirements of lumber in Manchuria
and Siberia, with a possibility of en-
tering the Chinese market" He adds
that the recent heavy purchases of
lumber on the Pacific coast was due
to the haste in providing quarters for
RusSia's army in Manchuria, but Mr..
Miller declares that the Russian gov
= eminent has given orders that all rail-
way and government supplies must be
purchased, as far as possible, from the
local companies; and among the local
industries lumber is a leading one.
AS to the extent of the timber areas
available to the Russians and the quail
ity of the finished product, Mr.. Miller
has much to say. A good deal Of the
lumber IS inferior to the average
Washington and Oregon product; but
some of it is just as good. There are
vast quantities Of timber closely re-
sembling our white pine, and there is
a good quality of fir much like the So
called Oregon pine.
The city Of Hardin is already the
scene of considerable lumber opera
lions. This city now has a larger Eu-
ropean population than any other city
in all Asia, and it is only a few years
old. Three years ago there was hardly
building on the present site of Har-
bin. There are already two small saw
mills there, and others are projected
On the railway line between Hardin
and VladivOstOk are two large saw
At the mouth of the Yalu river Russia
largest lumber mill in the world. What
is to be done with the output? Pre-
sumably it will find a market, and Mr..
Miller, at least, is unable to escape
the conclusion that it will compete
with the product Of the Washington
and Oregon mills.
Walton r Clark