The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-07-21
HIGH PRICE
OF LUMBER


that 1t has become matter OF H.
terest to all readers, and thinking to
get some light on the subject we
asked A ID. Quantrell, Of the Idaho
Lumber COMPANY, why the price has
advanced, and he answered:
"Well II is not by reason OF the com
bne as so many people seem to con-
clude; there are several things that
have bearing on the matter When
| went into the lumber trade here u
years ago we sold native lumber at Sl6
q thousand, which we afterwards ad-
yanced to SlS and S2l and which we
cannot furnish row for less than S25.
Perhaps you remember that some
years ago people here signed a petit
tion TO have the cutting OF timber
prohibited except in cases where per
mits were granted by the government.
They did this TO save the forests to
conserve the snow ana water supply.
The government closed some saw
mills at Beaver Canyon and elsewhere
and lumber had TO come from some
where else We have been getting it
from Oregon and paying more freight.
The freight amounts to as much as
the cost OF the lumber at the mill,
and the consumer has to pay that.
A II this is a direct result of the sign.
ing OF those petitions here away back
in 1890 Now the government charges
the mill men SO thousand feet,
stumpage, and the consumer has to
pay that SO, which adds to advance
the price Of lumber.
"Since that there has been a lov Of
attention given TO acquiring timber
lands both by entry and by purchase.
The laws permit II, and individuals
make use of the privilege. For ex.
ample, Mrs. Fife who used to live
here, moved to Moscow, and took up
some timber land up in the noun
tains. After acquiring title to II she
sold 1t for good sum because there
was demand for timber. Her profits
had to be added to the price OF
lumber, and the consumers had to pay
it,
People came in from Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Michigan and bought
great tracts of timber and made for
tunes out Of IT, Governor Hunts ad-
ministration was severely criticised
for selling so much timber, because
the price kept on advancing so steadily
that people could look back and see
where the state had missed it by sell.
ing so cheap.
"What has been going on in Idaho
has also been going on in adjoining
states. Senator Clark OF Montana re.
Gently won out in a very long expen-
sive suit with the government over
timber lands in Montana, and now he
is holding his timber for big prices,
HIS case Is one of many that adds to
the millmen's expense in producing
lumber, and the consumers invariably
have to foot the bill
"Only couple of weeks ago a party
went from here TO invest in timber
lands in Oregon They have a right
to do it and hold the timber until
they get ready TO sell IT, Hundreds
all over the northwest. The rapid
growth of cities and the development
OF the whole country makes an in
creased demand for lumber For ex-
ample, the settlement of the Twin
Falls tract called for as much lumber
in one year as half the state Of Idaho
had used in some years. Then there
is the Minidoka tract, the Boise.
Payette tract and various other
places where little empires spring up
to consume lumber in immense
quantities.
"The millmen finding the timber
practically all taken up, have TO buy
the timber from these people who are
holding it for speculation, and the
purchase price has TO be added to the
price OF lumber, as against the priv.
lege OF locating II themselves as IL wa!
not many years ago
IL have been speaking only Of wha'
we Americans have done to add to tn,
cost of producing lumber ready TO
shipments; but there are Others
Capitalists from the old world, eSpeci
ally from Germany and Russia, hav,
been busy buying timber lands. II i
said, and | believe it is true, tina
about one third the timber land o
Oregon has been acquired by thcs
fellows from abroad You know TN
Germans bought up the bulk Of GU
walnut timber about 25 years ago, ant
now they are gobbling the pine Now
you see, the milmen have all thes
things to meet, and see no way t
keep lumber from advancing far be
yJnd present prices unless IL is don
through legislation. Congress nigh
remove the duty on lumber so as I
admit the Canadian pTOduct and Dp(