Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-13

vate owners of lumber producing
forests would have become an insuffer-
able monopoly, one that would rival
others that receive government encour-
agement and protection. Los Angeles
and its vicinity keenly feel the oppres-
sion from the high prices on that i'm
portant building material. The prices
that our people are compelled to pay
check enterprise and the upbuilding of
a conspicuous section of the nation.
Removal of the lumber duty would
be material benefit locally and to all
non-lumber producing sections of the
nation. 1t is partiality to grant favors
TO a class, especially to a small class,
to the detriment of the masses, a viola
tion of the principle of the greatest
good TO the greatest number" The
possessors of timber lands have all the
advantages that humane men should
desire without the addition of a duty
en- the products of foreign competitors.
The only competition in the lumber
trade from foreign sources worthy Of
mention is the Canadian. If the people
of that dominion are willing to strip
their country of forests it is their busi-
ness and not ours. They labor under
the disadvantage of distance in sup
plying this country, which should as
sure a fair profit to our own lumber
producers.
There is another feature, however,
that Is worthy of consideration, and 1t
is that in ten or fifteen years we will
be obliged to seek foreign supplies at
the rate that lumber consumption Is
going on, and for the reason that do
nestle resources will approach exhaus-
ton, we had better save something
for the future.
Americans have not only been van
dalic in destroying forests, but negli-
gent in promoting renewal. Arbor day
/ has but of late been introduced and
however much the planting. of trees
may be done the growth will not ma
terially benefit the present generation.
| 1t is not humane for one generation to
disregard the welfare of succeeding
| generations.
! In Japan it is a law that when tree
is felled another shall be planted. In
the annals of Tacitus we read of the
! splendors of the Black Forest near
twenty centuries ago, a forest that
4 still is preserved substantially in its
pristine magnificence that it has con-
/ tinually yielded literally to the wants
of the country II has been kept up
! by requirements of law. Other cases
! might be cited showing the forecast
and wisdom of the old world people.
| An important subject before the
/ American people Is that of reforesting
the sections that have beeen denuded
and afforestng those that have been
barren. This Is matter quite as i'm
portant as that of irrigation, because
the plan applies to the whole country,
while irrigation is practically only In
a part of it. Forests are inspiring be-
sides affording what Is substantial in
contribution to human welfare.
Lmuber next to food and clothing is
| necessary of life and il should be
made as cheap as possible. There Is
force i'm the proposition that a people
should as far as praetica BILE preserve
It's markets to its own people, or at
least TO give them an equal chance with
foreigners, but it is proposition that
has little force in respect to lumber,
for the time is near at hand when from
our own forests an adequate supply
cannot be drawn
duty on lumber is an especial hard
ship 10 the people ia extensive dis.