The Topeka state journal., 1907-12-28
PULPWOOD AND PAPER.
Canada Having the One, Would Manu-
facture the Other.

I'VE have the pulpwood; why should
| we not have the pulp and paper indus
try as well?' This, in brief, is the at
titude Of Canadians who are now ex-
aiming the pulpwood situation to learn
what measures are best calculated to
| promote the manufacture of the wood
| here instead of in foreign mills. The
Paper Mill, an American publication
| representing the pulp and paper indus
| try across the line, makes violent war
upon the suggestion that we have a
right to place an export duty on the
wood. Ignoring American tariff devel-
opments, many of which have been ex-
treme, it warns Canada against the tar
iff wrath to come:
AS to the retaliatory measures, Can
ada may rest assured that if her pulp
wood campaign is carried out to the
extent that some of it's promoters de-
sire, this country will not consider such
action friendly, but will protect it's own
interest by such legislation as may be
necessary and which may work con-
siderable hardship to the entire Do
minion.
To this the canadian lumberman
makes aggressive reply. The threat, 1t
observes, reminds one of the big bully
and the small boy with the apple. Says
the former. ''Give me that apple or I'll
kick you," whereupon the latter is u.s.
ua1ly glad to hand over the object in
question, at the same time feeling toll
erably sure that he'll get the kick any
way. In the present case we are asked
to hand over our pulpwood or If we
don't we'll be starved out sooner or Ia
ter. Now, 1t says, like the small boy,
we have learned from experience that
the United has not in the past been
States noted for self-sacrifice, and
if our present positions were reversed
1t is safe to assume Canadian paper
manufacturers would long ere this have
had their plants erected on American
soil. In any case, it wouldn't have ta-
ken the United States as long as this
to make legislation for the conservation
of a valuable national asset
Not long ago we referred to plan
advocated by Mr.. Douglas, formerly
governor of Massachusetts, an apostle
of reciprocity of the sort that would
benefit New England manufacturers
mainly. He suggested the free entry
of Canadian lumber of all sorts in order
that the American forests might have
Americans would have bought our
wood and manufactured it. Later on
the tariff could be readjusted. The
Lumberman believes this is the policy
the Americans are aiming at. 1t Is In
clined to think that we should look
sharply after our own interests in the
matter, making much of the fact that,
having the raw material, we have the
position of advantage, and cannot be
deprived Of it except through our own
folly.
The policy the United States would
fain adopt. says the Lumberman, is 20
preserye the spruce areas by using up
those of Canada. 1t would certainly
be excellent policy to leave nature alone
over there for a generation or two to
reclothe her now naked timber areas.
Moreover it would be a gracious act on
our part to throw open our spruce |
wealth while this interesting recourse
to the aid of nature was In progress,
h,,t what condition would we ourselves
he in ultimately? The best timber |
would have been removed from our
forests and that remaining would be |
the least desirable and accessible in |
+be country We would have had the |
Smallest possible return for our forest |
wealth and besides have precluded our |
selves for a generation from sharing In |
the wood pulp industry of the con-
finder present conditions thousands |
Of cords Of pulpwood are annually cut
in Canadian forests and taken over TO
the United States to be manufactured
ito nuIp and paper. If that raw ma
+ariai were kept here, pulp and paper |
mills would be erected, and we would
secure for ourselves great Industrial /
ADVANTAGES. Pulpwood is scarce in the
TTn;ted states Here it is comparative
" I,lentifuI Moreover, when new rail-
roads tap the northern forest areas, as
tbeI- soon will, and modern methods of
and reforestation are
sdonted. the growth of the industry
will be phenomenal If 1T is fair to
protect manufactured products py
means of a tariff, it is not unfair to
ask for the protection of natural re-
John IN. b. Telegraph.