The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-10
SOME KEEN COMMENT
GIN S. P. TRICKS
OREGON LuMBERMEN AND THE
CAUSE or THEIR AsSEMBLAGE
At COTTAGE GROVE YEsTER.
DAYS. p. WARMLY oRlLLEp.


Oregon lumbcrmen held AT Cottage
Grove today was TO discuss ways ANA
means 10 best present tho grievances
of the lumbcrmcn and shippers Of this
portion Of the state 10 the Legislature
caused by the announcement Of pro-
hlbitivc rate advance Of 1910 to $500
per ton. which In equivalent 10 1917
per thousand feet on rough green
lumber 10 California Bay points by the
Southern Pacific Company,
The maintenance Of this rate sim
ply means ruin to the lumber busi-
ness Of Central Oregon. The timber
of thlB section by reason Of geograph-
ical location and character Is destined
always 10 find It's best market In CAL
fornla ns 90 per cent Of the average
log is low grade and must necessarily
have the present freight rate maintain
ei IN order 70 pay the cost Of manu-
facturo ana successfully meet compc-
titIon
The railroad company established
the $40 per ton rate about nine years
ago at the instigatiop Of e. II. Mark
ham. then In control Of the freight
department Of the Southern Pacific
lines In oregon. This rate was based
on the water rate OF $500 per thou
sand feet from Columbia and oregon
Coast points to California. and was
maintained until the recent San Fran
cisco disaster temporarily advanced
charter rates; which are now receding
and In all probability within the next
sixty days will again be normal. The
result OF the Inauguration OF this rate
was 10 stimulate and encourage the
building OF the numerous small mills
now In existence.
On no other basis could they have
existed or could the great lumber
business OF Central Oregon ever have
been developed. This fact was proved
10 the satisfaction OF the railroad com
pany three years ago when the rate
was raised 10 $500 per ton for six
months causing the greatest stagna-
ton and general depression of business
ever witnessed In any portion OF the
state. Why again invite disaster?
The reply OF the Hartman line is GO
East with your product" This IL
largely n delusIon, as the majority OF
the small mills are unable TO avail
themselves OF this opportunity from
the fact that their methods Of manu-
fncturc and equipments are not suit
ed to cater to the Eastern trade and
they do not feel Justified In attempt
Ing to make the necessary changes,
having no assurance that the railroad
may not also increase the rate
to the East just as soon as they think
the traffic will bear an advance. The
rate on lumber which permits ship
NEST TO California has been the di-
rect means Of adding thousands of
dollars to the wealth Of the state. and
the railroad company has been the
beneficiary by the increased
business and the maintaining of eX-
ceedingly high local tariffs The COM
pany was losing at the rate Of half
million dollars per year when the fore
sight OF Mr.. Markham discovered
means Of changing n large yearly de-
felt into a divi lend paying policy as
shown by the company's own financial
statement on file in the secretary Of
states office The number Of mills
tributary to the Southern Pacific Com
pany's lines between Salem and Glen
dale aggregate about one hundred and
fifty employing about 5000 men, about |
80 mills being in this vicinity. The
Southern Pacific company has COM
planned bitterly of the advance in the
price Of lumber for its own use. For
years II purchased ties for $6.19 per
thousand feet and when the mills re-
fused to cut their timber any longer
'or less than cost the railroad COM
pany, at the instigation of the man
,gement caused three mills to be built
md are planning a fourth in order to
further coerce the small mills to ac-
,eed to their wishes In the price of
lumber. The timber the railroads are
cutting was placed in their hands by
\ generous but too contiding govern
nent in trust, to be sold to actual set
lers at $2.50 per acre, to assist in the
Of the state. The COM
oany has not only betrayed their trust
n not selling these lands In accord
lnce with the terms of the grant, but
refuse to sell at any price,
hereby retardlng the development of