The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-12-16
BETWEEN DEVIL
AND DEEP SEA
PUBLIC THE WHEAT GROUND
IN MILLSTONES OF LUMBER
TRUST AND RAILROAD MO.
NOPOLY.
- BY c. n. TAVENNER

6v -. n. IAVENNEh
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 16.--
AS if to be at the mercy of the
lumber combination and railroad
trust individually were not suf-
ficient, the public now finds itself
wedged in between these two 81.
gantic organizations.
Whether the wedge is to be
frightened is to be indirectly de-
cided at once by the interstate
commerce commission in ruling
whether the Is per cent increase on
lumber freight rates from Pacific
coast points is justifiable
A dozen high salaried officials O.;
the interests at war are in Wash
ington awaiting the decision. But
the public, the only party that
really stands to lose in the end,
isn't apparently much concerned.
The case came before the inter
state commerce commission
through the petition of the Pacific
Coast Lumber Manufacturers asso-
citation, in which complaint is
made of an increase from 40 cents
to SO cents on shipments from Ore
gon points to St. Paul, and an in
crease from so cents to 60 cents on
shipments from Oregon points and
Chicago. This rate, which went
into effect Nov l, figures an in
crease of $50 on car of lumber
and $36 on a car of shingles.
The lumber manufacturers make
no bones as to their position. They
say it costs them 1880 to pro-
duce 1000 feet of lumber, and that
the average selling price is SIS at
the mill. The millmen declare they
| cannot stand the increase of $50 a
| car and are sure the retailer will
not. So there is no alternative for
the public. The finding of the COM
mission will determine whether
| the workingman must pay $66 more
for lumber to build story and a
half cottage, whether the Hill and
Hartman lines will reap an extra
$36, 100000 annually without spend
ing an additional penny for main
tenance or operating expenses, and
whether the prosperity attending
the lumber industry of the North
west is to be stunned.
| "If the increased rate is allowed,
said V. H. Beckham, secretary OF
| the lumberman's association, III
will be the most severe blow the
| lumber industry in washington,
Oregon, California, Idaho and Mon
tana ever received. In the North
west a common laborer receives
from So to $3.50 a day. We will not
| be able to remain in business with
| the new rate, as we will not be
able to meet the competition of the
yellow pine district in the South
| where cheap colored labor is to be
had.
The increased freight rate sim
| ply means-and we make this
charge in our petition-that the
Hill and Hartman lines and their
subsidiary branch lines are in a
| conspiracy that destroys all com
| petition between them and was con-
| cocted to enrichen the treasures
of the railroads with the entire
earnings of the lumber industry in
the Northwest.
Washington alone is now waste
fully burning $4,000 carloads of ma
terial annually in the refuse burn
ers and in the woods which could
be shipped out in the form OF
shingles, laths and mouldings If the
railroad would give us a rate thai
would permit us to do it.
1T is a little known fact, bu
true, that 100000 men are idle, ano
so lumber mills closed, in Oregon
and Washington now. This condi
ton is not due to any stringency IL
the money market, but to the in
creased freight rate which makes
the lumber manufacturing business
in the Northwest improbable"