Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-06

The figures for 1905, 1906, and 1907
actually show decrease per cord value
for the year 1907 as compared with the
year 1905. In 1905 there were exported
from Canada to the United States $685.
64S cords valued at $500, sO4, aa aver
age per cord of $4.3S For the year 1906,
the experts amounted to 614.2s6 cords
valued at $2,649106 In 1907 they were
62S,S44 cords, valued at $2,74S,9Ga These
figures show a reduction from $4.3S per
cord in 1865 to $4.3l in 1906, and $437
in 1907
Il do not pretend from these figures
to say that there has not been an i'll
crease in the cost of wood pulp at the
mill to paper makers, but l am pre-
pared to show that whatever increase
there has been in the price OF pulp
wood at the mills has been the result
of artificiality, which / am prepared
to demonstrate to this committee by
reason of the requirement of large
holdings for the conservation of future
supply. Instead of cutting from these
lands which they have bought with
almost recklesness, they have gone in
to the market and artitcially marked
up the prices on themselves. The men
are simply drunk with the speculation
and expect to show that they have
been INVESTING in Canada from $1,000
900 to $4000,0OG in the requirement Of
timberlands apparently upon the idea
of q speculation in timber instead of
applying their money to the extension
of the manufacture Of paper in the
United States to meet the demand.
Instead of doing that for which they
borrowed money in 1908, they appear
to have been pouring into Canada to
buy timber lands and control all the
lumber companies there to the dis
advantage of American newspapers or
rather to the disadvantage Of the labor
which they ought to employ
DO YOU think it would be proper for
this committee in the case Of the In
ternational Paper Co., to endeavor t.
overrule the company's decision as to
purchases it should make of timber
lands?" asked Chairman Mann.
mot at ALL" replied Mr. Norris.
This information is not submitted to
YOU with that end in view. but in
order that you shall understand that
the moneys accumulated by this COM
panty. SltIitI ny DOIIoWlHR OF DN MANU-
facture are being poured into Canada
for the requirement of properties and
the development of tracts there while
the company is permitting and par
ticipating in the creation of q paper
famine here. They are under obliga-
ton the American people and to Con-
gress which gave them the benefit OF
the protective tariff and they are at
least under obligation to see that the
American consumer is not put in a po-
Sition where he is unable to acquire
that which Congress has undertaken
to protect. 1t, at least, is in your
province to inquire whether these peo-
pie are indulging in a gigantic specu-
lation in wood lands and making the
prices of the material UP on these and
imposing the burden on the consumers
who have no interest and should not
be saddled with the penalties Of any
such speculation.
II do not question the honesty or
the good intention Of the gentlemen
who have pursued this policy. simply
say that when it is done without re-
gard to the interests of the American
consumer it puts the paper companies
in a position where they must explain
to Congress to justify themselves If
they want further protection in tariff
duty
Mr.. Norris produced figures to show
that American paper companies own
or control 1894 square miles of forest
land in the province of Quebec Cana
da.
The committee adjourned until 10
o'clock tomorrow.
Continued on Page Twelve.)