Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-17
Proes rhat comb;n. Ex;sts vii, Me,li.
~ Middle West and Have Influence
on ssnaks vets-Rspert's Publication
Timed 90 40 10 Be Most effective
Biggest Investigation Ever Made.
Especial Correspondence

of corporations, just at the time Wnen
It would do the most good in connec-
Aion with the Canadian reciprocity
pact's consideration in the houses Of
congress.
For more than four years the bureau
has been at work on the investigation
OF the timber and lumber situation. A
month ago there was no suspicion that
the report would be put out until after
the close OF the present session OF con-
gross. But the eN8encies Of the reel.
procity situation made 1t desirable that
the startling facts about centralized
control Of the timber supply be given
to the public just as soon as possible.
The feciproc1ty agreement, providing
more liberal terms Tor admtttance OF
Canadian lumber, Is certain to be
strengthened in public opinion by the
konwledge that something very much
like q timber trust has been found In
the United States. Wherefore. the
timber Investigations results were
handed out to the country at the par
tlcular juncture when they would be
calculated to strengthen demand for
opening the door to Canadian forest
products.
More Than ceineidsnes.
From congressional authorities which
are in close touch with the administra-
ton. It is learned that there was more
than coincidence In getting out the tim
her report in this crisis. In fact, It was
blamed carefully and Executed hastily
but most effectively.
From the moment when somebody
conceived that the timber-trust report
would strengthen the reciprocity move
ment in states where there Is most OPP
position, anaevelous activity was dis
olayed by the experts who have been
working calmly on that report for years.
Social engaGe1nents were abandoned,
Sunday was forgotten. and everybody
associated himself with the midnight
oil in Q fashion which violated all time
limits and union regulations. The hurry
orders were peremptory. and the COM
rliance wa. highly gratifying to folks
in authority:
The result was that at almost the
same hour when the house Of represen-
tatiyes was voting on the reciprocity
Arrangement, the summary OF the TIM
her report was given out for publica-
zion. It was not issued in time to
have erect on the house; but 1t was
NOT needed by the house. The place
where It Is expected to have telling
effect is the senate.
West and Lumber.
,Mid.western states, where opposi-
zion to reciprocity has been most Sc
-ious because OF the feeling that the
sarnner IA being compelled to pay the
entire price, are especially concerned
about lumber. The weakest thing
about the Payne-Aldrich tariff act, IN
the opinion Of those communities, was
the failure to provide for tree lufn-
Der. Promise free lumber to the upper
Mississippi valley, and you can al
most induce it to surrender Its hope
Of salvation.
Mr. Taft came across with his lum-
Der trust report Just In time to molli-
~ the middle west, and II the re-
port doesn't have the desired effect.
II will not be for want OF good man
axement in timing the report. or effec-
tive methods of getting publicity for
it.
Incidentally, the report represents the
biggest and most difficult investiga-
ton the bureau of corporations ever
made. A census Of timber was made
in over 800 counties. Over so per cent
Of the timber area was covered In de-
tail. Maps and plats have been made
OF hundreds of townships; enough OF
them to fill q good-sized room. show
in9 Just who owns the timber.
Timber Trust Shown.
For many years the idea Of lumber
trust has been deep-seated: informa-
ton has been extremely vague. The
striking thing about the report Is that
II indicates, not 50 much a control Of
lumber. as Of timber. The report on
lumber will come along later. and Is
expected to show the condition logic
aiiy TO be inferred from the rapid CEN
tralixation of timber control: namely.
1 close community Of interest among
the lumber manufacturers and deal
e1s.
II there Is no lumber trust, there IS
at least power, in the hands Of q linn
TIED number Of people. to make one at
any time. Forty years ago three
fourths Of the timber now standing
was publicly owned. Now four fifths
10 privately owned, and the private
ownership IL fast getting consolidated.
Railroad and other land grants. and
salo Of immensely valuable timber
lands at ridiculously low prices, have
been responsible for the governments
loss OF its forests. The annual growth
or timber Is only about one-ttird the
annual consumption, and consumption
- Increasing fast