New-York tribune., 1911-02-17
A RECIPROCITY FORECAST
A Housewife s View of It's Benefcent
Effect on Food Prices.


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Secretary Wilson's address 10 .no
National Grange given I'm the issue OF me
Tribune for February 10 Is the most i'iteii-
gent discussion of tho subject ] have yet
seen. There seems to be misapprehehsion
on the part Of the New York Grange tna'
the New York farmers Will suffer ana Oh
| the part OF others that lumber interests wiz
be injured by the admission OF pulp "oou.
| After two years residence in Canada
fail to see reason for the fears entertained
by these interests.
When the cost of living is greater IN
Canada than In American border Cities
how can reduction of tariff on, Canadlah
foodstuffs lower the cost Of these articies
here? The commission delegated by inc
Massachusetts Legislature to inquire INTO
the causes OF the nigh cost or Nvins foulo
| by comparing Windsor, ont, with Detrolt'
| Montreal with Boston, and st. John with
Bangor that the higher cost seemed 10
prevail in Canada. | found the price OF
staple articles OF the same grade In To-
ronto to be greater in 1909 than in SUD-
urb of Chicago, and in Montreal In 1910
more than i'm New York City. MIX IN
| "
cents in New York City.
The tendency of the reciprocity agree
ment would be 10 equalize the cost OF liy-
! ing during any given period and to stimu-
] late trade in both countries. Southern on
| tario one of the finest agricultural regions
in Canada because Of proximity Will send
TO New York undoubtedly surplus cream
and some excellent cheese, while quebec d
! relatively barren province, will import from
| New York large quantities or early Vese-
tables, fruit, poultry, beef and eggs. In
1910 the Montreal Board OF Trade an
nounced that several million dozens OF Rus
sian eggs had been brought I'm for local
! consumption. New York State had no eggs
at that time to spare. At present she mas
Throughout the mining and Western parts
| Of Canada there Is q constant demand Tor
canned vegetables, fruit and prepared ce-
reals The present Canadian duty on such
! products has led to the establishment OF
| branch factories on Canadian soil. Under
the proposed reduction Of duties the mari
time provinces will send In fish and pota-
| toes. but they will demand much fruit and
early vegetables in return.
| Az 70 the lumber bugbear, the building
trades in Canada find their national supply
inadequate 10 their needs. The Mlchisan
lumber interests long ago dsnuded North
ern Ontario of her best timber. Birch Is
! about the only hardwood in Canada suit
| able for interior finishing. As a result, Ca
madam builders either Use inferior woods
ar nav a high duty on imported lumber.
The timber which Canada has in plenty Is
best|suited for pulp wood. We need WOOD
pulp: Canada needs ash and oak; We viii
render beef and beg for lamb; barter eggs
! and poultry for cheese; consume more nsn'
Willie selling more oranges aud grapefruit
| exchange corn for the special winter wheat
/ which we now Get from Russia; extend the
sale OF agricultural implements, COAL
canned foods and manufactured products
! such as aluminium ware. In fact Nature
herself seems to have arranged that these
| two countries should lean upon each other.
Economic union will follow the social
union which is long on It's way already
| Political union is out of the question. Even
| Goodwin Smith abandoned that idea before
ne died. but he still urged the Anglo-SaXon
alliance. This reciprocity measure Is a
great step toward Anglo-SaXon solidarity
/ and the furtherance of international peace
| ...'.. AMELIA MACDONALD CUTLER
/ Delhi. " V. Feb 10. l9li.