The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-02-21
Truth In One Respect Resembles Stiff Rubber Band Whe
be given an opportunity to do bust
ness in this country.
Grain and Flour


Grain and Flour
II is proposed to allow Canadian
wheat and other grain free entry into
this country. This will be Of special
benefit to Vermont, whose production
of wheat is next to the lowest among
American states but whose -four and
milling interests are large. In 1909
Vermont produced but $4,000 worth
of wheat, while as long ago as 1904
her flour and grist mill products were
valued at over $S,200,000. Free raw
material for this industry should
prove most acceptable to Vermont
1t is not to be anticipated that the
free entry OF Canadian wheat will
lower the price of that article in the
United States Immediately, since, that
price is fixed by the worlds markets
so long as we produce a surplus. Our
production Is increasing less rapidly
than our consumption, however, and
the assimilation of the Canadian sup
ply with our own will obviate the Gre
alton of an artificially protected high
price level In the United States at the
time when importation shall become
necessary. In the meantime mutual
free exchange of grains between this
country and Canada will prove of
great convenience to both parties.
AT present wheat is dutiable by
the United States at 25c per bushel
oats at 15c per bushel barley at soc
per .bushel and rye at 10c per bushel.
Canada now taxes wheat lie per
bushel, oats 10c per bushel, barley
loo per bushel, and rye 1Oc per bush
ell.
A mutual rate of SOC per barrel on
wheat flour is established by the re-
ciprocity agreement Although the
United States makes a greater reduc-
ton than Canada 1t is believed that
the American mills have superior IA.
cilities sufficient, when Joined to the
proposed benefit Of free raw material
to easily meet any competitor likely
to arise from Canadian millers. In
this connection it may be stated that
our present duty of 10 per cent on
slaves will be removed by the agree
ment, together with the duty of 20
per cent on stave bolts. This will aid
all manufacturers who utilize barrels
In marketing their products.
Lumber and Wood Products
1t is proposed to admit into the
United States free of duty all lum-
Der not further manufactured than
sawed, which class of lumber is at
present taxed S1.25 per NJ feet On
planned or finished lumber the rates
will be considerably reduced.
The valueof these tariff modifica-
tons to the American consumer is
evident The production of lumber
in the United States which had re-
NAMED nearly stationary for several
years prior to 1908 decreased in the
latter year to an amount less than
the production in 1900. The timber
resources of our northern and central
states have been exhausted or great
ly depleted; and since 1907 our ex-
ports OF lumber have fallen off in
spite OF the rapid exploitation of our
southern and far western supplies.
The average price of lumber per NJ
feet rose from $ll.0S in 1899 to Sl5.37
in 1908. Meanwhile the demand for
lumber has Of course very greatly In.
creased. Even under the protection
at present in effect the United States
imported over $4,000 900 worth of
boards, deals and planks from Can.
ada during our fiscal year ended June
80, 1910. N0
On shingles the United States has
consented to return to the Dingley
tariff rate of 3Oc per thousand. aban.
doning the Payne tariff rate of soc
per thousand. Even under this lat.
ter rate we were forced to import 81,
10000 worth of shingles from Can.
ada during the year indicated above.
The United States duty on laths
viii be reduced from zoe 10 Toe per
1000 pieces. In the year ended June
30, 1910, this country imported laths
from the Dominion to a value OF 81.
$4,000 y"
BY the terms of the agreement the
United States will admit without din.
ty railroad ties, paving posts, and
telegraph poles, etc, when imported
from Canada. These articles are AT
present dutiable at 10 per cent and
large quantities are being imported
even under this rate.