Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-07-10
SHOWS OUR VASTNESS
RESOURCES OF NORTHWEST
BEYOND COMPREHENSION.
Commercial Club Urged to Ask Sec
retary Redfeld to Name Suitable
Man for the Department.

touched. it must have more commerce
ial representation at Washington, ac-
cording to H. B. Miller, director Of the
school of commerce of the University
of Oregon. who has transmitted to
commercial clubs report on the great
industries of the northwest. Mr.. Mil
ler declares a man from the north
west should be numbered among the
commercial attaches authorized by re-
cent act of congress. He urges that
Secretary Redfeld be given a full
sense of the needs of this section by
the Oregon senators and be induced
to appoint man familiar with the
problems and resources of this region.
The report follows:
We have in the three North Pacific
states about 1,OO0,000IDOO,O0O feep,
board measure, of standing timber.
California has about 300,000,0OO,OO
feet. Competitive with this in the ex-
port trade of the Pacific is British
Columbia, with about 33O,OOO,O0O,000
feet.
Whereas the cut of the Pacific state
is now about S,OO0,000,00O feet year,
only limited portion of which goes
into the export trade, we OF this region
could cut 4,OOO,OO0,000 to 5,OOO,O O,OOO,-
900 feet more year for the general
outside trade. Oregon alone could in
crease her cut by 2,0O0,OOO,OOO feet.
The national forests of the Pacific
northwest, owned by the federal gov
ernment, have stand Of 263,790,63l,-
900 feet of timber, of which Oregon
has 119,910,531, 900. IF valuation OF
but 81 thousand is given the total,
the federal property in our forests ag-
gregates $263,790,631. The value OF
this stumpage will go higher as soon
as a strong market for northwestern
wood is created, and $3.50 thousand,
or an aggregate for the northwest of
$65O,OO0,0O0, is regarded fair posi-
bility of the future for the govern
ment' s local forest asset. By helping
create a lumber market abroad, the
federal government will expedite this
realization.
The northwestern lumber market is
today depressed. Tariff reductions
and eliminations, and assessing a toll
on lumber ships from this coast to
pass through Panama canal, will make
for further injury to the business, un-
less extraordinary aids are given to
create a market. Not only is the
northwest affected by this state of af
fairs, but the entire nation, as pros
perity here in lumber manufacture
means general benefit to the country.
Fruits.
Already the fruit industry of the
northwest has Overtaken markets. The
real, fundamental needs confronting
the industry here today are cheap
transportation and broader, more sta
BILE markets. This year the apple crop
will run in Oregon, Idaho and Wash
ington from $1,000 to 10000 carloads,
and by 1920, if the industry is proper
ly protected the yield should aggre-
gate from $4,000 to 10000 carloads.
The berry and general fruit by-pro-
duets yield is growing much faster
than the market. There is practically
no limit to these productions, if mar
ket may be found. All the fruit in
terests are most keen in the demand
for market helps, and it is but fair
for the federal government to do
something in helping to devise ways
and means to solve the problem.
Wheat and Flour.
The Pacific northwest, now exports
in the form of wheat and flour, about |
40,0O0,0O0 bushels of wheat. With the
rapid strides being made in Idaho and
western Montana, and the enormous
possibilities of cereal productions in
eastern Oregon, it is clear that the ex-
ports in this line should increase.
While the present exports of flour run
about 100000 barrels a year, they
may be made much greater, and it is
to find market for this -four that |
the local cereal trade asks the federal |
government S cooperation.
Livestock, Dairy Products.
While this year the purchases of
livestock at the main center of Port
land aggregated only about $17,000,-
900, it is conceded that the northwest |
may easily maintain a livestock indus
try that will offer annually meat pro-
duets worth $75.00O,0OO. The outside
market for these products will be the
main element helping to build up the
industry to the figure named The
northwest is peculiarly interested in
having foreign work done that will |
pave the way for such a trade.
Idle Lands.
In the northwest, particularly, and |
with almost equal force, all over the
Pacific coast. there are millions of |
acres of tillable land in idleness. 1t |
Is the supreme aspiration of all these
Pacific communities to get these lands
properly settled and developed. While |
this work is not directly commercial. |
it is of the most intimate relationship.
All studies in how thrifty, competent |
people may be attracted here, and all |
plans that may acquaint the world .
with the opportunities found here. will |
prove of the most far-reaehing ulti-
mate commercial importance to the