Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-12
Letters From the People
Continued from Page Four)


the lumber rate means that no lumber
for shipment can be manufactured in
Adams county! 1t means that the mills
now operating in the county and which
are cutting close to a hundred million
feet of lumber annually must close
down It means that the trust viii
have no competition in its bidding for
government state or private timber on
the stump in that district.
Have we not already done about
enough for the big fellow In the lumber
game? When the forest reserves were
created the government automatically
guaranteed the value of the 'gobble
led timber wealth of Idaho. The year
the Weiser national forest was created,
previous to its withdrawal, rough lum-
Der was selling in the town Of Council
for 81 per thousand feet. Within 80
days AFTER the creation of the re-
serve the price was SIC per thousand
feetI
I submit, in all candor, that an adj
vance of 50 a thousand in a time so
brief is, well-going some!
The timber of Adams county Is a tax
able asset of the county.
The denuded hills viii be practically
worthless as a tax revenue producer,
and yet, Adams county is anxious that
her magnificent timber resources be de-
veloped-but not by the absent meth
cd treatment" ! am sure the people of
Adams county are very much in favor
of the establishment of finishing mills
and the consequent distribution within
the district of at least a reasonable part
of the manufacturing outlay rather
than of mere shifting logging camps
when the timber of that county is Ia
ken from her hills.
However, If a log rate such as de-
sired Is made effective would the price
of lumber to the consumer be reduced?
If SO, even then, Adams county might
be willing to surrender her vast timber
wealth without even the paltry COM
pensation of manufacturing expenses
being distributed within the county, for
be it known that there Is a mighty de-
cent and white bunch of people living
in that rich little county,
But who will guarantee that such a
rate will have such an effect?
And is Idaho lumber now, at present
lumber rates being Disseminated
against in favor of oregon lumber?
The rate on lumber from New Mea-
dows to Boise is practically the same
as from Baker City to Boise.
have just called up the Boise Lum-
Der company and secured quotations on
rough lumber. l am informed that Ida
no rough lumber is offered by that
company at about SIS per thousand
depending somewhat on whether it is
dimension stuff or 12-inch, or flat
boards. Oregon lumber (rough-same
grade) is quoted at about $40 per thou
sand, subject to same conditions as to
flat or dimension. In response to the
query, why the difference" the an
swer was, THE difference is the added
freight rate on the Oregon lumber over
the Idaho lumber"
Question: If Oregon lumber sells in
Boise for 50 per thousand more than
Idaho lumber because it costs that
much more freight to get it here,
wherein is the Idaho lumber discrimi-
mated against?
lack lot of being a pet" of the
Pin railroads. the management of
that road will no doubt cheerfully tes-
! tify, owing to various political and 9TH
err reasons, but I do believe most sin
cerely in a square deal" and l don't
think the Pin road or Adams county is
either one getting it in this '1og rate"
matter, and the small manufacturer is
in the same fix.
Instead of being compelled to serve
the lumber trust on the trusts own
terms the Pacific & Idaho Northern
ought to be prosecuted If it does do so.
| What we want is a rate on lumber, If
anything, and not a rate on logs
EARL WAYLAND BOWMAN.
Boise, Idaho, July 10, 1914.