The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-01-07
AS Representative Men View Past and Future Business

lines, whether interstate or interna-
tional.
I'm British Columbia, to the same
extent as in the Northwestern States,
the prosperity and development Of the
community awaits upon the return Of
which will allow Of the
profitable operation of timber indus
tries.
1.-THE present situation is due chief
ly to ignorance Of the true value Of
the industry to the community, ig-
norance of the disabilities under
which lumber manufacturers operate,
together perhaps with some failure
on the part of lumbermen to meet
competition in improvement of manu-
featuring and selling methods. II out
of this lean year there develop the
remedies which an analysis of the sit
uation must suggest both TO the pub
lie and the lumbermen, ever this
year will earn a place amongst the
most profitable.
"The paramount position of the for
est industries here in the Northwest
cannot be stated too often nor in too
striking terms. In our commercial
fabric 1t Is the warp around which
other industries are woven. The pro-
duction of lumber Is the pioneer oc-
cupation which opens up the new dis
t%ricts, brings employment, transport
tation, clears the land, furnishes mar
kets for the settler and brings into
the country the wealth upon which
other industries are supported.
Industry Ranks High.
Measured in terms of annual pro-
duction OF wealth the lumber indus
try both in British Columbia and in
the Northwestern States ranks high
above its nearest competitors-agri-
culture, mining and fisheries. In
British Columbia of every dollar in
the pocket of the wage Garner, mer-
chant or financier, 33 cents is from
the forest. In Washington, Oregon
and Idaho the lumbermen are still
more productivity per cent OF the
public wealth Of Washington, as per
cent of the public wealth OF Oregon
and 81 per cent of the public wealth
Of Idaho is derived directly from the
logging camps, sawmills and other
forest occupations.
I'VE in the Pacific Northwest pride
ourselves Justly on the beauty and
size Of our cities, upon our growth In
population, upon the magnitude and
stability Of our financial institutions,
factories and supply houses and upon
Il transportation facilities. These
institutions are the conspicuous Or
gans of our commercial body. The
lumber industry is the heart of that
organization, constantly p p | n &
through 1t the nourishing financial
blood without which it could never
have grown, and without which 1t
could not maintain even its present
size.
Lumbcrman's Wealth Travels.
1T is unnecessary to state here that
the wealth brought into the country
by the lumber industry does not re-
main in the hands Of the lumber
man. The lumberman's dollar Is one
of the worlds best travellers; Of every
dollar, 40 cents goes to transporta-
ton companies, 35 cents to labor d.
rectly employed in the industry, Is
cents to merchants for equipment and
supplies, 10 cents for interest on cap
ital invested. This analysis of the
lumbermen's dollar discloses the
source of u prosperity.
"The lumberman Of this forest re-
gion may pay directly each year to
. transportation companies $S0,000t
900, to wage earners $70,0O0,0 900, ia
. merchants $30,000,000 and for the
use of borrowed working capital $780,.
|, 100000. This money is later circu'
lated into every portion Of the com.
, munity and forms an important fac.
tor in the livelihood of those few PEG.
, pie who do not come into direct con.
!, tact with the lumber industry.
Importance to States.
: ~ have outlined the importance o.
: the lumber industry at some length
for a definite reason. You will hav.
: noticed that in the distribution Q,
I the wealth produced by this industry
: which | gave a moment ago, there wal
no sum assigned to the lumbermer
for profits. This is true at the pres
ent time. There are losses but NJ
, profits. 1t is a point to be kept IL
: mind when discussing this great in
: dustry. 1t is an industry which Il
=, of far greater Importance to wag'
: ~earners, merchants, communities
s counties and states or provinces, thai
: 1t is to the few men who happen t