The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-19
Every Other Industry Is Re
ported, However, in a
Elourishing Condition
MANY BLAME THE
TARIFF AS CAUSE
Claim the Tariff and the Panama
Canal Allow Lumber to Come
in From Western Canada
at Low Prices
BY HOLLAND

New York, April 1S-(Special Julius
Kruttschnitt, on his return from a BUSH
ness trip in the far west and southwest.
spoke briefly for publication of business
COZ ditions as he discovered them, and
on the whole. spoke with encouragement.
AS Mr. Kruttschnitt, both by reason of
his long experience in the management
of important Pacific railroad systems and
also by his scientific training. is well quail
flied to speak of economic phases, what
he has said upon his return to New York
from his frequent visits to that part of
the country through which his railroads
run has commanded attention
What Mr.. Kruttschnitt said of the PROM
Use of gradual but certain iinproy ement
of business supplemented and confirmed
what others have reported. both PERSONAL
ly and by letter. to friends in this city.
There was, however, one brief statement
which contained no encouragement Mr..
Kruttsehnitt spoke of the practical pa
ralysis of the lumber business He is COM
petent to speak of that since the trans
portation of lumber. especially in the
northwest and upon the Pacific coast, has
in the past furnished an important part
schnitt's explanation of the great de-
moralization of this business was based
exclusively upon general business depres-
sion. The falling off in building opera
tons throughout the country had greatly
decreased the demand for lumber. But it
lis said that If that is the only eXpana-
ton then the lumbermen may look for
ward with confidence TO the return OF
prosperity since building, and upon large
lines. is certain to follow revival of pros
perity.
Information was received in this city
last spring. however, intmating that other
causes than those due to business depres-
sion had seriously affected the lumber
industry This is an industry upon which
no small part of the prosperity of the
country depends. Upon it James ]. Hill
relied for profitable traffic for his rail-
way systems and if he lost part of that
traffic the loss was not due to business
depression.
ment at Washington in the administra-
tons of President Taft and Roosevelt
had occasion to look into the lumber in
dustry little over a year ago. Upon
his return to New York he reported that
he had discovered a desperate condition
in the lumber industry, especially in the
states of Washington and Oregon. At that
time there was no thought of war in 1Iu-
rope nor was there as serious depres-
sion in business as was felt in the early
sur mer of last year and throughout the
fall. The managers of the great lumber
Industries in that part of the country
traced the decentralization of their business
to the effect of the tariff, and also
to the successful competition which the
Canadian lumber interests would be able
to maintain by reason of the opening of
the Pa ma canal to navigation. Some of
the lumbermen compared their own situa-
ton with that which the sugar industry
of Louisiana was compelled to face by
reason of the sugar schedule in the new
tariff law.
The Canadian lumbermen. especially
those whose products could be at low cost
transported to Canadian ports, were re-
ported to be confident that by reason of
the change in our lumber tariff schedule
they would be able to ship lumber from
the Canadian Pacific coast by way of the
Panama canal and market it in the in
terror of the United States at a less cost
than the American lumber men could sell
liS, products there.
OF course, the outbreak of the Euro