Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-03-08
Open Letter on Lumber Situation

and REFUGE the life OF our mil TO
considerable extent. In other words,
by bringing this timber from Michigan
the life of our mill will be at least
ten years, which will probably be ex
tended to twenty or twenty five years
by additional timber purchases in
Michigan, while the small holdings in
Wisconsin will reduce the life of our
Ashland mill to probably five years
or less.
Another big point, however, is that
if the above mentioned laws are enact
ed it will not permit the Wisconsin
saw mills to compete against the mills
of Michigan, because the Michigan
mills bring their logs to their mills
on a lower freight rate, and besides
are operating under laws which make
the cost of production considerably
less than those of the mills in Wis
consin. [ believe the Wisconsin lum
bermen are willing to pay their fair
share of taxes, and can and will stand
the same amount of cost as our Mich
gan neighbors, but probably cannot
afford to move out of the state be
cause of their mill plant investment
There is one thing absolutely sure,
however, namely, that they will not
extend the life of the mills any longer
than just enough to cut what little
timber they can pick up in their own
state, and when this is done, they will
discontinue business. On the other
hand, if our laws will permit them to
continue, it will mean that they will
not only product what lumber they
find in Wisconsin, but continue to ex
tend operations by bringing in timber
from Michigan.
AS already stated this is not
threat to move our mills, as we could
not afford to move them, but it surely
will reduce the life of our plant to the
extent of at least one half or one quar-
ter of what it will be if we have a
fair show to compete against the Mich
igan mills.
You will remember that not so many
years ago Ashland and other cities had
a number Of sawmills which gave the
Wisconsin cities considerable business
but the mills gradually disappeared,
~ I, 1Jc,r i0I,
operating today are existing only be
cause they are assuming the burden
Of a heavy freight haul out of the
State of Michigan, which alone is
heavy enough, and now if additional
burdens should be added 10 VIII Islas y
serious inroads upon the saw1nill in
dustry of our State. 1t is a condition
which is alarming and requires the
careful consideration of the Legisla
ture.
| might add that in reference to the
hour day, that the overhead of the
sawmills is an important item, and if
we can produce only an hour run
against 10 hours of those of, our Mich
igan competitors, it will make our
production very costly. Further, if
most of the Wisconsin mills are out
of business it will simply mean that
the output will be reduced and the in
creased demands upon the remaining
mills will raise lumber prices, thus our
Michigan friends will get the benefits
without carrying any part of the extra
burden. The housing shortage is still
acute, and will be for some years,
therefore any legislation which in
creases the cost of building material
is hardship upon thousands of PEG
pie in our State who are much in need
Of better living quarters.
Assuring you of cur appreciation for
bringing the facts as outlined in this
letter to the attention of the Legisla
ture, we are
Yours very truly
JOHN SCHROEDER LUMBER co.