Imports and exports, Washington customs district, fir, spruce, cedar, and hemlock

Department of Commerce; Commerce and Navigation of the United States statistics not available for Washington Customs District.

* Figures are totals for the United States; over 90 per cent of the imports and 75 per cent of the exports of logs move through this customs district.

Comparing the year 1927 with the year 1922 it is found that the imports increased during this period approximately 63 per cent while the exports increased 303 per cent. Considering the 3-year periods 1922, 1924, and 1925, 1927 and comparing the ratio of increase of the latter over the former it is noted that imports increased less than 10 per cent while exports increased over 206 per cent.

It is evident from these figures that if the exports of logs continue to increase in the same ratio as during the period from 1922–1927 Washington forests will be depleated and Washington mills will be forced to depend to an increasing extent on imports. It is inconceivable that we should continue to ship out of this country great quantities of an essential and limited raw material and discourage the partial replenishment of it by placing a duty on the imports of the same commodity. For this reason, if for no other, paragraph 401 should be repealed. Conclusion. We respectfully submit:

1. Paragraph 401 has failed of its objective as a retaliatory measure, and by limiting their raw material supplies particularly high-grade fir and cedar logs, constitutes a penalty against American lumber manufacturers on Puget Sound who must purchase their logs in the open market.

2. The importations of Canadian logs into Puget Sound are too small to have any appreciable effect on the log market of that region; on the contrary, in many instances British Columbia logs are of high-grade which fill special requirements of sash and door, veneer and cedar siding plants. Such logs in some instances actually bring higher prices than logs produced on Puget Sound. 3. A thorough investigation conducted by the United States Tariff Commission shows conclusively that actual production costs of Canadian logs, including towing charges to the principal competing market, Bellingham, Wash., exceed those for Washington and Oregon by $1.48 per thousand feet.

4. At least two-thirds of the logs imported from British Columbia into the Puget Sound market are from logging operations owned and operated by Americans. The duties on logs therefore is a direct penalty against American interests. 5. An abundant supply of high-grade cedar and fir logs is essential to the development and continued prosperity of the lumber and wood using industries of Puget Sound; duties on such material places a serious handicap on these industries in competing in world markets.

6. Exports of logs from Washington and Oregon have increased tremendously in the past 10 years; imports have remained fairly stable. It is inconceivable that we should continue to ship out of this country large quantities of a limited raw material and discourage partial replenishment by placing a duty on imports. Such policy is fundamentally opposed to the most elementary principles of forest conservation.

34120-29-VOL 4, SCHED 4- -2

EXHIBIT B

Summary of log scales of cedar booms sold by the Capilano Lumber Co., Vancouver, British Columbia, to Whatcom Falls Mill Co., Bellingham, William Hulbert Mill Co., Seattle; Cedar Lumber Manufacturing Co., Seattle

Summary of log scales of cedar booms sold by the Capilano Lumber Co., Vancouver, British Columbia, to Whatcom Falls Mill Co., Bellingham; William. Hulbert Mill Co., Seattle; Cedar Lumber Manufacturing Co., Seattle-Continued

EXHIBIT C

PUGET SOUND LOG SCALING AND GRADING BUREAU, SEATTLE

(Report of A. L. Bryant, supervisor of scalers)

This is the most important bureau on the sound. They have their head office in Seattle, but they also have branch offices in different sections of northern Washington.

The following is the result of my checking in this district: