Hardwood Tariff Affects California

The tarifr on hardwood lumber is of decided interest to the hardwood dealers of California at the present time'

The present tarifi on important hard.wood. cabinet woods ia LO/o, foreign valuation.

As the bill stands in the American Congress today, the tarifr calls for lSVo AMERICAN valuation.

It looks as though the 15/o is certain. The only pointand by far the most important one-at issue today, is that of the American valuation.

If they impose a L\/o American valuation tarifr, Jap Oak, now used in great quantities on the Paciffc Coast, will receive a desperate blow. In the opinion of many of the hardwood men on the Coast, such a tariff would effectually cut ofr the shipment of Jap Oak to California, as it would not be able to compete with the American oak, delivered here.

There is a big fight in Congress on the question of where the valuation is to be fixed. An increase ot 75/o valuation, fixed. on the price at point of production, would not seriously hamper the entry of Jap oak. But the American valuation puts the tarift on the delivered price over here, thus making the tarifr cover delivery and. handling charges as well as production price.

A tremendous quantity of Jap oak is being used in CaIifornia and all along the Pacific Coast for manufacturing purposes, and for flooring and trim. It is inr,ported in all thicknesses. It is somewhat softer than American oak, and possesses less tensile strength, and is therefore less used than American oak for wagon making, but for furniture, trim, and flooring, it is in great demand.

Jap oak today sells in California for about the same price as American oak. Strange as it may seem, the water freight from Japan to California is about $15 a thousand feet. Compare this with the thirty-odd dollars per thousand feet rail freight that American oak pays to reach the California coast.

American oak manufacturers have been working hard for the establishment of the American valuation plan, since they realize that it would give them a big advantage over this very strong competitor.

Another Jap wood that would be badly hurt by the ad. vanced tariff American valuation plan would be Jap birch, which is one of the most beautiful of all cabinet woods.

Hawaiian Koa, and Philippine mahogany are othbr wood.s largely used in California that come in by water from across the Pacific.

The only limitation on t{re lumber merchant ir tfie limit h" p..t" on himself.