Periodical Literature. 287 



crease in quantities and values of imports' has taken place, the 

 importation in quantity having trebled, in value quadrupled. 

 While as to values, wood importations as a whole have increased 

 170 per cent, that of workwood alone has increased 500 per 

 cent., lumber in particular 328 per cent, and woodenware 200 per 

 cent. While Germany in 1885 furnished 66 per cent, of the total 

 wood import (2.4 million dollars), in 191 1 it had dropped to 33 

 per cent. On the other hand, Austria rose from 8 per cent to 

 44 per cent, with $4,000,000. France's contribution rose from 

 $600,000 to $1,000,000. Scandinavia, Russia, and America, which 

 in 1885 were almost not at all represented, have risen to 1.4 mil- 

 lion dollars. Exports, while during this period falling in quantity 

 to one-half, in value remained about equal. 



Striking a balance, in production and consumption it is found 

 that the deficit which in 1885 was $200,000, in 191 1 had risen to 

 $8,200,000. 



The conclusion is reached that it would be undesirable to have 

 a tariflf for protective purposes, on fuel wood. If the tariff on 

 fuelwood were increased, prices would rise for the moment, but 

 would soon go back to their former level, as' the consumption 

 of wood w^uld decrease. As regards the deficit of 22,000,000 

 cubic feet of workwood (230 million feet B. M.), it is pointed 

 out that the attitude of the tariff should be to encourage the im- 

 portation of unmanufactured material, and discourage that of 

 lumber. The importation of raw material increased during the 

 26-year period by 500 per cent. Experience has shown that the 

 tariff for lumber should be at least 6 times that for round material, 

 the difference representing the loss in labor value. 



We may only add the conclusions, regarding the tariff question. 

 "Duties' on wood permit an equalization between domestic and 

 foreign production, which latter often works more cheaply, and 

 may be able to calculate with lower transportation costs, but the 

 net yield of the forest is not influenced to the extent, which it is 

 often assumed, by import duties, for wood prices depend on 

 other factors which exercise greater influence than tariffs. In- 

 deed, the increase in duties in the years 1885, 1898, and 1906, 

 did not have as a result a decrease of imports, but a very lively 

 market shortly before the new tariff came into action, then was 

 followed by a reduction in imports during the using up of the ac- 

 cumulated stores, and then the importation continued in the even 



