Timber Trade of Chinese Empire. 659 



nearly altogether the Douglas Fir — or "Oregon pine" as it is 

 generally called in China. The Oregon pine shipped to China 

 has been called "China quality," and includes much that is not 

 merchantable at home and is sold very cheaply in the principal 

 ports of China, at present (1909) selling for from $16 to $18.50 

 gold per thousand board feet on board ship at the principal ports 

 of China for large square logs. This price, however, is largely due 

 to the financial depression which has existed for the past two 

 years, forcing the Pacific coast lumbermen to sell almost regard- 

 less of price, and as the stufif included much of poor quality which 

 was encumbering the yards they were still further pleased to dis- 

 pose of it. This price then is a rather temporary one, and it is 

 said that within three months the price would advance $1.00 gold 

 per thousand board feet. Looking forward for about five years 

 — when the Panama Canal will be opened — it can be safely pre- 

 dicted that the much higher-priced markets of eastern United 

 States, eastern South America, and even Europe, which will then 

 be thrown open to the Pacific Coast timber, will cause a very rapid 

 rise in the price of Oregon pine. 



So with an increase in price, and considering the fact that 

 Oregon pine rots rather badly in China south of the Yangtse 

 basin, it will probably be less used after five years than it has 

 been in past. One reason that Oregon pine has been sold even in 

 North China in competition with the much cheaper Japanese 

 woods is because of the long lengths and large sizes of that wood 

 which can be supplied, as there is considerable demand all over for 

 large timbers and the Japanese and local woods can be supplied 

 only in short lengths and rather small sizes. 



The second great source of imported woods is Japan. The im- 

 portation of Japanese woods has been increasing. Japanese wood 

 — mainly oak, chestnut, ash, etc. — is used more largely than any 

 others for railroad ties, and the Japanese pines and cedars are 

 entering largely into building purposes. 



The present price (1909) on board ship at Shanghai for the 

 various kinds of Japanese woods is about as follows : 



Pine, $11.00 gold per thousand board feet. 



Oak, 15.00 gold per thousand board feet. 



Sen, 12.50 gold per thousand board feet. 



Tamo, 12.00 gold per thousand board feet. 



Katsura, i4-50 gold per thousand board feet. 



