AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 9 



IMPORTS OF LUMBER. 



I have 110 1 been able to learn the amount of lumber imported, but 

 nearly all that conies is from the United States and Australia. In con- 

 nection herewith I attach a clipping from the Cape Times of the 8th 

 instant : 



Those who are interested in the promotion of the Colonial timber trade will be 

 somewhat alarmed to hear of the arrival from Australia of a cargo of timber, much 

 of it consisting of wagon wood and other forms of manufactured timber which can be 

 produced in the Colony. The cargo was brought by the ship Esempio, which arrived 

 here from Hamelin on Tuesday, and consisted of 1,638 pieces of timber, 5 bundles of 

 pickets, 2 bundles of laths, 2 bundles of shingles, 1 bundle of spokes, and 16 bundles 

 of felloes, for this port, and 3,612 pieces of timber for Port Elizabeth. 



DUTY AND PRICES. 



The import duty is 4 cents per cubic foot. 

 The prices of lumber are as follows : 



Yellow-wood planks (native) per cnbe.. $0.60 



Stinkwood planks (native) do .84 



Walnut, 1^-inch board per M.. 126.00 



Ash, 1-inch board do 61.00 



Poplar, plain, 1-inch board do 40. 00 



figured, 1-inch board do 80.00 



CLIMATE. 



The climate of this district is hot and dry during November, Decem- 

 ber, January, and February 5 occasional rains in March ; a good deal 

 of rain in April, May, June, and July, while August, September, and 

 October (spring months), are delightful in every way. No snow or frost 

 ever comes, and flowers are in bloom all through the year. The northern 

 part of the district (in the South African Republic and Orange Free 

 State) enjoys a little cooler weather during the winter months, but is 

 flooded with water at this season. 



GENERAL BUILDING. 



There is a good deal of general building all through the district, 

 and some railroad building west from Beira to Salisbury, though the 

 number of miles to be finished this year is only 45. I know of no ship- 

 building. 



EXTENSION OF LUMBER TRADE. 



Considerable wood has lately been ordered from the Puget Sound 

 district for use at Kimberly and other inland points. The removal of 

 our tariif on wool, which is largely produced here, will doubtless stim- 

 ulate this section to purchase American products in return, and Amer- 

 ican interests in mining and trade generally are already large in this 

 locality. 



