Government, and about two-thirds to Polish and Russian nobles, and that almost the whole of said supply conies off Russian territory, scarcely any off Prussian. There is scarcely any possibility of arriving at the cost of bringing it to market, the business being altogether in the hands of the Jews, who hitherto had an understanding with the proprietors that the serfs on the estates should be employed in making and bringing it forward, and, consequently, the exporters at these ports neither know or care about the cost of production, not being interested in the same. What effect the emancipation of the serfs will have on the trade remains yet to be developed. The great timber-producing districts are comprised within an area of about 27,000 English square miles — a great portion of which has been cut over and over again, besides, there is a population within this circuit of from 1,600,000 to 2,000,000, and it is considered one of the best agricultural provinces in the Russian empire. From these facts I infer that there is a limit to the timber even in this province. The standing timber is gradually becoming scarce and dear. The distance to haul is increasing, and it is thought that the emancipation of the serfs will have the effect of changing the nature of the trade altogether. In the first place, it is to be expected that much more of the land will be brought under cultivation, and, in the next, the men will not continue to work for the same small pittance they have hitherto been in the habit of receiving. In fact, they seem not to be inclined to work at all. In proof of this assertion I can state that large numbers of Germans, from the province of Pomerania, at the time I was there, were moving to Russia to supply the labour heretofore performed by that class. This change in the condition of the serfs must raise the price of labour, and a corresponding rise in the price of timber, or a diminution in the quantity, must necessarily be the result. Mr Hertsel further informed me that the country is now undergoing such changes that it is hard to say what ultimate effect such changes may produce. One thing, however, is certain, that, so far, the effect has been a large diminution in all the products of the country.'
Mr Quinn subsequently visited Mem el with every provision for obtaining information upon which reliance might be placed. The corroborative information which he there obtained amounts, he says in his report, to the following: —
' Memel is supplied with lumber from Russia and Poland by the river Nieme, The lumber has such a long distance to be driven that it only reaches the market in September and October, which market is at a place called Russ, about 30 English miles from Memel, situate on the bay which lies between that city and Konigsberg. At Russ the wood is purchased by Mernel merchants, and brought down at their risk and expense in large rafts of 1500 to 2000 pieces of square and round timber. When the timber arrives at Memel it is assorted according to quality and the views of the owners. There is a government system of classification, but it is riot compulsory. The different kinds of timber brought to this place are: —
Fir Redwood, square.,,,, round.
,, White wood, round.
Oak, square.
Wainscot Logs.
Staves.
' And in about the following quantities: —
Square Redwood, 12 to 18 inches square,
20 to 60 feet long; very few pieces of the latter length or size; general average about 30 x 13, 150.000 to 200,000 pcs. an'ly.
Round do., 150,000
Whitewood, round, 20,000,,
Square Oak, 10,000
Wainscot Logs, 4,000
Staves, about 15,000 shocks of 60 pcs. ea.
' The square redwood is classified as under: —
Crown Timber, value at that time, 70s. stg. per load.
Best Middling,,, „ 66s.,,
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
'The round wood, both red and white, is cut here by steam and wind-mills into 3 x 11, 3 x 9, 4 x 11, 4 x 9, 2J x 7, and boards 1 to 1J inches thick by 8 to 11 inches in breadth, and all generally of long lengths. They are classified as follows —
Redwood, Crown, was then worth £12 per St. Petersburg std.,, second quality,, 7
third Whitewood, Crown,
second quality, third
' The latter deals compete with our spruce in the English market; but according to my opinion they are not as good, or equal in any respect. I was told by the gentlemen in the trade that a few years ago this whitewood was attacked by an insect, which has almost killed every tree. I have seen a considerable quantity of this kind of lumber in the log, and found it all to be perforated to the heart by grab- worm.