Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-05-30
Tnr LUMBER BUSINESS.

|
to keep down the price of lumber this spring,
and we promised at the time to investigate
the matter, determined, if any Clearfieid men
were engaged in it, to expose them, that their
friends and neighbors might visit upon them
the penalty of so gross an outrage. We have
accordingly taken pains TO discover what
grounds existed for the report, and have come
to the conclusion that there was no foundation
| for it whatever.
Some months prior to the freShet. 1t began
to be rumored that an attempt would be made
to put down the price of lumber, and the rea-
son given was that some of our dealers at
home were doing nothing,-that in the fore
part of the winter they were very uneasy, but
that subsequently they seemed to have come
to an agreement, and were perfectly disinter-
ested. 1t is true, that men were uneasy
until they went to the East and discovered that
they could not make contract for single
foot of timber, except to be delivered at the
market prices-that eastern dealers were sup
piled, and had not yet worked up their last
years stock and that the general depression
in all kinds of business would necessarily re-
strict the demand for lumber. With this in
formation they returned home, determined 10
do as little in the business as possible, and
warned our people of the very result that has
taken place. Because their experience in the
business enabled them to come to correct
conclusion, and keep their fingers out Of the
fire, they are now charged with a s'conspira-
cy, - bv those who would not heed their warn
ings.
With their heads full of these rumors, and
prepared to believe any report of similar
character, and to construe any circumstance
into its corroboration, our people went down
the river. On their arrival at the island they
found no buyers, and, overlooking the true
reasons why Eastern men were not there, they
Immediately raised the old cry of s'conspira-
cy % Here too, circumstance occurred,
that, by little twisting, was easily distorted
into confirmation of their suspicious. One
| of our townsmen sold raft for six cents, AMI
! it was Immediately reported, that it was done
| to fix the market price, and that he was sFto
have contingent interest in the profits when
the timber should be again sold in New York. -
| We have taken some trouble to learn the truth
| of this circumstance, and we are convinced
that if the owners OF that raft had kept it one
day longer, they could not have got five cents
| for it, and had they taken it to Marietta, they
would have been compelled to sell it for less.
| The man who made the raft, and who was in
partnership with the one that sold, was per-
! fectly satisfied with the price, and felt conf
dent that they could not have made any more
out of it. Yet this is one of the strongest
A.
| of conspiracy" !"
At Marietta the same charge was re-cchoed
along the beach, and because of it, number
of men were induced to hold on to their tim
Der when they could have sold ii for ten cents,
until they were compelled to sell it for five
and six. Any man who could walk mp the
bank of the river at Marietta and behold the
immense quantity of timber lying there at the
mercy of the wind and waves, and suppose 70,
a moment, the market could be controlled by
few individuals. would be worse than fool
There was string of RATS extending half wa!
across the river, four miles lOng, in addition
to all the lumber at Middetown, Columbia
and other points. How we may well ask
could any clique Of spectators control tn
!
the mercy of the elements Is it not too ab
surd to think Off
The true reason why timber brought 10y
price, was because the supply was greater tha
the demand. This must be apparent from tn
fact that there were about eight kundred NOR
RATS PASSED Karthaus Bridge this spring, tha
there were last. When we add to this the r
creased quantity on the Sinnamahoning, Pin
Creek, Kettle Creek, and the North Branch
: we may very easily understand the cause {
the low prices. But you say, boards and shiI
, giles brought good price, then why not tin
bcr7 Because, in addition to the fact that tn
quantity of timber was greater than board
/, and shingles, it must always be at the merc
Of the waters, and owners are compelled
: sell, rather than eat it up in expenses by sta,
to take care of it. Boards and Shingles, on tt
: other Land, can be landed ct any point, and
: distributed throughout the entire country
means of canals and railroads. This Of itse
would be sufficient to account for the ditfe
ence in price. But the purposes for whic
!. the largest portion Of timber is generally uss
;, are very different from the mere manufactu
). of boards and shingles. How may rairos
:. bridges, and similar improvements have be'
:. making during the past six months He
may vessels have been building? What d
mand has there been for tmber'
a The result of this springs low prices, s.
:. as il is, will in the end be productive of va
/; deal of benefit to our county. 1t will lea
our citizens that there is no branch of bu,
ness that cannot be overdone, and induce o
:. frrmers to pay more attention TO agricultur
"a IL will also satisfy those interloners from 4