The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-07
Our Canadian Correspondence.

Our Canadian Correspondence.
QUEBEc, Dsc. 80, 1856
Commercial Nscs-Depsssed State Of the Timber
and Lumber 1rade-Hard Times in Quebec
Misny of,he Laboring Glasses, &c.
A lo,al paper, issued this morning, contains
Mesrrs. Forsyth, Bell q Co.'s Annual Prices Car
rent OF timber, deals, &C., together with consider
able amount Of other statistical information Of COM
merciA importance. hasten to lay 1t before your
readers in a condensed form. Tue past season has
been very unfavorsble to the numbering business,
owing to tho general commercial depression, aud
the present winter viii witness very slight opera
tions In the numbering districts. The fall in the
prices of timber have been Immense. White pine,
which twelve months since brought In the Liverpool
market 2s. IL. 3d. now sells with difficulty at Is.
I'd. Is. Sd. During the spring and Sumner, rates
were higher in this port, and those who sold early
made most excellent profits; but towards the close
Of the season, timber previously in great demand
could scarcely find purchasers at any price. Red
pine has fallen from ls. Sd. to 3D. Oak has also
deprecated in value. There La but little local
demand for the article for shipbuilding, and
the circular recommends great caution, and the
manufacture Of 0 better article than that of last
year. Elm has commanded most excellent prices
all the season-nearly double those obtained last
year. The manufacture OF Rosk alone ia recon-
mended, of at least forty feet average. Tamsrac
has been overdone. Never at any previous time
has so much been brought do vn. The usual stock
of this article wintering at Quebec has been under
600 feet; this year the stock amounts to about
million and half. Should ship building go on at
all byiskly-which however, IL not now expe ,tsd--
much Of this win be used up. The prices for tana-
rae have ranged, for square, from Is. to 7ad. and
for hatted from I'd. TO I'd. 6taves show about the
usual quantity in stock. The prices have averaged
for specification, merchausabe, from SlsO to $40;
for pipe assorted from 1928 to 800 and for W. O..
puncheon, mercnantable, from $50 to $50. or
pine deals the circular says" 0 wing TO local
causes, our supplies were late in getting to market,
and prices were much forced up by specu.a-
tive deal charters made Of American ships,
which had TO be loaded, ami which barred
the market; but we do not shink that for an other
season the price will be uuder our quotations" The
prices were for foated $50 for frsts two thirds for
seconds and US for thirds for bright, SEQ for rsss
twothirds for seconds aud $34 for thirds; a1d for
spruce, $50 for frsts $50 for seconds All $2s for
thirds.
The shipping interest is 10 most depressed state
There were cleared for YEA this year about As 900
tons Of ships, built during the Water aud this
spring. Some changed hands here ut $i4, ADD
others sold a. high a. 1914. Ltterly many OF saese
vessels have been sold a. low ~ $32. Toe keels OF
about twenty five ships are now lsii. Many Of
them, however, were commenced before the news
OF the depressed state OF the English markets ar
rived There are but about eight ships whose keels
have been laid slice that time aud 1t Is not proc able
that any more will be commenced. TIE arrivals
from sea show an excess Of about so 900 toas ovsr
last year. Timber freghts, which opened a. sb out
$40 20 per load for Liverpool. Rra1usy fell ~ the
news become more gloom, to IS, the last VI ssel
being taken at 81 40. Deal freights rsceded fro n
m ha INA o., si,,ht
for the Clyde, while for London ceal ffeights fell
nom $32 70 DIG, and square timber from tl to SO So
Large engagement were mace with Amsri,aas a.
s32, and a'yhcugh their expenses wers Ugh. owing
to the ex0rbisanL rates OF wages a. co mp ired Win
former years, t,e Biieowners mai eide y the bst
Of the eDgage,r ents, much OF the shippers cirgoes
having sold for Little than the cost OF freig
The American tonnage loaded acre il 10000 tons
and az the SAeuepay nud lover down tle river,
abou. 20 900, making 900, which gave lucrative
employ ment TO about seventy sail Of United states
ships. TIE following tae.e OF acfvais aud Tonnage
at the OFT OF Quebec, Tor the last five years is IA
49,. ..&x