The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-26
90 Elrswosd TralIs.

- 1irsW0sd CraAs.
HOW rHl BUsNHss Is CONDUCTED, AND wHHal THE
WOOD CONES YnOM-PNn, MCK0RY, OAK. MAPLE,
HAsCH AND BIlCH-rH1 wA0LxsAL1 DRALIRs,
THE 11rAIL DsALH1S THE WOOD sAwYxRs, The
CARMEN AND TIE rnDLARs-rHD WILDWOOD MAR
KIT AND wHnA L0oAFHD-FM vxssnLs lNPL0Y-
ED IN THE TRADE-ANNUAL BAL1e TWO MILLIONS
AND HALY-rM C0NsUMrTIoN AND SUPPLY
WHEN WILL TIE LATHE ~ BxHAUsrHD nc, ETC.
During tho past fifteen twenty years The arswood
trade has increased almost Incredible extent In
like many other trades, its growth has not been limited
BY that Of the city, has increased In proportion
with the increase OF the population. twenty years ego
the amount sold annually did not exceed the san two
hundred thousand dollars, while the yearly salss
now estimated ct two millions and hail. These figures,
No should state based entirely esmats o there
srs no sthsr Of ssosrsnng the amount Of the
nuA consumption. Formerly arewood purchased a.
most exclusively for domestic USE but ID now used in
actories mila and steamboats, than ever and the
great demand for railroads has considerably aug
nsnted the prices. Az in The GOAL trade, tia business
varies With the season Of the year, and Il always
more lively from tho Lat Of October to the Christmas
holidays ct which tine people gensrauy lay in their
supply Of winter fasl. In the months Of February
and March the trade begins to revive again, and
the Dealers the carmen and the wood sawyss kept
pretty active TIL about the middle Of May, whom II falls
summer season.
The wood market, may call 1t, Is not confined
any particular locality, but extends along nearly the
whole length Of ths North and Eas. rivers within the
limits Of the city On the North river the wood yards
they termed commence 1T near Washington mar.
ke and to be found at Intervals from that point
to between Thitish and Fortieth streets, the largest
number however being in the vicinity Of Spring On
the East river their extent Is little moro confnsd
beginning at Rutgers clip, and terminating about
tsenty fifth street The "wood yards" must not be can
founded with tie timber yards there very great
difference between them. Whs the former situated
partly the piers and partly the along the bulk
heads and have not their limits confined BY walls the lat
ter msry OF the street. and walled ia. The dealers in
6rswooa heor lease the ground annual rent from the
and their busness is rather was regulated By
an ordinance which has long since become obsolete.
II trade psrhsps which Is fes from imposition
ard It would be absurd therefore to expect that tue
wood ceaers though respectable any other class
exempt from the charge; but we believe they are among
the most honest STILL housekeepsrs complain omstimes
that they do not receive full measure and that it Is not
always quite up 10 ths mark prescr BED by the city
dnsnee. Acc riding to this ordinarcs the load
sured ty stakes the cart witain : space OF two
feet FIVE inches BY two feet nne the height to which
the wood is piled being in proportion to is length. This
~ we have in,inated, are there any means of
doing So unless by the passage Of new ordinance.
The trade has certainly reached extent to justify the
passage Of sush Z l@w-ard We submit the subject as
deserving the consideration and attention Of
nicipsl legislators.
NE supply o. frewood for tho whole city Ia Obtained
by OF boats and is brought from New York. Esx
Jersey, Councillor 1T, Virginia and North Carolina. TIE
boats Of oil szes, ranging from two hundred down
low forty tons. There are it is calculated ab7ut two
hundred ALI gether and the average value Of each
timated at four thousand collars. This gives sggre
gate Of eg5t hundred thousand dollars, which
assured rather under than the actual amount
considerable number Of these. however, not ex-
cusvey engaged in the Hrswood trade, but during tho
dun are occupied in carrying othr kinds Of
freight. 1t is very that the dealers have any pro-
in the boats and the wholesale trade which
il confined almost exclusively to their owners, is con-
Quoted . different system from the retail
business The syrte is however, ust as simple and as
easily understood. The captain, who is not unfre
gsenty part proprietor, Is for the payment
Of tie crew. and in confederation therefor is allowed to
freight half the vessel for his profit The other
halt belongs to the propIstors; and the captain be
proprietor part he Is allowed share in tue profits
proportcnafe TO his ownership. No matter what may
be the risks incurred BY delays ether losses ac,od
ing to the Of the agreement he is held responsible
for the payment Of his he also sells the wood to
the retail Dealers laneirg 1t at the point from which II
oisposed Of BY til IN to the Ten fifteen
years ego 1t the practice to sell the wood from the
deck of the vessel by retail but the business has inc
ed such extent that the boats find the wholesale
trade riore profitable, and have now almost wholly
abandoned the retail busnefs. The wood is sold
at Wholesale by the cord, each cord consisting Of
thres loads. It is not general thing subject to
fluctuations in the price ether articles of domestic
use and the supply Il seidom below the demand, 1t
generally remains Of the rate from month to monh
The greatly increased consumption within the last fifteen
twenty years has have said necessarily led TO
increase in the prise. Toe following the rates at
which 6rewood is sold At present.
By 1m CARGO. Per Cord
Oak irewocd ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to IS 80
hickory nrevoon... .................... W 70
rlne nfewoso...,.:... ..'.'............. 20
RETAIL PRICES Per Load.
OSk hfewood.. los. TO 1Os
HICKORY nrewocd 1Os. 70 rs
Pie frewood lbs. to 2Os.
Maple, beech and birch. lbs. to 20s
Our principal supply of pine comes from Virgins and
South Carolina and extensively used than any
other description. In fast, we have been told that
the consumption of pine In this city exceeds more
than double the amount Of all other kinds. II
is used chiefly for frewood a. 1. is much easier to
kncIe than ether WOOD and il also In greater demand for
factories mills, steamboats, and ra1 Dads than any other
While it rupeor to osk hickory and other hard wood