Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-11-11

TO attend. G. PHILIP GUELIcH, Pres't.
The LUMBER BUsINEss.-We have recently
been making inquiries about the prospects of
the lumber trade the ensuing spring. The ex-
listing financial troubles must necessarily have
O depressing effect, as the eastern dealers will |
find it difficult to raise funds, without paying |
rninous rates of discount, to pay the balances |
now due or falling due, let alone making fur |
ther purchases. Another thing worthy of at |
tention is, that considerable portion of last
years. stock remains unused in the hands of
the consumers. With these facts before them,
our heavy dealers, who have heretofore been
in the habit of advancing money to pay the
expenses of making timber, &C., will be tardy
abont doing now. Indeed, one of the hea-
West dealers in the county told US that he de-
signed making no advancements. 1t is clear
ly manifest, that when there is general pa
ralysis of business, such the country is now
experiencing, the lumber trade cannot escape;
and it is equally clear that as every branch of
trade has suffered decline in prices, it is not
at all likely that this one will be exception,
more particularly when its relative position to
other branches of business, is taken into con-
sideration. 1t is not surprising, therefore,
that men are timid about making advance
rnents. for no one is able to foresee how they
will, 10 use a common phraze, 'sget their mo-
ney back in the spring.
If large business is done next spring, it
cannot reasonably be expected that more cash
will be realized from sales than will pay the
expenses of running, if even that, and those
who have bestowed their winters labor on it,
and undergone the hardships incident to raft
ing, will find themselves in a worse situation
than if only a light business were done. we
think it is clearly the policy of every man to
contract his operations this season, or at least
hold back until such time as a brighter pros
pcct presents itself.
1t is gratifying fact that there is enough
grain, or nearly so. in the county, to supply
the home demand for year to come. The
advantage TO be derived from this can be ca
silly judged when it is known that at least
SI50,OO0 worth of flour and produce were
brought to this county during the past sum-
mer. The present years experience has dem
onstrated satisfactorily that, with ordinary at
tention, the farms in this region can be made
productive, and we entertain no doubt that, II
more care were bestowed that branch of in
dustry, ii would become not only rcmunera-
tive, hut profitable. We trust that the subject
of increasing farming operations, and cuitlva-
ting and improving our lands better, will re-
seiye more consideration than it has heretofore.
RAIN, RAIS!!-MUD! MUD!!-During the
last six or eight days, rain has fallen in con-
siderable quantities in this region, but the
showers were more like those that usually
fall in April than in November. In conse-
uuence of so much rain, the ground has be-
come perfectly saturated, and the roads are
unusually muddy, rendering travel difficult
and disagreeablc. Monday night was very
stormy and quite nuplber OF trees were blown
down in different sections.
PRINTERS IN OFFIGE.-The twoU nited States