Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-04-01
THE LUMBER BUSINESS OF
BURLINGTON.

The importance Of the Lumber trade Of
Burlington has been SO often mentioned by
us that we need not go into any extended
discussion of that point. In the amount of
capital it employs, in its influence on other
branches of industry, in the high character
of the citizens it has brought here. and in its
general effect on the thrift and prosperity Of
tho place, it confcssedly sands second to
no other business done here. We propose to-
day merely to jot down few facts and fig
ures showing the amount of the Trade the
past year.
| Last summer was a season of great de-
preston in the Lumber trade. 1t shared
fully in the general stagnation the demand
for it almost ceasing for a time. This and
OF her causes, arising from the action Of the
Railroads, to which we shall alludc below,
actually threatened the entire destruction Of
the business at this pom. But Il better state
of things came round business reviving in
the country at large. better prices, and a
10 wer tariff. combined to restore prosperity.
At present but II fraction Of the heavy sto * Of
lumber which covered so many acres last
season, remains unsold and the total sales
foot up handsomely, though not showing tAo
advance which might be expected in differ
ent times, or which coming years will doubt
less show
Three concerns, as most of our readers
know, conduct the trade, whose sales the
last year, fell little short of hDentv million
feet.
OF this Mr.. LAWRENCE BARNES landed here,
in round numbers. eleren million feet.
Mr.. Barnes does not get out the lumber from
the forest, but buys his stock of other par
ties, and distributes it from this point lie
has supplied himself largely, heretofore,
from Canada but has made arrangements
now for a supply Of Michigan lumber. which
is now competing extensively with the Ca
madam lumber in the Eastern markets. In
addition to his lumber trade, Mr.. Barnes
does heavy business in planning and match
ing. He leases, and has run during a good
part Of the year, the steam planning mill OF
Mr. II. n. Ballard. This mill has been
closed for several months, as Mr.. Barnes ac-
commodations in the Pioneer Shops were
sufficient for the present. 1t (the milD will
soon be running again, however. Mr. Barnes
dressed during the last year about scru
mlhoh feet Of lumber. He employs here
during the summer season about serent,
hands, and from forty to fifty thcyear round
The place is greatly indebted to his enter
prise, and we are glad to have the debt du,
to so worthy a man. All will rejoice with
US in the prospect that his liberal action in
the matter of the shops, will in time bring
him an abundant reward. Mr. Barnes is tc
bo Congratulated on his choice Of a supcrin.
tendent of his business here. Moro careful
and capable managers and better men than
Mr.. NAL DAVIS, are not too common.
The HuSTERs1owN LUMBER COMPANY, etiici.
emily represented here by Mr.. HENRY RoLrE,
brought during the year about SIR million feet
OF lumber The company owns extensive lum-
Der tracts on the Rt'ere du Loup. Canada
and manufactures the rough lumber in ex-
tensivo mills, on the spot, Their growing
business has compelled them to add some new
steam mills Greeted at cost of $780, 900 to
$50, 00O), to their former facilities on the
Riviere du Loup, and they intend the coming
season to bring more lumber here than ever
before.
The mills Of Messrs. C. BLoDoErr & Son,
are situated on the Rideau River IN the
township Of Montague, c. W, where they
manufacture the rough lumber, They have
landed at Burlington during the past year,
over two and a halt mRion feet of lumber,
including boards, planks door-stuff, clap
boards &c. Their large and growing bust
ness is mainly superintended here by the
younger partner of the firm, who has recent
ly became resident Of Burlington.
We have alluded to an unfavorable effect
Of the management of the railroads at a cri-
teal period last season, upon the lumber
business. The case was, if we understand
it, that the freight tariff of the Roads form.
ing the Vt, Central line, for lumber from
this point to Boston, bore such relation to
the tariff from Ogdensburgh to Boston, as
allowed the Western lumber to compete
in market ruinously with lumber from this
point; while at the same time lumber could
be carried via Whitehall and Albany to Bos-
ton, cheaper than from here to the same
point by rail direct; aud in fact good deal
of lumber loaded for this point in Canada,
went directly by us through the Lake to
Whitehall, For time all representations
of the disastrous effect of such a state of
things upon the lumber business of this
point, failed to move the Railroad managers,
and it was only after the Iiunterstown
| Company had abandoned the argument, and
made arrangements for removing their
business at once to Whitehall Ia re-
moval which would have been followed by the
other concerns), that the Railroad managers
yielded, and placed their prices for carriage
at living point. Tho unfavorablc effect
which the removal of this great business,
together with the branches of manufacture
ing which could not exist without it, would
have bad not only upon this place hut upon
the Railroad themselves, is sufficiently APP
aren't. The present arrangement is, We believe,
satisfactory TO all parties, and it is to be hoped
and expected that no similar instance of
blindness to their own interests ON the part
of Railroad Managers, will again impcril the
growth and permanencc of our Lumber
Trade,