, 1861-01-01

rev branches OF commerce lclt the euectS
Of the panic Of 1857 more severely than the
Lumber trade During the years 1858 and
1860, both manufacturers and dealers had to
struggle against low prices aud cytreme dull
ncss-couse1uent upon Light nnd Inferior crops
and thosa firms only who operated FROM
"haud TO mouth" were Enabled to live through
the "h1rd times" During the year 1859, tho
manufacturers, with view to better their inl-
mediate interests, formed themselves into an
association outside Of the tEAde, and for
While the MARKET seemed TO improve; but be-
fore the close OF the year thcT found tLat the
ert Of resolutions which could be passed upon
that the lumber trade depended solely for
i:s prosperity on good crops aud fair prices.
True thu crops Of 1855 were good; but agTicul-
tursts were SO deeply sunk in debt tia! they
cuull spare but little Of theft mcans to invest
in Improvements Of any lGnd, and lcnde the
extreme low prices which prevailed III tho
lumber market.
During the past year, it has been our pleas
urc to bear witness to returned prosperity,
which, though moderate, bears all the eyidcn-
ces of being healthy; but even this Is partly
to TIC attributed 10 the wisdom, learned by c1-
pcrignct, Of those engaged in the business.
The year las been one OF great caution on the
Ca7t both of dealers aud manufacturers There
has been no sudden speculative movement
no attempt to force prices up or down-and
tAcre have consequently been no severe losses,
even should the profits ii so1lc instances turn
out to be small.
In Janu1ry, tho umnnut Of lumber on hand
in Ibis city was LIS, ,l51, ,0J0 feet, against 123,
lbs, ,tU0 fret ut the corresponding period in 1859
This WAS larger stock that w:s expected, and
as logging during the winter OF 1859 20 was
reported good, aud tic number uf logs cut
lar;,t thail ever before, the prospects Tor the
coming stason, did not appear lattcring. The
carly disappearance OF the snow, however, in
some important districts, and tho want of
rains in others, tended 10 limit the supply, and
We lind thai The rrccips for the ycar foot up
ouly 2GS 000,0O0 against Cos, ,0o0, 900 in 1851.
hut this falling oil oi ii, 100000 feet has been
hut ssnall item in bcttcrin. the lumber trade,
compared with the great fact that never before
were our yranarics betterdllcd, and tue farmers
better Ablo 10 pay fair prices foE the lumber
they purchased.
nuri:s tic mouths Of January, February and
the greater part OF March, the market was dull
an,l lleavy-common boar,ls selling ata range
uf s7.ooGs0O. About the close oi March tic
| st. LOUIS dtaicFs came into the market and
:4bnlt eight millions feet were sold II t!1cni ut
sG1 O0G13i 90 for first clear; $1..001 u 00 for
eecnnd clear; $l300@l5.o0 fer third clcsr !;
| 1J.00 ior common flooring. This caused more
| :.ctivi:y and greatcr frnness in prices, hnt no
| material advance. Dutiuy III this pcriou tlrrc
! were but few contracts made by city dealers
lhe only ono reported being made carly III
| February. for 50O.tV0 feet, to DO delivered a.
cargo reported was from White Lake, twelve
| iect boards, 1t aso0.
In the carly part of april there was fair de-
| lnaul to. caFsocs atloat hr country dealers,
;.nd aar sales ranging from So, 80 for fair to
! good rtrips and boards; but u,ust OF the east
-.,or, luiuber Eas bought by inspection ut
$3.50 for euiis, and S6.U0 FOR mcrcl.antabie
| stuff. In Nlu yards tic stuck OF fencing was
low, and there was an active inquiry for it At
:su advance ol :25r-$1. % being the r:sugr
| Of Prices.
| III May the receipts were heavier and the
| market tor ear-ocs declined ;oct! 81 .0O-thc
,csi c.,r.ucs in lie liv.7 einL freely offered ut
$7.D0, and inferior III S5,21gi $50. There was :.
good inquiry, borrower, for dry lumber il the
yat.ls, and tue u1a:kct mancl firm, especial
| ~ for fencing.
| In Juuc the market WAS dull aud without
| any material change III quotations. Good car.
| .ues Of strips and boards did not gc1.trally
a7ing over 500, aud some very fair were sold
| 1t $40 Very lew upper qualities were re-
$3.50, $3.50, si5.o3 and So. Thu market III The
| yards WAS also very dull, anu common stutl
Sas freely sold at 81. 15G. I'LL The low Eate'
iu the Illinois Giyer tended very mucl to di
uiush the trade "f City dealers.
III The carly part oil July contract far taret
million feet Saginaw lumber w:s made a: $; 90
| 500, Si20o and SIS 0-tlcliycrcl ut the Bay
but e:F,oes were rather dull till about the mid
Ils uf the month, when j good demand teoh
| place by country .calcr~, and lhc market ad
vaneea aoc-Hsood cargocs selling Us higl, j:
The probabilities Of large crnps md a surs
| harvest gave country dealers incrt a>eI conf
1tucc, and i'll August the market steadily nj
:alIccl from s. tp,!t95o for tile best carsoes
About the ciose VI this month, also city dealer
advanced the yard prices $1.Uo-comnlQi
boards selling ut S45Uel 1000.
ln September, and during the carly part o
! Ortoltr, the market was uuuyallt, a11tl price
advanced over tios': of Angus, about S2.30ln.
thousand, Or AUoc.5e0 per thousand over III
| prices in spring. Continued heavy receipts il
itc latter part Of U.toher-wilcn i t:cereas
was looked lor, caused Il flight reaction, and
| decline Of $l0oltL5o per Thousand was suffer
ed-Irsnc caryors selling IT Slo.50. Common
east shore ear.oes were dull and heavy; b1,
good Greer. lSay, Mrsks,oa and Sa,uaw lIul
ber WIS IL fair demand 1t tho decline.
In the early lArt Vi September city dealer
advanced ard prices to &il, and shortly altcl
wards to 81: co, for common boards-ai whic
figure the market remained steady during III
balaucG uf the year.
In November tile receipts began TO fall O.
very materially, and tile market wns quiet Il
IS 15Gi 400, according 10 quality. Yard pricc
We're steady.
OWN. to the high rates Of down frc;.hts til
receipts of lumber from Canadian, st. Clair :n
Lake Huron ports durin, the months oi Scr
tsluhe1 aud October were heavier than wae e,
rectcd-scveral million leet intended iur cas1
cEi markets having l'ce1l turned this way.
One Of the most remarkable features OF til
trade Of tic past wear, WAS the shipment {
clear lumber iron this port to the markets T.
Albany aud several points in New EnYlan<
This occurred however carly in the year, whr
tAe market here WIS depressed.
During the past .car, TOO. quite large trad
has sprung uI' between this city aud CineiI
natl, indianapolis and uthcr places in that Il
| rcetiolt. The tratlc with the lower AfissisEipl
| and with the Missouri river Lls also been Is
| tended.
The market for shingles during alae carl
part OF the season Eas dull and heavy; but a
the year advanced, s.,or: supply began to +
realized and prices ailyanced Sl95tz so pc
| thousand. In Afarch, April md May, the Ealt
! Of: shingles were al n range Of $15oGI2s
prime Rogue River Shingles were so1d :
, | s}.15e!5.35 a1oat, and scyurA round lots o
! the dock were sold as high rs $3.50.
.. The prejudice which existed In regard
sawed shiugEes is inst disappearing, and I'll
: demand 1or them at the ciCse OF The seas o
WAS very urgent ot about tbs same prices
shared. Some parties even prefer them I
, | shaved.
,, Laths, dnrins tho months Of March, Apri
May aud June were quiet, and sold freely s
3l00tI1 1.12;s anoat but owing to i Light stoc
and short supply, the market during tho Ia.
; three months of the sensun became bnoyn1
, and advanced sLQ0l1.12H per thousand
l sales at tho close ranging from $2.00Go..
ailoat.
. The following table shows the price
/ Lumber by the cargo each week for series
years:
n<tny Pr4es ef Lumber by the Cargo for 22r
1tcrc.
I n