, 1872-11-16
LUMBER.
The Business in Chicago.
Its Growth and Magnitude.


in December, and they will foot up much
larger total than in any former Heason. Chicago
is now without rival in this branch Of trade,
which has wholly grown to it's present status
during twenty years past
The great demand for lumber, this season, to
rebuild our city, has added somewhat to receipts;
but the ratio of increase is but little above the
gradual increase OF former years-being about
per cent addition to the receipts of 1871, and 10
per cent above those of 1870. Situated midway be-
tween the lumber producing and consuming sec-
tions, with water and railroad transportation,
Chicago naturally became the grand distributing
point OF this important commodity.
Until 1850, the demand for lumber was chiefly
for city consumption but, when the different
lines OF railroad centreing here began to develop
the West, lumber WAS among the most important
items Of their business, and the country lumber
trade became Of great volume, and has increased
from 100000 feet to almost GOO, 100000 feet
per annum, valued at 81, ,000, 900, and this ex-
elusive Of shingles, lath and manufactured luul-
ber in the form of doors, sash, &C., valued at not
less than $4,000, 900 more.
The total receipts of lumber alone in Chica-
60, the present season, will reach 1,200 0OG, 900,
and the amount consumed in rebuilding the city
is estimated at 600 0000 900, which, at an average
OF SIS per thousand feet, makes the value ct
the total receipts Of the port 518, 100000, e1c1u
siye Of shingle and lath, which can be safely
above estimates (Which are at wholesale rates)
that lumber has really but few rivals in the COM
merce OF our city; and it being 30 bulky and
only moved by manual labor, large numbers of
cur citizens find very profitable employment in
connection with the transfer through our mar
ket. To bring the matter to the comprehension
Of those Of our readers not familiar with the
large amount in bulk actually handled, We will
state that the lumber actually transferred to
cars during 8 Beasou, if londed G,000 feet in
each car, and estimating each car 30 feet in
length, would extend 800 miles, each car touch
ing the other; and that, if the whole amountre-
ceived in this port was loaded in vessels, each
carrying 1921 feet Gan average cargo], the
each touching the other, for $50 miles.
No other city than Chicago could distribute
this bulky coInmce;t; in the space OF twelve
months, as mona have the system Of railroads so
complete. In no other city do railroad officials
interests Of Chicago enjoy. The majority OF
this vast amount Of lumber is fully assorted be-
fore it starts for the interior, although each
railroad company furnishes ample docks for
cars. Each year this branch of shipping in
creaseB, dealers in the interior gain capital to
buy from mills direct; but, as tile means Of
dressing lumber is limited in small towns. much
10 He6UELEu dA1u A4CdScu LII kl4D L4tSs 4loA W
1858 all lumber shipped in cars was hauled by
teams to the different depots, and for this q
charge for carriage was always mado. Since that
date, by system Of switching, cars of any rail-
ber yard at simply the cost Of switching, and
so we'll organized is this branch of
rallroading that cara can be filled
promptly. It is not unusual to see cars
Of as many as six railroads standing in one lum-
ber yard-some loading for Boston, others for
stations On the Union and Kansas Pacific Roads,
side by side. To produce SO large an amount OF
lumber requires an Investment Of money in pro-
portion. Many OF our lumber merchants are
manufacturers as we'll, owning their pine lands,
mills, vessels, docks, in fact, complete lumber
establishment, OF which Chicago has many, only
lacking the two items Of railroads and customers.
Another class own mills and lands, and sell by
cargo only. Still another class have only stocks
OF lumber in this market, which they buy Ly
cargo adoat
The combined interests are represented in
Chicago by nearly two hundred firms, and tho
large amount OF lumber sold here annually
Our quotations OF lumber will, when COM
pared with Lake Erie md Eastern ports, show
much lower range of prices particularly on COM
mon boards and dimension lumber. In clear
lumber the difference isnot great, as the stock
is never large in this market; stll, clear lumber
can generally be shipped to Albany and Boston
from Chicago, by rail, at a profit.
The uniform low price of lumber in this mar
ket is caused by the great improvements in ma
chinery during ten years paat., Twenty years
generally contained "muley and sash f" saws
(upright), and 3 mill producing 10000 feet per
day was frst-cass mill. About 1852 the first
gang" OF SANS used in this section was intro
duced on Green Bay, and driven by water. Each
year has added improvements, until the water
mills OF 1848 have given. place to the
setsa sated to Sfu ssT from 10000 to 1so,oo5;