The New York herald., 1873-11-14
LUMBER AND FANCY WOoDS

OA 6mplOycss
The lumber business has been very seriously
affected by the panic, and no signs appear but
those which augur that the efrects OF the financial
difficulties are likely to last for some time to come.
This business represents large interest in the
commerce OF the city. At the present time large
stocks are on hand lying at the docks or IN
storehouses, awaiting the opening OF trade. In
the foreign trade the depression Is almost total
and at the present time there is ST. 0O0 600 worth
OF foreign timber lying in storage. During Octo-
Der business was fair, but at the beginning OF this
month 1t totally collapsed, leaving the lumber
dealers without any prospect OF dlsposing OF the
stocks on hand. There was about one third OF
difference between the October sales OF this year
and last In this business 1t is necessary to give
orders several months In advance and the timber
ordered months ago is therefore arriving here
daily, adding to the already large stocks on hand.
Before the panic immense quantities OF black wal
nut were exported from this country to England
and the European Continent but now, owing to
the high rate Of freight and the difficulties OF
change, this trade has entirely ceased. Collections
are very difficult to make and the same want Of
confidence that is felt in almost every other branch
or business is experienced In this. The lumber
dealers are not anxious to SELL because sales If
made at all should be effected at reductlon OF from
thirty to fifty per cent. AS a rule about half
the help has been discharged from the largest es-
adjustments.
represent that this season, even with the panic
upon them, they have made more money than they
did last fall The reason for this is that last fall
they had purchased at high prices and were selling
at falling prices, the price OF lumber having fallen,
for example. in common pine, from $2S to $22 per
saS per 900 eet and more money il made On i at
that price than was made at the higher ngrre. for
the dealers have bought the timber at prices
allowing the profit. This Is true OF nearly all sorts
OF domestic timber. Some firms say that custom
ers pay their bills pretty well and pay in cash,
grumbling, however, at the tghtness OF money,
but afraid to deler paying under paper promises.
There is not half the lumber in the yards this year
that there was this time last year. The dealers
after the panic, and, OF course, have seen no rea-
son since to enlarge them to the full extent. One
result OF this is that number OF workmen have not
been employed. Firms which at this season last
year were employing SO, so or 100 men, are now
filling all the orders they care to take with half
various kinds OF timber per 1000 feet is as ol-
lows:-Black walnut, $50; ash lumber, s45; spruce,
pine ian average for fourteen sorts), s25; common
pine, $22. No reduction in these prices is, as
The fancy wood business has suffered much from
the general stagnatlon OF other branches OF busi-
ness. In this branch much depends upon the
consequence Is that 1t is now completely at stand
STILL Whatever business was done by some
IN now the majority 1
troublesome problem. A few larger orders, how.
houses. Work In some OF the factories still goes
on, but only In the fulnlment OF orders that had
been received before the crash. In nearly every
house some OF the help has been discharged, though
In q few instances, when work on previous orders
Is needed, the full numbers are retained. Stocks
should have been laid In before November l. for up
TO that time the rvere are navigable and the rail-
road ireights are not advanced-a consideration OF
some Importance to merchants. II Is represented
that collections are generally hard to be made
Large stocks OF this class OF wood are on hand and
are likely TO remain so, the holders OF them fear
few merchants say that they are not selling
under the ordinary prices, while some others
acknowledge that they are willing to sell
the following an idea may be had OF
the variety and the cost OF foreign fancy woods -
French walnut and burs, per pound, doc to Soc !;
rosewood. per pound, sc. to l0c. mahogany per
foot, 16c. to Csc. brd'seye maple per foot Sc to
10c Hungarian ash, per pound 1sc. to 2Oc. satin
wood, per foot lplainl &C., tfgurcd 12c to 15c. !;
tulip, per foot 15c.; amboinc, per pound al
TO 81 so. In domestic fancy woods walnut
burls are sold at &c. per loot, but
ternut, &c. to &c. per foot; blister 4c to l5c per
f0ot plain walnut 1c. to 2hc per foot; striped
walnut 1c to &c. per foot tits dficut at any time
to say what Is an exact and standard price for
fancy woods. Trees vary In the beauty OF their
grainlng and while one tree may not have a figure
that is not plain and commonplace, another and
perhaps its nearest neighbor may possess figures
upon chance In procuring good specimens or the
several woods named above, apart from the skill
OF the mechanic whose touch poshes the surface
into mirror-liKe transparency. For this reason
prices vary just as the figures vary in beauty or
rarity