Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-08

The LUMBER TRADE.-IHE P0PULATI0N.-IN-
IERESIING STATISTICS.
Curc,co July 50

IERESIINC STATISTICS.
CHICAGO, July 80.
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times.
While many have been watching in utter
amazement the rapidity with which our
city has risen from its ashes, others, would
be prophets, have foretold the coming crisis
that would "burst the bubble or a. some
have said, would crush these wild schemes
I Of specializing fanatics. But alas for
them, their prophesies have failed, and
Chicago rebuilt is not only more beauti-
full, but more substantial than before sab
stantial not merely in its edifces. but in It's
commerce Wild speculation 50 rife in
times past, has been consumed with all else
that was obnoxious, and business has as
sumed the steadiness Of older cities. Ii Is
marvellous how rapidly new interests are
being introduced. The Exposition, new
weekly. devoted to the review Of manuiac-
turing interests and industrial economy,
has this to say concerning the lumber IN
terest of Chicago, which will probably
prove Of interest to your readers:
at is quite difficult to appreciate the i'm
portance of the lumber interest Of Chicago
i 200 200, 200 feet of lumber. and IN
shingles. lath. and other shapes enough to
add 200 600 900 feet, was the aggregate OF
last year Piled twenty feet high 1t would
cover about 5000 acres Of ground. Every
day We see struggling vessels loaded with
lumber pass up the river, but hardly real lie
that out of the l.. S2i vessel arrivals during
last year over 5000 were loaded with lum-
ber The freights on the amount received
by lake foot up about $4,000, 600. The OK,
penses incurred in cutting. hauling, and
booming logs, and manufacturing ana
handling the lumber before it reaches the
Chicago yards, amounts to about 81 per m,
or in the aggregate, SO, 100000. Upon
the average price of Sl2 per m. at the
lumber mart this leaves only 50 per m. for
stumpage and profit; and the average
price paid for stumpage in the pinerles
bordering on Lake Michigan is at least
81 so per m. After the lumber is sold to
Chicago dealers, the expense of piling 1t on
the docks and delivering it when again
sold is nearly 81 per m, and here is
another account of 50 900, 900, making
some allowance for that which passes to the
interior without being piled in Chicago.
At least another million is paid Tor labor IN
manufacturing sash. doors, blinds, flooring,
ETC., in Chicago. Allowing 81 ,0OO,OO Tor
profit on freight, here is sum total OF
SIS 900 600 paid for labor of one year IN
handling this one product. The laborers
directly employed represent population
of about 200 900, and like population VINO
are indirectly supported by this business
All this vast population draw their supplies
directly from Chicago. In addition to this,
the profits realized by Chicago dealers,
manufacturers, commission merchants are
not less than So 900 900, which, with
large portion of the freight profits, are
added to the annual wealth OF Chicago.
Our new directory for 1873 has made It's
appearance, demonstrating the fact that
Chicago actually stands ahead OF St. LOUIS
Baltimore and Cincinnati. According TO
the exhibit the number of names enrolled IN
the directories ofthe above named cities Is
as follows Chicago, 90; Boston, ioS'-
OBS Cincinnati, 80 ,525; Baltimore. &c, 1854
St. Louis, 90, O4O. Taking the usual multi
pie of 81, our population is 465,1i5, an IN
crease of nearly 100, 900 since the great ire.
Among other particulars it gives us:
Churches, 200 Masonic Societies, 40; odd
Fellows Societies, Is; other societies, lo7
Public Schools, So: Religious Schools. 46;
Academies and Colleges, %; miscellaneous
institutions Of learning, IA.
But little of interest has transplred dur
ing the past week. All who can, are ENJOY
ing their midsummer rest. We have been
visited by the Royal Saxon Band, of whom
you have already heard. They are credit
able performers, much more so than their
youthful appearance would Indicate, but
we are led to believe that their visit thus
far has not been as great success imam
cially as they anticipated it would be,
owing to want of management resulting
from ignorance of our country, and, Il regret
to add, general distrust of our people.
Like all such entertainments, they have re-
ceived greater patronage in Chicago than
carrying with them agood round
sum. This will nentralize to certain extent
their losses in othss places. They have left
, good impression, if they have not Tiled
their wallets.
In my next letter will endeavor to give
you ar account of the progress we are
making towards our "great show" to be
,sld in October. wi.r.