Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-06-09
The Outlook.

The Outlook.
The season of 1875 seems to h
peculiar. 1t is full of contradic
tons. The monthly reviewer i
compelled to perform an unlimited
number of evolutions with the agi'
ity of a circus man in following
the different phases of the trade a
they have developed within tn,
past three or four months. Whcr
our last review of the prospect:
forlog driving was made the chances
were exceedingly good for large
quantities of hung up stock. Tho
situation deceived the most astute
particularly in various parts Of
Michigan. In the eastern portion
of that State a snow-storm, unpre-
cedented in volumn for the season,
followed 10y copious rains, has plac-
ed the assurance Of unusually clean
drives beyond a doubt. AS de-
tailed in our Saginaw correspon-
dence, it has even brought out logs
which were not expected with an
ordinarily good driving season. 1t
has filed the long-dried swamps,
and obviated in a great degree the
danger from forest fires. 1t places
the lumbermen upon filmer foot
ing than they have occupied for
several seasons.
What is true Of eastern Michigan
is but little less true of the western
portion of the State and the bal
ance of the Northwest. We have
advices from all the principal dis
tricts, and all represent the drives
progressing finely, making it toler-
ably certain that the great body Of
the logs will get to the mills.
Prices for lumber are very I'M
satisfactory, and as to whether they
will soon improve opinions vary.
1t is urged by some that the pre-
sent low rates will have a tendency
to retard production, in which event
the chances are good for prices to
go up with the fall trade. Many
operators, on the contrary, hold
extreme views upon this subject,
and do not expect a revival Of trade
this season, and even claiming that
"the worst is not yet" The gen
eral backwardness Of the season
has retarded building operations
and all similar improvements, con-
sequently lessening the demand for
lumber. Again, there has been
manifested a great lack of conf
dence among buyers, who would
hardly purchase save from necess-
ity. Had large quantity of logs
been hopelessly hung up out OF
reach, the price of lumber would
undoubtedly have advanced, and q
lively demand been manifested
With all danger of such n state OF
things past, it seems evident that
another season of waiting will oc-
cur, to ascertain whether prices
will weaken under the stimulus oil
rapid production. In this connec.
ton one thing must be borne in
mind the estimates published il
the Lumberman for April, and
which, it may be observed, are n:
near correct rs can be obtained
without official reports from the
boom companies, show conclusive
ly that If all the logs in the streams
are delivered to the mills and saw
ed into lumber, the product will b,
less than that of 1874 by NOR,
than one hundced million feet
This is speaking for the States o
Michigan, Wisconsin and Mime
sofa, and stating simply the facts
Speculations might be INDUCED il
to an unlimited extent, but such j
not our intention. What will oc
cur before the close Of the presen
season is beyond the range of tn
most prophetic eye. Just as with
in the past thirty days facts hav
been developed contrary to tb
calculations of the most discerning
so before the closing Of the mill
next fall another change of tn
kaleidoscope may show q larg
stock of logs still unsawed. Tn
whole subject now hinges upon th
ability and inclination Of the mil
owners to manufacture the stoc
which they are known to hav,
The season is now wen advance
and bnt little is accomplished, an
II would not seem that any extr