Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-07-07

to the manner in which it is being
conducted as between the producer
and consumer. The great bulk OF
the business which formerly passed
through the hands of wholesale
dealers who supplied the retailers,
or those properly denominated the
consumers, is now being transacted
between the producer and consul
mers direct, leaving those who oc-
cupied the middle position pretty
far out in the cold.
Two causes may be assigned for
this state of things, (l) and primary
the excessive overstock in produc-
ton and consequent competition
for any trade from any source
among producers; (2) the very low
rates at which competing lines of
railways have taken lumber from
the West to the East. The par
ticular observations suggesting
these remarks were made in look
ing over the field at the great
metropolis of Pennsylvania-the
home of Penn, and parent of the
Centennial. The bulk Of the Phil
adelphia lumber trade formerly
passed through the hands of num-
Der of wholesale or commission
houses, who purchased their stocks
or received consignments from the
pinei'ies of Michigan, the Canadian
Dominion or the valley of the Sus-
quehanna. From them the major
ity of the retail yards of the. city
and adjacent towns received their
supplies. Now, influenced by a
necessity for selling, and aided by
low freights above mentioned, the
mill owners ship their products in
any quantity to suit purchasers
directly to the yard of the retailer.
Their travelling statesmen drum up,
trade with as great persistence as
sewing machine agents or lightning
rod solicitors. The retail lumber
dealers find themselves in a similar
position to the retail merchants
throughout the country when the
advent of the commercial traveller
rendered unnecessary the quarter
ly or semi-annual trip to the me
tropolis for stock. The lumber
drummer cannot carry samples to
advantage, and in that respect
alone, perhaps differs from his
brothers of the hand valise and
side-whiskers. The retailer is re-
lieved of the necessity Of carrying
so large a stock, and consequently
may operate with less capital, as
scarcely day passes that lumber
in any quantities, almost to part
of a carload, is not presses upon
him, and credit allowed to suit the
exigencies of the case. In some
parts of the country it is related
with more regard perhaps, to ghost
ly humor than truth-that manu.
facturers ship few carloads of
lumber or shingles, follow them up
and peddle them out, even hunting
up parties who have any inclination
to build, for the purpose Of selling !
This may be drawing it point too
fine, but serves well to illustrate
the great straits to which the trade |
is reduced. Upon the lumbermen
of the Susquehanna region this
condition of things has produced |
disastrous results. To their credit |
it may be written that they made
last winter an honest endeavor to
curtail production in the spirit of
the "good talk" indulging in at the
national convention at Saginaw.
That their associates at the West
did not, the present overstock is
an IRRITABLE witness. 1t has been
told us that prominent mover in
that meeting cut last winter on
western streams larger supply of
logs than for several preceding
seasons. The railroads, also are
said to have damaged largely the
trade of the Williamsport lumber
men, by permitting, through re-
d iced freights, the producer of
the West to place their lumber in
the yards of the customers of the
former at lower. prices than can be
successfully competed with.
Thus it will be seen that the |
business Of the large wholesalers
at intermediate points between
producer and consumer seems to /,
be passing away, and like Othello's.
their occupation may some day
come up missing. 1t is one of the