Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-08-25
ALPENA WEEK. Y ARGUS.
The Lumber Product.

The second annual meeting OF
the National Association Of Lum-
bermen viii be held in Chicago,
commencing September nth, and
hmbermen everywhere are invited
to be present. The lumber trade
during the past two years has been
anything but satisfactory and the
Interchange of ideas among body
of men who represent a business
interest which extends from Maine
20 the Pacific Slope, and from the
great lakes to the Gulf of Mexico,
can hardly fail to result beneficial
ly. 1t is fact so plain that he
who runs may read, and the de-
preston in the lumber trade this
season has proved greater thus far
than even the most chronic croaker
predicted, and present indications
warrant the assertion that the
balance of the season win show but
little Improvement, If any. A to-
tai or partial loss of crops in much
of the territory where our lumber
finds an ultimate market, coupled
with the general stagnation of
business, promises anything but
flush times. Another self-evident
cause of this wide spread depres-
sion in the lumber trade is that Of
orer-production, and this is a
question of serious consideration
to come before the meeting in
Chicago.
The production must and will be
checked until supply and demand
are once more brought into their
proper relations. The evil is sure
TO be righted, and it can be righted
in no other way. The cut of the
mills must be reduced. The only
voice or option the mill-owner,
will have in the matter is as TO
the method in which the corrective
shall be applied. He cannot choose
the inevitable. VIII he accept it
with good grace, anticipate, dis
count it so to speak, so that it may
limit his losses, or, perhaps with
adroit management, contribute to
his gains; or will he oppose it with
senseless pluck until the memorable
laws of supply and demand drive
all but the most enduring into the
bankrupt courts! And in this
stand for a reduction in the pro-
duction of lumber the Courier does
not occupy an isolated position.
The Northwestern Lumberman, an |
influential and widely circulated
journal in the interest of the lum-
Der trade, is strongly in favor of
retrenching the production, and in
the last issue remarks that nearly
every cargo of common lumber
sold afioat in Chicago this season,
has brought one dollar and fifty /
cents per thousand feet less than
its actual cost to the market, re-
gardless of the cost or worth of
stumpage. The amount of lumber
annually received at Chicago for
the past five years has averaged
LOO, 900, 600 feet. Had the pro-
duction for that market been less
ened last winter but 100000, 900
feet, or less than one-fifth, what
would have been the RESULT TAX
ing for a standard the amount of
lumber which has to date been used
in that city and shipped from it,
the assertion is perfectly safe that
prices would have ruled at least
one dollar and fifty cents per thous-
and feet higher through the entire
season. This would make in the
aggregate, upon the 9O0,0O0,O00
left to be handed, the nice little
sum of s1,350,000. Besides this
the operation would have saved the
oO0,000,O00 feet Of stumpage and
large amount of labor, as when
the work of the mill is lessened
the price of skilled labor must be
necessarily lowered.
1t may seem superhuous to dwell
upon the above facts, so widely are
they known and so fully have they
been discussed, but no effort, how
ever lame to arrive at definite con-
clusion will be valuless, for though
much is being said the discussion
usually ends in an aimless and un-
satisfactory way. As was remark
over year ago by a writer in a
Wisconsin journal, and IL will apply
with equal force now, the folly Of
over-production is roundly de-