The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-09
A Revolution In the Lumber Business,

"A ktesohuRlOh In me LumOcr bf1Stn eSS.
From the Northwestern Lumberman
Time brings about many and curious
| changes. As facts demonstrate that the sur
face Of our planet is continually changing-a
mountain or an island appearing in this place
or disappearing in that-so through the end
less ramihcatloDs Of commerce, its channels
are constantly undergoing changes so gradual
that we wake to wonder at them, az it were,
long after the revolution has been effected and
the new order Of things running com placently
on. Within short space'of time one of these
revolutions has been quietly worked in the
lumber trade. We refer 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 improperly denomi-
mated the consumers, is now being trans
acted between the producers and consumers
direct, leaving those who occupied the mid
die position pretty far out in the cold.
Two causes may be assigned for this state
Of thing: First, and primarily, the excessive
overstock in production and consequent COM
petition for any trade from any source among
producers; second, the very low rates at
which competing lines Of railways have taken
lumber from the West 10 the East. The
plrticular observations suggesting these re-
marks were made in looking over the field
ut the great metropolis of Pennsylvania
the home Of Penn, and parent of the CEN
tennial. The bulk of the Philadelphia
lumber trade formerly passed through
the hands Of number Of wholesale
or commisSion-houses, who purchased
their stocks or received consignments
from the pneres Of Michigan, the Canadian
Dominion, or the valley OF the Sn>quehan-
ma. From them the majority of the retail
yards Of the city and adjlcent towns re-
ceivcd their supplies. Now, influenced bya
necessity for selling, and aided by the low
freights above mentioned, the mill-owners
ship their products in any quantity to suit
purchasers directly 10 the yard of the re-
taller. Their travelling Salesmen drum up
trade with as great persistence as sewing
machine agents or lightning-rod solicitors.
The retail lumber dealers find themselves
in similar position to the retail mer-
chants throughout the country when
the advent of the commercial traveller
rendered unnecessary the quarterly or SEMI
annual trip to the metropolis iors stock. The
lumber drummer cannot carry samples to ad-
vantage, and in that respect alone, perhaps,
d'ff.rs from his brother of the hand vaise and
side whskers. The retailer is relieved of the
necessity OF carrying so large stock, and
consequently may operate with less capital,
as scarcely a day passes that lumber in any
quantities, almost to part OF carload, Is
not pressed upon MIN, and credit allowed
to suit the eXgencieS OF the case. In some
parts of the country il is re!ated-wlth more
regard, perhaps, to ghostly humor than
truth-that manufacturers ship few car
loads of lumber or shingles, follow them up
and pedde them out, even hunting up par
ties who have any inclination to build, for
the purpose Of selling. This may be
drawing it Il 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 re-
sul!S. TO their credit it may be written that
they made last winter an honest endeavor
to curtal production in the spirit OF the
- good talk" INDUCED in at the National
Convention at Saginaw. That their associates
1T the West did not. the present oyerstock is
an irreiutablc 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. Thy railroads also are said to have
damaged largely the trade OF the Williams
Lort iumbermen by permitting, through re-
duced lreights, the producers of the West 10
place their lumber in the yards Of the Gus
TONERS 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
tween producer and consur,er seems to be
passing away. and, like Othello's, their oecu-
patton may some day come up missing. 1t
is one of the inevitable changes wrought by
time and circumstances, and must be taken
What the outcome wAl be
Is beyond the range of present prophecy.