Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-01-26

Still the all absorbing question
Is, "Nhat's the weather; how's log
giug; what's the prosrectF Still
as In the past must our respons'
be, no snow, no frost, no hauling
no immediate prospect OF haviDi
either. When we last went TO pres
january 18th. We summarized the
condition Of the weather mp to the
last moment. twas then intensel,
cold, a sprinkle Of snow had fallen
which was pretty general through
out Michigan, Wisconsin and Min
nesota. From some localities il
was reported to be two inches deep
One of our Minnesota exchanges
spoke of it as being four inches,
but complained Of the absence OF
frost in the ground, TO enable the
lumbermen to utilize it. Through
Michigan, from one to two inches
would express the truth. From
the 18th to the 18th the weather
continued cold, the thermometer
varying from So to 20o above
zero. On Saturday the 10th, the
cold gave place TO a moderate at
mosphere, with heavy rain in the
evening; the day being more like
April than January. Monday was
also balmy and pleasant. On Tues
day heavy rain set in, and the
day continued as wet and disagree
able as the NEST sangnine orpo-
nent to imitation in the log supply
could desire. Wednesday opened
with a damp, di-agreeable atmos-
phere. the air filled With flying
snow flakes, but the temperature
still too high for snow fall. This, {
however, may all be remedied be-
fore night, of which our market
report will give the latest particu-
lars. From our exchanges, from
all parts Of the country we gather
bat one state Of facts. From Maine !
70 Pennsylvania, from Canada to
Wisconsin and Minnesota, the same !
story is reflected, showing that the !
experience of Michigan lumber
men is pretty much the same as
the experience Of their fellows, in |
all other principal lumber districts.
Were mud the needed element for
large and successful operations in
the pine forests, the crop this win
ter would be far greater than the
needs of the country demand
Snow, however, being preferable
and indeed indispensable, it may
with truth be said that literally !
has yet been accomplished /
in the line of banking logs. The {
amount on the skids, equals the {
expectations of operators. Men {
have been steadier, more willing to
do their best, and moro fearful {
daily Of loosing their job, or OF {
being still further cut down in e
wages. The work therefore OF the /
early winter, while the cold wealth C
er continued steady, was more gen. q
orally satisfactory to operators than 7
IS usually the case. With the un- Z
settled and uncertain weather Of {
January, the soft state Of the wood G
Dads, and the absense Of deep '
frosts, less work has been accom- '
piishcd, and the average cost Of 4
the work attained has greatly in c
creased. During the past two
weeks, many camps have broken
up, a1d we now hear Of men be- $
ng discharged by the hundreds. |,
)ne prominent operator employ r
ng 80 men and so teams, yester- II
lay telegraphed TO his foreman in a
amp, 70 break up, and discharge u
All hands. He started to get out W
- million and has ten millions on b
he skids. This is but an index Of I,
he generally prevailing feeling. il
10 Offset the blueness which this W
tate Of facts has engendered, we u,
nay mention that prominent OPP SC
rator informs us, that last winter OF
g handled his first log on the 18th SC
7 January, and put 10 stock OF OF
n million. There is yet time for ar
fair average stock TO be put into "a
ie streams. Two thirds Of stock ia
now cut and on the skids. One gr
onth Of good hauling well i'm to
roved would dispell all fears th
lack for the coming year. In ba
Iichigan 7O0,000,000 Of old logs III
ID lumber on hand, is available tr,
not anoflar offoL e mt - fh,