Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-12-16

A reporter of the HERALD yes
terdsy Interviewed a number Of
our leading lumber men. He first
looked in upon the Messrs. Perry
Woodworth & Co., with the fol.
lowing results. In reply to the frsl
inquiry the fact WAS elected thai
lumber is In very active demand,
both for use in town and In the
country, though I believe, said
a member Of the firm, the
country is using the most. The
call for lumber this year greatly
exceeds that Of last; 1 may safely
say that it is so per cent. more.
Reporter-Are the orders mostly
paid by cash or on time?
All the retail trade is cash, espe-
cialIy AS to the country trade. In
town, on account of the contract
work. we sometimes allow 25, so or
even rs per cent. of the order to
become payable as the work pro-
crosses. This really is a cash pay :
ment.
Reporter-Is the stock on hand
sufficient to readily meet the de.
maud?
No; il all the stock held by every
yard in town was put together 1t
would not represent full stock of
lumber, particularly SO in the way
of any material for house building;
and, as to laths, there are absO-
luteiy none in town; we expect to
have some shortly.
Reporter-What is the cause of
this dearth?
1t is referable to various causes,
but principally to the great de.
mand on the lumber men north,
and to that which has EN- barrassed
the yards here--great activity 10
local building.
Reporter--ls the trade better this
year than last?
Decidedly so; even with higher
prices our yard at Cotton has been
so heavily pressed that 1t is ex.
ceedipgly difficult to keep 1T sup
piled with material. 1t 10 entirely
out Of rustics and latbs.
RTporter-What class of mate
rial il mostly called for?
Every kind In about equal pro-
portion. Notwithstanding the
fact that our rains are SO late, there
ia great amount of lumber for
fences being sold. From Pasadena
to the Duarte there il a very ac-
tive demand for lumber for fences
this year. The San Gabriel valley
was the largest purchaser last year
on this account. The prices of
lumber and freights have materi-
ally advanced, partly owing to the
inadequacy OF the the supply attho
northern mills. Besides, there IL
u very large business doing with
the southern islands. All these
causes tend to make the lumber
men very independent. When the
rainy reason sets in the red wood
men will be able to get more tim.
Ger on hand; as, then, they car
float their logs down to the mills
This will make prices easier. Oul
| mill is driven as hard as 1t is posi-.
BILE to drive 1t, to enable US to meet
our orders. 1t has never had more
work TO do than at present.
The Reporter next looked In
upon Gunner, Kerekhoff & Co.
with the following result:
Reporter-How is the sale oil
lumber?
1t is and has been as good a. We
could wish.
Reporter-Whe are your primal.
pal purchasers
The country people mostly, al.
though there 10 q good demand Ii
the city. The aggregate amounti
| for both are at about the same fig
ures, the former using q large
amount OF rough and the latter FIN.
ished lumber.
| Reporter-How do your sales
compare with last year?
| They are now considerably great
er. The amount of stock on hanG
| 10 hardly sufficient to meet orders
although the prices have advanced
| 50 so on rough stock.
Rsporter-What class of lum bel
Is mostly called for?
Rough, but there ia very little Of
il on hand, as the mills north can
not comply with the orders fast
enough, there being an immense
demand all over the State. Lot
Angeles county has used an enor'
nous amount this season, and Il
the weather Is Satisfactory, as We
expect, 1t will put US to our utmost
endeavors to supply orders.
| Rsporter-Are your Gales cash Of
on time?
| Invariably cash. The people
don't appear to require time.
Another lumberman, whom oul
reporter interviewed. gave abou
the same information; and remark
ed that, although he had receive,
, q consignment Of lumber number
; ing about fifteen Nat cars, he ha
not half what his customers wer
/, / - - = II ~ - for