The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-09-24
DAILY INfELHGENCER.
Saturday, Sept. "a. 1881.
IS the INCREASED DEMAND LEGITIMATE,

70 INK INSAcSseu DeHAND Lk6tIiGATEl
The volume of trade that the present
season has developed, has been at once
most remarkable in its extent aud cor
respondingly gratifying to all who are
engaged IN the lumber trade IN the en-.
tire country. Were the increased fig
ures applicable only to one section Of
the country. it might well be esteemed
= matter of local interest, arising from
purely local causes, tina, the sales of
lumber had increased by twenty f We
per cant above the volume of any pre-
vious year or years; but when from
every part OF the land the same ratio
Of increase is reported. it is not On un>
warrantable assertion that TO the gener,
oil condition of prosperity in the Uni
ted States. and to that alone, is attrib-
utable the enormous. and apparently
increasing. demand for lumber. This
being assumedsit At once becomes 9
question ofths greatest interest as to
the probabilities of continuance OF the
present condition of the country, and
to what extent it is likely that the con-
sumption Of lumber will continue in
its present volume. or be still further
increased; a. upon . satisfactory solu-
ton Of this question depends,. TO great
degree the judicioasness and profitable
ness of future operations upon the part
of lumbermen. who. rs Q class. already
realize that the rapid disappearance of
the forests. and the comparative near at
hand period of their extinction in those
quarters that. for the past quarter of a
century. have been depended upon for
Q supply. forbids the further produc.
ton of lumbet under such conditions
as will prevent the realization of fair
remuneration upon the cost Of the stand
ing timber and the labor Of preparing
it for market.
The recent period of depression. con-
tinuing for several years. is not likely
70 be soon forgotten by those who have
been engaged in commercial pursuits
during the past decade. ard the young
er portion OF the commercial commu>
nifty, while more hopeful, naturally
may web be excused for entertaining
fear that. with the enormous impetus
which they have seen impaired to all
branches OF business during the past
two years. another period Of depres-
sion is not unlikely to be realized in
the not far. distant future. The older
men in commercial pursuits will be
more ready to look back upon the ex =
perieDce Of their life time, and give
credence to the assertion that trade in
its rise. progress and elimination, is
governed by srnatural law which, in
this country, completes cycle of about
ten years. and to draw the legitimate
inference that the next eliminating pc
Rod is still to be looked for. a full six
years beyond the present one. 1t is
true that speculation was never more
rampant than ut present, and that an
intensely speculative feeling-sdvauc.
ing values beyond what good judgment
can spprove-is of the very essence OF
those causes which lead ultimately to
crash in business circles. and the re.
SUI: *idely spread commercial distress.
But 1t must not be forgotteH that all
the conditions of growth and progress
in the United States must be taken into
account in comparing the speculative
manias OF the past with that which pre-.
walls OF the present. 1t must not be
forgotten that since about the culmi-
mating period of the last era of specu-
lation our population has been increased
by not far from, aud probably exceed
ing, fifty per cent. and that the in
crease issstil continuing in q tide of
emigration which is adding a half
million people eachyear in addition to
the natural additions which may be
looked for from q population iexceed<
ing 80 DOC. 600 souls. The older settled
portions of the land are becoming not
only more wealthy. and consequently
more luxarious In the habits Of .Saeir
people. but as we'll more thoroughly
manufacturing sections than ever in
the pan, and more densley populated
These conditions will at once be re
cognixed ~ those which will ACCOUNT
for an increased demand for building
matorisi. which must consist largely Of
forest products. noswithsta ndine the
natural adoption Of brick. stone and
iron, incident to, and q necessity Gin,
more densely populated communities.
But il the East has grown in pop
ulasion. the West has developed ia
ten-fold greater proportion those in.
ducements which lead to progress. and
her fertile prairies and the untold
wealth Of mineral resources which the
past decade have Developed, have
proved . loadstons 10 attract not oply
the redundant populAtiok of Trans.
Atlantic nations. but the youth. energy
and enterprise which has been. crowded
out of. or would seek . larger field of
enterprise than 10 afforded by the east
err States. Let those who are disposed
to doubt the legitimacy Of the present
seasons development in thu demand
for lumber study the DEVELOPMENTS
/ hich IA "a 7erna "a ffa1 kka >nx,.,~r..-.