New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-21
LUMBER IN TIE NORTHWEST.
THE GREAT CHICAGO MARKET.

CHICAGO. Aug 13.-Iimc was when the Saginaw
Nich. district produced more pine lumber than any
other i'm tic United States. Doubtless the majority
of Ia tern men today other than those engaged In
the lumber business still think that Saginaw inc
princinoI centre of white pine lumber
production in America While 1t IS sun
point Of great Importance IN lumber Ipuus-
tfy and trade, and the country tributary
to the Saginaw Valley is yearly turning out an IN
crcasng amount Of forest products years recelpVS
of lumber at Chicago exceed all that IS produced IN
the Eastern Michigan district. In 1881 the output
of tie Saginaw Valley mills, together with those on
the Huron shore at AlpeDa, OscOda and IN Sable
amounted to 29G 2S6 SO feet. During the same
year the receipts of sawed pine at Chicago rcached
| 900 O33OOO Thus it Will be seen mat
though the Saginaw district, IN when
Is comprehended all Eastern blcmPan' SUI
produces n quantity OF lumber so vast that hgurcs
give no adequate conception OF 1t, the Lake MICH
igan pineries have left 1t far In the rear as regards
the yearly output. Chicago, rs a distributing
point. draws It's supplies from an area OF uuch
vastcr extent than Goes the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
mostly accessible TO the waters Of Lake Michigan
tn, remotest points of which are WITHIN forty
miles run to its docks By steam barge or schooner
Situated As the Chicago market is, the halfway
point between the grandest pine forests III the
world and the proirc regions Of the Northwest III was
apparently inevitable that 1t should become 'nc
largest lumber distributor OF both hcmisphereo Al
is not surprising that Chicago influences the mar
kcts of the entire country Even the value OF the
vast product Of the Mississippi Valley, amounting
in 1851 to 21lO, 146 feet OF pine luihper' 10
regulated by the market Of tins city, because
though the Mississippi supply exceeds tLat oI lno
districts tributary TO Chicago, 1t Is distributed III
various markets along the great river from
| IN Inua while the larger
portion of that produced about Lake
Michigan and its tributary waters reaches the
docks of the Northwestern metropolis.
The handling of lumber at Chicago is done by two
branches of the business-the cargo market ana
"the trade which are distinct in character ana
method. Tie cargo market receives the lum9er AT
the docks as it arrives in vessels, and commission
men sell It to the obbers, who dispose OF 1t III their
ward, and offer for sale to the trade ut large As
might be Supposed the two Interests arc
considerably magled Another element also
en- els INTO the business the manufacturers
of lumber are often yard dealers and operators on
the cargo market Indeed. there was such com
plexty of these three interests that the organlza-
ton Of the Chicago Lumbermen's Exchange became
a matter Of necessity to prevent antagonlsm aud de-
struction of rival interests. The Exchange en-
braces a majority of Chicago lumbornen' BESIDES
some of the Michigan, Wisconsin and MISSISSIPPI
River manu- lecturers. and Its membership numbers
about 100 1t represents capital OF TGOOOO,OOO'
and 1t is not surprising that II weids il areat III
nuence III the lumber trade OF the continent
The Chicago lumber market for the sale of
cargoes IS situated a. the junction Of South Water
and Fraulln-sts. on the main branch OF the canal
that is dIgniied by the name of Chicago River
near its junction with the North and south Branches,
and thcfore il is handy for the distribution OF car
goes 10 the docks of the jobbeIs yards, which are
| mostly situated Oh the branches. The Exchange
offices and hall are in building that faces both the
river and South Watcr-St, and the
Offices of dealers and commission men occupy
the ncighboring buildings for several blocks either
way from the Exchange. The business and capital
here concentrated would set MP y large Interior
,ovn. Vessels with carpoes Of lumber consigned
for sale are ranged along the docks at the market,
and are often packed abreast until only small
channel is left for the passage of craft up and down
ttr riy-r In the season ol heaviest arrivals, and
when the wind j. favorable for bringing IN TIE
lumber fleet it is common to see hty to seventy-hve
carpoes at the market at once though ordinarily thr-
tx cargoes make good fleet. As the cargoes change
owner, mp they are taken in tow by tugs and pulled
10 the yards OF the purchasers
The lumber district where the majority of the
wards are clustered stretches for about two miles
alout the south Branch. ia the southwestern part
y. 4
ond and Lumber-sts, on The north side OF the
branch. though quite u large NUMBER of yards are
scattered along other sec ions OF the branches. 4
new district was established last tall north OF the
Unon ock Yards. III the vicinity oi Thirty -hith-
ST. having water connection with the South
Hranch There are also several extensive yards at
the mouth of the harbor GA tn lake front.
The extent Of this jobbug business may be under
stooa by the fact th4t TIA Re are eghty-ive whole
sale yards and that they handle from 2O'OO000O to
LOG 900 900 fees Of lumber each annually, several
concerns making annual sales Of 4O,OOOO0O to
60 900, 900 feet. The lumber district proper has
about two mics VI frontage the br men, besides
al ont five niles Of slips dockcd both sides.
The new district at the stock yards has at
least al milo and "a half OF doc&age Add to tine
FOREGOING the scattering yards ana those on the
lake front and there cannot be less than fifteen
miles of Undergrad dockage in Chicago Thus #
Inc lumber yards of this city were placed in a row
they would extend fifteen mits, and the belt would
average five hundred feet IN width The YARDS of
fins city usually contain an aggregate .tock Of
800 600 600 feet of lumber, besides shingles, lath,
etc.
The lumber business Of Chicago has had
4 history OF struggle and triumph more
interesting TO the actors in it than to the
general public. But its more immediate record
mas ~, inter st TO every iumbernan IN the country.
As has been remarked. the value Of white pine lnm
Der Is largely determined by prices in his market
line prcc-sts sent ont by the trade mere under the
sanction of the Exchange, are watched anXousiy |
hy ;ho dealers in Ncw-l ork Albany, Buffalo Ceye-
land. Toledo, saginaw and Bay CHy but more |
auXiously by tae dealers on the Mississippi When |
Chicago advances prices nearly every primary |
maTke, west of the Saginaw fol-
lows the lead ana th' markets. |
east feel tle influence Of the chance. The sane J.,
true when thcr. Is decline At CnIcag0-the effect
beng more serious however, often sending con-
,,ernation 10 tue mind, o. all western lumber own
.1.-L Ia ny, n