, 1883-02-22
Lumber Trade with Europe.

SAN Francisco, Feb. 19.-The in
novation recently caused in CONNER
cial circles by the shipment of lumber
to Europe has been productive of
considerable comment as to the prob
ability of creating a new and very
profitable industry, at the time of
the initiatory shipment by the Ger
man bark Helene. The venture was
purely speculative, and the impress
sion created was due to the low
freights of deep water vessels, and
that ship owners preferred to carry
exports on their own account rather
than incur the additional expense of
waiting for better freights. Within
the past few weeks affairs have taken
such turn as to warrant increased
trade in lumber with Europe and
dealers in consequence are jubilant.
Very recently a shipment of Wash
ington Territory red fir was made to
Scotland, including small quantity
of cedar. 1t was sent by a promi-
nent firm. Certain grades of black
walnut will eventually enter largely
into articles of furniture. inquiries
were made by Danish house of To-
cal lumber firms, requesting informa
tion as to the resources of Oregon
and Washington Territory, and re-
ferring particularly to the numbering
interests of the latter, and the posi-
bility of establishing q trade. In this
respect they limited, as information,
that the supply from the Baltic was
inadequate to meet the demands of
the whole continent, and they may
have to look to America for stocks.
Another shipment was recently made
to London, of which northern lumber
formed the most important article of
export, and today q contract was
made for direct shipment from Wash
ington Territory of an assorted cargo
of lumber to Panama The only diff
ticulty to the complete success of the
new enterprise seems to be the freight
rates. The correspondence which
has been opened on the subject places
the home supply in Europe wholly
out of question as offering any COM
petition against shipments from this
coast. On the other hand no definite
understanding exists in the minds of
local dealers as to the particular kind
of lumber needed by the foreign mar
ket, though the opinion is generally
entertained that red fir and white
pine would be most in demand, which
would be used principally for finish
ing purposes. A shipment of the lat.
ter was made to Antwerp about two
months ago, the success of which will
be anxiously awaited. The coast de
mand has largely increased, the prin-
cipal drift being outside trade, ex-
tending as far southwark in direction
as the scene of railroad improvements
in Mexico. All these have drawn
largely on the lumber supply,so much
SO as to induce enterprising shippers
to extend operations further from
home by coming into active competi-
tion with Quebec trade in Central and
South America, notably Montevideo
and BuenOs Ayres. Trade with the
Australian colonies is rapidly assum.
ing great proportions, the principal
export there being lumber for home
building. China is gradually coming
to the front rs a direct importer, and
it is believed that during the present
year she will be one of the most i'm
portant importers. Dealers have
every reason to feel gratitied at the
business and regard the future not
only as promising but as decidedly
hattering