The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-12
AuSTIN,S PROSPERITY.
The Lumber Trade Of the Capital
The Vast Increase in the Sales,
Etc.

Inc dSt III Cdlt
Etc.
Just at this time we have though
, great interest would be manifested
the rapid growth of our city. Aust
, is on a boom. Walk along any Of i
: streets and you will notice new bull
ings springing up on every han
Visit the incoming trains and yO
will note the constant influx of pc
SONS who are continually coming [
the capital of Texas for the purpos
of making it their home. If you Wis
the recorders Office you may find b
the records the remarkable increase i
the transfers of real estate. Ca
upon the land agents, and they Wi
tell you never in the history of Aus
tin was real estate in such deman
and purchasers so numerous. Tn
forthcoming city directory will ind
cate about 1900 inhabitants, so rap
idly has the city increased in popula
ton. Perhaps nothing will give
better index TO the great amount 0
building going on than an insight t.
the lumber trade. IN order to get a
the facts in this respect reporter TO
TIE STATESMAN yesterday inter
Viewed the lumber dealers in Austin
and, as might be expected. all reported
an increase of trade fully in keepins
With the other evidences Of Austin
l'rogreSsiveneSS. Austin has for sew
ciaI ears been d great lumber mar.
ket, but the trade came to a
great extent from the surrounding
country. At one time, for circuit
OF 80 miles, the farmers came to the
capital to purchase lumber, but at
present the country trade is not SO
large, for the reason that the many
railroads which thread this territory
put the building material down much
nearer to the farmer than it would be
at Austin; hence he gets it at these
points instead of coming the longer
distance to the Capital, as formerly.
This fact should not be lost sight of
in reviewing the great increase in
lumber sales, for the inference Ger
tainly follows that the city trade
must have increased to very great
extent. The first yard visited was
that of
S. w. FRENCH.
This gentleman, some few weeks
ago. bought out LOOMS Il Christian,
and is now engaged in business,at the
stand of the old firm. His yard is
simply immense and might be more
properly designated by acres than
otherwise. Over $4,000 is invested
in building material, and there ar. in
the yard to-day 100000 feet of Ium-
Der. Every freight train brings sew
eral Car loads to keep the stock up to
the maximum quantity. His city
sales now average about 1900 feet
per day, notwithstanding it is mid
summer. At this time of the year the
country trade, of course, is very light
This gentleman is also doing con-
siderable lumber manufacturing. Four
saws are kept running all the time;
a planning mill is kept in full blast;
there is an extensive moulding manu-
factory and large sash, doors and
blinds establishment in connection.
He employs thirty men and six teams
in and about the business. The lumber
is purchased principally in this state
and Louisiana. The white pine is
brought from st. Louis, Chicago,
Wisconsin and Michigan. Every
thing in the lumber line to be had for
building purposes may be found here.
Mr.. French stated to our reporter
that it was wonderful the amount of
lumber being purchased for building
in Austin at present, and he an
larger increase as the sea-
son advances.
G. F. MILLETT'S
large lnmber yard was next visited.
He carries about the same stock as
Mr. ErpDnh an6 hoe in xror1 NJ H.
present 100000 feet. His sales to
city customers aggregate about 15,-
JOO feet per day. He, too, reported
the country sales light but the city
trade excessively brisk. There is no
lumber mandatory. connected with
this mammoth yard except a planning
mill, etc. The business gives EN-
plOyment to twenty-five men and
from six to eight teams daily.
Our reporter took stroll through the
yard and viewed the veritable noun
tains of lumber piled on either side Of
The drive ways. here he saw all
qualities and kinds used for building
purposes enough, it would seem, to
build a large city of itself, and yet
are constantly arriving at
he yard from the lumber regions of
Texas and Louisiana, as well as from
he North. Mr.. Millett agreed with
Mr.. French as to the great increase in |
he city demand, and the interview
gave abundant proof of the rapid |
growth Austin is having.
GARDINER & co.
was the next point that claimed the
'eporter's attention. These gentle
men have about $4,000 capital in
vested, and employ thirty-fve men
md several teams. Their city sales
average in the neighborhood of 1000 |
ieet per day. The gentleman in
charge, with whom our reporter con-
versed, said that all the trade at pres
ent was in the city, but added that |
he city trade had never been so large |
as it is at the present time. Gardiner
& Co. have an extensive mandatory
connected with their yard. Here all
their planning is done, sash, doors and
blinds made and fancy cut lumber
and church seats manufactured.
They make their purchases
in this state and Louisiana,
except the white pine which is shipped
from Oshkosh, Wis. The yard is
very extensive one, and all grades are
handled. The interview with our re-
porter ended with complete evidence
Of the remarkable increase in the
lumber demand.
MALE s co.
are the proprietors of another i'm
mense lumber yard in the capital.
They, too, were visited by the STATES
MAN representative. These gentle
men have capital of $4,000 invest
ed, and their city sales average from
10000 to 1900 feet daily. A large in
crease in the city demand was report
ed. This firm do something in the
line. They have eX
tenSive planing-millS, and manufac
ture both doors and blinds; likewise,
all fancy-cut lumber, etc. About
twenty men are employed and six or
eight teams kept busy. Mr.. Male eS-
timated that at least so per centum of
his sales were to city customers, and
remarked that the city trade was
wholly unprecedented.
A. VAN PATTEN
was then interviewed. He has quite
a large capital invested in the lumber
trade. His sales are about 5000 feet
per day. He said he had never seen
the demand for lumber so great in
this city as at the present. time. In
his large yard is to be found every
grade, but he does no manufacturing
himself. He purchases the most OF
his lumber form this state and Louisi-
ana. He is building large ware
house 80x23 feet for storing sash,
doors Minds etc