Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-29
The southern Lumber Business,


Der business of the South was not salts
factory to the men engaged in it. There
is now a decided change, particularly i'll
those sections tributary to the Western
and Northwestern markets. The reports
from these sections are far more hopeful
than they were year ago, and almost
invariably speak of better prices and an
increased demand. The Eastern markets
are still dull, and manufacturers have
crowded their lumber into New York and
sold it at ruinOusly low figures. This
state of things leads us to the conclusion
that yellow pine lumber is gaming head
way much faster in the West than in the
East, and without doubt the difference in
the demand in the two sections Will grow
larger year after year.
The Southern manufacturers have labor
ed under many disadvantages, but the
clouds are gradually growing thinner. To
start with, yellow pine lumber was new a
few wears ago to lumber consumers out
side the boundaries Of the Southern States,
and they had to become acquainted with
the many excellent qualities it possesses.
For flooring they were uncertain whether
il was better than white pine, and many
had no idea it could ever take the place of
hard wood. Its strength and durability
were not taken into account, and it is
only of late that ear builders and house
builders have learned that for certain
uses there is no wood that will answer so
we'll In consequence of this ignorance
regarding 1T, yellow pine lumber had to
be forced into use. 1t has stood every
test admirably, and now can stand upon
its recognized merits.
Up to this time freight rates have in
many cases been against the manufactu-
rer. Some of the roads have been eXorbi-
tant IN their charges so far as the best in
terests of the saw-mill men were concern
81,
manufacturer little enough profit, while
he must see the lower grades lie in pile
unable to move them. This has been dis
cOuraging, but matters in this respect
will improve. 1t must be remembered
that some of the roads have had little eX-
cept lumber to move, and they have ar
gucd that to pay them working expenses
high rates were absolutely neces-
Sary. Some of them have already soft
ened considerably, and no doubt the 9th
ers will in time. New roads are being
constructed, and every new road that is
built will tend to lower rates. 1t must
be remembered also that there will be a
constant increase in other products than,
those of the forests to be hauled. The
new South is something immense to think
about. That section is just arising from
the paralyZing effects of the war, North
ern and foreign capital is being invested,
and vigorous energy will be exercised in
every Southern State. Mines will be
opened, and agriculture receive a new
impetus. No one of a mature mind can
look back without rejecting that cotton
once made the South opulent, and the
same material fOlmed a tie that bound
the interests Of the South closely
to those of the British Government.
The same cotton lands remain, and though
they have suffered from neglect and SLOW
emily cultivation, it would be rash to say
that in the near future they will not re-
ceiVe the treatment that will cause them
to yield as they once did. Foreign syndi-
| Gates are making an effort to place in the
South the labOrers of their own countries,
and all the time a sprinkling of the immi-
grants that reach our shores is drifting in
that direction. As our population in
creases the South will grow in
accordance with the advantages it
offers. The unreliable darkey will
| give way to the reliable white work.
man, who, seeing chance to hew out a
| fortune of his own, such as he might
never hope for in his native country, will
| labor with a will that only man with
| such an ambition can. Every improve
ment means more business for the rail
ways, and the time will come when the
railway officials will be unable to say
| that they must charge high rate for
| carrying lumber because they can get
| little else to carry.
There are no finer forests in the world
| than in the South. They are free from
the tantaliZing underground so common
| in the North, the clearing away Of which
| preparatory to logging operations is
big item of expense. Timber lands are
| cheap. A few dollars an acre, bringing
| the cost of stumpage at a few cents per
| thousand, will often buy desirable tracts.
| That such land is good investment is
shown by the fact that Northern lumber
men are aYailing themselves of the
chances to purchase, Lands which two
years ago were considered uAsaleable
! have changed hands, and are adj
yaneing in value. People are fast
| learning that the timber on
/ Southern lands is not all there is of value.
We have been told wonderful stories
about the delta lands of Mississppi-the
! stupendous growth of the forests, and the
unparalleled fertility of the soil. In Ten
nessee a mans timber is liable to stand
over mines of value, and the same may
| be said of North Carolina and West NIr-
pinia. There is no question about the
| price of timber in the South advancing.
| There is a great deal of white pine in the
| Northwest, but the end will come some
( day. and the nearer the end is reached
| fhe more valuable the Southern timber
will become. The improvement OF streams,
| the building of mills in new sections, the
| opening up OF territory Dy raliroa9s, VIII
| all help the advance along. There is
no staying it. We are a mighty
people now, but we are bound in time to
! be a good deal mightieP, and the more
populous our land becomes the more call
/ saere will be for the forests products.
s.as5 winter Michigan men went in par
f6S to che South to look after timber
l. e. ana they will do the same the COM
Ian. 0Bter. Indiana and Michigan were
ing W Ne great hardwood producing
once Il. Z they have lost their prestige,
States, bu ~iEess is moving southwark.
and the bu. manufacturing concerns of
Many of the Ii large quantities of hard
this city that us erected mills south
wood lumber hay, Nn's line to supply
of Mason and Dix, several of them
them with lumber, acts of timber.
having bought large TT. en- stamDage
They understand that VIII, lumber can
can be bought very cheaply I'd to be a
be produced cheaply. There us, I'd, but
spleen against Southern hard Wo, nc Of
there is no longer. Not long ago o.