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

our most reputable manufacturers of
reapers scattered circulars broadcast
over some of the Southern States asking
for offers of white ash. We never
saw finer ash than came from
Louisiana, and no better wagon
stock is produced than in Kentucky, Ten
nessee and Mississippi. Certain man.
ufacturers claim that as some of the oak
and ash in the South is darker in color
than the finest found in the North, it is
therefore OF less value. Good sense dis
cards such claim, except when once in
thousand times the lumber may be
wanted for special purpose. SO many
wagons are painted that the exceptions
are not worth mentioning, and when a
man grasps a hoe, plow or rake handle
what cares he whether the wood is one
shade lighter or darker than a standard
/ set by some stickler. He wants bum
cOmbe quality, and he gets i in the
Southern timber as well as in the North
ern, as numerous tests have shown.
1t is most hopeful sign that the South
ern mill men have learned that in order
to meet the requirements of the markets
good mills are a necessity. And not only
good mills, but good men to run them.
| There is not tenth part of the hap-haZard
saving done in the South that there was
three years ago. Good planning mills have
gone in, and dry-kilns have been erected.
Open air drying by fire IS fast losing
ground, as it ought to, for by such a
process the lumber is badly cOlored by
smoke and poorly dried. There are some
as fine mill plants i'm the South as there
are I'm the Northwest. Lumber, to be we'll
| received in any market, should be evenly
sawed and nicely trimmed to standard
lengths. We used to see Southern pine
il0Oring in this market with ragged ends
| but there is very little of it now. To pay
frsslra
must be cut off anyhow before the boards
show for what they are worth, or before
they will sell for what they are worth, is
poor policy. Manufacturers in other
lines understand that to find a ready and
paying market for their products attract
iYeness must figure in their makeup. Men
are not willing to pay for crudity. This,
| we are glad to know, is now understood
pretty generally in the South. 1t is not
only question of yellow pine against
white pine, but of yellow pine lumber of
! one section against that of another
section. If poorly manufactured
lumber from one mill be sent
to market and placed for sale
alongside the well manufactured product
of another mill, the former would lie and
rot, unless sold at a reduction, provided
there was enough Of the latter 10 supply
the demand. 1t pays to do well what is
worth doing at all, and nowhere better
than in the manufacture of lumber.
There is no reason for disbursement
to settle down upon the lumber manufac-
turers of the South. Many Ofthem have an
ample supply of timber that cost them
but little. The finest yellow pine forests
we ever saw in Mississippi did not cost
the owner two cents per thousand stump
age. These lands, as we have said, are
rapidly increasing in value, and will go
higher yet. The market for yellow pine
| lumber is a growing One-it will in time
reach enormous proportions-and profits
to the mill men will be larger as
| transportation facilities are extended.
The business will be one of constant
gain; and finally the result will be, as it
has been in the Northwest, large and
wealthy firms and corporations will con-
troll it,"