Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-10

Present 1na1eations-6srea2 9hortsge in
the Cut Last Winter-Priees Mast Ad.
vaDce.

From careful and accurate canvass of
the situation made by . gentleman we'll enti-
tied by years of experience in the business,
to have his statements credited for facts, it is
found that there il . very large deficiency of
logs cut the past winter a. compared with the
cut of year ago.
For the great eastern lumber producing
section, which includes the lumber that goes
to St. John from the Aroostook country,
Calais, Nachias, Peuobscot river. Ken.
nebec river, Androscoggin river, and
the lumber that goes into Portland over
the Grand Trunk Railroad, there is 332, ,OOO,.
600 feet less than the year 1888; an am oun.
equal to the total cut of Kennebec and Penob-
scot for that year. The causes for this great
reduction are various, owing to the general
impression during the summer and autumn
of 1888 that the business of the country was
in depressed condition; also to the long
drouth, there being a large smount Of logs
that could not be sawed at the Eastern water
mills; and also to the high prices
VI othci years Askeu Oy WOOosmen,
operators, and owners of timber land who
were cautious and preferred to do nothing
rather than run the risk of losing ther stump
age. Concerns owning timber land in con-
nection with ther mills must cut every year,
and those that started in were in many cases
obliged to abandon their chances and 60 home
after the great gale in November. All over
the State the trees were uprooted by that
gale, and an incalculable amount of valuable
timber tracts almost ruined. A quarter of a
century will not replace the growth destroyed
in that terrific storm. The crews that did
remain had hard, uphill work to keep their
teams supplied with logs through the winter
In February the snow began to pile up in
large quantities. and by the 18th of March
there was not IN the State of Maine dozen
concerns hauling logs; the deep snow in
connection with the fallen timber drove them
out. Usually March 10 the best month for
logging; the roads are good, the days long,
and four weeks in March are counted a. being
equal to six in January, if such thing could
be-hence the saying ''six weeks shedding in
March,"
1t is an easy matter to foresee the result
There are lare quantities Of idle money in the
country at the present time. There is moth
ing that the capitalist can invest in where his
money is SO safe and the returns so sure and
satisfactory ~ in real estate. and buildings
thereon. There will be q vast amount Of
lumber used in the large cities this year.
There are not logs enough in the State to
stock the mills. even assuming that they are
all driven in, for more than two-thirds Of the
summer, and before September there must
be . very considerable and natural advance
in the price Of spruce lumber. Some of the
largest and most sagacious manufacturers in
the State are already declining any and all
orders At preset prices, preferring to saw their
logs into desirable lengths and widths and
ship as random.
The logs have cost more, and are being
sold or held at an advance over last years
prices.
Owing to the early disappearance Of the
snow, the question of successful drives 10 a.
yet uncertain. At the present time, however.
they are as general thing in advance of last