St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-17
NORTHWEsTERN LUMBER.
Meeting Of The Association Held YESTERDAY
The Presidents ADDRESS and the ho"-
tine Business--Reports of the C"t--A
Plan for Pooling.

The Northwestern LuIn DerInenS aosoCi"-
ton met in convention in Minneapolis yes
tcrday, with large attendance.
President A. G. Van Shaik called the
meeting to order. He stated that 1t would
please him if the convention select some one
else to occupy the chair, but upon the motion
of Vice President Merriman Mr.. Van Shaik
was unanimously voted the choice OF the
body Platt 3. Walker was chosen assistant
to secretary E. S. Hotchkss, when the presi-
dent delivered an address OF some length, IN
the course of which he said:
ssWe have met to-day to consider the pres |
ent condition of western lumber trade, and |
to discuss matters connected with it, and by
the aid of the knowledge we acquire here,
endeavor to conduct our business for the adj
vantage of the lumber producing section we
represent.
I'VE, at the opening of the saving season
OF 1884, are confronted by surplus OF saw
logs, large but not an excessive supply OF
lumber, q moderate demand from yard deal
ers generally, d fair consumption of building
material and declining market for agricul-
tural products, merchandise and labor. This
condition of trade is not altogether satisfac-
tory, but with the present easy money mar
lumber for consumption during the year,
remedies may be applied that will place the
Western lumber business on @ substantial
basis.
st would be equally unbusin ess-like for
apv action to be taken at this convention to
reduce the supplyof lumber with the intention
of advancing current prices, as such acton
would be unfair to consumers, whose assets
have declined in value during six months
past, and for the additional reason that
manufacturers not in sympathy with Us would
naturally increase their production. Rather
seek to increase the net returns by economy
in usuiEg logs, ana reduction in the cost
Of manufacture by reducing the pressure Tor
labor and transportation, and the waste OF
mill machinery in saving the last fifth OF
your stock, which actually brings no return.
l respectfully suggest that the true policy
for lumber manufacturers is to saw less
lumber the present season than last carry
the unsawed logs into 1885, and provide less
logs hereafter, until consumption equals
the manufacturing capacity of the country"
| respectfully suggest that the convention
consider that portion OF the Morrison tariff
bill which proposes to place lumber on the
free list. As no Canadian lumber can De
sold In Minnesota or Wisconsin and little at
Chicago, it may not appear OF suticlent I'M
portance to warrant attention. In my opin-
ion it would have been proper to have fXed
the time for placing lumber on the free list
| when the Dominion OF Canada made the
| lumber Of the west as free Of duty when ship
ed into the British possessions, and also
believe that the enactment Of the law would
result in advancing value OF Canadian pine
| lumber, and not reduce the cost OF lumber In
| the least to western consumers.
ANY business which relates to the manu-
| facture or sale OF lumber will be in order to-
| day. and trust a full and free discussion
will be had, and that when this convention
adlourns eech delegate will consider that his
time has been proftably employed.
| THE CUT.
| f. Warehouser, Of Chippewa Falls, stated
| that there are about 896, 900, 900 feet Of logs
cut along the Chippewa but low water Will
| interfere with the drive.
| Ernest Harper, of Saltwater, said there are
| about Is, 600, 900 feet OF new logs on the st.
Croi1, and the aggregation Of old and new
logs is 325, ZOO, 900, about the same as last
| year
g. =. Shaw of Davenport, reported that
there are about zoe, 900 old and new
| logs in Black river, which Is j less amount
than last year, and the chances for clean
drive are slim. In Davenport, Rock Island
and Moline the stock Of lumber is less than
last year.
Major Camp, Of Minneapolis, stated that
100, 0O0, 900 feet of logs had been carried over
from last year on the upper Mississippi, but
| the amount would be reduced by losses to
1T0, 900, 900 feet. There is about 310, 900, 900
feet In the new cut, making 4 total Of $50,
900, 900 feet. OF this amount, about $50,
900, 900 feet will probably be cut, and the
balance will DO carried over to the next year.
Thos. Cranage, Jr., Of Bay City, stated the
supply Of logs in the Saginaw valley will be
about the same as last year He explained
also that the lum Der trade Of his district was
| being extended to northern markets eXClu-
| sively.
Mr.. Swan Of Nuskegon reported about
800, 600, 900 feet cut-new and old-on the
Muskegon. OF the amount about 200, 900,
900 feet had been carried over from last
year. He stated in addition that sales OF
lumber are light
| UNITED ACTION.
T. W. Harvey. Of Chicago, took the floor
to advocate united action by all the lum
herman in regard to prices of lumber, and
explained that last year the dealers and man
| ulacluTeES WCTe sure Vi Ouc uOlldT per IuOu
sand through the medium of circular SEM
out by the secretary Of the association.
Z. w. Durant, of Saltwater, said in sub
stance: sIn our section we had expected
high water and good drive, but the snow
has passed off with little good to us. What
think would be the best thing to do would 5t
to appoint u committee to draw up state
ment Of. what is needed, and then we can
adopt .,it:y,.aBsAe drives, unless we get album
dant Esins win be partial failure. In that
event Something must be done for protec
! tion|p and L would suggest that committee
OF ten be appointed to draw up plan of &C
! tion.''
Gov. Ludington, of Milwaukee, was Of thu
opinion that their logs would get in all right
They had carried over some 100000, 00t
feet Of logs from last year and had cut 400
900, coo feet the present season.
The following committee was appointed
on business:
E. w. Durant, Saltwater.
o. G. Merriman, Minneapolis.
F. Warehauscr, Rock Island.
A. G. Van Schaick, Chicago.
NJ. G. Norton, Winona.
j. G. Thorp Eau Claire.
Thomas Cranage, Jr., Bay City.
W. j. Young, Clinton.
L. W. Harvey, Chicago.