St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-21
They Hold an Interesting Meeting In
Chicago.
A Decision Arrived at to Curtail the Lumber
Production.
A Partial List ofthelN orthwesternersPres
ent.
/ Special Telegram to the Globe

their mill at any certain time. The associa-
ton met at the Grand Pacific hotel. 1t repre-
sents $500, 000,0 900 in capital, and an annual
production of 50, 500, 900 worth of lumber.
The members present from the northwest
were NJ. G. Norton and VIM. Hayes, Winona,
Mimi; E. F. Hopkins, Davenport, Iowa;
G. W. Gardner, Lyons, Iowa; Ira Stock
bridge, Lyons; s. Bryant, Milwaukee;
D. Joyce, Shell Lake, Wis; N. G.
Foster Fairchild, Wis; G. W. Farnham, G. A
Camp, o. G. Merriam, L. Day, j. c. Kim
ball, A. Z. Scnering, B. F. Nelson, P. B.
Walker, Minneapolis: G..B, Burch, G. w.
Robinson, Dubuque; Vim. Irvine, Chippewa
Falls, Wisconsin; L. b. Woodeigh, Clinton,
Iowa; j. L Gilbert, Milwaukee; D. Joyce,
Lyons, Iowa; G. NJ. Hanton, Lyons, Iowa;
VIM. Carson. Geo. W. Mason, Eau Claire;
Sawyer s. Austin, La Crosse, Wisconsin,; S.
r. Mcknight, Hannibal and Eau Claire;
Phletus Sawyer, Oshkosh, Wisconsin; John
A. Humbird, White River, Wisconsin; w.
j. Young, Clinton, Iowa; R. F. Hersey, E.
W. Durant, Saltwater, Minnesota: o. FL. In
gram, Eau Claire; j. G. Thorp, D. R.
Moon, Eugene Show, G. A. Bullen, Eau
Claire; W. r. Bourne, Baronette, Wisconsin.
Under the customary preliminary proceed
ings, Presidential. G. Vanschaick, of Chicago,
delivered the annual address, the major por-
ton of which was as follows:
Statistics presented at our semi-annual
convention at Minneapolis in April last indi
Gated that the supply of logs and lumber in
our territory was ample, but not excessive
for season of usual prosperity, but since
that date the demand for lumber has not met
the expectation of manufacturers, owing to
unforeseen changes in financial af-
fairs and the absence of an
active foreign demand for western produce
Conservative business men see in this
changed condition OF affairs a good reason
curtailment, and lumber manufacturers
must share this sentiment when they realize
that stocks of lumber are steadily increasing
at all principal distributing points and a
marked reduction in consumption, while the
mills are being run to their full capacity and
the supply kept at the maximum of other
years, when sales were promptly
made at satisfactory prices. Large
stocks of lumber. wherever held,
should not alarm manufacturers, as the same
property, less the cost of production, was
held in the tree as an investment but re-
Gently, and they fully understand that since
1858 the stock of dry lumber in western
markets has been sufficient. What in my
opinion is required, is the same willingness
on the part of manufacturers to protect
sawed lumber that they exhibit in producing
it. The invested capital of lumbermen has
never been larger than at this time, and they
should willingly carry a portion of their stock
until the markets of the country absorb
and consume it. The supply of logs for the
year 1884 is really of greater importance to
manufacturers than the lumber now in sight
and likely to be sawed during 1884, and logs
provided and generally paid for. as many of
them can be carried forward to next year.
Overproduction is now the great evil and
must be corrected, as it adds to the cost and
expense of everything pertaining to manu-
featuring and the rapid increase in value
Credits have been extended on sales beyond
a desirable limit and during one year past
the entire profit has been removed
from common grades of lumber at whole
sale. These evils can only be removed or
modified by allowing the demand for lumber
TO overtake the supply. The attendance to-
day, representing so large an amount of CAPT
tai and volume of business, is to me strong
evidence of desire on the part of lumber
manufacturers to conform their operations to
the changed condition of affairs, which now
affects commercial and manufacturing inter
ests generally. At full discussion should
take place at this time, and the convention
should consider the following questions dur
ing it session.
First-Has the production of pine lumber
in the northwestern states overtaken and ex-
ceeded the annual demand?
Seconds the supply of logs and lum Der
now held by manufacturers in excess of
their ability to protect, and how do stocks of
lumber at distributing markets compare with
other years!
Third-During the present financial condi-
ton of the country and considering the cur
rent price of agricultural products, can lum-
bermen expect any increased demand for
lumber or higher pricess
Fourth-Would it not be desirable to pro-
duce 5000, 900, 900 feet of lumber in 1885 in
the northwest, as com pared to z, 800, 900, 900,
and save the 1900, 900, 900 feet of standing
timber and the whole cost of marketing it as
proftl
Fifth-In what manner can curtailment
be made if deemed advisable!
These questions must be squarely met and
decided by the lumber manufacturers of the
northwest, and when they understand the
condition of trade rely upon their good
judgment to adjust their business to conform
to the rules of supply and demand. We are
well aware that the supply of pine timber is
limited and being rapidly reduced by fire and
the demands of an increasing population in
all sections of the country, and that no bust
ness depression can materially change the
present value of standing pine.
The officers and directors who had served
the previous year were then reelected.
Then followed a general discussion, during
which the opinion was pretty unanimously
expressed that if mills were not stopped a
great loss would occur, though the difficulty
of maintaining an agreement between man
ufacturers was acknowledged. A number of
members detailed their experience, and let
tiers from members unable to attend were
read, giving local statistics and opinions.
The questions raised in the presidents adj
dress were submitted to special committee
who reported as follows:
Your committee. to whom the questions in
the presidents address were referred, report
as follows:
First-Has this production of fine lumber
in the northwestern states overtaken and
exceeded the demandl
We answer, yes.
Seconds the supply of logs and lumber
now held by manufacturers in excess Of
their ability to protect, and how do stocks of
lumber at distributing markets compare
with former yearsl
We divide this question and answer to the
first part OF 1t that individually we think the
manufacturers cannot control OF protect pri-
ces, but unitedly and with com ined effort
we believe they can. Your committee not
having sufficient statistics at hand, cannot
answer the second part of this question in a
satisfactory manner.
Third question Having hope and belief
that the financial crisis is passing over, and
in view of the now assured large crop of the
country, and the low price of lumber that