New-York tribune., 1885-03-16
NOTES ON TRADE IND INDUSTRY.

LUMBER-Withn the past six years the produc-
tion of white pine lumber in the Northwest has
more than doubled. In 1878 1t was 3,629,473
NJ feet, AID in 1884 had risen to 1896, ,033 NJ feet
the largest quantity ever produced in year. Nor
was the production in 1873 remarkably small.
Prior to that year 1t had ranged between 1908 $50
NJ feet in 1873, and 3.595,333 NJ feet in 1877,
hence the present production is fully double the
maximum production prior to 1879. But it is to be
added that the production last year was very
largely in excess of consumption. Lack Of lnforma-
ton as to the exact stocks hand ut the mills for
previous years makes it difficult to say just how
tho consumption has varied, but the stock on hand
at the close of 1884, according to The Northeastern
Lumbrman was 3,516957 NJ feet, or nearly as
much as a full years production six years ago.
1t is stated that last years production OF lumber
and shingles weighed about IL, 600 tons which
is a third more than the entire east-bound move
ment of the trunk lines. Most Of this lumber is
transported long distances by rail- and the increase
within the past two years has been largely in those
Northwestern districts which supply the products
mainly in that way,
GRAIN RATEs.-The reduction in the rate for
grain from Chicago eastward to 20 cents, which
was ordered last week. does not appear to have
changed the actual charges for transportation,
since il is stated that shipments had been gen.
orally made below tho previous nominal
rates of 20 cents. At 20 cents per 100 pounds
or IL cents per bushel for wheat it Is doubted
whether the railroads get moro than the bare cost
of transportation, and several Of them chow no
anxiety to increase their shipments. Indeed, the
"war" lags along in a very lauguid way, none of
the parties appearing anxious to press matters
much and 1t il supposed that settlement could
readily be reached to ordinary freight, east
bound even with consent of tho West Shore. were
1t not for the unsettled differences regarding live
stock eastward aud regarding west-bound freight.
So long as settlement can be effected In regard
to the west-boLnd business, some of the COM
panies seem determined to allow settle
ment at all. although the west-bound
traffic is comparatively unimportant An official
statement indicates that had the full agreed rates
been charged for shipments IN February the pool
lines would have realized about $6S2 900 net earn
ings against 1924, 900 in 1883, and 5000 900 in
1850 and 1891; but the shipments In February of
this year have actually been made at about one
fifth less than tho agreed rate that 1t is supposed
that tho not earnings will not exceed $500 600. and
this sum is to be divided among eight different
lines.
CAST IRON CUTLERY.-some consumers will not
bo surprised to learn that there are great many
cast-iron knives and scissors in the market and
that cast-irou razors are not unknown, but it will
surprise many to be told that in the opinion of ex
pers, the cast-iron tools are in many respects as
useful us those made Of steel. Cast
iron is not adapted to tools which work
by blows but manufacturers of castiron shears and
scissors make no secret of the material, and main
tain that for ordinary work they just good
those from cast steel. When they first ground
the blades are as keen as those of STEEL and they
retain their edges longer but the surface chill of the
iron does not always extend to depth that will |
permit repeated grindings and sharpenings. A |
writer IN Van Nostrands Engineering Magazine states
that his family has used pair of scissors of cast
iron for three years, which have been several times
sharpened and that he has used cast-iron razor |
which did excellent work for months
RAILWAY EARNINGS Tho statement for Febru- |
sry shows decrease of only $251 ,S74 But it is |
to be observed thatif the Canadian Pacific and Mex
lean Central had not been included the decrease |
would have been nearly twice as great, and about |
8 per cent. Much is said of the effect of storms |
during the past month, but in commenting upon |
the returns of the month last year great
was also placed upon the severity of the weather =
"snow and ice in section and rains and floods |
in another" The wheat movement for the month |
is more than double that of February, 1884. but |
the corn movement was smaller by about one-ifth.
Ii must be reckoned that the New-Oreans Expo
stioa accounts for considerable increase in rail-
road traffic this year. But with all allowances it
be said that the return for February is rather
than otherwise