St. Paul daily globe., 1886-08-20
LUMBER PRICES RAISED.

LUMBER PRICES RAISED.
Some Important Statements Bear
ing ON the Lumber Trade of the
Northwest by Prominent Dealers.
A meeting of Mississippi valley lum-
bermen and dealers, representing the trade
of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois,
was held at the chamber of commerce
yesterday afternoon. E. w. Durant of
Saltwater was chosen chairman. and Platt
B. Walker of Minneapolis secretary.
Among those in attendance were:
E. w. Durant, d. Joyce. o. H. Ingram, J.
A. Hulnbird, w. Clark, f. A. Hodgins, w.
HI. Laird. o. c. New, j. A. Wilson, F. A.
Buffum, j. NJ. Gould, D. c. Davis, w. Knight,
J. A. Glover, F. Weyerhouser, G. S. Shaw,
r. f. Hersey, NJ. H. Mccarthy, w. NJ. Glenn.
E. G. Long. s. Judd, Otto Lachmann,
c. Horton, j. H. johnson, r. N. Turnbull, w.
Hill, w. Hosmer, G. Bohn, J. P. Gribben, John
De Laittre, III. H. Brown, j. OBrien, P.
Reilly, S. G. Cook, Ira Stockwell, S. c. Hall,
William Eidred. D. r. Moon, John McCulloch.
W. B. Ransom, C. A. Smith, c. H. Maxey, D.
]. Witteck, E. II. Hsrsey, Thomas Brennan,
Charles kellar, b. G. &adison, j. DeGrau, W.
Fifeld, w. H. Burns.
A committee appointed at preliminary
meeting some days ago submitted report
which had been prepared By Q. A. Barney,
o. IL. Ingram and p. w. Walker during a
three hours conference yesterday morning.
The report was to the effect that after care
full discussion and consideration, the COM
mittee would recommend the price of grades
of lumber below post fencing to be ad
vanced 81 per thousand the advance to
take effect Aug. 90. The advance is to be
npon the 81 Minneapolis and St Paul
price of common dimensions, each locality
IN making its price list to take into account
the difference in freight rates. The reason
for this recommendation was that owing to
the marked cost in production, the present
selling price did not give sufficient return
upon the capital invested. There had been
an advance in
THE PRICE OF sTUMPAGE,
also the labor of producing, increased taxes
and extra expense of hauling by reason of
the extreme low water, and also a shortage
of nearly one hundred thousand millions
feet as against the product of 1885 on the
Mississippi and its tributaries. In view of
these facts, the committee unanimously
recommended the advance be made and
strictly adhered to by all engaged in the
trade.
Mccarthy of Saltwater moved that the
$11 Minneapolis price be stricken out. He
said he knew the Minneapolis selling price,
as far as practical sales went, was less than
S11. G. A. Bovey said that 95 per cent of
the lumber sold at Minneapolis was at $11
per thousand. All that was needed now
was 81 advance Oh the present prices.
The amendment of Mccarthy was lost, only
a few voting for it.
o. Q. Merriman said Minneapolis dealers
made discounts of 5 per cent. on all deals
The result, if the recommendation was
adopted as reported by the committee,
would be to make the price $11.4O net in
stead of $11 with the per cent. discount
This would make the net values the same
all around the district.
j. B, Bassett did not know whether he
would vote for the adoption of the report
or not. He wanted to hear from the COM
mittee about the reason for the advance.
He, as well as those present, was anxious
for an advance. The idea, however, that
the present price was not remunerative
enough, was admitted but the question was
1t the advance could be sustained. He
questioned if there was an increased demand
forelumber, and if the supply was short.
II. Weyerhauser said the demand was as
good as last year and the supply much less
did IiiO SOob VI IuuCIl
creased. j. M. Gould said the sales for
this year to the present time were 400, OOO,-
600 feet more than last year at the same
time. The shortage was 936, 600, 900 feet
and the demand good.
D. Joyce read from the last report Of the
Chicago Lumbermens' exchange to the
effect that there was less lumber in Chicago
now than at any time since 1881, and that
the sales for July were 10, 600, 900 feet in
advance of last years sales for the same
month. Platt B. Walker read table of
statistics, showing that the shortage
WOULD BE 936. 900. 900 FEET.
The shortage on the Menominee river
was $50, ,0o0, 600; in the Duluth district,
80 600, 900; upper Mississippi district,
65 900, 900; st. CroiX, Chippewa and Black
rivers, 400, 900, 900; Chippewa and tribu-
taries, 100000, 600; Wisconsin district.
125, 900, 600; st. Paul, 5000, 900. Large
shipments were being made East from Du-
luth. Ashland and the Menominee district.
which was bound to make the shortage even
larger.
A motion to make the recommendation
include first fencing and all below it was
put and seconded and discussed at length.
b. T. Nelson said if this amend
ment was adopted the rates adopted
at the Minneapolis meeting in Au-
gust last year might as we'll
be readopted 1t was impossible for Min
neapolis dealers to sell first fencing for less
than SIS, and he was opposed to Increasing
it to SIT, as suggested. The amendment
was lost. j. B. Bassett said the cut at the
meeting last year was reported at 1000
900, 900, feet short An advance was
ordered and agreed to unanimously and vet
everybody went home and reduced the price
ST per thousand. He wanted it understood
if an advance was agreed to, that it would
not mean reduction. The report of the
committee was adopted by rising vote.
forty-three Of those present voting for it
and none against, although several did not
vote either way. G. S. Shaw said the points
north had no shortage of lumber. The
shortage was all below, where they had
got rid of their lumber. He was in favor
of permanent advance and wanted all
present to agree to maintain the advance.
He said number of those present had not
voted on the report and he sug-
gested that the secretary call the
roll on the vote. John De Laittre
said he became thoroughly disgusted
at the meeting last year, especially after
the action of the members after the meet
ing as regards prices. He thought if the
DEALERS WOULD ACT HONESTLY
and fairly the advance would be of great
benefit to the trade. He also thought the
advance would cause more or less friction in
the market for time. o. G. Merriman
explained that several dealers in Mnneapo-
lis had been closing out their stock prepara-
tory to going out of business, and it was
from deals made by them below the price
lists that the gentleman referred to when
he spoke of Minneapolis parties cutting
down prices. Resolutions thanking the
chamber OF commerce for the use of tile
room were passed, and the meeting ad-
journed Previous to the adjournment the
chairman invited the members to supper
at the Ryan at $50 o'clock, rendered by
the st. Paul lumbermen.
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