The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-13
LOGS ANDLUMBER.
Demand and Consumption During the
Past Year.-WOrk in the
PiIeries.

At last snow has fallen in the pineries,
enough at least to set loggers at work.
An Eau Claire special says; The heav-
lest snow storm known recently in this
section is prevailing furiously, having
commenced at an early hour last evening
and continuing without cessation all day,
At least two feet Of snow has fallen up
TO this evening and indications are that
the storm will keep up all night. A
brisk wind is causing heavy drifts in all
directions, and the loggers are now likely
TO get showed under. Thirty inches are
now said to have fallen at Ashland and
| Phillips, on the Wisconsin Central. The
depths are piled up here from four to five
feet high
The St. Pau Pioneer Press has prepar-
ed the following interesting repor. in the
lumber trade:
DEMAND AND CONSUMPTION.
Aside from the large consumption by
the steady and phenomenally rapid growth
of cities like St. Paul, Minneapolis, Kan
sas City and Omaha, there has been moth
ing during the past year to make special
demand for lumber. Less railroad
mi cage was added during the
past year than in any preceding
year and there has been no pronounced
return TO prosperity the country over
| Notwithstanding these facts, and contrary
to the general anticipation, there has been
a steady demand for lumber throughout
the season, and in the aggregate reduc-
ton in the stock on hand equal TO As,
100000. The comparisons which are
printed show that the reduction has been
largest at the lower or middle Mississippi
river points where singularly enough
there was an increased production. This
reduction OF stock amounts to about lis,
900, 900, and is an eloquent tribute to the
efficacy of the six cent rate to Missouri
river points which the middle Mississippi
has enjoyed. The largest increase in the
stocks on hand is at Minneapolis, where
it reaches 4S,000,000. The stocks are
larger than a year ago in st. Paul, at Eat
Claire and La Crosse. Relatively, how
ever, the stock in Minneapolis is not sc
large as it was year ago. The Missis
sippi river was practically cleared of logs
ard saving will not he commenced until
June 1. This means that the mills there
will not manufacture the 7O.000,00t
which they usually manage to turn out VI
TO that time. With a consumption nj
larger than it was in the early months o.
last year. June l., 1886, will find Minnie
apolis with great deal less lumber thai
she had June /. 1885.
THE LOG SUPPLY
The reduction in the stock of lnmhe
on hand has been supplemented by yer,
; significant reduction in the stock of log
: carried over to the next saving season
1t is especially significant since the emf
of last season showed a like reduction
The extent of this is shown in the follow
ing comparative table, showing the nun
Der of feet of logs carried over from tn
/ end of the saving season of 1884 and tn
end of the saving season of 1885
1884 1885.
a On the upper Mississippi lS4o00.OOO 1900 Oh
In Duluth district. o.. 30OU,OD 2,100U
G On the st. Croix. ....... S0000,0GO 1900, o,
st. Paul aud Duluth
3 points .................. 100000 .......
= North Wisconsin points 3OOO0,O0O 15s5i u
Omaha main line ... 100000 4,2o0,U
I Chippewa and tributaries 615 900 100000
| BLACK river. 80. - 50O000oO 40 co.,
Lower Mississippi. ...... l75,0O000o 1i5si5,0'
|
Total. .............1.2 Ell 100000 SCI, lS5, o.
y Decrease on old logs ...... 5f3, g0j, 0'
y There is evidence. also, in the care
fully prepared statement Of anticipate
cut of the loggers, that there is no dispc
sition during the current winter to put
more logs than will be needed next SCI
son. The cut on most of the stream
will probably be larger than it was a We,
ago, but the total stock does not promi.
to be increased. The open winter up
the first of January has somewhat col
tributed to that result. Less work hs
been done up to that date than in mar
previous seasons, and the hauling of los
may be said TO have fairly commence
with the present week. Peculiarly favo
able conditions may follow and result
the securing of more logs than is now a
ticipated, and in this condition of affai
lies the chief danger to the complete re
torstion of prosperity in the lumber trad
i A large number of men are in the WOOD
IS and the outcome will depend almost C.
ID tirely ON the weather.
4