Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-01-21
MARKETABLELUM
DIRECTIONS FROM AN EXPER
FENCED BUYER.
How IL Should be Prepared for Market
Dimensions OF Firsts and Seconds.

At this season of the year, just before
the spring freshets, and when all country
lumber manufactures are getting ready
to cut their logs, perhaps Il few remark,
on how to get lumber ready for eastern
markets are not out of place
1t is the surprise Of all the above manu-
facturcr why they cannot get better
price for their lumber when eastern quo.
tations are SO high The reason is they
do not cut their lumber in proper shape.
man up the country writes; II have
about lOO,O 600 feet Of fine poplar for sale.
What is the best price you can olrer?'
Naturally the buyer goes to see the
lumber and after inspecting it will prob.
ably find only 10000 feet worth shipping
at all.
1t is evident that manufacturers of pop.
lar who ship to eastern markets do not
understand the grading and inspection
used there and are frequently disappoint.
ed in their inspection returns. This i.
unavoidable where there is not perfect
understanding in regard to the rules fol.
lowed by eastern inspectors.
Manufacturers, for their own interest
and profit should post themselves on the
requirements of these markets and there.
by know just what it would pay to send
and what to keep at home
1t is not Il question of whether il is
right or wrong, but it is the basis upon
which all lumber east is bought and in
general it is accepted only on the returns
Of an eastern inspector.
In classifying his lumber the manufac.
turer must bear the following pontG i'm
mind; 4 first clear board must be ten
inches or over wide and free from all de-
fects-square pieces are exempt from rule
only as TO width-at; twelve inches and
over little bright sap may be allowed
on one edge. Seconds must not be less
than six inches wide and at six or eight
inches must be free from all defects ex-
cept little bright sap on one side; eight
to twelve inches wide, one to three, small
sound knots, or may have bright sap not
over three inches in width on either side
or in the aggregate boards and planks, if
over eighteen inches wide, may be one
third bright sap if free from all other de-
| fccts.
In order to bring the highest marketa.
bic price when shipping firsts and seconds,
the rule is there must be seventy five per
cent. firsts and balance good seconds.
| Manufacturers should also bear in mind
that it pays well to square up the edges
and ends of the lumber and most cspec-
| tally they should remember it should be
uniform throughout in length, breadth
| and thickness; and in cutting lumber
one sixteenth of an inch should be allow
ed in order that when dry it will run
plump inch. If the lumber i. one inch
and three inch, one-eighth to three
eighths of an inch should be allowed.
and so on uniformly with the thickness,
always allowing sufficient TO prevent it
drying out scant There is sometimes
considerable grumbling INDUCED in by
mill men, who claim that the results are
below their anticipation
The fault lies largely with the shipper
himself, and if he will stand by the above
rules, his lumber in all cases will net him
a good round price.
1886 is opening with firm market and
everything points to propitious year for
the lumber men.
Quoting from the ChicagO Zimmerman.
January 8: Business is better in New
York and prices are tending upward. !
tell you there will be rise on walnut and
cherry sure, and think oak and poplar
will be better also
Now, it rests entirely with the manu-
facturer whether the prices remain firm
or not. If he grades his lumber, standing
by the above rules and does not dcviatc
one way or the other, he puts tirsl-class
lumber on the market, and the purchas
ers and consumers will buy that umbei
with the feeling that they can use the
same without the cutting to waste that
they have hitherto been so bitter against
W. H. C., in KH0rWie ChrORjcte