The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-20
THE ALLEGED LUMBER TRUST.
Prominent Operators Deny that Any Com
bination of Interests Is Contemplated.

CHICAGO. Aug. 19.-The Times this morning
prints the following: "a number of lumber
men held q private meeting at the Grand Pacific
Last evening Ia conference upon the proposition
to combine all the pine interests of Northern
Wisconsin and Minnesota. Among those
present was F. Weyrhouser. of Rock
Island. who is at the head of
the syndicate which controls nine billion
feet of stumpage. Senator Sabin. F. U. Prince,
j. c.. OGormon and J. N. Scales. of Saltwater,
Mimi, took part in the conference. The COM
bination has been acquiring new interests dur
ing the year, and there is plenty Of capital be-
hind it Those present declined to be inter.
viewed as to the objects of the conference, or as
to what had been done.'
H. E. Norton, Of Winona. MINI, when asked
yesterday, at the Grand Pacific Hotel. if he,
Fred Weyrhouser and other Northwestern lum-
bermen, were not organizing TO control the
lumber production said: II know very well
that ! am not helping to organize any such
combination ana L do not think any
one else is. Mi. Weyrhouser Is a very active
man. and having such large interests he IL
watched wherever he goes. Things are at
tributed to him which he never does. OF course,
whenever he sees q good bargain 10 pine lands.
he buys them. and / have no doubt be has been
buying recently. but not in connection with any
other men, and he has no idea of forming a
trust. At the time some sensational dispatches
regarding the organization were sent out from
Minneapolis, Mr.. Weyrhauser and myself were
far up in the woods rusticatinR, without any
thoughts of business. 1t is probable
that these stories originated with
persons who are interested in
creating an impression that pine lands were
scarce, and were all being bought up IS rapidly
as possible, by which means it is expected to
corner them. 1t is hoped. no doubt, that such
fables would strengthen prices. / believe. how
ever, that there was a little meeting of lumber
men yere yesterday. but l was not present"
Eyes, there was a little meeting of lumber
men here" said ]. c. ONGorman. of Saltwater,
Mimi. but it was merely for the purpose of
completing s. small private dea. Some
of rs gentlemen came down to
meet Mr.. Weyrhouser and Senator
Sabin. The deal did not amount TO
more than fifty million feet. and it was a private
transaction In which no one wss interested. I
DO not care to say where the tract is situated,
because / had very little to do with it, but when
/ saw the newspapers this morning We
all laughed at the idea of our meeting
to form any combination among lumbermen.
Such q thing is impossible. There are too many
lumbermen. Why. all over Minnesota there are
mills that are farming out twenty thousand feet
q day, and you cannot bring so many men
together. There has been a boom company
organized at Minneapolis among the large
logging men. but that Is merely for the purpose
OF cutting a slu;ce around the falls and getting
the logs further down the river before they are
sawed. Mr.. Weyrhouser had nothing to do
with that, for his interests all lie on the other
side of thu State"