Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-19
MANY MILLIONS In IT.
Local Lumber Dealers Have Been
Kept Busy Supplying the Market.
THOUSANDS OF HOUSES BUILT.
Carpenters Have Not Commenced to Con.
slider the Eight-Hour Movement.
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE YET AT WORK

That Pittsburg can lead in more indus
trial branches than one is proven bya glance
at the lumber trade.
What Is properly known as the lumber
season of 1890 is about over, and it is esti-
mated that during the II months ending
November 80, local dealers will have handled
over 400, 900, 600 feet Of lumber, and that the
number of houses erected in Allegheny coun-
ty during the year will be away up in the
thousands.
The supply of all kinds of lumber has been
above the average, and yet the receipts have
not been permitted to accumulate to any
great extent around Pittsburg. Prices have
not changed much, and for this reason
many of the dealers would reserve their
stock, if it were possible, until next season
to see if there will be an advance or not.
A tour was made among some of the local
dealers, yesterday afternoon, for the purpose
of learning what is the condition of the
trade, and what the business of the year has
been. Every dealer spoken to had smll-
ing expression on his face and twinkle in
his eye, which indicated very plainly that
he was not complaining about dullness in
trade.
THE GREATEST OF ALL YEARS.
cts the greatest year, vet" said Owen
Hutchinson. "fhere is not much difference in
prices Flooring remains at S21, SIS and SIG.
about the same as year ago but the grade and
quality are both much better and the pur-
chasers are as a consequence getting better
value for their money this year than last"
Alex. Patterson said he had been in the lumber
business great many years, but he never
knew trade to be in SO healthy condition.
Michigan pine is far i'll the lead among the
different woods used. The Southern pine is
coming into greater demand. while the Penn
sylvana product is falling off.
A gentleman in A. Sperrig's office said there
had been a great increase in the price of hem
lock. The advance has been from so cents to
81 thousand. And this was very largely due
to the condition of the roads in Western Penn
sylvania last winter. The northwest section of
the State supplies the greater portion of the
hemlock market, but owing to the condition in
which the roads remained for months, little or
no hauling could be done. AS a consequence
up went the price of hemlock, and it seems to
have lodged permanently.
LOOKING FOR BAD ROADS AGAIN.
After December l, the dealers look for muddy
roads again, and the price of hemlock will
either stay where it is for another year or go
up higher. But this is not the only influence
by which the present rates will be maintained.
Year by year the sources of supply are carried
further from the point of consumption, and as
the demand increases SO does the cost of trans
portation. A large number of the shippers who
bring lumber from the Michigan forests, now
make two shipments; one to Cleveland by
water and the second to Pittsburg by rail. The
cost is naturally greater than ii it were brought
from Elk or Forest county all the way by either
rail or water.
Of the 100000, 900 feet or more handled in
Pittsbnrg and Allegheny in the last year, it is
whole
amount was handled by half dozen firms. 1t
is estimated that Murphy & Diebold disposed
of at least &C, 000 This firm has two mills.
Eiler & Breitweiser, of the Southside, probably
handled 25,000, 900. H. w. Ahlers & Co., N.
Green & Co., and others sold about 100000
piece.