The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-03
THE LOGS ARE OUT.
High Water in Rivers Bring
Logs to the Sound.
MARKET FILLED WITH STOCK
season Not Especially Favorable to
Loggers-Prices Still Low-Lum-
Der Trade Prospects.

ne rains oil the past three weeks have raised
sne snohomish, Skagit and Stillaguamish rivers
70 sucn an extent that millions of feet OF logs,
eur during the season, have been run down to
tne SOUND, and are ready for delivery to the
Hills. his Is an unusual circumstance, as the
logs generally remain in the rivers until brought
out by the June freshets, and the log market
Jus. now Is largely oversfocked. some owners
VI logs nave looked In vain for buyers, and have
SHOWN disposition to accept very low offers for
tneif cut, Tor the sake OF realizing upon it at
once.
AS soon as the booms are ct rest IN salt water
the destructive teredo begins work upon them,
ana no great length of time is required TO dam
age tnem seriously. Logs with the bark in good
condition withstand the attacks OF the worms
ior time, the loose, soft fibre of the bark serv-
lng as an armor, but any unprotected spots are
punstured at once, and safely in the wood the
sefeuo grows and bores his way from end to end
OF the timber. Trees cut when the bark is tight,
as III the TALL are IN best condition to stand ex-
Pvsure 70 the sea water and the enemies it con-
IN. IN. poems, rolling and tossing, soon loosens
unprotected.
Loggers are fully aware Of the danger to their
poonis, ana when they find themselves unable
20 dispose OF their logs promptly, endeavor to
ma anchorage for them where they are in fresh
water part OF the time each day The teredo
- killed by fresh water, and the flow from
the rivers spreads out over the salt water at the
mouth of the streams, it makes il possible to
preserve the logs, in especially favorable posi-
lions, for some time.
The season has not been favorable one for
the loggers. One, ON the Stillaguamish, who
cut q little more than 2000,0O0 feet and sue
ceeued IN disposing OF his logs, reported himself
sz,oog out IN his seasons work. The price OF fir
logs has been low throughout the season, rang
Ing from s. per 1000 feet for common stock to
300 to clear flooring logs. Cedar has ranged
$l.0 per 1000 higher than the above prices.
. In some mills the cut Of cedar Is not more
tnan III per cent. OF the output, while in others,
where sash and door factory is run In connec-
ton, one-third of the amount sawed is of the
higher priced stock.
The quiet which has hung over the lumber
trade during the past three weeks Is expected to
give place To renewed activity early in the year
The local demand is not large just now, and
VIII strengthen as the season advances. Orders
ior foreign shipment continue heavy, and with
the resumption of railroad construction in the
spring the mills viii receive CONTRACTS large
enough to insure work on full time with CON-
plete force
The Huron Lumber Company's mill closed on
the last day OF the year for some minor repairs,
but will open again early in the week.
frices, which have been very close all the
season, are generally firm, reports of cutting be-
Ing infrequent, and only in cases of large bills.
the way OF convenience OF loading into cars, aud
close connection with railroads, operate to give
them trade that they could not secure other
wise, and in some instances mills not so favor
profit on sales as was required to put their lum-
Der into the cars.
The outlook for the lumber trade is not de-
pressing one, and with the return of confidence
TO the money market and general lines of bust
ness, prospects will improve in this line as
rapidly as in any. Building will continue at
home, and calls for export stock will be as large
as ever, IL they do not show material increase.