St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-17
PRICES Are BOOSTED.
Semi-Annual Meeting Of Mis-
sissippi Valley Lumber
mems Association.
Lumber Buyers Must Pay One
Dollar More on All
Grades.
Stories Told by Knights Tenn
plaps Returned From the
Conelave.
Sodini Found Guilty of Keep
ing a Disorderiy
House.

Prices OF lumber Will be boosted. The
Mississippi Valley Lumbermens asso-
citation has not suffered much from the
prosecution begun under the antitrust
law, so it has put on bold front, and
decided to boost prices.
The association held its semi-annual
meeting at the West hotel. Minneapolis,
yesterday. 1t was called to order at
1880 a. III. by b. +. Nelson, of Mime
apolis. Secretary j. \. Mind read his
annual report. Minds report had the
merit of brevity. Of the lumber bust
ness he said:
"Since the annual meeting of the as
ISOLATION in March last there has been
steady improvement in the conditions
surl ounding the lumber trade in the
district covered by this ASSOCIATION.
Letters received by your secretary, some
OF which will be presented here today,
indicate that trade has been large at all
the principal distributing points, and
that particularly during June and July
and SO much of August as has passed,
trade has exceeded even the eXpecta-
tations of the most sanguine. The
broken conditions of stocks at the be-
ginning of the season has made the fill
ing of orders by majority Of the man
ufacturers throughout the territory of
this association exceedingly diff
cult. 1t is evident from the
reports at hand that stocks are
no where excessive, and that consump-
ton has very nearly kept pace with pro-
duction during the past three months.
The crop prospects have rarely been
more favorable at this season of the year
than at the present time. These coidi'
tons have all conSpired to stlffen the
price for white pine lumber and although
there has been no new official list made
by this association since October last
there has been steady advance in the
price being received for nearly all kinds
of lumber. To these entirely Legitimate
and natural conditions favorable TO a
large fall demand. there now promises
TO be added artificial conditions growing
out Of new rates on lumber put Into
effect yesterday by all the Western lines,
and growing out of the recent or
der of the interstate railway commits
sion in the Eau Claire case. 1t is not
improbable that rate war will ensue.
With the demand soon to be laid upon
the railways for the removal of the
large crop now being harvested there is
reason to believe that this rate disturb
ance will not be of long duration. But
during its continuance we may logically
expect sharp demand for such lumber
as is in condition for shipment and
much that is not ready for shipment.
The most that is to be feared from this
threatened rate disturbance is that
lower rates upon lines in the Northwest
will be met by lower rates on lines in
the South and Southwest, and
that yellow pine which al
ready finds market as far north
as Minnesota. will find a widened
market in distinctively northern fields.
Production has been somewhat dis
turbed at various points throughout
Wisconsin by labor troubles. The issue
has been in almost every instance be-
tween the eleven-hour day, most in
vogue, and the ten-hour day demanded
by the mill hands. In number of in
stances there has been a voluntary
reduction of the working day to ten
hours, and whenever differences have
arisen they have been satisfactorily
adjusted"
The remainder of tue report said that
the efforts to increase the membership
of the association had not been as sue
cessful as hoped. The regular dues OF
the members have been sufficient to pay
all expenses, but the treasury is empty.
because of the litigation in which the
| association has been involved.
The letters mentioned in Minds re-
port were read. All breathed the same
| spirit-stocks low. demand good, all
conditions favorable for advance in
| prices. Some discussion as to the adj
visibility of advancing prices arose
after the reading of these letters. Pend.
ing decision the association adjourned
| for dinner.
The Minneapolis Lumber Exchange
met in the morning to consider an ad
vance in prices. The exchange decided
TO recommend that the Mississippi Val.
| ley Lumbermen's association advance
| prices 80 cents above the Minneapolis
| list. This recommendation the aSsocia
ton considered in the afternoon. about
| half the firms in the association being
represented. Every man present de
sired raise in the official list. As q
matter of fact, nearly every dealer in
the Northwest is getting mere than the
official list price for his lumber. About
two weeks ago the Minneapolis lumber
men raised prices so cents thousand
above the official list of the associa
ton. Yesterday L. Ii. Shevin, of the
Hall IL Dpcey company, and some
| of the outside lumbermeu labored fol
an advance OF 81 over the Minneapolis
! list, total advance of $3.50 over the
! list of the association. The majority OF
the ASSOCIATION men were conservative
The vote on the question decided thai
prices should go up 81 all around. or 81
cents higher than the Minneapolis list
This advance applies to all classes ano
grades of lumber. except finishing lum
Der. The price of that is boosted S15O
81 above the Minneapolis list.
The association voted to levy a spe
cial assessment of S25 on each member
of the association. This will 90 for at
torney's fees. The directors of the as
ISOLATION are still under indictment.
found last winter by the federal gran(
jury.
| CIR Ia NIGA.CS IN nENNED