The San Francisco call., 1895-12-15

its limits as comprising ell the waters and
shores of the county OF Humbold and Del
Norie. Crescent City in Del Norte County
is port of delivery. Previous TO this date
Eureka was q port OF delivery in the Gus
toms district OF San Francisco. having a
resident deputy collector. The first Col
lector TO be appointed here was John A.
Watson, now deceased, who served two
years. He was succeeded by ex-Surveyor-
General W. II. Pratt, and III order men
toned came Thomas Cutler, Charles F.
Roberts and finally Mr.. Murphy.
The present Collector has always taken
an active part in promoting the best in
terests of Humboldt County and lends his
cooperation to advance all worthy plans
for the betterment of our business in
terests. None were more active in work
ing for the harbor improvements in
progress here. which have been of incal-
culable benefit to this section. He is
largely interested in business enterprises
in the county, being president of the
Samoa Land and Improvement Company
and its principal founder. He also con-
ducts one of the leading hotels in this city.
Mr.. Murphy assumed the duties of the
Office April 1, 1895. Since his advent
twelve vessels have cleared for foreign
ports, principally Australia and the Ha-
waiian islands, carrying redwood lumb Der
to the aggregate of about 5000, 900 feet,
valued at about $4,000. The coast ship
ments average 8 S,OO0, 900 feet per month,
valued at 100000. Mr.. Murphy reports
the lumber business as very active at
present.
The demand for redwood lumber has
not been so brisk at any time for three
years. Some of the mills refuse to quote
prices, and the orders for lumber are con-
tinually on the increase. Prices, how
ever, still remain at an unsatisfactory
low figure, and there is little hope of i'm
proving this condition unless the lumber
manufacturers unite upon a feasible
scheme of consolidation of their interests
The high railroad rates preclude the ship
ment of any considerable quantity of lum-
Der TO the East, although there is quite a
demand for redwood shingles in that
market. Prices on shingles have advanced
from so cents to 81 10 per thousand in the
San Francisco market, and the shingle
mills are running day and night to supply
the demand. Every sign points to a very
busy season in the redwood belt durin e
the coming spring.
AT present there are twenty-one vessels
in the lumber trade with an aggregate
carrying capacity of 100000 feet. The
barkentine Amelia, 37S tons, has just re-
ceived cargo from the Humboldt Lum Der
Manufacturers Association and has sailed
for Honolulu and other Hawaiian ports,
and the four-masted schooner Muriel is
loading for La Libertad, Central America
Her cargo will consist of 100000 feet of
lumber from Humboldt mills. The Esther
Buhne is now loading for Honolulu, and
the steamers National City, Excelsior,
Pasadena and the regular fleet OF lumber
schooneIs and steamers are making regu-
lar trips to coast ports. Two tugboats. the
Ranger and II. H. Buhne. owned by the
Humboldt Lumber Manufacturers Asso-
ciation, are kept busy towing vessels in
and out over the bar. There are ten
steamers plying regularly between this
and other coast ports, carrying freight and
passengers.
The largest one is the Pacific Coast