The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-02
REVIVAL OF THE LUMBER TRADE
Undoubtedly 1 500 VIII Re Prosperous
Year for the Mills

Year for the Mills.
Port Townsend. Jan. 1-Specal-There
is better outlook al present for the log
ging and lumber business on Puget sound
than has been known for the past five
years, and there is every probability that
1886 viii witness the beginning OF a general
revival IN this trade, resulting in the repe-
titon OF the prosperity of ISS9-e0 on Puget
sound. This revival is due to two direct
causes one is that the big lumber supply
with which SO many countries overstocked
themselves flye years ago, is now practi-
caLy exhausted. and they are again be-
coming regular customers of this section
They were then experiencing something OF
a boom. and made extensive preparations
for building, purchasing large supplies CT
lumber. Chief among such customers
were the South American countries, and as
a result OF the collapse OF the building
boom there, together with their interna-
tional troubles these countries have
scarcely been able 10 more than consume
the advance lumber supply during the past
four years. Now they are ready 10 be-
come regular customers again.
The second cause of the revival in the
lumber trade is the opening up Of new
markets for the Puget sound product
Chief among these markets 5 the South
African trade, which is now becoming one
of the most important purchasers of Pu-
get sound lumber This trade has been de
veloped from very small beginning two
years ago TO an industry which now de-
mands a small fleet OF tramp steamers in
addition to the sailing vessels that carry
lumber from Puget sound 10 Africa These
steamers carry monster Carsoes, each one
over 100000 feet, and ii is predicted that
they viii IN time supplant the sailing yes
sells in the Pacific ocean carrying trade.
much as they have on the Atlantic.
Tt may be said that Puget sound will
hereafter be called on TO supply more than
its share OF the world with lumber. and 1t
is not out Of place to look into the
sources of the country in this connection
to see where this immense supply IS COM
ing from. There are thousands of acres Of
virgin timber Land in Jefferson county, and
thousands more which have been only par
TALLY worked over and millions upon NIL
lions OF feet of choice timber stand ready
10 be taken to market. In Western JEFF
erson county. in what Is known as the
Quillayute and Hon river sections. the
timber is practically lmitless. 1t is esti-
mated by a timber cruiser who went
through that secton including the Boga-
chiel country. last summer, that there are
] 0oJ, or 90 feet of fir timber and 200. COO 900
feet of cedar timber standing. This tim
Der Is of course not readily accessible to
market. and for that reason no attempt Las
yet been made TO get any of the timber
out but the time is not far distant when L
viii be hauled out with railroad. IL win
be readily seen that with a reasonable ap-
probation In the price OF timber il VIII In
time be paying investment TO build a rail-
road into this immense valuable timber belt.
on account of the renewed and increased
demand for timber by the different mills
on the Sound, the coming spring viii wit
ness much more activity in the logging
business than has been known for several
years. Thus Richard Brown, of this place.
who has been running a camp In this
county during the past two years. VIII
next spring open up and operate no less
than three camps IN the vicinity OF Lake
Hooker. and may give employment TO as
many as sixty or more men. He estimates
that there are 30 0l0.e0 feet OF standing
Ar and cedar timber tributary to the
camps he proposes to establish and that il
VII take twenty years To get this timber
out TO market.
During the past three years George Ryer-
son, OF Briuuon. IN this county. has mar
keted over 2500,oD0 feet OF logs. b, sides
over 8 0oo piles and although he SAYS the
best OF the timber near the water in that
vicinity IS gone. further back there are
millions az feet 20 be found and a way
VIII undoubtedly he found Of getting ii out
al a nominal price.
Bert Farrar has opened a camp recently
IN thu Duckabush country. in "A belt OF
5.00e Dp feet Of timber. and in the Duck7-
bush and Dosewalluus country. in this
county. there are large bodies of timber
which Ike those Of other sections further
back from the water. viii become valuable
when the price Of logs advances sufficient
Is 20 make Il an object 10 70 back for II.
". F. Elwell has been running a camp
S4uam3sh. jefferson county, for ten years
past. employing about twenty-five men
duru- the logging season, aud during the
time his amp has been !n operation has
marketed about $500 feet OF timber q day
ON an average. for the seasons work.
There is within the vicinity OF ElwelTs
camp approximately -2.ero o0o feet Of stand
jng timber and a much larger amount rot
2 great way from the camp Al present
hs IS hauling three ana IA half miles 10 salt
water
NJ J McElroy has been operating camp
In this county ns.r Br.Bnon since MAY.
1>eL employing fifteen to eighteen men.
ard getting out from 2o.1u) 20 500 feet OF
timber daily. There Is 81 good timber belt
not far from his camp. but az present the
owners hold the price 81 stgmpags a. such
= figure that Il probably viii not be
touched during the coming year Thus far
there has not oeen any appreciation IN the
ts-nber quotations. bat there 8 a market
increase IN the demand. and this viii
Doubtless have the effect u stITsniny the
Prices ~ an timber When the increase
comes u 7yiu encourage the opening up #
tsuaer belts a distance back from the
water.