The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-10
FEELING OF CONFIDENCE
Pervades the mississippi Valley
LumbePmen.

The Mississippi Valley Lumbermen's
association held their annual meeting
Yesterday afternoon in the Masonic
Temple. It was opened with the an
nual address of the president, w. II.
Laird. In this he spoke of the condi-
tons Of the trade during the past sea-
son and congratulated the members
that it was not any worse, consider
ing the agitation caused by the uncer
tainty of the election and the threat
ened danger of change in the cur
rency policy of the country. Now that
the question had been settled, he looked
for an Improvement IN the lumber bus
mess, and said that feeling of cOnl-
dence had already begun to be mani
fest.
He spoke of the cut of lumber and
the general decrease in the output of
the mills. At the close Of the season
of 1896 a large stock was on hand,
stock too large for the average manu-
facturer to carry without considerable
embarrassment to himself. The log
supply was commented upon. He SAID
that the large number of logs was the
direct result of the immense quantity
of dead timber which had been thrown
on the market by the forest fires. The
grading, arbitration and tariff legisla-
ton were spoken Of. The agitation
of forest reserve, he said, was not be-
ing opposed by the lumbermen, as they
realized the Importance of these as
we'll as the people on the other side
of the question. The desire of the For
estry association people to have a
member of the lumbermen's association
on the committee that was investigat-
ing the matter had been granted by
them, and, pursuant to that DESIRE h
had appointed B. F. Nelson to act in
the interests Of the lumbermen.
J. Newton Mind, the secretary, gave
his report showing the financial cOndi-
ton of the association. The receipts
during the year had been $780, all from
memberships, and the disbursements
$2,235.68. The method of making up
the balance will be left to the directors.
The curtailment of the cut was dwelt
upon and it's benefits presented The
following table showing the curtail-
ment in the different districts was
given:
The upper Mississippi district had an
increase due to the opening of new
mills and new lands. The net curtail-
ment was S41, 100000 feet Of board Ium-
Der. The total cut was 1852 900, 900,
against 3,403, 100000 for the preceding
year. The rest of Mr.. Minds report
was devoted to a review Of the rela-
lions between the retailer and the man
ufacturer, to tariff legislation, and to
the stock sheet.
Further reports were received from
the grading committee, the auditing
committee and from the treasurer. A
letter was received from F. B. Cole in
viting the lumbermen to visit the Pu-
get sound country during the coming
season. The invitation was accepted.
The nominating committee made a
report in favor of the old officers hold
ing over and it was adopted. These
officers are as follows: w. H. Laird,
president; w. T. Mcknight William
Irvine, vice presidents; H. c. Akeley,
treasurer; F. Weyerhaeuser, G. H. At
wood, Artemus Lamb, B. F. Nelson,
Eugene Shaw, r. l.. Mccormick, L. c.
Coleman directors.
A resolution was adopted in favor of
making the cut of lumber for the year
Of 1897 the same as that of 1885,