The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-07
IUNIRER.

Trade in this line has been very satisfac-
tory, both as to the volume of business and
prices. Aside from a falling off in the de-
mand for crossties, the exports of lumber
have exceeded those of the previous year
and prices have ruled unusually high.
1t will be remembered that 1898 was
record-breaker in the expectation of lum-
Der, so that to assert that the exports in
this line have been an increase over the
preceding year, means an enormous out
put of lumber for the country contiguous
to Savannah.
The demand for lumber has been so great
as to have no precedent for years, and
sawmills have run in fun blast In the en-
deavor to supply the enormous demand.
While the early portion of last season was
prolific in its output, and while the de
mand in the latter portion remained equal
ly great, heavy rains sat in in the latter
part of July which lasted until December,
thereby deterring sawmill men in their du-
ties and preventing the filling of contracts.
Hence old contracts accumulated, Whue
new orders poured in. Thus the early
market here had its inception, but 10
this source could not be attributed the IN
creased demands. Orders are coming In
ner surprising to old lumber men.
Ruilding is more extensive in these sec
tions than has ever been known, and new
railroads are placing large orders for ma
terial For this purpose, crossUes nave
been largely in demand but they nave not
kept pace, either in prices or demand, with
building material nor the pettSr CidSS u
lumber in general.
While the government has purchased
enormous orders of lumber and this arti-
Gle has been greatly in demand in CUBA
and Porto Rico, these sources handle eX-
clusively an inferior grade OF lumber,
hence Gulf lumber factors have secured
their contracts. The Gulf lumber mer-
chants handle a superior grade of lumber,
being REQUIRED under certain extensive con-
tracts to furnish a first-class quality, but
in connection, or rather as result OF as
sorting, superior grade In TIL
ing these orders, they have left
on their hands what they call second
grade, or No. 2, lumber This latter Is
the grade with which Cuba and Porto
Rico are supplied, and very little of 1t
is shipped out of Savannah.
SDain REQUIRES a high grade lumber and
| Is one of Savannahs best customers. The
resumption of trade with that nation is
/ very satisfactory and shows strongly an
increased demand. The Liverpool market
| opened early in the season. with an in
| creased
| lumber. a trade which was expounded
| throughout the season.
Prices on all classes of lumber rule 50
per cent to 100 per cent. higher than lasI
wear. Building material manifested a
| strong tendency at the opening of the sea
| son and has remained in the lead, having
| advanced more rapidly and enjoyed a bet
| ter demand than any other class OF ma
terial.
This fact is due to the heavy demands
from che North and East as well az
throughout the contiguous country. AS
a rule, prices range from 50 to s. per 1,00C
| feet higher than Jan. and this is true
| of the poorer as well as the better class
of lumber with the single exception Of
crosstles. The latter did not display the
SYMPTOMS of a strong market at the be-
| ginning. and the upward movement
while sympathetic, has been comparative
| ly slow.
The bulk Of exports OF crossues has
| been to New York and Philadelphia, but
other ports have been recipients of Sa-
vannah shipments.
| n will be remembered that during the
prevlous season nearly 100000 feet OF
| crosslies were shipped from Savannah, .
very large portion of which went to for.
eisn markets, while during tho past sea
| son the shipments In this line have faller
| OFF to The extent Of several million feet
! Thus the exports of lumber, inclusive o.
| crossties, would fall short Of the preced
ing season, but, figuring the exports Of
high-grade lumber to the exclusion o.
crosstios. there has not only been an in
crease in the exports but prices have
been much higher and the volume OF bust
ness has far exceeded that OF the previous
wear The foreign demand for crosstiei
! for 'g7-'9S was something enormous. a,
well as unusual. and was not expected t
| hold out.
| Lumber shipments by water have mol
been under the disadvantages experienced
last year with reference 10 the excite
ment created by the Spanish-Americar
war which for time assumed an aspect
| sufficiently strong as TO render hazardous
coastwise intercourse in the commercial
world but other obstacles almost equally
| disparaging are presenting themselves