The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
DEMAND FOR AMERICAN LUMBER
1t Has Greatly Increased within a Year
and Pricrs Bavo Gone Up.

la the fiscal year Of 1886 the exports of forestry
products, Of which lumber was OF course the chief
Item, amounted 10 s20. 100000. In 1897, this had
risen 10 $40 000, 600. and from present ndca tons
the exports will exceed this year $50, 900, COO Lum-
Der dealers everywhere throughout the country re-
port that the demand for all grades of lumber Is
greater than at any time in the recent yeara Yards
are running night and day. with two shifts of
laborers loading and unloading. Every sort OF
a scaworthy vessel that can be hired or bought has
been pressed into service by the lumbermcn on tho
great lakes. and ocean shipments Of lumber from
southern parts enormous
Railroad side tracks are run into all the largo
lumber yards and these are crowded with cars in
process Of loading. the demand for fiat freight cars
In the West and South severely taxing the ro-
sources Of the companies Some lumbermen, II Is
reported are obliged 10 hold back their orders on
account OF the present obstacles 10 prompt ship
ment
The big demand for lumber Is from tho country
well as city districts indicating that the farmer
is reaping his share OF general prosperity and Is
again able 10 build new homes. barns and gran
ncriss to replace fences and bridges and 10 sencr-
ally improve his property.
Exclusive OF furniture, the value Of which Ia an
inoonsiderable itsm in American export commerce.
tho chief shipments Of American lumber are TO
England and Canada and of timber sawed and
hewn, 10 England and Germany. Information
has reached Washington that the Canadian lum-
bormen arc urging the propriety of putting a tax
on lumber coming from the UnitedStates into Cam
ada American logs and lumber are now admitted
free. On tho average 10000. 600 feet Of logs arc
cut in Minnesota and Wisconsin every year and arc
shipped 10 Winnipeg. The lumbermen OF western
Ontario and eastern British Columbia say tina,
~. II
So per thousand feet upon entering the United
States and they ask the Dominion Parliament to
levy similar duty American lumber entering
Canada The exports Of Canadian Lumbar to the
United States during the fiscal year of 1s97-9s
amounted to nearly S1O.Ooo.O 900 including logs
and pulp wood. Canada imported American lum-
Der Including logs last year To the value Of about
onequarter as much.
The chief cause, however OF the enlarged Amori-
can lumber market and OF the increased prices for
American forestry produces does not arise from the
extensive trade between This county and Canada,
but from the increased local demand for American
lumber for building purposes There has been a
great boom In building opera tons throughout tho
United States during the first six months Of 1885,
as compared with the first six months of 1893 Tho
rate of increase is fully IS per cent The cities
showing large increase arc Now York, Cleveland,
Kansas, Boston, New Orleans and Toledo WASH
ington, Milwaukee Chicago and Minneapolis
show a largo but lesser proportion of increase
and the only American cities which, to July l. fell
OIL In tho building record Of year were Phladel-
phia and Louisville
1t is estimated that 5000 OO0, 900 was ex pended
in building operations in American cities In the
first six months Of 1892 considerable item of such
expense being for lumber. Tho wood now shipped
from the South Atlantic states-virgnia, North
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia supplies
many American requirements In building and
finds, too. a ready sale abroad.
Among commercial men. 1t is said generally
that, iron excepted, lumber is tho best business
barometer. Bridges, trestles. cars and houses are
built in good times With the improvement Of
business there Is an immediate demand for lumber
and it need be for surprise that the Ameri
can lumber market Is booming.