The times., 1899-07-24
MICHIGAN LoG-cUTTING.
Closing of Mills Followed by Activ'
ity in the Woods.
from the Chicago Record.

Irrom the thicago hecoFu-p
All authorities seem TO agree that the
year 1898 has been phenomenal in lumber
circles. The season has closed two weeks
earlier than 1t ordinarily does, but every
indication points to an early opening OF
the spring trade.
The closing OF operations at the mills in
the northern pine territory has been FOL
lowed by activity in the woods Thus far
the weather has been favorable to logging
operations, and in many sections hauling
has begun. Although a number Of indi-
yidual operators are preparing for larger
cut than usual, owing to the small guam
tity of logs held over, and the high prices
at which lumber has been selling, it is not
believed likely, even under the most ia
yorable conditions, that the log crop this
winter will be abnormally large. In many
OF the older districts lack of lumber VIII
restrict the output, and the increase in dis
tricts where timber is more plentiful VIII
not Offset this.
The season closes with white pine prices
remarkably firm, and manufacturers gen.
orally have no doubt that these prices viii
be maintained throughout the winter sea-
son. The reason for this belief is that
stocks at the principal distributing points
are not at all heavy. While considerable
stock will be carried over the winter at
leading lake ports, a marked scarcity is
reported at number of places.
In the northern hardwood section con-
ditions are more favorable for logging, and
it is expected that at these places the in
put of logs this winter will be quite heavy.
Dry stock, however, is very scarce, even
at these points, and it is not believed that
there can be a surplus in any OF these
grades for several months. The fact that
large part of the output for next season
already has been contracted for is mark
ed feature of the situation, this general
anxiety on the part of the buyers to place
orders for future delivery and to contract
for the mill output being accepted as evil
dence that they expect firm market next
year.
Northern birch as a furniture and fin
ishing wood is making rapid advance,
promising it a permanent place among the
hardwoods. Manufacturers generally agree
that birch has been sold more readily and
in larger quantities this year than ever
before all available stocks practically hav-
ing been closed out. The growing use Of
mahogany in the manufacture of furni-
ture and for interior finish has created a
demand for a cheaper wood which will fin
ish to resemble mahogany. Birch is admi-
rably adapted to this purpose, and in CIV
ing il the mahogany finish the color is
made uniform, thus obliterating the dis
DtlnttL utiih ii5HN DlINHs
whereas a few years ago buyers generally
demanded red birch, with possibly very
small percentage of white, while the near
ly all white was rarely called for.
The State land commissioner has made
several very heavy sales OF hardwood tim
Der in the last month; in fact, these sales
have exceeded those of all the rest of the
year. 1t is reported that private tracts in
the upper counties of the lower peninsula
are selling rapidly.
Gordon Murray, for fourteen years
prominent in the management of the affairs
of the Metropolitan Lumber Company.
makes some rather gloomy predictions as
to the future OF the lumber industry in the
upper peninsula. He expresses the belief
that the heaviest owners OF pine will see
the end within five years, while not a few
will exhaust their supply of pine within
the next two years. Then, he says, will
likely follow the cutting of all available
hard wood and hemlock, the magnitude o.
which, as an industrial interest, must be
adjusted to the increased demand and new
conditions, as under present conditions it
would make a poor showing as success
or of the disappearing pine industry. AT
best, he thinks, not one-half OF the ma
chinery and equipment now employed
could be utilized in the hardwood business
All investments in hardwood enterprises
excepting possibly the matter of stump
age relatively would be larger than in the
pine, and the tendency of the business
therefore, would be to pass to the con-
troll of the stronger financial combinations
to the exclusion of the weaker In any
| event, Mr. Murray concludes, it mainly
rests as problem of the future.
/ The hauling of logs from the Georgian
Bay district to Michigan is by the bag
boom system. Rats containing 5000 0OC
3 feet of logs each are brought safely acros.
( the lake.
/ Many Canadian logs cut from Michigan
I mills were hung up in the woods owing
to the sudden disappearance of snow Il
l is estimated that in the Georgian Bay dis.
/ trict about $50, GOO, 600 feet OF logs will bt
cut this winter. II remains to be seen il
the embargo placed on this industry by tn,
Ontario Legislature is enforced If en-,
forcement is attempted, owners of the log.
will test its constitutionality in the courts
Should the law be sustained the marke
/ value of Canadian logs and stumpage viii
be destroyed, as Americans will not go int
/ Canada and manufacture lumber wheI
there is a duty of 81 on every 1000 fee
sent into the United States.