The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-04
Totals ISIS e,s2l s,5Oe s.2i7 s.5l5
No one who is at all posted as to lumber
conditions believes for moment that at any

conditions believes for moment that at any
time during the current year will prices range
lower than they are az present, the majcrlty.
ID tact, believing that there win soon be =
ueclueu adsance over the present market.
AND this Is very reasonable supposliiol,
TOO. when all the phases OF the lumber ,laus
are considered. In the first place. the elm
ination from the open market OF the small
MILL VIII prevent the disastrous price cuttins
a slightly dull season. K few Weeks V o. S9ll
business would make it necessary for small
operators TO make special enortg to secure
capital with which TO keep things moving auc
they would go into the, neld with cut prl.es
that would soon derange lists aud dcmornizo
lne market, But now there are no small mills
IN the open market every hide mil IN tao
country having contracted It's entire outpu,
TO wholesalers, VINO have thug secured enougn
materlal 10 make them prominent factors ia
maintaining prices "
Another reason for prices advancing is that
stumpase values have constantly increasau
untli at this time they are double whit they
wefa a couple OF years ago The price q
stumpage was formerly considered gnstt
ITEM, but so marked has heen the price tnat
now this will play an iniportaht part 10
FORCING the price OF lumber suil higher
AS usual thing, there IS an OIL season he
tween the close OF the fan trade and fhe
opening of the spring demand during which
a large amount OF lumber 10 accumulated on
tue hll yarus. the result being that some
mills Ind themselves oyerStocked and some
Items are sacrificed. aud The market Is dc,
ranged Such is not the case tfls year. how
sYer' AT no time during tue past winter
nave the mills had an opportunity TO accu.
mulate any surplus stocks and the opening
OF The spring demand win aud stocks on
hand at all the mills insufficient TO meet all
cans. hence there viii DO 10 cause for re-.
ducing prices. but the brisk demand tor tho
light stocks on hand will, more likely. cause
an increase in prces-ths logical resultant
the feature OF oyorproduetlon will be eliml-
patfd as q price disturber.
! "A hot hat
prices are to go even higher. is derived from
the observation OF those who are keeping
losted as to conditions throughout the asri-
cultural sections of the State. Everywhere
| there are indications Of thrift and prosperity
among the farmers. They have disposed OF
their Gotten az good prices. have made money
atled to ray their debts. clear off yaroue
obligations and this year will he in SHAPE
10 nut more mopey into improvements than
ever before This means big demand for
lumber. for when the farmers prosper tho
Il nter manufacturers and dealers feel tie
beneficial effects thereof with the farmers
making extensive improvements, there will
&c no accumulation OF unstable stocks on
the mill yards and another factor In dis
tufbing rr,cos lie eliminated.
Another feature not often considered but
enc which has an important bearing upon
the subject Of maintaining lrices. is the tact
that in the past two or three years there
has been a marked change in the way lumb n
Is manufactured, and since the foreign trade
lumber business. very much smaller per.
| centage Of the product Of the saw goes 60 the
ward than was formerly the case. Sawyers
are trained now TO use especial care. that az
great a percentage of the log an possible NAV
go into bill stuff or EXPORT material and
SO MANY are the items 10 be supplied fol-
the various export schedules that very
small part Of the log goes into yard stock
The es port trade serves as a great equalizer
and will hencefortn be n very important fac
tor In preventing congestion Of the interior
markets and the CONSEQUENT disastrous price
cutting. To the export trade may be nc.
credited in a great measure. the present
present indications are That still higher values
IN the interior viii result from the pressing
demand for material for export to foreign
countries.
Another reason TO which NAV be attributed
the stable prices on yellow Dine Is the fact
that the territory. formerly prescribed In It's
limits. has ereHrniv Increased until yellow
nine Is now a fixture In the Northwest and Is
hens shipped riaht into tho heart Of this
white pine territory This great Increase IN
territory which will heneeforlh be supulied
by tho yellow pine mills has Increased the
consumption 10 such an extent that II Is al
most imnosslbia TO mills 10 supply the de-
maintained and conditions arc becoming such
That another advance Is almost cartsln.
Again. the Northeastern markets. which for
merlv drew their supplies exclusively from
North Carollna. Geore'~ aud that section, are
now buying extensively from East Texas mills
md there is eve~- evidence that this has as.
Eunsed the proportions OF a permanent bust
tory thnt has been thrown omen TO the yellow
9ine mills. there Is no good rea9on for be.
ievinE that conditions Will again become such
ms 10 warrant a break In prices.