The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-07
LARGE SHORTAGE IN Logs.
MINNESOTA LUMBERMEN EXPECT
TO BUY IN WASHINGTON.
Outlook in East Is Bad-owfng to
Heavy Rains supplies Cannot BE
Gotten to the Cnmps-Mnny Have
Been Forced to Close Down.

The logging situation in the Mississippi
valley is becoming a serious question and
unless there Is a change shortly IL is the
belief of many Eastern lumbermen that
the Pacific coast will be called upon to
supply a larger share OF the lumber used
in that market in the spring than mas
been the custom ever before. SO serious
has II become that many of the mills that
for some months past have been running
on short time have been compelled TO
close down on account OF an inability TO
get logs.
Among the Eastern lumbermen now in
the city is James Lowring OF Ninneapo-
lis. and In an interview regarding the sit
uatlon yesterday he said:
There is what might be called a log
famine in the Mississippi valley at the
present time. owing to the fact that we
have had such heavy rains that the
swamps and low places have been flooded
and the camps are inaccessible and sup
plies cannot be gotten to them. In many
districts throughout Minnesota II has
been necessar? to close down the camps
and all operations have been suspended.
Contractors are feeling blue over the
outlook for with the present weather
conditions they are unable to deliver logs
10 the roads or to the rivers as they
have contracted to DO. The ground Is
~t-N
weather and snow comes little hauling
of timber can be done. II is an easy
matter to cut the timber, but the whole
difficulty lies In getting II to market.
THE demand for lumber Is strong and
there Is every indication that during the
winter and spring there will be a large
amount of building going on With the
prospect of a shortage in logs II Is pos
sible there will be a depletion OF the
81
will be materially advanced In case
this condition should prove to be
true there will be demand for Washing
ton lumber in the markets OF the Missis-
slppi valley such as has not been reached
for years.
Never before in the history of the
lumber industry In Minneapolis or that
section Of the NUMBERING district has the
situation been so serious. IL Is not so
with the millmen aud ioggers alone. but
also with the large number of men who
: make their living In the lumber camps
and mills Already there are about 5000
of them out Of the mills ands camps and
az they are scattering all over the coun-
try looking for other employment, which
they will undoubtedly find, the mills will
not be able TO find them when they are
needed
"our condition Is best explained by fg-
ures. The annual cut OF logs In the
Minnesota district il something like 500,
900 feet Last winter II was expected
there would be cut Of at least 800. 900
feet, but owing to the unfavorabie con-
dltions and late start less than Soo.oc
feet were gotten out. This winter in
order to make up for the deficit there
should have been a cut OF at least ooo.o ot
feet. but the present indications are
delivered In the market. IN fact, / was
told before leaving home that in many
OF the districts contractors would be sur
prisSd to find that the available amount
thao they can get out will be sven two
thirds OF the crop OF tho Same section
year ago.
"There Is but little doubt that Mime
sofa lumber yards will this coming sea
son be heavy buyers In the Washington
markets even II the weather should per
init an early resumption OF work