The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-31
WANT LUMBERMEN TO UNITE.
Southern Lumber Dealers Anxious
for a General Organization.

DETERMINATION.
A movement is on foot to form a con-
solidation of interests among all of the
lumber dealers of the South, and to that
end meeting has been called in New
Orleans June Is. The purpose and scope
of the proposed organization is best ex-
pressed in a letter that has been re-
ceived by the Morning News.
Inc letter, in brief, calls the attention
of the dealers of the South to the fact
that no general organization of lumber
dealers exists in the South, as they do
in other sections of the country, and
suggests the advisa bility of forming such
an organization for the South for the
proper control of business, directing trade
in its proper channel and looking after
the best interests of its members in all
ways.
Mr.. William B. Stillwell of the Southern
Pine Company was seen yesterday by a
Representative of the Morning News and
asked whether the Southern Pine Com
pany had received notification of the
meeting and whether he thought it prob
able that any or many firms in Georgia
would take part in the movement.
The Southern Pine Company, Mr. Still
well said, has not received any notice of
the proposed organization and would
hardly expect to as being strictly man.
ufacturer it would hardly he invited to
join an association of dealers. To the re-
porters query If the interests of manu-
facturers and dealers were not the same
Mr.. StillweH said that while they were
in theory they did not work we'll in prac-
tice, and that, though repeated efforts
had been made to form in Savannah an
organization that could and would har-
moniously include both classes, they had
ALWAYS resulted in failure
This he explained by saying that while
both classes could and did get along all
right hong as the market was good,
with dull market the dealers had a ten
dency to bear the market while it
was to the interest of the manufacturers
to "bul' it, and it was in this way that
trouble usually originated.
The dealers in Savannah were bearing
the market a few weeks ago, he said, but
the increased inquiries have so improved
its tone that the dealers are having much
difficulty In placing their orders.
The Southern Pine Company is a men,
Der of the Georgia Saw Mill Associa ton
which includes the greatest number of
the manufactures of lumber in the state.
This organization, said Mr.. Stillwell Is
indirectly associated with the Southern
Lumber Association, with headquarters in
st. LOUIS, but the connection is not so
close that the larger organization has any
thing to do with determining the output
or prices of the Georgia mills. In fact,
said Mr. Stillwell, such an arrangem mt
would not be practicable as the Georgia
Association cuts what is known as "di-
mansions" which are for coast
wise and export trade while
the majority of the members OF
the st. Louis concert manufao-
ture what are known as stock
stuff. The chief value received by the
Georgia Saw Mill Association from the
Southern Lumber Association is from its
statistical bureau which is excellent and
of great value to all manufacturers.
Mr.. Stillwell has only this week re-
turned from a meeting of the National
Hardwood Association which met recent
ly in Chicago.