The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-15
LUMBER [R!AD
IS VERY ACTIVE
Building Operations Cause Demand
to Increase.
---
FOREIGN BUYERS ON MARKET,
In the Iron Industry ceutering at Birmingham
the Activity Has Been Equally as
Marked Prices Have Ma
terially Advanced.
FOREIGN BUYERS ON MARKET
fspecial Dispatch to The Times

a
Especial Dispatch to The Tines.)
BALTIMORE March 14--Inroads upon
the great timber resources OF the South
are usually fair indications of general
activity in many lines OF industry. About
the first material required at the site
OF a new MILL factory or machine SHOP,
in fields where mineral riches are to he
uncovered and in the territory to be
pierced by {; railroad, is timber in the
shape of boards and joists, scantlinS and
cross ties. Reports during the week to
the Manufacturers Record from four
important lumber centres show a de-
cidedly gratifying activity. At Memphis,
a. centre of the hardwood industry, local
building operations are contributing to a
picking up in lumber transactions conse-
quent upon demand elsewhere. Most OF
the hardwood lumbermen report Il fair
increase in the volume Of orders, both
domestic and export. Work upon build
ings in the North is gradually expanding,
and a number of large orders in that
direction will be placed in Il short time.
Prices to the domestic trade show a hard
ening tendency, on account of the COM
para lively small stock held. and the work
Of getting out new timber is progressing
rather Slowly, on account OF the WetneSS
of the bottoms and the low stage of the
streams. But large percentage Of mills
have stocks on hand to last them for
short time. The demand for all classes
of sawn timber is 1airly well distributed,
though red and white oak, ash and cot
tonwood have the best call.
MILLS ARE BUSY.
Reports at Savannah from contributory
milling centres are that the mills are
fully employed, with good orders in sight.
AT nearby Georgia ports there is con-
siderable activity in lumber. The market
at Darien is much improved. and Bruns-
wick has a good demand from the usual
sources for all grades OF lumber. Mills
at ST. Simons and at other points are
generally running at full capacity The
cross-tie industry is in good shape More
than 2.ONo, 00G feet of lumber left Savannah
during the week for northern and eastern
ports.
Lumber OF all desirable grades is bring
ing good prices at Mobile. and number
OF foreign buyers have been in the market
for timber. Orders during the month
have been numerous. and recent ship
mentS have gone TO Great Britain.
Palermo, italy st. NaZaire and Havre
France, Buenos Ayres and Cuban ports.
Specifications have been sent TO Beau-
mont mills within the past two weeks for
more than i2.C00,000 feet of timber. the
inquiries showing remarkable industrial
development all over the State and else
where, and the timber bills submitted
being for warehouses, factory buildings.
elevators, wharf sheds and rice-miils. 1t
is the beginning OF the season for the
latter, and the promise is for many new
mills. In the railroad department the
timber business is excellent, particularly
as to stringers, AMI cross-tes h tv4 reached
a higher price than ever before in the
district.
THE IRON TRADE.
II the iron trade centering at Iirn;inS-
ham the activity has been equally as
marked as in lumber. Prices have mate
rally advanced during the last two or
three weeks, with heavy sales made for
delivery during the LeNt few months; IN
some cases running unit! the latter part
of the year. Even a few sales are
reported for delivery is 1902. 1t is reported
that there has been no. speculative buy
Ing, whatever. and that the demand has
come from tho actual needs OF consumers
throughout the country. Alabama coal
mines and furnaces are running to full
capacity and indications point to very
large investments OF outside capital N
new coal and orc interests in that State.
In Arkansas the saw-mlis arc in full
operation. parallelinG the activity in the
bauxitc fields near Little Rock and i'll
the coal fields in the western part OF the
State. all rejecting the prosperity shown,
also. in increase during the year OF
80 per cent. in bank CicarinSS and 90 per
cent. in freight traffic at Little Rock.
Better priced cotton is in part responsible
throughout the South and shared by
Arkansas farmers; who at no time within
the last twenty years have been in better
financial condition. This situation is
having n SalutarE effect upon aSrlcnlturo,
for though cotton will have a somewhat
larger acreage this year, marked attention
is being given other crops In the neigh
burnuo1 of Fort Smith two crops of pota-
toes Il Year may he raised from the same
land and last year LOCO carloads OF Irish
potatoes. raised within n radius of about
ten miles of Fort Smith, were shipped
from that point. Eroom-corn is also
being raised in increasing quantities,
under the spur of the tiourshing broom
factory, and the city is becoming more
and more {, scncral-supply point for tabl"
vegetables and small fruits, for the north
cru markets. tons of beans. peas, cab
basc. spinach, &c. being shipped winter
and sumner. and the strawberry leading
in small fruits averaging during the sea-
son from four to six cars daily. So the
story runs at many other points.