The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-07
To PUT UP PRICES
LUMBER WILL GO HIGHER AS RE
SUIT OF HEAVY DEMAND.
LIKELY TO CONTINUE so.
IMPORTANT MEETING OF DEALERS
TO BE HELD IN ATLANTA TODAY.

Increase in Price TO BE Effected mt
Next Meeting of GeOrRia saw MIL
Association. 10 be Held in VaIdOs-
TIA Nov. 4-Manufacturers of Gulf
COas; Have Increased Price. and
CurtaiIed Output % Per Cent.
BETTER understanding Among
Trade-win Have Representative
From All states in Pine Belt.
The Georgia Saw Mill Association is
likely to put up its price list at the
next meeting, to be held in Valdosta
Nov T. This action is rendered prob
able by the present exceptionally heavy
demand for lumber and the condition
of stumpage, which is higher than ever
and likely to increase from now on.
That this proposed action of the
Georgia Saw Mill Association is mere
ly in line with the lumber associations
of other places is shown by the fact
that the Sawn Timber Manufacturers
Association, which practically controls
the lumber business of the principal
Gulf ports, has only within the past
week decided not to sell any stick tim
Der at less than 17l4 cents foot.
The same association has decided
that all mills belonging to it must re-
strict their output to IS per cent. Of
their capacity. To enforce this rule
1t is provided that any mill infringing
it will be fined the amount of the extra
output, which will be divided among
the members of the association.
In discussing this matter yesterday.
Mr. William b. Stllwell of the South
ern Pine Company said that so far as
increasing the price of lumber is con-
cerned, it is in line with the probable
action of the Georgia Saw Mill Asso-
citation. but that the Georgia men will
certainly not restrict the output of
their mills, as nearly all of them have
all the orders they can cut running on
full time.
The lumber business, he continued,
is in exceptionally fine condition. Or
ders are being received from all over
this country, and the export business
also is in most flourishing condition.
AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Stillwell expects
that the days of low prices for lumber
are over and bases this opinion on the
fact that most of the timber lands in
the pine belt are now in the hands Of
people who have sufficient financial
backing to hold them until timber can
be cut profitably, and who, further,
know the value of their property too
well to sacrifice it.
For some time a movement has been
on foot to put the lumber business,
that is the business of the pine belt on
such basis that all parts of the coun-
try can be kept posted as to the mar
ket and other conditions in all other
parts, and thus prevent any one port
or section from cutting prices below a
fair market value.
In furtherance of this plan repre-
sentatives of the chief lumber compa-
MES of the South Atlantic seaboard
states met at Charleston during the
Interstate and West Indian Exposition
and there began a movement that is
likely to bring about the desired result
An important session of the Conference
Committee of this meeting will be held
in Atlanta to-day, and will have repre-
sentatives of the chief lumber firms
from Virginia to Texas. Those who
will represent the Georgia Saw Mill
Association are Mr.. H. H. Tiff of Tiff
ston, president; Mr.. William B. Still
we'll and Mr.. Arthur GUNNER of Jack
sonville
The object of the meeting, said Mr..
Stillwell, is to foster uniform usages
and customs throughout the pine belt
and to arrange for a prompt dissent
nation of any and all information rela-
tive to market conditions and such
other matters as may be of interest to
those engaged i'm the hI1SfnesS