The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-16
NEW LUMBER COSTS
Low Water Makes Driving Opera
lions Expensive.
HARDWARE TRADE is ACTIVE
Window Glass Has Been Advanced
Again in This Market-Farm
implement Trade.

While several OF the local mills are saving.
1t is at an increased expense over year ago
The stage of water In the river Is now within
four inches of the lowest point ever known
and 1t is only with the greatest Hiffculty that
logs are brought down to the works above
this city and are landed in the ponds of the
mills. Sandbars of considerable length have
appeared In the river this side of Durham 8
island and the boom company has posted a
large crew of men on these bars, who are at
work keeping the logs from lodging, From
three to seven men are employed on each of
Che larger bars, and this means the employ
ment Of at least 50 per cent more labor than
usual and an increase of 80 per cent in get
ting the logs to the millDonds Due to the
low stage Of water the logs come down very
slowly and at some points their speed must
be accelerated b. river men in order to get
them down at all. This is causing great an
noyance to local manufacturers and has
caused a number to hesitate before common
ding operations. Increased cost Of driving
and delays in getting the mills into service
will undoubtedly have strong influence on
the white pine market, especially If these
conditions continue long. In some quarters
1t is feared that mills now sawin- will be
obliged to close down within a few days.
Unquestionably these conditions are giving
the white pine market the 1rmest and strong
est appearance It has ever had in this city.
Coupled with them is an increasing number of
orders. Business the latter part of last week
and thus far this week has been much heav-
Ter than on the corresponding date a. year ago.
and some OF the orders have been accompa-
MED with the statement that it was not a
question CT price but of ability to procure the
lumber. To meet these conditions manufac-
turers have depleted stocks, and shortages
that are far larger than the suppl of dry
lumber. The consequence is that many orders
coming forward cannot be filled and are
turned down or are held until the lumber is
available for shipping purposes. The market
could stand a further advance under existing
conditions but the conservative element in
tho trade continues to dominate, and prices
on such descriptions as available or are
moving are held firm at former figures Rain
Is badly needed in the lumber industry. and
the sooner Il. comes the better it will be for
both the large and the small factors in the
market
Hardware Very Active.
Increasing activity in hardware in all lines
is the keynote of the situation. Shipping
forces arc working over hours to get out or
doris and dealers are placing recorders in much
larger numbers and calling for larger quaint
ties OF goods than year ago. Wire nails are
sold thirty days ahead and orders accepted
are subject to delay. Barb wire is in short
supply. with factories working on full time
and their output absorbed as quickly las it Is
tho market Shortages also obtain in wire
screens, poultry netting, plain wire, machine
and carriage bolts and many other lines too
numerous to mention. The price situation is
firm throughout the list, with iron and steel
bars handled by heavy hardware jobbers S49d
higher per ton. Sisal rope IS u cent higher
and cordage Is very firm.
The Implement Trade.
While midseason conditions prevail in the
implement trade, there is enough business tc
keep all the local lobbing houses busy. Vehi
cles. cultlyators and similar spring goods are
In active request and are moving freely
Shortages mentioned fortnight ago hav:
been overcome to some extent by better sup
plies Of material at the factories, but tint
price situation is firm. Manufacturers hav<
advanced binding Irvine Il cent a pound.
Glass Is Higher.
Glass Jobbers have advanced window glass
10 per cent, owing to inability to procure AIDE
quate supplies from the makers, and also be
cause they were obliged to pay this advanc
to the manufacturers. independents have soil
up till the end of the blast and are no longe
a factor IN the situation. Further advance
are anticipated.