The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-23
run ON PART TIME
Local Mills Cannot Get Sufficient
Logs.
APRIL CUT MAY BE VERY LIGHT
Local Furniture Market Is Very
Firm With Some Lines Advance
inG-CoopernGe Market.

While practically all of the local sawmills
are now under power, they are not cutting up
to their capacity, and in many instances run
only part time. In view of these conditions,
and the late start which the mills got this
year. there is every prospect that the total
cut of white pine lumber for April will be
the lightest for several years. Rains late
this month may help out the record. but pres
ent prospects indicate very small cut as COM
pared with last year and with the banner
year OF 1890.
Turning logs is conducted under the most
discouragiug of conditions. The water in the
river is the lowest ever known at this season.
or any ether, in fact, and logs are moved
from the river to the mill at an Increased
cost of 300 per cent over a year ago Then
the men at the sortingg gap work only part
of the time A south wind blowing up the
river prevents the logs from coming down
snd cuts off the supply, while the river is so
sluggish in current that logs arrive inter
mittently and only after hard work on the
part Of the driving crews when conditions
are moro favorable. Due to these conditions,
it reported last night that some of the
local mills had only sufficient quantities in
their ponds to last them twenty four hours,
and with a further fall in the river, would
be obliged to close down inside OF few
days at latest. Were it not for the extraordi-
nary demand for lumber, 1t is probable that
10 EFFORT WOulQ De IndQc at tQlS time TO turn
logs; but demand for lumber is becoming
more active every day, and it is felt the
part of manufacturers that they must keep
their saws going il it is possible to do So
The market continues firm all descrip-
tons of white pine. There is a very heavy
demand from western and southwestern points
and retailers are more actively in the market
for supplies than ever before. Locally there
Is also very active demand from builders
and contractors. Preliminary work "
buildings. such as excavating and putting in
foundations, Is being rapidly completed, and
the first nstallments of lumber are necessary
to permit the continuation of work Supplies
are not always obtanabe from local firms
direct, but the latter are shipping in larger
quantities than ever before from points where
the supply is more generous, to fill orders
until new lumber shall be available, which
ought to be within a comparatively short
time now.
Furniture Is Firm.
With the first quarter of the year ended local
furniture manufacturers taking account
Of business, and find that volume OF trade this
year was heavily in excess of year ago
Demand is constantly increasing, and to meet
1t, large local firms are nearly all increasing
their capacity and getting ready for the late
summer and fall campaign. The price situa-
ton is very firm on all descriptions of COM
material market and heavy demand. List
prices are more fully lived up to than fol-
some months and concessions, even on car
lot orders, are rarely granted. Manufac-
turers of upholstered furniture have with
drawn FORMER prices and are putting a new
list in effect, which is slightly higher. Thi:
advance is due to advance in couch frames
and practically every line Of material whitl
enters into upholstered goods.
Cooperage Is Steady.
Shops are fairly busy and are good con
sumers old contracts. New business il
cooperage stock Is quiet, with prices YER.
steady.
White Cedar Active.
White cedar Is very active basis, will
good demand aud many "hurry-u order
coming forward to meet the requirements o
consumption. Four and Ave inch rounds ar
especially in active request and are in shor
supply. Railroad consumption is also re
quirng large quantities of telephone poles
notably those in short lengths, and supply i
inadequate. Prices are firm throughout tn
list.