The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-21
STRONG IN FIGURES
White Pine Statistics Show Increas-
ing Strength.
SAVING CONDITIONS ARE GOOD
Scarcity of Dry Lumber Exists and
Orders Are Delayed in
Filling.

White pine lumber continues to increase in
statistical strength, notwithstanding the fact
that the new saving season IS month old
and the time will soon be here when supplies
OF dry lumber should be fairly adequate to
meet the requirements of the trade.
Statistics showing the shipments from the
Mississippi and Wisconsin valleys, including
seyenty-two of the largest firms, Tor the
month OF April, show that there was very
little decrease in the total volume OF white
pine business as compared with the CORE
spending month last year.
Total shipments in the two districts for
April of this year were 202,94S.ll2 feet, as
compared with 219, 379, S96 last year. decrease
for 1902 Of Is 4S1. 1874 feet or rs per cent. Or
this falling off, 1o.7 per cent occurred IN the
Wisconsin valley district and only 60 per
cent in the Mississippi valley. Relatively the
Mississippi valley district makes better
showing than the Wisconsin valley, OWING TO
the fact that the bulk of the business Is
transacted in this district. OF the total ship
ments for April 159, 6G9112 feet We're shipped
from the Mississippi waller
For the first third of the year there has
been little fuctuaton from the volume of
business transacted during the same period
hast year Up to May l, the total shipments
from the Mississippi and Wisconsin valley,
districts were 1876 SIS, S01 feet, as compared
with 759 456, 1873 feet during the same period
year ago. falling off to that date of only
q, SS7, ISL feet
These statistics, which have just been made
public, are much more satisfactory than was
expected and are having an influence in hold
ing values up to a strong basis. The scarcity
OF white pine noted in this column week
ago continues and very little new lumber is
coming forward as yet It will be the first
OF next month before the supplies of new
will be of much importance. and until that
time the trade will be caused considerable
annoyance and embarrassment in getting SUI
fcient Quantities of dry lumber to meet cur
rent requirements.
Frequent rains the past week have cont1n-
ued to improve logging and river conditions
and logs are being brought down. from the
headwaters of the Mississippi under the most
favorable of conditions. Turning and sorting
operations at this point are also being con-
Quoted under very favorable conditions Mills
are running at full capacity on both day and
night time, and production is at the maxi
mum. 49,. ...,
Hardwood Lumber Is Firm.
Market on hardwood lumber continues firm
Eastwood is attracting the most attention, in
all probability, and is decidedly firm on COM
mon or t'etter, due to light supplies and heavy
buying this spring. Birch is on a steady to
! firm basis, with supplies well absorbed. Ma
! pie and elm are quiet. OaN is firm, but
southern receipts are heavy and this is cut
ting into demand for northern to some extent
Red Cedar Shingles Irregular.
Some rregularity has developed in the price
situation on red cedar shingles, but it is re-
garded as likely to be only temporary. De-
mand latterly has been Quiet in this market
while receiots have been heavy, due to the
fact that west coast mills have caught UP
with their orders and have shipped surplus
stocks east in the hope Of moving them out
The situation will be stimulated by pro-
longed closing down Of the west coast mills
and the enforcement by the 'transcontinental
railroads of the rule preventing the divertlns
of logs east bound. in transit The market
should be stronger than it is, owing to the
high price of logs on the coast and the in
creased cost of production.
White Cedar Products Higher.
There seems to tie no limit to the advancing
tendencies of white cedar. The shortage Of
four and fve-inch rounds is pronounced and
manufacturers are holding for one-half cent