The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-31

Ed Scarcity Of supplies at the Minnesota
mills Is working q permanent advantage
for Pacific coast lumber in the middle
west Within the past few months Fthe
skirmish line, of the Pacific coast manu-
facturer has been pushed farther east
The white pine manufacturers have con-
fined their sales to smaller area. With
broken stocks and short supplies. their
trade sentinels In the districts farther
west have been unarmed, and Unable to
meet the invasion from the coast This
is permanent advantage to the western
lumber maker. The consumer has
tried his lumber and will want more of it.
The retailer who has handled nothing but
white pine lumber for years has been
forced to buy coast lumber in order to
make pretense toward a complete stock
From now on the retailer In a large area
must for the first time calculate on CIV
Ing coast lumber a place in his yard:
This. and the announcement that the
railroads will give western lumber a
lower rate to the middle west, is giving
the Minnesota manufacturer no concern
at present. He cannot fully meet the de-
mand in a limited and choice territory,
no part Of which is very far from his
mill. As long as these conditions last
he will meet no trouble from any source.
II he can get the lumber he can sell at
good profit. But II the present demand
SuOulu ulmiilou " u 81 CdI OAIoh', Ah~hAia6
1t necessary for him again to enlarge his
territory, he will find a foe entrenched
on soil he once regarded, entirely his
own and one he will not easily dislodge
at any point. .(r
Lumbersfo for the Orient.
Some of the larger coast mills which
have been on the firing line in the middle
west for years have turned their attention
tn nth tro in If
the middle west offers them better oppor-
tunities than never before. The export
trade, particularly with, Japan, Is attract
ing them. They can dispose of all of
their output in that quarter at a much
better profit. Consequently they have
limited the opera tions of their represent
tatives in tais section of the country and
given some Of the smaller mills of Wash
ington an opportunity to Increase their
trade. This Is q condition of good times
when the demand la great. With general
prosperity and a rapidly developing west,
this demand will continue. Should any
thing occur to lessen the pace at which
the west is travelling there will be live
ly scramble for trade in this territory,
It will tend to equalize things for the
consumer, but not as satisfactory picking
to the manufacturer. y -. ..
Free Lumber Sentiment. -.,-"
Sentin emit among the retail dealers OF
the northwest Is said to be- multiplying
rapidly in favor Of free lumber. This is
especially true of the retail lumber deal
ers. They hold that the present short
supplies, broken stocks, and high prices
show that the time has come when the
lumber across the line should be per-
mitted to com2ete in this market The
retail lumber dealer has been able to
keep his stocks anywhere near complete
only by begging for supplies both from the
west and the local mills. His sales have
been curtailed and he feels that through
the inability of the manufacturer to meet
conditions and the 81 tariff he has been
unable to take advantage Of his present
splendid opportunity. At 2the present
time the lumber at the head of the lakes
goes to Buffalo to supply the eastern
trade. With the duty off, the east would
buy Canadian lumber and the Duluth sup
plies would, be competing for sale In the
northwest and go, to relieve the present
distress. The retailer believes he would
buy his lumber cheaper and the farmer
would have less reason for his vigorous
kick on what he terms exhorbitant prices.
The growth Of this sentiment among the
retailers is important, as it will u1ti-
mately have an effect upon the attitude Of
the northwestern delegation in congress.
The lumber duty has been the obstacle