The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-03-11
The PINE OUTPUT
Harker Writes on North
Carolina Pine.
A Stead, l. crease mrs Consumption in the Past
Ten or Twelve Years. Output Now
100000. 900 Feet.

l,OOO,O OO, 900 Feet.
John Harker, OF Wiley. Harker & Co.,
No. 40 Broadway, has written for the
New York Commercial the following ar
ticle on North Carolina pine:
New York, March 5.-There has been
a steady increase in the consumption Of
North Carolina pine in the past ten or
twelve years. The kiln-dried output is
now about 500, OO0, 600 feet annually.
About 200, Coo, 900 feet of air dried lumber
is also used. so that altogether about
900, 00o, 600 feet of this kind of pine are
distributed each year. Prior to 1885 little
manufactures in the South did not nave
sufficient facilities. With the introduce
ton of dry kilns the product was forced
more and more to the front as a cheap
and desirable wood, especially adapted
for interior building and box purposes.
While it is harder than the ordinary
white pine it is soft enough to be worked
easily.
THE SHIPPING POINTS.
ne principal SnlppinS points are NOR
folk, Va, and tributaries into that city;
washington, New Bern, Georgetown and
Wilmington in North Carolina. The
largest distributing fields are New York.
Pennsylvania and the New England
States, but there is also a lively demand
from every other part of the country.
Prices for a number Of years show how
firmly this lumber has maintained its
hold. In 1887 it commanded fair figures
and this continued the case until 1893,
the panic wear. Then until 1898. like
every other community, it shared in the
general depression. Early in 1899 prices
began to soar and they touched the high
water mark in December Of that year.
There was an average increase of 81 to
So per thousand feet. In the next spring
there was a lull and prices receded about
81 per thousand. A reaction in the fall
OF 1900 advanced prices 81. In 1901 the
scale was satisfactory, the average high
standard of two years before being main
tanned.
Unusual activity marks the opening of
the present season. New lists of prices
We're adopted on January Is by the North
Carolina Pine Association at Norfolk.
This has proved a wise move, the Sched-
ule being fully maintained. In fact, all
the manufacturers have orders ahead
that will keep them busy at least until
May. The situation was never stronger
and the demand never more healthy.
Sales are now being made at as high.
prices as North carolina pine ever
brought.
CONTROLLED BY A FEW.
Timber holdings of North Caroline
pine, all in that State and Virginia, are
in a few hands. The largest holders are
the Atlantic Coast Lumber Company. of
Georgetown, S. c., Which has about 1000
000. 600 feet of standing timber; the Camp
Manufacturing Company, of Franklin.
Va, with estimated holdings of soc, 0O0,-
600 feet; the Surrey Lumber Company, OF
Baltimore, upwards Of 700, coo, 900 feet;
the Cape Fear Lumber Company. Of
which Wiley, Harker & Co. are exclusive
selling agents, having large mills at Will
mington. N. c.. upwards of 500, coo, 600
feet. These four concerns. with a few
others Of less magnitude, control at least
so per cent of the entire product. FiGur-
ing the total holdings and the annual out
put it is clear that in a short time this
virgin timber will become scarce.
1t may be remembered that two years
ago Charles R. Flint, August Belmont
GlIlil Jh1 4 ~ IL INiiA
Der companies. While their efforts were
not successful there is a prospect of an
agreement being reached among the
large holders. with a view to advancing
the trade in this lumber to a higher plane
than at present, for there are a number
of ways in which profits may be increased
reasonably by united action.
SUPPLY NAY BE EXHAUSTED.
Today North Caroline pine is the cheap
est wood in the market available for the
purposes for which it is used. Ten years
from now there will be little Of it unless
steps are taken at once to stop waste,
especially the cutting Of young trees by
small companies; also something could be
done in planting.
Taking into account the growing scar
city of white pine and the fact that our
lumber is now being used in its place -
a great extent, the Importance OF dong
everything possible for the North Caro-
lima pine is unquestiOnable. The South
ern factories are now equipped with the
best modern appliances and turn out the
lumber in a Workmanlike manner SO that
it comes North ready for instant use.
Labor being cheaper in the South, 1t IS
generally found desirable for consumers
to order the dressed lumber, but there is
also some demand for undressed grades
which are made into lumber in Northern
pianing mills and factories.
JOHN EARKER.
FAVORITE NEARLY EVERYWHERE.