The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-28
OUTLOOK In LUMBER
Number Of Firms Handling That
] Commodity Increases 70 Per
! Cent in Ten Years.
( 4 y
Any Decrease in Saving More Than
Counterbalanced By the In
crease in Jobbing.

/ The lumber industry Is by no means
doomed in Minneapolis. Less lumber
may be manufactured here from year to
year heneeforth, but more lumber will be
handled here than ever before. The NUM-
Der Of local dealers in lunlber-mill prod
cent within ten years This city has en-
phasized its position as the center of the
northwestern lumber trade
81 NUnObserVant prophets Of evil have
mourned the prospective decline of the
lumber business here on the ground that
the amount of lumber manufactured by
the local mills was sure to diminish an
nually But a similar argument would
scarcely convince New X ork that her grain
trade had disappeared because the Har-
lem crops had failed. Nor would London
believe that she had lost her trade in seal
skins because no seals have recently
been killed upon the Thames Embark
ment. Y taH 3 ~ s,-o.,i'.
That the manufacturing element Of the
lumber industry must eventually decline
would never be denied. That is an ex-
pected result from the annual contraction
of the Minnesota pine forests. Two of
the Minneapolis mills that f1ourished halt
D. dozen years ago areHno longer in oper-
alton. Other local mills will probably be
closed from time to time as the supply ;ot
raw material falls away Yet the fig
for immediate encouragement even from
the manufacturing standpoint. In 1902
according to the Mississippi Valley Lum-
herman, the cut Of the Minneapolis mills
was 465, 244.O0O feet. This was the small
est cut within five years. But, again, il
was nearly SO per cent larger than the av.
erage local cut for the last thirty three
years. It was larger by 56,000,O0O feet
than the annual cut in 1893 It was more
than twice the cut fifteen years, ago-ir
1887. It. was larger, in fact, than the cut
of any year on record previous to 1892
| Moreover; the decrease in the cut last
year was due only in small degree, If
at all, to the diminished area of pine
woods. The winter of 1902 was notably
lunfavorable for loggers in northern Min
lnesota. Low water last spring and sum
mer at the headwaters+. Of the logging
Istreams prevented thousands Of logs from
lbeing transported to the mills. Had these
conditions been reversed. the local GU
Efor 1902, Minneapolis expert said yes
lterday, might easily have equaled the
Etotal cut Of this city''s, banner year. 1899
when the product of the same mills was
l694.373, 900 feet. .,., 80. .--',' - ...
But far faster than the local produc
Etion of lumber decreases, the local traf
life in lumber, multiplies, Minneapolis j:
limo longer the market for Minnesota ant
NWisconsin lumber only.s Michigan. mill:
Ihave their. agents here now. The grea
Nlumb ering. resources Of various southern
Estates contribute, through, local ,represen
Ntatives,. to- the Minneapolis, trade. = 81
Numerous have become cthe lumber ship
Ements from Pacific states. that Minneape
lis. agents: have established; at Minnesota
transfer, an extensive, ward ITO be used a.
la supply depot and a. clearing house TO
Pacific coast lumber. Another such yart
and depot has been started in Southeas
Minneapolis. 80 ; t.cs;t+;:,r~- =, ii =:
The steady growth, and concentra tio1
of, northwestern numbering interests il
\ this city are reflected in the annual add
tons to. the number ofsrlocal dealers
Every twelve int theolast tenHyear
has; shown an increase insthis list. Tn
increase last year. was never exceeded
but. was .equaled two years ago In 1870
and 1902, respectively i. sixteen name
were added to the dealers roll. The ney
names last year were largely those of Pa
cifc coast lunbermen. Il = s.-s." ..
Last year the number of lumber tcon
Germs doing: business in Minneapolis wa
LAG. This total was more than 80 pc
cent greater than thatdofathe S5aconcerii
reported, for 1888, ten years. before, an
was.+12 per- cent greater Cha MS the, total 70
1901. '.'.@s|s's - ':s~'n+s7F# - @'T':Ss :
If the lumber trade ais dying here! !
is death that leads to resurrection