The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-07
A WEEKS BIG SALES
Late Transactions in the Duluth
Lumber Market Footed Up
Some $275,O0o.
Mitchell & Mcclure, One of the Early
Manufacturing Firms, Has
Sold Out.
Snaoial to Tho Journal.

Special to The Journal. ... .....
Duluth, Mimi. Aug. 7.-Lumber sales OF
this week have been very large, and many
of the manufacturers are sold up to the
saws The impression has been general
thru the east that there was no lumber
for sale in this market and that all stock
of this year, especially all cut to date, had
been disposed of. While sales have been
large, and while stocks unsold are far less
than usual, there always is lumber here
for sale.
There Is a good deal of difference among
local men as to the condition OF the mar
ket, the shippers and commission men be-
ing usually bears to prices, with the
manufacturers naturally the other way. A
lot of No. 3 was sold at $15 and on several
million feet for which price was offered
and refused, the only difference between
buyer and seller being the equivalent of
about Is cents thousand. On sales OF
several million made by another manufac-
turer there was not, as is stated, any
shading of going figures. which were very
close to the top of the market. About
Is, 10000 feet, worth $275,000, were sold
this week.
Mitchell and Mcclure Retire.
Mitchell & Mcclure, who have sold out
and retired from the lumber business here,
were one of the early firms that came to
Duluth after the revival Of interest in
Minnesota pine, when the Michigan sup
mill in 1890, and have saWn continuously
since. Their first big block Of timber was
close to the mill on the Pokegama river,
and the built short railroad and dumped
their logs into the st. Louis across from
the MILL making them Independent Of
most uncertain conditions. During the
twelve years the firm was here it cut al
most 700, 900, 900 feet of pine and paid out
In wages about IS, 000, 900. 1t operated the
mills and several railroads of more or
less Importance, tugs, vessels and other
subsidiary works.
In the whole period of it's career it's
mill was never closed during the saving
season, except for a while III 1896, when
lack of sales and room for pilng combined
to close the plant for short time. Inc
firm was known as exceptionally consid-
crate Of employees, and both Mr.. Mcclure
and Mr.. Conkln leave Duluth with the
best wishes Of it's people. Mr.. Mcclure
has made extensive timber investments
in the west and south, and will attend to
these, tho probably not by manufacturing,
in the future.
The weather is pretty wet and logs are
coming in we'll. There Is very little back
on streams. tho the Nenadji has a rear
of about 10000 feet to come, which can
probably be brought down with August
rains. This will clean up the stream, not
only now, but practically for all time.
What timber is left there will mostly 80
out by the Hines roads, in fact, most OF
it belongs to the Hines people.
Shipments Continue Heavy.
Shipments have been very heavy all the
month, with spurts of better business at
times. The total for the month from Du-
luth, Superior and Two Harbors has been
81, 900 900 feet, of which Superior shipped
4,Os1, 900 feet and Two Harbors 6,500,0OC
fet. This has required a lot of men, ant
the docks have been full of ships at times
Cedar products have added much to the
months business, and results by lake
alone have footed UP more than $1,000
pieces. while shipments by lake and raj
have been good. The cedar business l.
growing rapidly, as has been remarked
before The quantity of cedar brought II
to the head of the lakes for distribution
is something enormous and many boat
are constantly busy in that trade. Rail
roads are taking ties in great quantities
while telephone and telegraph poles ar
going forward under sharp demand