Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-06-09
OUTLOOK
Mississippi Lumberman
Talks on the Market
Prospects.

1t is especially gratifying to note that
the retail trade throughout the country
has been buying rather heavily OF late.
This provides for the prompt distribution
of me rcliandise into consuming channels
throughout the country. In spite OF
this, however, there is pronounced
conservatism in all domestic transactions
and this will probably be the general
course in business for some months to
come.
Building throughout the country con-
tinues very active and although the sales
OF lumber during the month Of May were
probably less in the aggregate than for
the same month last wear, very large
amount of building material is being
consumed. The main features OF the
Chief markets of the country have not
changed of late. TIE white pine trade
is characterized by the frmness and the
close adherence to the latest lists. Some
concessions are made on items that are
long in supply and for which the demand
is not up to the average, but this is
balanced by the high prices for material
for which the demand is greater than
the supply. The distribution Of white
pine has been narrowed down to smaller
territory than in previous years. but the
smaller stocks on hand are in direct pro-
portion to the decrease in demand.
Weakness continues to charactize the
yellow pine market and there is no indi.
cation that there will be any radical
change for the better in the near future.
So long as the mills continue to oper.
ate to their full capacity there will be
surplus stock IN the market and the in
| crease in the territory where yellow pine
is now going does not Sc em to afford the
necessary relief.
Pretty much the same is true OF the
demand for west coast lumber. Over.
production, the falling of of the demand
in the territory that has heretofore con.
sumed large quantities OF this stock, and
other features have contributed to the
material reduction in price, and although
many Of the fir mills have shut down
entirely and others are curtailing their
production. the market has not yet shown
any change for the better. The red
cedar shingle situation is about the same
as it was week ago, There is no more
steadiness in quotations, and in pric
at which shingles are sold, because prices
have now reached point where lower
figures mean an actual loss to both
manufacturers and jobbers.
Red cedar shingles are reported to have
reached the low mark at 81 26 fo- Stars
and 1918 for Clears on Kansas City
delivery. The jobbers here say that
large number of the mills have closed
down, and that transit shingles are get.
ting scarce, while the demand and
inquiry are improving, SO they feel that
prices may be little frmer and some.
what higher during June
When the effort made by the manu-
facturers and jobbers to maintain a
steady market proved failure there was
an immediate drop in the quotations OF
about twenty cents thousand for Stars.
While few shingles have been sold at
reduction Of thirty cents from the quota
tons OF six weeks ago the majority OF the
sales have been made on basis Of g.
and $2.15 for Stars on fifty cent rate.
All Of the shingles that were in transit at
the time the break came are now out of
the way and sales made during the past
week have been made from stock manu-
featured since that time. As the jobbels
are not now paying the mills the former
high prices, they are turning over the
shingles nov at a smaller margin OF
profit. Business has not been active
and can hardly be expected to improve
while there remains any uncertainty as
to the stability Of prices. Undoubtedly
there would be rush for shingles if
prices should commence to advance, nut
until they do retailers will buy only for
immediate needs. Only a moderate
number OF shingles are enroute from the
coast and number OF firms are even be-
hind to some little extent on their
orders. This. however. is not general
enough to warrant any price advance at
the present time.