The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1904-10-01
THE LUMBER TRADE.

'ho lulnoer trade in this State as well no
all over the lumber sections of the
country Is encouraging at this uma
New milling companies are being formed
ana chartered in Mississippi, and old
plants are being overhauled and mt in
shape to commence operations. Dis
cussing this question, the Clarion
Ledger says:
"Slowly but surely decided imnrove-
ment in the lumber trade is being shown
IN Misslsslppi, and tine largest mill oper-
ators believe that the day is not far dis
tant when normal conditions will be
resumed.
"lhe several slight advances in the
yellow pine market have encouraged the
owners OF plants that have been closed
down Tor several months to resume ope-
rations, and at many mills where idle-
ness has long prevailed rusty machin-
cry is being oiled and adjusted and
scenes Of much activity presented.
"A remarkable factor Of the season
OF depression in Mississippi has been
shown by mills catering solely to the
foreign trade. Although the foreign
market has been sluggish and inactive,
these mills have kept running on full
time, but in majority of cases il is due
to the fact that they had orders booked
several months ahead, and which were
secured through the exceptional export
facilities offered by the Gulf and Shin
Island railroad through its harbor at
Gulfport.
"The mills which have heretofore
placed their output on the domestic
market are anticipating a very heavy
, trade beginning with the first of the
new year, and with assurances of suifi-
cient orders TO keep them going during
the remainder of the present year they
are preparing to resume operations and
take a very hopeful view Of the outlook
This view may appear rather too rosy
for those pessimistically inclined, but
there is undoubtedly some basis for the
hope that the situation IS to assume a
more cheerful aspect. The smallness of
stocks all over the country points inevi-
tably to the conclusion that the demand
must become stronger, and, while it will
doubtless be year or more before the
market becomes as good as that of 1902
03, at the same time the trade will be
better than it has been at any time dur
ing the past year.
"Some of the large mills in the south
ern part of the State are now cutting To
their full capacities, and numerous new
concerns are being organized with the
intention of entering the field as soon as
machinery can be placed on the ground.
at has been quite noticeable that,
despite the dullness of the market, there
has been no decrease in the price OF
stumpage. Timber lands in Mississippi
are regarded as vertitable gold mines,
and their owners are not sacrificing
these holdings simply because there
happens to be period of sluggishness
! in the market.
"The most notable trade announce
ment of the week in Mississippi is in re-
gard to the Camp C Hinton plant, which
was destroyed by fire last February, the
conflagration being one of the most dis
astrous in the history of the State, from
the standpoint of property destroyed.
The firm has placed large force oil
laborers at work rebuilding the plant on
the site Of the old mill, a new outfit OF
the most modern machinery has been
ordered, and by the first OF January the
firm will have one of the largest and
most complete plants in the country.
"The Stringer Lumber Company has
purchased the Cooper saw mill plant,
formerly located at Cuba, Ala, and it is
now being moved to Stringer, Miss,
and set up for operation. The plant has
a capacity of 25,O0) feet per day.
"Within the past six weeks Governor
Vardaman has approved the charters OF
incorporation for number OF new lum-
Der plants which are to be in operation
by the first of the year."