The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-05-29
Lumber Promises Soon TO Re.
gain lis Erstwhile Enviable
Activity on Coast.
EASTERN DEMAND IMPROVES
Supply Exhausted as Result of
Suspension Corporations and
Dealers Are Clamoring
for Product.

|. market, and millmen now look for con
tinued prosperity untii prices are re
stored to the figures that prevaile,
before the recent slump that resuite,
; In the closing down Of 80 many Of tn,
I plants In the northwest. Locally tn,
situation has never been really bad
although the drop In prices affectet
the Astoria operators 10 a certain ex.
tent, However the local millmen wer,
more fortunate than any OF the other
dealers Of the northwest, with the re-
suit that, while many mills were shut
down at outside points. those here
We're operated during the dull season
on an almost fuli-time schedule.
| During the past week orders have
been coming in from eastern points
In large numbers and prices have taxi
en- an upward shoot. The demand for
months past had been very light and
the western manufacturers were prac-
tjcally excluded from the business. be-
cause the freight rates make II possi-
BILE for them to ship only the higher
grades OF lumber. The easterners Sc
cured the cheaper grades OF lumber
from the southern states. from which
rates are much more REASONABLE than
from western points, The market has
been in very bad shape. But now q
marked Improvement has set In. and
the prediction is made that 1t win not
be long until the mills are compelled
TO run overtime.
A gentleman who Is heavily inter-
ested In the lumber business said yes
terday in conversation with a repre-
sentative OF The Astorlan:
There has been world OF change
for the better in the situation during |
the past week. orders have been pill
ing in from eastern points. Prices
have risen and IL indications are TO
be relied upon the former high figures
will soon again be ruling.
THE fasteners must come to the
Pacific northwest to get their lumber.
They may secure red FIR above Asto-
ria, but to get yellow fir they must
order at Astoria, Yellow fir brings a
much higher price than red. and. the
demand for 1t being good when market
conditions are normal, the mills OF this
comfy are at an advantage.
"The improved condition of the mar
ket is due to the fact that the supply
which was cut before the bottom fell 4
out OF the market is now exhausted.
The production was curtailed as a re-
suit Of the demoralized market, and
the fasteners are now clamoring for c
lumber The far eastern war had a e
decided tendency TO hurt the export
business, although the effect was not
elt heavily locally, for the reason that n
he Astoria mills turn out high quail
ty OF goods. But the war had its ef- =
ect on prices. Two weeks ago con- n
itions were not at all favorable. but
n the past week prices have risen and i
he demand has increased.
1.-THE restoration of lumber prices is
eculiarly interesting as demonstrat-
1g that the country is now too big to
e permanently affected for the worse /,
! any line of trade. There may be H.
.mporary depresslons In the lumber IN
'ade, for instance, but 1t does not re- pe
uire much time for the market 10 get wI
ack to its normal condition"
Then you anticipate steady rise IN
prices and continued increased de- an
and?" was asked. ~.
Eyes, sir; the market will soon en- IN,
rely recover from It's recent weak in,
sss. 1t will not be long until the To- ne
j plants are all working overtime. Nm
ne dealers must buy our yellow fir at Ja
much higher price than is received th,
r red fir. Freight rates to eastern ,
'ints place Astoria at a disadvant- pIe
e, but we make the consumer pay fro
e freight and do not fare so badly the
ter all. We are going to have an Dol
her successful season, and you can
I 1t down as certain that Astoria will BA
ap its share Of the benefit"
For some time past II has been re- Bat
rted that A. B. Hammond had pur-
ased an interest in the Seaside mill s
d that he would soon erect on the wo
st side the largest mill In the coun- pre-
:. The millman who submitted to Is
interview yesterday was asked II, the
his opinion. Mr.. Hammond had 4
ally taken steps to build a large mill the