The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-29
'NBER
 BOT TOM .ck for Lower res
DE DISCUSSED
5lph Says the Local As Closely Watches Every -tructure-$4,ooo, ,ooo gagged in Building.

nard Randolph, the well-known pres-
 of the Halle Randolph Manufacture
 company. and president of the Ala
 ia-Tennessee Retail Lumber Dealers Der market, and the building going on in Birmingham at present. The feature of the interview was that recently there has been in course of construction in Birming- ham $4,O0O OOO worth of building, and that construction work is still being contin- ued. His remarks concerning the prevail ing price of lumber, to the effect that the bottom has practically been reached, Is taken to be of material interest.
 Asked concerning the importance of the lumber traffic in the south, as compared to the iron and coal industry. MT. Ran dolph declared that in tonnage the amount of lumber shipped from Alabama and Mississippi annually would compare favor- ably with the coal and iron shipped.
 The detailed statement of MT. Randolph follows:
 Much Building.
 'Yes, there is much building being done now in the city and suburbs. Our associa- tion in May employed a man to make a thorough canvass of the district to find out exactly the value and localities in which most of the building material com- ing into the city was being used. This was done with a view, not only of ascer- taning these facts. but to find out II there was any infringement by the whole sale men and manufacturers in the terri tory of the retail dealer, and to know if the high prices of building material then prevailing prevented the building of homes and rental property, necessary to accom- modate the ever-increasng inflow of peo- pie to our section.
 '"rhis canvass was most thorough and satisfactory to members of our associa- ton, It showed the actual investment and expenditure of something over a,OO0,O0O and the nerve, confidence and determina- tlon of our people to keep up with the demands for Improvements made neces- sary by our rapid growth, notwithstanding the fact that there was an increase or something over Ss12 per cent in the price of building material over prices which we had heretofore been paying.
 Making Close Study.
 "About the first of the month it became apnarent to the members of the associa- ton and to those engaged in handing building materials, that the top had been reached in prices, that the unprecedented demand in the eastern market Tor our yellow pine timber was on the wane' and that a very serious condition confronted inc retail dealer who had been forced to buy stock at high prices. The appreheh- sion was that falling market would not only entail a serious loss in his stock put would curtail or stop building operations conseouently, our dealers are making close study of the situation and watching with more than usual interest TOT every new building started.
 Notwithstanding that thus Tar the S4'- OOo. .OO0 of Improvements ascertaned 10 be under way in May and the reported tumble in prices the good work goes on in the city. on the South and North High lands surburban towns and the ever in- creasing new cities" all around us
 Some Holding Off.
 "Still we apprehend that there are some property owners holding up projected lm- movements, waiting for the bottom to be reached in prices of building material, and to such I want to say, that the pot tom has practically been reached m the price of yellow pine lumber in thls mar ket and that my firm. the Halle-Randoiph Manufacturing company published Tn your issue of last Sunday retail price sheet of yellow pine lumber used in this mar ,ket and will continue to publish such list each Sunday for the information of those interested in building operations and the prices therein listed are somewhat hish- CT than those that have prevailed In years past.
 towing to the fact that the small saw mill shipping on a cent freight rate' have practically cut all the timber aVaii- ol,le and as the retail dealers are now getting so per cent of their supplies on 10 cent rate, a difference of from S2 to $3 n,r thousand from mills south of us, to whom is open the export trade, we will find in the future that the prices of lu1n- Der in this market will be controlled by this export demand and not as hereto fore by local consumption from small mills.
 Keep Up the Work.
 '"rherefore, it behooves us all to keep un the good work while the season is favor- able for building operations and every property owner who has thesprice should continue to build so long as a tenant Is available and furnish to the stranger com inc to our city, neat, attractive homes with all modern Improvements and there by make him satisfied to stay with us and help build up the district.
 .It is not the variation in the price of lumber of a dollar or two per thousand that cuts any figure. It's the new citizen and tenant that make the investment