The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-12
LUMBER MEN ARE
 NOW APPREHENSIVE
Inadequate Rolling Stock to
 Handle Shipments
CHARCOAL BY NEW PROCESS
New Orleans Concern Will Be Import ant Factor In the Trade-Other Lumber Gossip From the
 Mississippi Field

Hattiesburg, Miss, Angus 11.-(SpeciaD. While the lumber manufacturing business in this territory is running along quite smoothly and the mill men are fairly well satisfied with conditions as they now prevail. they cannot help looking to the future and feeling some apprehension over the outlook. This apprehension ap- pertains particularly to the supply of rolling stock to move the big lumber shipments which Il is felt will be re- qnlred thls fall and winter. Much has been said about the slackness in the trade this summer, but light, compara- lively, as the shipments have been, they have taxed the supply of rolling stock al most to the limit Indeed. 1t Is said that i the lumber market would have broken more than 1t did this summer If the mill' men could have gotten all the cars they could have used with which to dump their stocks upon unwilling northern yards. The dearth of cars compelled upon the mill men from shipping In many cases, and so this extra stock was kept off the market, and did not operate to depress prices.
 But it is pointed out that If cars are thus scarce In midsummer on dull mar ! ket. when shipments are lightest and cars in least demand what is going to be the condition of the mill man this | fall when the demands for his output is l expected to be greater than ever before and the necessity for prompt delivery will be imperative?
 1 While the fall season Is the time when lumber shipments will be heaviest, 1t Is l the time when the grain crops of the north will be using all the cars for east ward shipment, and the coal demand of the west will be using all cars going in that direction.
 It is a condition that has always faced the lumberman of this section. But this year the hopes of the trade are built largely upon the deliveries of the autumn and early winter, and, therefore, the ques- ton of car supply become of really vital 1 import.
 Will Be Important Factors.
 By the organization of the Gulf States Lumber company. which, under the laws of the state of Alabama, Meridian and Mobile. at which cities the main offices of the big company will be maintained, will become important factors in the lumber export trade of this section. This com pany has started business with capital stock of S100000. The officers are Henry Hall an experienced and practical lum- Der man of Paducah, Ky, president; w.. J. Rice, cashier of the state bank of Porto Rico, vice president; w. B. Smith, fnancier. of Centralia, H.. general man ager, and II. T. Ogden recently removed from Kentucky, a prominent and success full saw mill and lumber man as secretary and treasurer. Vice President Rice of Porto Rico has been on the ground here in the yellow pine country, and has this to say of the new corporation: "The Gulf States company was organized primarily to take care of the Porto Rican trade. but will handle all kinds of export busi- ness as well as any other lumber or timber business that may present Itself. We have splendid connections in Porto Rico, and have closed contracts that re- quire the shipment of 100000 feet of lumber per month. The same people de- sire to double their order just as soon as we can see our way to guarantee the shipment of that immense total. All of this export business practically will pass through the port of Mobile, and will be a considerable addition to the volume of business there. We have just closed a deal for 36O0 acres of very valuable tim berland just above Meridian, and there we are now building two large saw mills. Other properties will be purchased in the Mississippi territory. and development will be carried on liberally. The head quarters of the plants will be at Porters- vile, Miss"
 Charcoal By New Process.
 The incorporating of a big company at New Orleans, the business of which 1t will be to manufacture charcoal by a new process and also to manufacture tur- pentine fuel and furniture polish from sawdust is attracting a great deal of interest in Louisiana. The name of the concern is the New Orleans Charcoal com pany, and 1t has an authorized capital of s25OOo0 At the head of the enterprise are w R. Strngfellow. William Danner end F. s. Flower. The experimental plant is now in process of building. The prin- clpal business will be the manufacture of charcoal from sawdust refuse, the other substances being by-products. When | the success of the systems all have been demonstrated It will be the business of this parent company to manufacture the machinery for the general charcoal Is manufactured In a retort and all the gasses are taken out. so that dejeeted people would hardly be able to use 1t to mt an end to their troubles. The gases are used for running the plant. Any kind of wood can be used It is claimed that the charcoal has hardly any dust in 1t.
 The turpentne plant has not yet been l established. The turpentlne IS to be eN- tracted from sawdust, which, after the turpentine, furniture and lgenous acid have been extracted, will be put up in briauetes and sold for fuel. This company | is separate from the other, though the same people mostly are interested IL has an authorized capital of $1000,000.
 The process of making turpentine out of pine lumber has already been tried, but has not been very successful. This i new plan is to make 1t out of the saw dust which has heretofore been entirely l wasted and have the sawdust as fuel aft l erward It Is also practicable, the pro- moters say. to make the turpenune di- rectly from pine lumber. and improve the lumber by doing so. as it will not have to be kiln dried afterward-
 How They Stood
 From the Westminster Gazette.
 George McCrae, NJ P. amused members of the Heriot club in Edinburgh the other night at their annual dinner with few potical stories. He told how on one oc- | easion John Redmond was wasting tue time of the House of Commons by wan dering greatly from his subject till at last the speaker had to call him to order. III right" said the Irish orator. 'l shall not repate what I was going to say | Another story concerned MT. McCrae hlm- sell. He was holding forth in the Canon | gate on the merits of free trade when an | eleetor stood up and shouted. HOW uu we stand fifty years ago? The answer came from another elector. "on twa legs