The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-09-17
DEMAND VERY HEAVY
FOR WHITE
Prices Are Firm-Mills Not
Certain Of the Supply
After October 1.

The fall trade in white pine holds
at about the. same volume reported
last week. There is drift of orders
from the Nebraska territory, but
then Iowa dealers do not appear
anxious to place orders very strong
this early in the season. This is a
surprising fact when the prosperous
condition of that territory is taken
into consideration. The feeling on
the market, however, is to the effect
that this should not occasion any sur
prise in view of the fact that dealers
stocked up quite heavily last winter
and spring. They were then influ-
enced to come into the market by
the advancing prices and took ON
stock enough to carry them we'll in
on this fall. There is no such incen-
tive In the present situation. Senti-
ment among dealers is that prices
will not advance above the present
figures and there is no need of order
ing until their customers commence
to call upon them for lumber. The
weakness in yellow pine during the
summer has also left its influence
upon the trade and they have been
disposed to look for weakening in
the white pine market. The advance
in yellow pine, however, has taken
away this feeling, but dealers are
still waiting for the urging of their
customers.
1t is noteworthy that orders now
coming in from the country are all,
with very few exceptions, in the ma
ture of rush orders. The stock is
wanted quick and delivery is asked
for Immediately after receipt. This
indicates that while the dealers
eight months ago bought freely, they
have since then enjoyed good trade,
and at the present time are out of
stock and it Is necessary to order for
immediate needs. Under this condi-
ton there is no asking for conces-
sions and the present list is taken
for granted as the basis of the mar
ket. There is practically no quib-
bling over values in the white pine
market, and it is conceded that
while trade is not as heavy as it has
been at this time in past years, still
the northern stocks are far below
any previous records. There is ap-
parently no aggressive policy on the
part of manufacturers to move their
stocks, and they are all of the poin-
ion that the present demand and the
trade must certainly come from a
prosperous country and will consume
readily all of the lumber which can
be put in tile this season, at the pres
ent list and even better. The price
situation, therefore, is firm and the
demand is we'll proportioned to the
supply.
Minneapolis mills are confident of
maintaining saving operations for
many weeks to come. 1t is, however,
very doubtful II they will be able
to continue saving very late in the
autumn. The supply of logs now on
hand and the drives which can be
brought on at the present stage of wa
ter will keep them running until the
first of October, but whether the drives
above those now moving can be
brought on and give the mills an am
pie supply until the river is closed,
is dependent entirely upon the rain
fall and the ability to keep the driv-
ing crews full-handed. Four of the
mills are running nights and the
number will probably be reduced 10
three at the end of this week.