The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-11-30

THE time has come when the pro-
fessional lumberjack will have TO hus-
tie II he wants steady enjoyment,
said lumberman yesterday. For
three years past experienced lumber
workers have been independent and In
some parts of the upper peninsula they
have practically dictated the wage
scale. The highest wages recorded
have been paid during the past three
winters. but men are now 80 plentiful
that the jobbers have already anpounc-
ed reductions. and the average wages
will likely be from $25 to $50. instead
OF from $35 to $40. as was the case las.
winter have talked with many old
time lumberjacks the past few days.
and they want as much money as they
received last year, but 1t is now evid-
ent that many of them will find them
selves ont Of employment IL they hold
ont.
There hes been a remarkable change
in the labor situation. as well as In the
demand for lumber. During the past
week or ten days many of the largest
lumber concerns have announced that
they are not in the market and some
of them have not taken any steps to re-
sume logging operations There has
been drop of fully 20 per cent in the
prices of board timber and lumber in
less than week. but the prices on
some other classes of stuff. including
mining timber and railway ties have
not been cut There will be good de-
rnand for railroad ties all winter. and Il
do not look for falling off in the de-
mand for mining timber, but there
will be very little sale for poles OF any
kind. AT the opening of last season
the demand for poles Of various kinds
was unprecedented. but as the big rail-
way, Telephone and telegraph corpora
tions have discontinued the greater
portion Of their new work. they do not
now need the poles The only stuff
they are in the market for is the tim
Der needed for repair work.
Some OF the lumber concerns are
writing discouraging letters to the job
bers aud it looks to me as though the
business will 5e unusually quiet this
winter Various excuses are ordered
for the lack Of activity at this time
but the principal one is the inability G.
the companies to procure currency with
which 10 pay their bills. also the fact
that the biz railway and other corpora
tions are not purchasing any timber
for either Immediate or future deliv
cry.
The men in the woods will have to
stick to the camps more closely than
they did last year. 1t was common
occurrence % see some Of the profess
ionai lumberiacks move once week.
The operators were so hard pressed for
men that they established the custom
Of furnishing the workmen transporta-
ton when they desired 10 pay visit
to another camp. They also frequently
furnished them transportation when
they desired to go to town. and in
nearly all casos where men were hired
in town the operations were obliged 10
pay their expenses going TO the camps.
This will rot be done this year the
men viii have 10 get there the best
way they can and many Of them will
be in mighty good luck II they secure
steady employment The operators
will not tolerate the impositioDs that
they have put mp with the past three
years, aud the men viii have 20 knuck-
10 down to business and do better work,
THE old time lumberjacks who are
now loafing around the cities and
towns of the upper peninsula expecting
TO have the jobbers coax them 10 go 70
work viii he disappointed. and they
will soon find that all OF the available
places at the camps will be taken Dy
men from other districts. -