The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-22
LUMBERMEN ARE
 VERY OPTIMISTIC Christmas Season Finds Trade In Good Frame of Mind RAILROAD REPAIR WORK Mill Men Believe That There VIII Be Strong Demand for Material for
 Bridge and Car Work
 Next Year.
RAILROAD REPAIR WORK


 cial)-rhe Christmas season of 1e07 in the yellow pine territory of South Mis- sissippi finds the lumber manufacturers in a decidedly optimistic frame of mlnd with conditions substantially warranting the favorable prospects which they pro fess to sec ahead of the trade.s
 While it ia true that during the past two months 4. 0 business has fallen to the last limit of depression the manufac- turers have been able to so handle their l affairs as not only to avoid disaster and bankruptcy but in most cases to keep in operation. so that the1r plants would not depreciate and so that their forces would not be disorganized. They have hoped for an improvement of conditions and now the fulflment of their hopes is believed to be at hand. The silver lining in the cloud has become visible. and the re- opening of trade in a modest yet profit able, way is believed to be at hand. Renewal. of the demand for the lumber l of this territory is already in sight Dur ing the past week or two some very nIce orders have f1oated In. They are | not large orders in any case, and they are not numerous, but they have suf- feed to give outlet to some of the stocks on hand, to start in operation some of the mills that have been idle and to give assurance that the season of acute depression Is at an end. Up anu down the Gulf and Ship Island road the mills have been rsuming their operations A notable instance of this kind is that of the Connor company's mill at Seminary which was completely closed down for d while, but has now reopened with full force. Other instances of the same kind have been noted.
 Stocks Are Small.
 The millmen are able to congratulafe themselves on the fact that they are not burdened with large stocks of lumber in their yards and on the swamps. In the case of the present slump they were able to forecast the situation with some de- gree of accuracy and they were prepared to meet conditions by the application of early economies. Forces were reduced, operating expenses pared and payrolls cut down well in advance. The cut of the mills in many cases was reduced even below the amount of orders coming in.
 
 unsaleable stuff the manufacturers man. aged to fill out their occasional orders with material on hand, and thus their stocks were reduced instead of increasing. Of course this foresight was not exer- cised In every case, and some of the mills are now overstocked: but review of reports from many of the representa- tive mills shows that on the whole the accumulations are not up to the normal
 The effect of this condition will be most beneficial as soon as the market shall open up. There will be no rush of mill men falling over themselves in eager haste to unload at any prices that the buyers may offer. It will not be possible for the buyers to take advan- tage of the necessities of the manufac- turers. The prices will be maintained the manufacturers will get a profit on what they have on hand and they will not be compelled to fill future orders ex- cept at figures that will afford them something for their trouble
 Yellow Pine Demand.
 That the demand for yellow pine will open soon after the first of the new year is confidently believed by the mill men. They do not expect any great rush. but they look for a fair business that will give all the mills something to do
 Mir ]. r. Wilder of Epps, president of the Mississippi Pine association, voices the general opinion when he says: "We look for some good orders for railroad construction material and car material in the spring, because 1t is a mathemati- cal proposition that they have got to have the stun. Railroads have got to make repairs of their bridges and wood work even if they do not engage in any new work. If the roads are not kept in condition 1t means wrecks and losses of that character. As a proposition in arithmetic it is evident that it is cheap CT to make the repairs and keep the track in good condition that it is to pay losses for damages and wrecks. Now, the roads must have the material to make these repairs. There are only two ways in which they can get that ma teiial: They may draw upon stocks in hand or they must send to the mills We'll they have no stocks on hand. We know they have no stocks on hand. We cause they have not been getting it from the mills. Therefore. they must send to the mills. That means business for us.
 Repair Work.
 "The repair work will commence as soon as spring opens, for the repairs are always necessary after the winter in the north. The same method of figuring will show that car material must also be ob- tained in the spring. The roads must have cars There is the ordinary wear and tear to be accounted for. not to speak of the necessity that prevails on all the roads of the country to increase their rolling stock. The factories and car shops will commence their active operations Tn the spring or early summer. They will want material Their needs in each case may not be large, but in the aggregate they will amount to considerable quan- 1 tity They have no stocks on hand. It ! Is well known that the car factories have | been buying absolutely nothing except the scraps they may need from day to day. There has been no buying ahead. Every piece of material needed during the coming season will have to be sawed by our mills. That means business for us. | Fortunately there is no reason to look for | a demoralizatiOn of the market when the | orders do commence to come in. The | mill stocks are small, and while the mill | men need the money they are so situ- i, ated that they will not have to cut prices | in order to get the business. l am not ! predicting any phenomenal business for l next season for the recovery from the l present depression to full tide of pros 1 perity may take time; but l am looking l for great improvement over present con- l ditions, and l am looking for business | that will at least enable the manufac- | turers to keep their heads above water.
 One effect of present conditions has | been to divert great deal of business | to the gulf ports that formerly went to |