The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-13
LUMBER MARKET
 IS IMP ROWING Manufacturers Are Getting Satisfactory Prices ALL MILLS IN OPERATION Capitalists Plan to Buy Power Plant at oeminary, Missy on Bonie River. Mulford Parker Projects
 New R. R. Branch.
ALL MILLS IN OPERATION
By A. c. AYLESWoRTH.

 cial. )-The lumber industry throughout southern Mississippi pine territory has shown a steady condition during the past few weeks, with tendency to- ward improvement in all directions. Prices have shown no special advance, but there has been no complaint on that account, for the market has been fair to manufacturer, wholesaler and consumer for some time It is a fact that, except during boom times when prices attained an exorbitant and ex- traordinary range, there has never been a time in the history of the industry in this part of the country when the manufacturer got a better range of pirces for his product. Of course in this connection should be taken in consideration the fact that stumpage costs more than in the early days and labor is somewhat higher.
 Practically all of the big mills in this territory are now in full opera tion again and many of them are work ing night as well as day to keep up with their orders. On some of the railroads notably the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City, there is complaint of
 
 the mill product. and in addition to that some of the buyers make com plaint that it is hard for them to get the stocks they want; but these com plaining parties are usually looking for special grades which the mills are un- able to furnish on short notice. It appears also that many of the mills have ch oked themselves with orders in advance, accepted at the time when the improvement in prices was first noted few weeks ago, and when the mill men were so eager to get the advan- tage of this improvement that they took on all the contracts they could get at the figures offered. Under those circumstances the buyer who now comes into the field for special orders often finds it hard to get what he wants on short notice, and in some cases it has been noted that he has been compelled to pay fancy prices to secure quick delivery. This is taken as an indication that here will be ma terial advances down the line as soon as building and construction operations open up in earnest in the spring.
 The big mill of the Goodyear syndi- cate at Bogalusa has taken steps to build up the export trade as an inn portant part of it's selling department. It has established a selling agency at
 
 made arrangements for extraordinary docking facilities. It is now engaged upon a single shipment of a million feet to South Africa, and it will ex- tend it's connections in every part of the foreign world where American yell low pine lumber is in demand. At the same time the J. J. Newman company is recognizing it's sales department by establishing permanent sales agencies in cities of the north.
 An enterprise that promises to play a conspicuous as well as a novel part in the future development of the lumber busi- ness of this section is that of erecting a mammoth water power plant near Sem 1nary Miss or Bouie river, in the heart Of the lumber mill territory, and con- venient to Laurel and other of the larger industrial towns of south Mississippi This project is in the hands of capitalists end promoters of Mobile and other cities, and appears to be a bona fide proposition It is regarded perfectly feasible and reasonable by all who are conversant with the topography of the proposed site of the big power plant, and who know of the demand for cheap light and power in the neighoorhood. Bouie river near Sem fuary is q considerable stream, with a full tide of water at all seasons of the year Near Seminary the river has a rapid fall. and it runs between high hills that afford all desired facility for the erection of dams and the storing and har- messing of the water at small expense rel ativey. It is proposed to establish dynamos to be operated by the water power, and this power will be conveyed on wires to points in radius of 40 to Co miles.
 This will take in 40 or 50 sawmills. large and small, and will accommodate a dozen important towns. It is figured that this power can be furnished to the mills for both heating and power purposes much cheaper than the individual mills can op- crate their own power plants, and the suit will be, therefore. a considerable re- adjustment of the methods of the mills along with 8 reduction of the expense of cutting the lumber. It will enable the mills hereabcuts to compete against those of any other part of the world It will also encourage and develop the general in- custrial interests of this territory.
 Another project that is attracting no lit- tie attention in this section just now is that of Mulford Parker to build railroad to connect his properties on the Gulf and Ship Island road, and on the New Or leans and Northeastern. He has proper ties at Kola the former and at Ellis vile on the latter road. His mill at Kola