The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-07

FROM PANIC
Southern Lumber Mills Are
Resuming Operations, Due
to Better Demand.
Charlotte, y. e., special to New York |
Journal Of Commerce.

Charlotte, y. e., special to New York
Journal Of Commerce.
Next TO the cotton milling industry
lum Der interests in North and South
Carolina probably have suffered most
seriously from the effects of the panic
0r many months past. An idea of the
seriousness of the impairment of the
lumber industry in North Carolina
alone may be gained by the simple
statement that over two hundred large
mills were forced TO close down en-
tirely during the depression and many
others were forced TO adopt policies OF
retrenchment of production and OPP
Grating expenses. Wages were cut 10
to % per cent. in some instances, and
many Of the mills that continued OPP
eratiOns throughout the panic found il
possible to keep only a part of their
employees and run only a part of their
machinery. Prices on all grades of
lumber dropped until there was little
or no profit. and demand from the
North was practically at Il standtSill,
while building operations were not
conducted in the South to a sufficient
extent to keep the mills going on
local orders. The cessation of i'm
prOvement and expansion work by the
railroads cut off the demand for heavy
timbers, and the stoppage of building
among mills and factories added to the
demand for that kind of lumber used
in such work
Such was the situation that pre-.
vailed in lumber circles in this state
for several months. Happily there are
now in evidence many signs OF i'm
prOvement. Beginning with July prices
began to reflect an upward movement
nv IS-g.n no no n
stantially kept up On many grades
prices have advanced from S. 10 So
per thousand. Beginning October Is
lumbermen of the Wilmington, y c,
section spontaneously agreed to pay 81
and So per thousand for pine logs,
which means an increase in the two
grades of one dollar per thousand
This is merely one instance of the in
crease in one section. Several of the
largest manufacturers Of Charlotte
stated that they are now paying the
same price given before the panic
knocked the bottom ont of the mar
kets
Demand for goods is UnQuestiOnably
stronger than was the case even three
months ago. A number of mill men
interviewed by your correspondent
state they are booking more orders
than they can handle, and that there
is every indication of cOntisued ac
tivitieS throughout the winter months
The election over, it is predicted on all
sides by Iumbermem who have studied
closely general conditions. that bust
ness Will take on a decidedly new life
Building operations in the north have
revived and orders are coming in free
~ for goods in large quantities. From
Wilmington, NeWburn and other ship
ping points in North Carolina anu
Georgetown, Charleston and other
ports in South Carolina large guam
titles of lumber of all grades and
products are being
rushed northward. Furniture makers
of this state at High Point, where
there are over sixty furniture factories
alone. brownsville, Greensboro Lex
ingJOn and other points, say their
business for October is almost as good
as it was before the panic was heard