The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-12
REAL ACTIVITY IN THE LUMBER TRADE Heavy Orders Coming In From
 Railroads YELLOW PINE FOR PAPER Practical Experiments Are To Be Made In Timber Fields of South Mis-
 sissippi-Expert Opinion
 Is Questioned.
YELLOW PINE FOR PAPER
By A. c. AYLESwORTH.

Hattiesburg, Miss, July 11.-(Specia1)- The yellow pine sawmil men of this ter ritory are feeling much elated over the greatly improved tone of the market, and are now permitting themselves to hope that the worst is over and that the pen dulum has commenced to swing the other way. During the past few weeks there has been a real and substantial advance not only in the activity of the trade but in the quotations, and this is accepted as the most reliable index. A month or so ago there was a furtive spurt In ordeIs and the mill men perked up nightly. But that furry was not accompanied by any advance in prices. and 1t proved to be evanescent. This time, however, the buy CTS are proposing better prices, and some orders have been placed that are really attractive as compared with the grade of prices during the past few months.
 Many of the orders that are now com ing in are from the railroads, and that is another encouraging feature. While 1t does not appear that the railroads are preparing to do any extensive work of construction or repair at the present time, they recognize that there is a hereafter when they will need material in large quantities, and there is a report of a single order for 100000 feet of car sills for one road, which material is to be stacked until 1t shall be needed.
 Movement symptomatic.
 The improvement in the market, how ever, is only symptomatic up to this time. The business has not opened up brisk by any means, though the indica- tions are better than at any time during the past eight months. The manufactur- CTS are not increasing their cut, nor are they hastenlng their operations with a view to extensive or immediate opera tions.
 The J. J. Newman company, which a couple of weeks ago was believed to be in big rush to rebuild its burned plant in Hattiesburg, has not yet decided when they will build. The directors met at Scranton, Pa, a few days ago and had before them a strong memorial from the the city of Hattiesburg, assuring them of exemption from taxation for a period of 10 or b years, and any other concessions they might want, If they would rebuild here. The directors took no action, pre- ferring to wait until the condition of the market shall make the lumber business more attractive. However. they prac- tically agreed that when they do build it will be In Hattiesburg.
 Paper Manufacture.
 The manufacture of paper out of the fiber of the yellow pine is the latest ex- pertinent to be entered upon in a prac- tical way, and the prospects are that if this experiment shall prove successful, a large factory for the making of pulp and finished paper will be established in Hat tiesburg alongside the big lignum prod ucts factory which is designed to con- vert the juice of the yellow pine into al cohol
 W. H. Crocker, Pennsylvania capi- al licf nd fo oot, week in this city as the guest of the J. J. Newman Lumber company, on Mon day shipped back east a carload of yell low pine refuse, which is to be made the basis of the first test While no contracts have been entered into, there is com plete understanding between MT. Crocker and the Newman company by the terms of which all the refuse from the New man mills will go to MT. Crocker's pros pective paper mill to be established in this city.
 Experts Are Wrong.
 Some of the chemists declare we can not manufacture paper out of yellow pine timber" said MT. Crocker. ''I may be crank on the subject but I feel reasona- bly, certain that the experts are wrong. My special business here has been to make a thorough investigation of the yellow pine fiber and of the sources of supply here. Now I am shipping cor load of yellow pine to the east, where our experimental tests will be made. I believe 1t will be a success. If I am found to be correct, 1t will mean cheap CT paper than has been manufactured by any other process, as the material is here in unlimited quantities and can be had almost for the asking. Our plant in Hat tiesburg for the manufacture of paper will be a large one, and we expect when we get the business on its feet, to con