The San Francisco call., 1908-05-08
Loans, Exchange and silver
THE LUMBER TRADE
Conditions Unsatisfactory All Over the
Coast

Pacific Coast Wood and Iron for May says:
The coast lumber markets are In a most
chaotic state The prices all lumber products
are weak while the demand shows but little
improvement If any over the conditions of the
past three months. The call from the retail
merchants Of the coast is small, although there
is considerable building going on In certain
communities The districts around San Francisco
bay are building up with encouraging rapidity.
but the lumber used Is that which accumulated
in the yards prior to the late drop In prices.
OF course there is some buying. but at prices
which provide for for no psoat to MN owners and
while the retail 1umbermen seem content to
come out even and keep their teams and men
employed. The coast lumber market is certainly
in a most demoralized condition.
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
From the southern part OF California come
only the worst of advices. There is little build
ing going on. and money is exceptionally tight.
which causes even the most ambitious builders
conditions. Business generally is at standstiIi.
and order cancellations have been frequent since
the better class of buyers prefer to keep OF the
books of the manufacturers. Los Angeles ID
feeling the current depression perhaps harder
than any other California locality. presumably
because of the fact that the residents there
which show but little betterment. Pine and
redwood equally affected. while shingles.
urI snail call throughout the southern ' Section Of
this state. Real estate dealers and spectators
In that district are hard hit, SO that there
seems but little hope of much building for the
remainder OF the current year.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Alameda county, of all the localities In the
Golden state, Is making a far hetter showinT in
comparison with its sister communities. Build
ing is somewhat active IN Oakland and its adj
iacent districts, SO that there is some lumber
moving but prices are away of from what they
should be at this season OF the year. The higher
quotations ruling in this county have been the
inducement which has caused some San Fran
cisco lumbermen to ship their lumber products
across the bay upon barges that they could
take advantage OF the prevailing prices. This
is deplorsble position to assume. and the
Oakland dealers have great reason for complaint.
Cutting in on business which does not rightfully
belong to the metropolitan dealers Is practice
which should be frowned down. and Wood and
Iron is surprised to learn of the existence Of
this policy upon the part OF lumbermen who
know that they are transgressing upon trade
fields which are without their province.
OREGON AND WASHINGTON
Building operations In Portland. Seattle. Ta-
coma and Spokane not at all what they
should be- and even the low prevailing prices
for mill products In those communities offer
no inducement 10 possible builders. Portland
reports heavy. building. with prices as firm as
can be expected The tightness of money ia
responsible all over the coast for the absence
of demand. and 1t will be only when the hanks
loosen up with their increasing boards for legti-
mate investments that the lumber trade will
show any appreciable improvement