Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-01-02
new YEAR OUTLOOK Ward GERRYMANDER
fRCM The VIEWPOINT OF A LUM.
BER JOURNAL.
The mississippi Valley Lumberman
LOOKS Over the Field. Will Require
More PuStle to Secure Trade, and
Credits Will be More Closely
SCrutiniZed.

SCrufiniZed.
Although the lumber trade in general
is at present busy closing up the business
OF the past year, both wholesaler and
retailer have begun to lay plans Tor the
coming season. In doing so it is always
recognized- that the experience OF the
past is of value in determining the pol
icies to be pureued in the future. Few
men are perfectly satisfied with what
they have done. Those who are have
reached a point where they can make
no progress. Mistakes that have been
made are to he avoided. Effort which
as proven efficient is to be enlarged
ID pom and improved. And all the time
there are changing conditions to be met
with altered plans. Those who can best
adapt themselves to changed circum-
stances will note results the most quick
ly, and ability to recognize those changes
is valuable part of stock in trade.
1t is generally accepted proposition
will not be as easily secured as 1t has
been during the past two or three years.
The same effort will not secure as much
trade, and even greater effort may not
result in as large volume of business.
But there is no good reason why trade
should not be fully up to normal for a
presidential year, and it should be better
because there was never a time when
the country was more prosperous nor
when the consuming capacity of the
people was greater. Although the ag-
gregate crop Of the country has been
larger than it was last year, it never was
worth as much money. The farmers
have the produce or the money, and are
o class that is willing to spend money
when it is in hand.
From the manufacturers point of view
the outlook is fair, il it cannot be said to
be better than fair. Many retailers o.
lumber have large stocks on hand at the
present time and cannot be expected te
be in the market early in the year. This
is especially true in those sections where
most OF the stock comes from the mills
of the far west. The circumstances tha
led up to this accumulation Of stocl
have already been reviewed in these
columns. The proceedings at Washing
ton before the Interstate Commerce
Commission resulted in a manner tina
lends both hope and encouragement tt
western manufacturers. The lumbermer
are satiffied that they made out goo(
case before the Com mission, and believe
that the decision OF the Commission
and OF the courts, il the case is carried
urther by the railroads, will be In their
favor. Yet there is an element OF un
certainty, and the fact that the argumen
will not be heard by the Commission
until xt March, introduce the facto
of delay. Those who are willing to banl
on the possibility OF final decision il
favor of the lumber interests, will g
ahead aud take business on the basis o
the old freight rates, but many manu-
facturers not do SO for fear that the,
will eventually BIZ obliged to make vi
the difference in freight. This means .
loss OF profit unless profits are large
than they have averaged in the past.
Undoubtedly there will be tendency
on the part Of dealers IN both branches
OF the trade to scIutinize credits a little
more closely, and to keep accounts with
in narrower limits. THIS i'll be aidet
by the disposition of buyers to ask fo
less credit. Dnring the past few years
things have been going at pretty fas
pace. Money was easy and there was g
disposition to spread QUITO make money
90 as far as possible, and make credit dc
the rest. A toucn of tight money hal
called halt to this, and both creditor
and debtor are now ready to more near
ly approach cash basis for business
This will result in the need OF less CAPT
tai to do the same amount OF business
and profits should be greater because o
a smaller interest account. Because o
the recent furry. business in all line'
will be on better foundation than it hal
been for years and the country will bt
the better because of it.-Mississipp
Valley Lumberman.