The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-04-20
YELLOW Pine men
EHOLDING their own
American Lumberman Publishes an
Interesting Review of the Situation
in This and other Sections of the
Country.

CHICAGO ILL.,. April 20.-The Amer
lean Lumberman probably the highest
authority in the country, has the fol-
lowing summary of lumber conditions
in the United States:
The complexities of the present sit
uation are such that one seeking en-
enlargement may find it, or the re-
verse, with little effort. The country
seems to be enjoying prosperity in
spots, and all classes of business
which are dependent upon the rural
| population alone seem to be doing
we'll The last week has brought re-
newed evidences of the fact that
building will continue on a heavy
scale. The daily press is full of news
touching on the prosperity of the build
inng trade and it is generally admit
ted that the amount of building now
projected by people of moderate
means is far in excess of the best of
previous years. This sort of thing is
not confined to the cities-although
number are breaking all records in
the issuance of building permits-but
is general throughout those sections
which are mainly dependent upon the
prosperity of the farmer; accordingly
the prospects for the retailer, part
cularly in the middle west and south
west are exceedingly bright.
Aside from rural prosperity general
business is being held down to the
minimum, largely, it is believed, be-
cause the process of tariff revision
has reached nearly every industry in
one way or another and the country is
disposed to await the effect of read
justment with as little liability as pos
sible. The low money rate prevail
ing is ample evidence of this fact, and
it is interesting to note that only once
since 1897 has call money been as
cheap in New York markets as at the
present time, indicating that the ag-
gregEte employment of capital is not
by any means equal to an average
year. This is of interest only as it
has certain bearing on a forecast of
the probable factory and railroad de- |
mand for lumber during the rest of |
1909. Most manufacturers of lumber |
are inclined to the opinion that when |
the tariff question is settled and the |
has subsidized, a material |
increase would mean more revenue for |
the railroads and, in all probability,
greater expenditures by them. Just
now the railroads are merely holding
their own as to the volume of business
and the proportion of railway equip
nent which is standing idle discount
ng the temporary fluctuation of a few
thousand cars which equalizes itself
rom week to week, remains about the
same. The last report of the Ameri-
ian Railway Associations car efficien-
~ committee on the surplus of idle
,ars reverted to the 100000 mark, an
Increase over the previous report, but
practically the average for the first
hree months of this year.
The steel industry is feeling the eff
ect of railroad inactivity severely,I
nd it was announced this week at
that reduction in wages
yould be put into effect by the Steel
corporation at an early date this in
pite of the tonnage on the books of
re companies is increasing gradually.
he increase, however, does not con-
lin any considerable proportion of {
eel rail orders, and it is this class of
lsiness which has a bearing upon the l
mber trade, as indicating the inten- l
ons of the railroads with regard to t
lproVements. etc. t
Recent predictions of the wheat C
op indicate that it will be extremely t.
mt; in fact, one authority says, the c
lallest of eight years, with the ex- a
1tfon of 1904-an outlook not very "
in its relation to railroad
nings, etc. Fl
yellow Pine.
the unsatisfactory
ditionS which confront the trade in tn