The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-03-25
BIG YEAR AHEAD
FOR LUMBER
PREDICTION THAT BANNER YEAR
RECORDS WILL BE
EcLiPsED
Demand for Large Dimensions for
Panama Canal and Philippines, for
Spruce for Boxes and SpindIes, and
for Shingles, Starts Boom Year
Orders Come in Floods.

f. Northwest lumber manufacturers,
with orders on their books sufficient
IN most cases to keep the mills oper-
atlng sixty days, and with big yard,
cargo and railroad business ahead, ex-
pect the 1910 trade to equal, if not
exceed, that handled in 1906, the most
prosperous year ever enjoyed by North
Pacific lumber and single manufac.
turers, says the Seattle Post-Intelli.
gencer.
The Isthmian Canal Commission
has called for bids on three million
feet of lumber, which, owing to the
large size of timber wanted, probably
will be placed in the Northwest, the
only timber producing district where
such orders can be filled.
In addition to the Isthmian Canal
order, Assistant Quartermaster Gener-
al w. H. Miller, of Seattle, is calling
for bids on 2,4S4,67S feet of fir lumber
for use in the Philippine Islands. The
bulk of this order is also made up of
large dimension timbers, and will have
to be placed with coast mills.
Big Flood of Orders.
Another large order, which will run
into about 100000 feet, is now being
figured on by spruce lumber manufac-
turers Of the State. This order will
call for material for 100000 spruce
boxes for delivery to the California
Fruit Gamers Association. An order
for about the same number of boxes
mas just been delivered by a Grays
Harbor mill to the Alaska Packers
Association.
Still another recent order which is
considered by lumbermen as import
ant, and the forerunner of much larger
contracts, is that for 100000 feet of
square" spruce by New England tex
tile manufacturers. These spruce tim
bers are turned round and used as
shafts upon which cotton is wound.
Several months ago a trial order of
100000 feet of spruce was placed on
the coast. The wood was so satisfac.
tory that an order for 100000 feet has
just been placed. White pine has for.
merly been used almost exclusively
for this purpose.
Boom in Eastern Trade.
Not only are many large orders for
lumber in sight, but the Eastern yard
trade, which is considered the back.
bone of the lumber industry, is now
looming up in excellent shape. East.
ern yard stocks are low, and hundreds
of these small orders have already
been placed on the coast.
Lumbermen consider the yard trade
of prime Importance to the industry,
inasmuch as it affords a diversified
market for practically the entire out
put of the mills, with the exception of
some common lumber.
Flooring, ceiling, drop siding, STEP
ping, rustic joists, studding and di-
mension stuff can be shipped to East
ern retailers, while the Panama Canal,
Manila and other government orders
and foreign trade generally is largely
in big timbers and dimension lumber.
Predict Banner Year.
II confidently expect 1910 to be one
of the best years the Northwest lum-
Der industry has ever known" said
Victor H. Beckman, secretary OF the
Pacific Coast Lumber Manufacturers
Association ION my recent Eastern
trip, on which I worked almost ex-
clusively among our best yard stock
consumers, was told that 1910 would
be just as good year as 1906
I'm making such statements Eastern
retailers did not stammer. They feel
sure that banner year is ahead OF
the trade. think that at least 80 per
cent. of the sawmills of the State are
operating, and others will be running
soon.
"The railroad business, usually most
active from December to March, has
been good. The cargo trade has been
brisk and the yard business, just now
commencing, promises much. The re-
cent advance of from so cents to 81
in the yellow pine prices has helped
business in the Northwest materially.
Youngest Brother Is SO.
Chillicothe, Mo-, March 20. = The
death of Mrs. Anna Bolcourt, at MO-