The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-07-21
ILLINOIS CENTRAL
+ ENuVENS THE
LUMBER MARKET
PURCHASING AGENTS IN HArTIEs-
BURG FOR PURPOSE OF MAX
ING INQUIRIES.
BUYING MATERIAL OFF The
| MAIN Line FOR FIRST time
Indication That Mills Along Route All
Full of Orders4 Using Other Road.
as Feeders-Lumber Prices Art
$3.50 Per Thousand Higher Thai
Month Ago, says Leading Banker
jackson Market Good.

The illinois Central is the disturbing
element in the lumber market today |
and the Hattiesburg manufacturers |
and dealers are all delighted that |
something has come to stir the dull
condition of the market and start some
buying.
The Illinois Central during the last
few weeks has violated a precedent
of long standing by making purchases
of lumber off the line of its route
through the south. Heretofore they
have followed the plan of making their
purchases along their own line-pa-
tronizing home industries it might be
called. In this way they develop their
line and at the same time get to haul
the freight both ways.
During the past week their purchas-
ing agent, Albert Mann, from his Chi
cago office, has been sending out in
quiries to mills along other roads, in
Guiding several of the mills in this
territory and around Hattiesburg. He
has also had men out on the road and
some Of them have been here for the
purpose of finding car materials and
railroad timbers. 1t is probable that
large orders will follow this unusual
interest in the local market.
THE situation is this said promi-
nent lumberman today "The Illinois
Central has been doing large amount
of buying in the lumber market. All
the mills along it's route are full with
orders and they are now turning to
other roads to supply the demand.
"They are utilizing all the roads
which connect with them in the south
as feeders and are going to draw their
supply largely from South Mississippi.
'The Illinois Central has also let
some large contracts for cars with a
Chicago firm and inquiries have also
been received here from them in re-
gard to car materials.
"The local dealers are all very crate
full to the Illinois Central for starting
the agitation and it is hoped that the
other railroads will follow"
A leading banker says that the price
of lumber is now $3.50 higher than a
month ago and the prospects are get
ting better every day.
Better Prices At jackson.
Jackson, Miss, July 21.-Orders are
coming in more freely and a little bit
better prices noted on most everything
sold. This in brief sums up the situa-
tion as it exists today in the lumber
market of Mississippi The growth
in business has been steady for sew
eral days, and every day seems to
bring improvement.
Four-inch No. 2 flooring and FIVE
inch No. 2 ceiling are drug on the
market more than anything else, with
four-inch B and better flooring and
5-Sths B and better ceiling and twelve.
inch No. boards dragging little.
Other items are in fair demand.
Dimension is looking better, with
considerable call for piece stun and
some inquiry for car material. Some
say they are even getting orders for
car material. though If any actual buy.
ing Of this character is taking place
1t is on a comparative small scale.
Though the railroads have diverted
the great portion Of their surplus roll
ing stock to handle the grain crops
of the west, nothing approaching a
car shortage is being experienced
among lumber men as yet.