The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-07-26

at Fair Rate.
That the yellow pine market has
felt the influence of the betterment OF
general business conditions in the
| East, as stated in The News last
week, is the opinion of the Southern
Lumberman as expressed in this
weeks issue. Following is an eX-
tract from the trade journal, which
reflects the general opinion Of the
Southern lumber market:
"The yellow pine market for the
past week has been influenced chiefly
by general business conditions which
are admitted to be steadily imprOv-
ing. Enlarged activity in Industrial
lines, settlement of certain local labor
troubles with continued absorption Of
idle working men, further heavy war
orders, increase in bank clearings,
and the good crop outlook, are all con-
tributing factors. The decision of the
Interstate Commerce Commission in
the matter of rate advances from
points in the South to Ohio and Mis-
sissippi River crossings and beyond,
known officially as |. & S. $40, will
have much less influence on yellow
pine conditions than on hardwood. In
fact, most of the advances in rates
on pine were disallowed by the COM
mission
| ''While the character of demand
changed during the past week, either
as to sources or values, increased in
quiry from the railroads and continu-
ed buying on the part of car construc-
ton companies are causes of encOur-
iagement. In fact, from South Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana mills come
more optimistic reports than for sew
eral weeks, due very largely to this
increased buying on the part Of the
railroads. Export demand has also
increased somewhat, and more ship
room has been available this week at
New Orleans and at other ports than
has been expected. 1t is now pointed
out that on account of the wet wealth
er and the general backward season
in the wheat belt, that movement in
grain will not actually begin in any
volume until late in August, giving a
month or more in which lumber eX-
porters can secure shipping room for
their products, though with little pros
pect of decreased ocean rates.
Good demand from Chicago follow
ing the settlement of the strike there
two weeks ago has not developed as
well as was expected by Southern
mills usually supplying that trade.
This is probably due to the later set
Element of other small strikes OF
unions affiliated with the carpenters,
which, to a certain extent, continued
to delay operations. That that MAJ
ket will be unusually good during tho
: early fal weeks, however, is conf
IDENTIFY expected. Building in other
: cities continues at fair rate, and
t retail demand from Middle Western
I'D SC ctr q G
/ from this branch of the trade, how
g ever, remain of a conservative kino
and mixed carloads are the rule. IN
h the aggregate, however, this business
t is fair. Many substantial small orders
of this kind, and from the car build
n ing companies is the basis of steady
n market in Alabama, Georgia and Flor
ida, while coastwise trade to the East
increased business of the steel com
) panies since more war orders have
= been placed is the cause of bette
4 lumber business at Pittsburg and a
Birmingham.
Referring again to the Southwest
4 little change is reported from Hous
ton, while much more optimistic ex
s pressions are heard at Shreveport
and greater volume of business, too
4 has been done during the past weel
at Kansas City, though on much thu
s. same price levels as prevailed a weei
ago. At st. Louis dealers are stand
ing pat On quotations made TWO weeks
ago.
while occasional advances ar
made here and there on such item
as individual mills or dealers may b.
short on. no general advances are re
ported and no change IS made in quo