Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-29
ACTIVITY IN THE
Maine LUMBER TRADE
est. John, N. B.. Starr


The statement that some millions of
feet Of Maine spruce logs sold recent
~ at a record price and that the oper-
ators in that state are sorry they dld
not plan a larger cut for this winter
would seem to indicate that the Ameri-
can market for provincial spruce Will
be much better this year than usual.
Neither would 1t be surprising If the
transatlantic lumber trade should be
as good as that Of last year. The chief
difficulty is in getting tonnage to carry
the cargoes.
The growing demand for lumber in
the United States is Of course due to
the great wave Of industrial and COM
mercial activity caused by war orders.
OF the general situation Bradstreet's
says:
"All-around activity prevails. the sit
uation In some lines being unparalleled.
Buyers throng the leading markets; In
dustry, except in few negligible in
stances, continues at full speed; prices
with the notable exception of raw cot
ton, keep on rising; scarcity of num-
erous articles Is more marked than
ever, and while high costs under ordi-
nary conditions would tend to auto
matically restrict consumption, the fact
is that at this juncture the advancing
levels seem to spur buyers to extra
ordinary efforts to fill their require
ments. There is no longer any great
disposition to wait for sudden ending
Of the European war, nor to expect
marked retrogression in other direc-
lions, and domestic buyers, reconciled
to existing conditions. are anxious
about having their orders taken by pro-
ducers."
One effect Of this general activity is
a great increase in the demand for
lumber Of all kinds. The American
Lumberman presents some surprising
figures to show the gain in the value
of building permits all over the east
and middle west. 1t says:
while the severe weather has inter-
ferred considerably with present build
ing, plans have gone forward that in
dictate that with open weather will
come an activity in this line that has
not been seen for many years. Reports
Of building operations from 40 cities
indicate an increase Of IS per cent in
permits issued in January over permits
for the same month in 1915 and a 10
per cent increase over those of Janu-
airy, 1914. Notable gains in building
permits in January were made in some
Of the larger cities, this being true in
the following: Passaic, 112 per per cent
increase; Chicago, SO per cent; Boston,
70 per cent: Baltimore, SO per cent;
Memphis, SO per cent, while some of
the manufacturing cities in the east
show remarkably large gains, among
these being Bridgeport with 800 per
cent. increase; Elizabeth, N. j., 453 per
cent; Holyoke, Mass. 1877 per cent;
Manchester, 1862 per cent; New Bed
ford. III per cent; New Haven, All per
cent; Passaic, 112 per cent; Rochester,
203 per cent; Scranton. 239 per cent;
and so on through a list of industrial
centers that give the best evidence of
the feverish activity in all Industrial
lines.
I'm Chicago the building report for
the week ended Feb. 16 shows permits
issued amounting to s1,4s9,5OO. COM
pared with permits for the same
week in 1915 of s1,477 500. From
Jan. to Feb. 16, the permits amounted
to S12,21O,750, while for the same peri
cd in 1915 those issued totalel only ST.
S83.882. With these remarkable in
creases in building permits the lumber
industry may confidently look forward
to an unusually heavy demand for ma
terial Of all kinds just as soon as
weather conditions will permit a re-
sumption Of actual building opera
TONS"
The city of Bridgeport. Conn, affords
an illustration of the amazing demand
for new buildings the war orders and
investments have brought. Lodging
houses to the capacity of 1925 were
erected last year. the rooms of most
of them having three sets of tenants,
made possible by three eight hour
shifts in factories. Plans have been
made to provide dwellings for about
$500 families, but it is estimated that
fully 10000 or more new buildings
will be required.
With similar conditions in a great
many manufacturing centres there
should be a very active lumber market
throughout the year.