The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-01-08
MUCH LUMBER
BEING SHIPPED
LConILnnel .rom Page l.l

months and the loading Of logs on that
system hasn't got well under way yet
The bulk of the log traffic for the St,
Paul comes from the Ontonagon line
and It is understood that the usual
output will be made in that territory
this year.
Log Prices Advancing.
Prices of logs are stiffening and the
low lever established by the log trust
is being shattered. II prices keep on
creeping up the way they have the past
two weeks there will be regular
scramble for logs before the month OF
January is over with
A log buyer with whom a reporter
for The Diamond Drill conversed a
week ago told us that II is only ques-
ton of a little more stiffening in the
log demand 10 create regular con
sternation in the rush to get logs
You see, said our informant. None
OF us like 10 take the initiative in rails
ing the price which the large log buy
ers have established. There are two
or three big firms that generally estab-
lish the price and they have been
holding things down in the price line
| notice of late, though, that they are
mighty reticent about stating their
price TO other buyers and we are kind
OF surprising that they see light and
are getting ready 10 make a break
themselves. For that reason we are
offering much better prices than were
offered at the start OF the season.
can't prophesy as 10 whether prices
will go much higher or not but II is a
fact that the number Of jobbers doing
J business this year is greatly reduced
and we may have hard time to get
what we want If we wait much long
err.
This feeling seems TO be quite pre-
valent and even some OF the large
buyers are offering prices that were
thought to be phenomenal some time
ago
Maple seems to be leading the pro-
cession this winter, thus reversing the
usual order Already $1,000 is being
offered for good maple logs This
timber started at $500 last September
Buyers say that they wouldn't be sur
prised IL the price went couple of
dollars higher before the winter is
much further along.
Birch is beginning 10 climb but the
big fellows are sitting very tight on
the safety valve. II has climbed from
$1,000 offered at the beginning of the
season to $14.00 now and as no one is
selling at that price IL is certain 10 go
higher. Veneer birch is not so much
in demand just now, a fact that has
been the depressing factor.
Hemlock isn't quoted any more.
Last September the big fellows were
taking Hemlock at $500 per thousand
feet simply as an accommodation 70
the seller and In some big contracts
IL was stipulated that not more than
certain per cent OF Hemlock would
be accepted al the low price. How
ever things have changed and the
price has advanced against extreme
pressure TO $1,000 and will certainly
go higher
Eastwood isn't being talked of just
now The price has been held at such
low figure that the purchasers seem
10 be ashamed to quote them. They
talked $1,000 early in the year. Elm
is another wood that isn't talked
about but II is thought that the prices
on both of these woods will stiffen
materially and rule somewhere about
$500 for Eastwood and $1,000 fol-
Elm. If not more, before the winter Is
over with