The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-11-03
Detroit Plays Big Pdrtinthe Second
Largest Industry of Country

"e.roter have a keen zest for the
big things OF industry and are famil
iur to large degree with their city 5
rart in them, hut when It is said
hat the consideration iust here II
petroit's part in the lumber industry
interests is likely 10 lag The state.
ment is 90 like declaring that air
and water are leading considerations
10 the city's welfare
Lumber has been so part OF
Gyeryone's existence ever since one
was born that II is difiioult 10 set
for Il the consideration q deserves
as a commodity Yet, IN these DAYS.
when Detroit Is so in need OF homes
and buildings OF all kinds. and when
high rents AMI prosperity have I'm
planted IN tho minds OF 80 many the
idea 81 tGildinG for themselves ~ Is
high time tho subject OF lumber was
duly considered
There has been a notion much
cultivated. for various reasons, "a the
effect that forest products are large.
~ has boens' and that the day b.
nearly Upon Va when the building OF
houses and tho other main uscs OF
lumber viii be matter OF the past.
THIS Is a notion that ought 10 he cor.
rccted
All tie hue and cry about tbs con
seryatiou OF our natural forests, so
much heard in recent years. has not
resulted as a mere sentimental trib-
ute 10 passing commodity. but Il
has arisen because wood and lumber
is still SO important 10 our rational
lite and because TO fun substitute
has We. been found WoCd and lum
mer must continue 10 be an import.
ant. first. hand everyday considera
ton in the lives az most people for
generations 20 come
OF course. the day when the best
az pine lumber could he haG. almost
at the door Of this city. is past, and
the conditions that made lumber 50
cheap have likeE.s PASSED Put
because conditions have changed in
these respects IS no reason 20 feel
that Il IS a waste 81 time for one
10 be interested In lumber
Shoe must he IN importan' con
Eaeration In ans lumber inquiry
One hears on every hand that the
price OF lumber is very High II b.,
as compared with the time when u
was almost as cheap as d.rt ~ Mich
igan, but when one considers 'h'
price on a comparative bases ou'
nnds Il reasonable Look where one
will In the myriad huiidir- activities
81 Detroit and there oro viii End
wood prcdoW.n9''rK This is s, Hn.
cause q affords moro ard a,'tot
building material fUf less money
than can De- found IN ANYTHING else
In the, matter OF the cost OF Ism.
Der the public ought 90 On lcrs'and
that the increase resides 10 very
large degree In the cost uf 'r9nsp0r.
tatlon and increased cost ~ poduc
ton In Other voids u.indcI a
the prise ri soJ'hcru lumber 10 Ir
troit. rs Tho cost OF tran por.I .cu
here. approximately tbfd ct Oh"
whole cost For Pacific coast Jumbo,
the cost Of characterization IL around
half Of the price here Lumber and
lumber dcaIers are not 10 blame for
this cirCun stance
In connection with the cost OF
lumber 81 is Of interest 70 know that
few II any GREAT businesses arc turn
sd over IN such a small margin of
profit ~ I- lumber industry Nero
10 not that the commodity is 50
highly staple 81 is doubtful II the
business could DO carried on With
The present MARGIN 10 dealers
Some one has said that there IL
nothing quite 40 honey about n
nom" a- rhe lumber the house Is
built OF This being true, wood Is
.usccpublc Of being made the object
u intimate study and investigation.
Suppose, for Instance. that instead
OF continually incoming over the
plan OF the house. In the magazine.
eT--------r----------