The Ronan pioneer., 1917-06-15
LUMBER PRICES
WILL BE HIGHER
BUILDING REVIVAL AND SHIPS
OF WOOD MAY MAKE DE-
MAND EXCEED SUPPLY.
Farmers of Montana Who Contcm-
plate Building Are Advised to Buy
Their Lumber Before Prices Adj
vance; Present Prices Considered
Cheap.

Until very recently the lumber in
dustry in the great lumber producing
states of Washington and Oregon was
in bad way. Lumber in 1915 was
frequently. sold for less than the ac
tual cost of production. In fact. so
bad were the conditions surrounding
this important industry that the gov
ernment sent commission to make
a thorough investigation with the OBJ
ject of putting the manufacture of
lumber on more stable basis, and
thus preserve an industry upon
which these states depended largely
for their prosperity.
About nine months ago, as the re-
suit of commercial and industrial eX-
pansion, there was a revival in build
ing all over the United States. Ow
ing to the high price of steel many
articles of commerce that We're for
merly made of steel are now being
made of wood. Ships are being built
of wood and this construction will
probably be continued indefinitely.
In fact there is a constantly increas-
ing demand for lumber and lumber
products which will make for higher
prices without a doubt.
Building Materials Advance.
The increased demand as a result
of the general commercial, industrial
and agricultural prosperity came just
in the nick of time, and saved the
day for the millman. But along
with this demand mill equipment of
all kinds advanced in price, wages
went up, the car shortage came and
stocks piled up in the mill yards on
which interest must be paid and lit
tie chance to turn this lumber into
ready money. So the wholesale mar
ket advanced, but that advance in a
great measure barely takes care OF
anything more than the increased
cost of production.
Many keen students Of the situa
ton are surprised that Lumber is Still
so cheap. Wheat, steel, hogs, wool
in fact everything one might care te
name has advanced from rs to 200
per cent during the past two years
and prices on these commodities are
still climbing yet the retail price o
lumber generally has gone up bar'
35 per cent, and this comparativel.
small advance on the ordinary house
barn or granary, which are the kline
of buildings in which the people OF
Montana are mostly Interested
amounts to very little in actual dol
lars and cents.
Building in Montana.
Where the pinch is going to come
in is in getting lumber to supply the
actual need of the farmers of this
state. There is every indication of Z
bumper crop. Granaries will bt
needed to store this grain until sucf
time as the railroads can furnish car.
to move it. Barns will be needed tt
take care of the increase of stock
carried on every farm. The home
stead shack must go and new homes
so badly needed, will be built In fac
there is great danger that the de
mand for lumber will exceed the sup
ply.
1t would be we'll for every farmer
in the state to figure out what lum
ber he will need and buy it now. The
man who fails to look ahead may
have to go without lumber for build
ings that will actually be needed
badly, and it's certainty that thu
man who orders what he needs righ
now will make big saving. Lum
ber prices are bound to advance ant
will probably be higher than the.
are now, both through the period o
the war and during the reconstruc
ton period after peace is declared.
The man who delays buying TO
another three months is liable to b.
paying higher prices and finding
lumber hard to get.