Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-04
IMPROVEMENT SEEN
IN LUMBER MARKET
Greater Demand for Southern
Pine, With Price Increases
in Higher Grades.
GOOD nUYiNG POWER IN WEST
Federal Reserve ,nnk Snys the VOL
Unc Of More Necessary Articles OF
Merchandising Being Distributed IL
ENccIIcnt.
Especial to The Tlmes-Dispa,ehl

Especial TO The Times Dispatchl
CHICAGO. sept. 3.-Thc American
l.ufnbcrinan sees continued i'm
provemeni, particularly In the de-
mand for Southern pine Most of
TINS years prices have been dcclin-
ing, but there are strong funda-
mental reasons why they should now
increase somewhat" This tendency
has been clearly pointed out by the
recent advance in car material and
some higher grades. one hundred
and sixty-four identical mills pro-
ducins Southern pine report scvcn
months production 2.23S. 0O2.031.
against 2,Gi7,i37.G0s year ago. and
shipments 1903. 636.73J. against 2.iS7,-
1879 Shipments practically equal
two years ago. Shipments for tn"
twelve months Of 1919 were s6.93 per
cent OF production aud for geo. SS05
per cent
There have been no great accumu
iations Of stock. and these can
quickly be cleaned NJ. with resulting
scarcity. IL Ia" demand continues to
improve" Production. now around
60 per cent, should reach 100 per
cent by carly epring. as wage adjust
mcnts near completion In important
centcrs. Much viii depend upon
frcisht-rat. reductions.
August building permits here cX-
coed $l20e0.o0o, against SJ,J2l,000 a
year ago. the largest since February.
when sil,00O.0G0 for Two bank build
ing projects was included. Most 81
The work represented by this months
permits iT IL hand. including a nor
NAL number of dwellings, mostly
.hacks. a few apartment palaces. Tho
$500 HON. aud $50 month hat are
not being bu!li. TO enable Chicago
t" catch NJ with essential building.
the permits should ran about S25,
200. 900 month for n gear.
The Federal reserve bank says.
"All things considered. tho volum. y,
tho more necessary articles 81 mer-
chantiis!ng being distributed through
out the Middle West. is remarkably
good. especially at retail despite the
hand-to- mouth buying policy Of job
beers and retailers and the generally
prevailing spirit OF conservatism IN
all lines of business cndcavor. This
indicates a buying power worthy of
notice. Temporarily, AT least. the
credit situation reflects Improve
rnont. but repayment OF debts. both
At the banks and elsewhere. is pro-
ccci;nG slowly. and those who have
made "a careful survey. report that
another crop will be required To clear
un fully. The number OF employed
IN this city increased > per cent in
July.
The farmer is making an carnes:
effort to reduce his obligations AT the
bank. Agricultural machinery selling
conditions reflect slight improve
ment. The business in July Is es
tima;cd az ~ per cent OF n year ago.
Department stores In the eastern
parts OF the seventh District report
"a slight decrease in current sales ovc-
last July. those farther West. a de-
cided increase, with AN increasing
proportion 10 farmers. Returns from
the wholesale clothing industry IN
dictate rather late season. orders
in July were "a per cent greater than
Il year ago. bringing the decrease for
the season down to IFS per cent
August bank clcnrinss here were
S2.14?.lG5,SS4. sa73I.o0 more than
Ju!y's and s39S.o34.O0o less than
year ago.
The ST. Pauis loadinss last week
were 32.os5 cars against 3S.d5l year
ago. The total for the year 10 date
liz o16-of3 against l,lS2,o00. Til"
Northwcstcrns local loadinss for
August almost balance with
year ago. but its traffic from con-
Meeting lines Is of 10 per cent.
Grain Is up 40 per cent. grain pro-
ducts, c3.6 and live stock. lis. while
commercial coal Is OF l2.". lumber,
t33. forest products 33 and less than
carload freight is.
Copyright. 1921. by Public Ledger