Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1922-07-20

y
has also entered into the problem of
manufacture, resulting in unsettled
market conditions. Today there is
desire on the part of manufacturer.
wholesaler and retailer to bring a
bout price stability, for it is only
through this condition of affairs that
the lumber consuming public will
feel justified in making purchases
beyond absolute necessities.
All Losses Written Off.
Practically all the high priced
stocks bought at the peak have been
disposed of and losses absorbed; and
while there is no hope of a return
to pre-war prices, there is justifi-
cation for the belief that market
stability has arrived and that future
price changes will be in the direc-
ton of advances instead of reduc-
tons, and therefore, nothing will be
gained by postponement of contem-
plated building.
Twenty years ago lumber constuc-
ton had an advantage in cost over
ordinary construction of other stan
dard building materials of about 80
per cent. For the country as
whole this advantage of cost has
since been reduced by more than one
half, but lumber in most communi-
ties is still the most economical type
of construction. Notwithstanding
this, manufacturers must cultivate
public recognition of the proven SUI
perior qualities of lumber, and must
combat the misguided propaganda
which seeks to discredit the use of
lumber through the false claim that
it is inferior in quality and strength
and therefore unsafe and lacking in
permanence. Lumber, through it's
diversified uses, supplies the natur-
al needs of man more than any other
substance excepting the soil.
Efficient Distribution Necessary.
Efficient distribution in the lumber
industry is necessary to serve the
public. II the nearly 10000 saw
mills of the country ATTEMPTED to sell
their output direct to the ultimate
consumer, the cost of lumber would
double and treble. The wholesaler
has found it necessary to compete
with the manufacturer; he must
maintain a highly efficient buying
and selling organization and at all
times must be thoroughly posted on
the location of the stocks of lumber
necessary to meet the demand of his
customers. While the retailer may at
all times buy direct from the manu-
|facturer or wholesaler on about the
same basis, there are times when he
finds it necessary to purchase from
the wholesaler because the whole
saler has at his command the stocks
of large number Of mills. Whereas
the manufacturer has but the stock
of his own plant to ship from.
1t will interest many people to
know that Chicago is pre-eminently
the greatest individual lumber mar
ket in the world and is destined to
remain so. Chicago acquired this
distinction primarily because of it's
natural advantageous geographical
location at the southwest end of Lake
Michigan. For many years all re-
ceipts of lumber were by lake navi-
cation from the lumber mills of
Michigan and Wisconsin. With the
depletion of the Michigan and Wis
consin forests, the industry was OBJ
liged to seek western and southern
lumber for it's requirements.
Railroads the Key
Chicago, the greatest railroad
center of the United States, has
therefore the best facilities to handle
the enormous receipts and also move
the large shipments of lumber.
In Chicago are assembled the lum-
Der products of the entire United
States and Canada, also some of for
eign lands.
White pine, Norway pine, spruce,
hemlock, maple beech, birch, elm and
Eastwood come principally from
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and
Canada.
Fir, red cedar, spruce, western
pine, sugar pine and redwood from
the Pacific Coast states.
Idaho white pine, western hemlock
and western pine from the North
western states.
Yellow or southern pine from the
southern states, principally Mississip- |
pi, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Ar
kansas and Texas.
Co1Ithprn hardwoodc o,,ob -. ~o1 |