Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1922-07-20
LUMBER INDUSTRY HAS
MANY PROBLEMS.
Entire Trade Has Recently Been
Beset With Difficulties.
MARKET BECOMING STABLE
DefatiOn Has Been Accomplished,
Losses Written Off, and
Trade Healthy.

Many thousand persons are con-
templating building construction in
the near future and everywhere in
quires, are being made regarding the
condition of the lumber market and
probable prices for the immediate
future
perienced exasperating vicissitudes
during the past two years. The
country saw the most rapid decline
from the heights of dizzy initiation
to the depths of discouraged depres-
sion, within twelve months following
the spring of 1920 the mill prices of
lumber declined more rapidly than
they had advanced during the pre-
ceding three years.
The business of both the manfact-
urer and dealer has been most dis
couraging, but there are unmistak-
able signs that the skies are now be-
ginning to clear. There are still
some disagreeable aspects however,
and not least is the lack of know
ledge on the part of the public re-
garding difficulties that confront the
industry at the present time
Other problems as representing
the common trade interests are mat
ters pertaining to lumber trade ex-
tensions, legislation, freight reduc-
lions, standardization and COM
mercial practice, including the arbi-
tration of trade disputes.
Lumber Dealer a Builder.
There is no vocation more honor
able than the lumber industry. From
time beyond memory, the lumber
dealer has been the home builder and
is such today, and it is becoming
more and more common for him to
furnish plans and specifications for
the lumber built houses.
1t is true, he has been misunder-
stood and has frequently been the
object of Misrepresentation. He has
been accused of profiteering and not
many years ago it was said he was
a member of a gigantic trust. The
very fact, however, that lumber
fluctuates so enormously in price
precludes the possibility of a COM
bination of manufacturers. Ere
quently lumber at the mill is sold at
an actual loss. This price the public
is apt to accept as the normal price
and an advance to fair price brings
storm of protest and accusations of
profiteering.
1t is easy to make accusations.
This was true in the time of Christ;
is true today and always will be true.
But somewhere lies the truth, and
nothing would be of greater advant-
age, to this time-honored industry,
than to eliminate from the business
all sophistry, false impressions and
political innuendo.
country D1SCf1CCS Wa1ClnS.
From recent reports it appears
that in the larger cities building con-
struction is increasing while the
smaller communities are still stag
nant. The only reason forthcoming
for this situation is that there is an
air Of uncertainty in the rural dis
tricts regarding what the price of
lumber will be tomorrow.
Once the general public can be
convinced that there is some sta
bility in the lumber market the leth-
argy will disappear, for not since the
close of the war has there been such
remarkable demand for lumber as
at the present time in the cities.
With production less than ship
ments and shipments exceeded by
orders the activity in the lumber in
dustry is now astonishing. For the
"a weeks of 1922 ending June II
production of 394 mills was more
than 33 1-3 per cent greater than for
the same period last year. Ship
ments increased 1,230,788,253 feet
and accumulated orders were 1850,
101,478 feet more.
1t is not generally known, however
that in the last year many lumber
manufacturers have been selling
their product below a figure that
would give a reasonable return upon
their investment. The demoraliza-
ton caused by the war IN the crews