October 16, 1887





The   Record   and   Guide.





1295





or rather it has been heretofore depended on. This year, however, has
been marked by a series of efforts to do away with competition. One com¬
bination after another has been formed for the express purpose of putting
an end to competition and estabUshing in its place monopoly. Thus, in the
manufacture of linseed oil there is no longer comf etition. In the mining
of hard coal monopoly has taken the place of competition. In whiskey
manufacture a monopoly is rapidly establishing itself. Even the cattle
market will soon pass under control of a combination of cattle-raisers.
The railroad traflSc of the country is rapidly tending towards immense





combinations to succeed all competition, while the telegraph business of
America is practically controlled by one man. How long will it be at this
rate before competition becomes a thing of the past ? What will be the
condition of a country whose fuel is controlled and owned by one com¬
pany, whose wheat is controlled and owned by another, whose railroads
belong to another, whose telegraph business is monopolized by another,
whose cattle are owned by another, and every great interest by a separate
monopoly. Will the time come when competition in trade shall entirely
disappear ?—0/naAa (iV(26.) World.





BUlhVlNQ MATERIAL MARKET.

BRICKS —Pretty much every operator on the Ex¬
change had one story to report, and it was simply a
repetition of what had been given for weeks past.
When a flrst-class load of stock is reported it is only
necessary to let it be known with the fact that no ad¬
vance will be asked and a customer can at once be
secured, but the bulk of supply continues from
sli/htly to very decidedly faulty and has to undergo
the usual course of peddling until an outlet is found,
with a corresponding degree of uncertainty regarding
tbe final selliug rate. We repeat about former gen¬
eral quotations, but consider that all flgure a for grades
below choice have a nominal basis aud should not be
overlooked under the present somewhat pee .liar con¬
dition of affairs. Acc:>rding to latest received advices
no positive suspension of work had taken place along
the river, but the frosty nights give warnins: that the
season is drawing to a close and future additions to
the product will be comparatively small, though some
yards will no doubt be groing until the latest possible
moment. We noticed a large load from the Lorillard
yard this week, indicating that matters were working
again in that locality. CjnsumpUon prospects are still
said to be doubtful, and some op3rators talk about pos¬
sible labor troubles; indeed, one of our largest local
concerns has had to contend with a strike among its
employees this week. For Pales there is a little de¬
mand and pricea k»^ep low, say ab>ut $5.00@,J.50 per
M. Fronts are still S:iid to beselliog well and com¬
manding former rates w ithout difficulty.

CEMENT.—With the exception of some of the
poorer grades domestic cements continue to sell with
freedom and at full rates. Possibly immediate gen¬
eral consumption may be a little slow, but th? signs
of winter have commenced to develop, and from all
parts of the country dependent upon the manufac¬
turers of Rosendale came orders for parcela to flU out
accumulations. Foreign makes havti continued to
arrive with freedom, but promptly disappeared after
landiug on waiting orders, and importers assert they
could have readily sold all on new demand. Thia in¬
sures full aud well-maintained rates, to which addi
tional support is given by the firm condition of the
foreign markets and the extreme xiost of traneporta-
lion.

HARDWARE —A. great many country wants have
been filled and customers withdrawn, but others come
to take their place from new sections, and thus the
general volume of demand is very well preserved.
There is also a pretty good showing made by local
orders and the market is kept well together, with
manufacturers aid dealers very well satisfied. Se¬
lections cover everything really seasonable, but posi¬
tively staple goods are handled in largest proportion.
Prices generally rule steady, with no recent changes
reported, except in 2-iach tubing and line pipe.

LA.BOR.—So far as the majority of artizans em¬
ployed in the construction of buildings are concerned
they appear to rest satisfied for the present, with
hours and wages, and superficially at least matters
are smooth and satisfactory. The feeling, however,
is not one of perfect confidence among employers,
and they are fairly prepared to hear of some unex¬
pected and possibly unreasonable demand at any
moment The strike of the brass workers and chan¬
delier makers affects the finishing of structures to
Bome extent and may become more serious, as th9
men threaten that unless they obtain success, thev
will induce carpenters, bricklayers, etc., to "go out''
as a supporting measure, thoufeh the lateness of the
season may make this move fruitless. One of our
largest building material firms has encountered a
strike this week among its yard liborers, teamsters,
etc., and at latest accounts was getting along with
business very well by employing non-union men.

LATH—At last the selling side of Ohe market ap-
paars to be getting in its grip again and prices have
made a reaction, with a considerable firmer tone
manifested. It is simply a change in the relative
positions of supply and demand, the entire clearing
out of the recent full offerings from receivers'' hands,
and an increase of consumption hiving a natural in¬
fiuence to make dealers more aoxtous, iso that they
have taken up pretty n.uch everything available
afloat at gradually advancing rates, until finally sales
have reached S3 2) per M to arrive, and it looks as
though this was now about as low as anything could
be reached, though the price|of lathis always "mighty
ODsartain.'" There is the usual report about small
quantities afloat and of limited shipments to be made.

LIME-As we intimated at the time the recent
break in price of Rockland carried cost a great deal
lower than was publicly reported, the evident idea of
operators being that it is only the advancing figures
that should be given out. However, it ia not too late to
complete the record, and now state that a consider tble
amount of common sold at 80c. per bbl., and to some
extent at 75c. per bbl., and a possibility that $1 was
shaded on finishing, though that is not so certain.
Since our last, arrivals have been somewhat fuller, but
there appeared to be a demand for them, and receiv¬
ers are now quoting the tone steadier, and say nothing
can be bought for less than 9Uc. on common and $i for
lump, with some sales at $1.05(ail0 per bbl. St John
stock in fair supp-y, but selling well and ruling steady
at 80(8t85c. per bbl. Receivers of State lime claim
there is no money in them at present rates, and are
unwilling to bring stock forward.

LUMBER.—Business on the distributive outlet con¬
tinues more or lees irregular, but when (he total
volume Is considered there seema to he evidence of
some growth. Buyers abate none of the caution to
which tbey have for eome lime adhered, and especiaUy
the more solid class of customers whose orders are
particularly sought after, but the ntcessities of the
season compel the handling of a greater quantity of
stock for immediate con-umption. and engagements
on contracts for late fall and winter delivery are al¬
ready commecciog to be made.   In fact, the promises





generally are fairly encouraging, and while abandon¬
ing in ameasure]espectations of any very liberal move¬
ment dealers find no reason to doubt the development
of a good average trade, Resident and visiting agents
and principals find also a somewhat erratic course of
affairs in that portion of the trading tbat sells sup¬
plies into dealers' hands. Desirable offerings are rare¬
ly positively neglected, and if buyers happen to be
struck "j ust right'' negotiations are prompt, yet the de¬
mand e in hardly be call ed d.n anxious one for any kind
of stock, and with the generdUy closer competition
prevailiug on the selling side it ia more luck than good
management that leaver a respectable margin. The
chancds, however, are largely against a positive
ahriaitage in demind, for while here and there evi¬
dences are plain enough that piling away against
winter want* has taken place a vast amount of
lumber must yet be handled before the general
accumulation will be anything like full.

Kastern Spruce is still somewhat &fubborn in resist¬
ing efforts to give the market a universal oost in
sellers' favor, and it is a question if there will be a
full reaction this season. Now and then a cargo can
be placed at a comparatively good rate, but some
special attraction can generally be found in the spe¬
cification, and oa simply ordinary bills customers bid
slowly, and, as a rule, only when the offering is
brought to them. There is probably no shrinkage in
the outlet, but it commences to develop that a
greater number of specials were placed than sup¬
posed, and this cuts off just so many chances for ran¬
dom cargoes, beside wnich many dealers incline to
the belief that manufacturers cannot let up much in
the matter of production ao loug as there is a chance
of turning their logs into money, and thence ia na¬
tural transition into mouey. On the other hand,
however, nothing has this season sold as low aa last
year; and, as the independence of buyers is not likely
to be carried far enough to prevent a stocking up of
yards, there is a fair enough chance for any¬
thing except a deluge of supplies. We quote
at Sl3.0O@i4.0O per M for 6 to 9 inch, aud $14.50
@l(i.50 for 10 to ly inch, with specials at $16 50@17.50
per M.

Northern Spruce does not make a very breezy mar¬
ket, but most receivers seem to know just where they
can find some one to give aitention to the atock they
have to offer, and the supply is quietly and
promptly disposed of at full and satisfactory
rates. We quote for good stock as follows: 2x10,35c.;
3x9.3lc.; lJ4xI0, 21c.; 114x9,20^0.; 134x6^. 13@13J^c.;
1x10. 19c.; 1x9, 161^®l7c.; ixG%, llH®12c.; 1x6,
lOJ^c ; 1x5, TJ^c. as run.

lulling has kept sold down so close this fall that re¬
ceivers feel fully assured of ability to retain control
during balance of the season. Demand is somewhat
lighter and less regular in form, but supplier unsold,
it ia believed, can be stored with safety, and no modi¬
fication of cost become necessary. Quoted at 4J^@
4%c. per lineal foot for one-half of cargo of 12-inch
butt or larger, and 4}^@4%c. for smaller sizes.

Hemlock is reported much the same as for some
time past. Intimations are occasionally given of sales
made at reduced quotations, but so far as these stories
can be investigated they seem to be founded mainly
on the action of a few maiufacturers who, with a
broad idea of their own ability to run ih^ market di¬
rect, came on here to do so. aud proved quite a nice
little plum to the buyers who were fortunate to get
hold of them and squeeze off 25@5Uc per M from the
rates regular agents were getting without difficulty.
Wequote Joist at $11.60(^12 per M; Boards at $12@
12.5udo.; Timber $12(a>12.50 for 24-foot and under, $i3
(a>14 for 26 to 8i-foot. and $15.20@i6 for 31 to 40-foot.

North Carolina Pine timber shows nothing new, the
sale proving quite uncertain and tending 10 fall away
still more, as buyers generally have no use for it for
yard purposes. Dressed stocfc of flrst-cia^s quality
continues iu very good demand, and there is stilt occa¬
sional talk about manufacturers not being able to
keep up with their orders, but no custom can be found
for poor sluff except at very low rates, and even then
buyers handle it under protest. Desirable quality
retains a steady position on value without much diffi¬
culty. We quote for sidings, $19@20 00 for inch and
$^L).UO@21.00forli^ inch; for ^.tocks $23.00®23.00for
inch and $24.00@"-'6.00 for 1!4 inch stock—12. 14 and
10 feet—all kiln-dried No. 1 quality, with No. 2 worth
about SJ.OO@ 4.00 ner M less

White Fine shows no unusual irregularity, yet still
lacks a really uniform market and reports vary ac¬
cordingly. We think, however, that iu one way or
another, so far as the consumptive outlet is concerned,
there 1;^ an in^^reasing movement on account of both
building and manufacturing wants, and possibly there
may also b3a growth of the business with dealers.
There is a great many agents skirmishing around tho
mar-et from the North aud iVest, and these two sec¬
tions are competing strongly for such opportunities
as may arise to placd large parcels, and while an in¬
clination to retioence is shown regarding what is act¬
ually accomplished, the actions of both buyers and
sellers occasionally lead to the inference that nego-
tiationf) have not all b^en fruitless. Export clearanoes
this week have proven quite small. We quot^ 8i7 50
(3^19.00 for Weat India whipping boards; $20@29 for
South America do.; $15.O0@16.00 for box boards and
$16 50 ©17.50 for extra do.

Yellow Pine ahowa no inclination to favor the seller
in tbe matter of price, but a little more demand for
random stuff has prevailed from buyers wd(i want to
fill out yard assortments and get ready for winter.
Over thess, however, as well as epecialu the competi¬
tion continues so keen that the successful bidder has
t J name figures that frequently look like a slaughter,
though in reality tbe prices are guaged upon ability
to get corresponding terms at primary points. A few
extra difficult bilU, however, are floating around look¬
ing for some one to take them at rateN prcpjrtloned
to the general market and thus far wilhota success.
The f. o. b, trade has been quite irregular, but ou
the whole not very extensive. We quote hs follows:
Randoms, $18.0J^2i.0O per M; bpecials $.n).03^
21.50 do. ; Green Hooring Boards, $21(^22.50 do.;Dry
do. do., $23.00@25.00 do.; Sidhiga, $13 00(^16.00 do.;
Cargoes, f. o. b. at Atlantic ports, $13.00(^15.00 for
rough and $18.00(^20.00 for dressed; Cargoes, f o.
b. at Gulf porte, $12.00(^18.50 for rough and $19.00
(^21.00 for dressed.

Hardwoods ^ave a moderate degree of animation
but nothing of  ao unusual oboracter, and a faint





grumbling over the condition of trade may occasion¬
ally be heard. Complaints, however, are only really
serious where consignment has been overdone and
when the orders come to realize or the owner came
on to do the work himself there was simply nothing
to prevent a slump. Walnut of low grade flnds fair
favor on local consumption account, but the better
qualities seem to be too costly for general use. Cherry
continue-i to sell quite close to the supply; indeed
somn dealers complain that thwy cannot get stock for¬
ward fast enough to meet all wants, and of course
under the circumstances values are firmly supported.
Oak, both plain and quartered, is in excellent de¬
mand, including quite a number of export ordera,
and there is no difficulty experienced in realizing full
prices. Ash and poplar meet with an average call
and steady. There is a demand for real choice loga
on export orders, but no defective stock can
be used to fill the bill, even when offered at
very (low rates, shippers feeling quite determined
to send out only saleable stuff. We quote at whole¬
sale rates bv car loads as follows- Walnut. $60!gill0
p«r M; White aph, $37.50@43 do.; oak, $37(a45 do.;
quarter sawed clear, $50®55do.; maple. $25@32do.;
chestnut. $30@38 do.; cherry, $67^90 do.; white
wood, $27@33 do.; elm, $20(^23 do.; hickory, $50®
75 do.

Shingles still ftnd a little hom*» demand even for
this late period, and with the export outlet wanting
some stock either here or f. o. b at th? South, sellers
manage to pick up a very good business Prices are
steady on all leading grades and the offering well
in hand. We quote Cypress at $8 50fSi9.50 per
M: for 6x20 and Cypress large $14.00@16.00. Pine
shipping stock, $3.50(^4.50 for 18 inch, and Eastern
siw grades at $3 25{§>5.00 for 16 inch, as to qual¬
ity and to quantity, Eistern shaved cedar, $4@4.75
per M. Machine dressed cedar shingles quoted aa
follows : For 30 inch. $15(^20 for A and $^3(9^28.50 for
No.l; for24inch$13@15for A aud $l8.50f^20.50 for
No.l; for20inch,$8.75®9.50 for A aud $11.50(^12.60
for No. 1.





GEXERAL  LUMBER N0T£8.

THE WEST.

The Timberman as follows:

Chicago.

The Cargo Market—The week at the docks has
beeu a quiet one, productive of little preient change in
prices, though promising an early upward movement
to correspond with the increase in freight rates. Such
advance as may occur, however, is not likely to any
more than cover this item, and producers consigning
here will receive about thesame net returns that they
have been getting. The commission men have now
no idea of raising the value of lumber above the pres¬
ent range this season.

Withafairsunply of stock on hand, the brokers have
had to make only about the u^ual exertions to get it
off. A few loads have been carried over night once
or twice, but the stock has been kept from accumula¬
ting to an extent to make trouble. The demand is
spoken of as fair.

On lumb3rs prices have not changed perceptibly.
Piece stuff in short lengths may ba fairly quoted at
$10 for average lots of green; when it is partly dry,
runs well to desirable sizes, or has a good sprinkling
of three-inch joists and some limbers, it may bring
twenty-flve or dfty cents more. Oue or two shillings
may be added to the quotations next week, if the ves¬
sel men are successful ia raising the rates of water
freights.

In other respects the market is steady. Inch lumber
shows no appareot change in price, though on occa¬
sional lots of common lumber that will sort up well
an advance over the low jst figures made of at least
60 cents is doubtless realized. These gains do not
show in the table of quotations, as the range given
must cover all qualitieB. It has been frequently ex¬
plained that it is practically impos *ible to accurately
show the prices obtained for inch lumber, owing to
the wide variations in the actual quality of what ia
nominally the same kind of stock.

Editorially the Timberman says:

One of the peculiarities of Jthe present season Is
likely to develop promioently during its closing weeks
in a rather free movement of lumber between produc¬
ing sections and distributing markets by rail. It is ap¬
parent, already, that there is a good deal of stock piled
at some mill points thU will not be got forward by
water. Even if freights were down to a flgure at
which shippers could live under them, the vessels are
not to be had to move th^ f^tuff and take care of the
ore, grain and coal freights that are in the market for
their services. If the Like is depended upon to furnish
transportation, it is clear that there will be some lumber
carried at the mills that dealers would like in their
yards. The result will probably be. as stated, that much
of it will bebrought by rail. Eastern biyers of Saginaw
atock are pretty likely to resort to this plan of getting
their lumber in for spring trade, and in other dis¬
tricts, wherever it la possible and there is the neces¬
sity for it, the same plan will probably be followed.
This market will no doubt receive a good deal of Wis¬
consin lumber by rail. Last winter shipinents were
made from Lake Superior points, and it is not to ba
supposed that lumber that is wanted will be allowed
to Ub there as long as there are rails for cars to roll on
and locomotives t<> move them. The expense will not
be much greater than the freight by water, so tbat it
will not make any great difference in th^ cost of the
lumber in distributing yards. But the fact th it such
a thing is practicable on a large scale hints of the
possibUity of a time coming when the movement of
lumber, even on the lakes, will no longer be entirely
controlled by vesiel ownera, *'dock woUopers^'and
unloaderg' aud 'longshoremen's unions.

The Northwestern Lumberman as followB :
It has been lately reported that a big west end yard
was, on October l, to advance ita prices on piece stuff
to $12.50. on the ground that such lumber could not
be sold at a profit for anything less. Such haa been
the late tendency toward " firming up" that liitlo Ig
now heard about sales of piece stuff at $11.75 and
$11.50. Tbe price of short dimension has hardened at
$12 a thousand, with a tendency coward $12.50 as a
I new basis.   No. 1 fencing is firm  at $15, common