11*^0





The   Record   and   Guide.





September 17. 1887





together with the removal, replacing, renewal and repair of existing plant
and connecting the same with the new. of the enlargement of the Metro¬
politan Museum of Art in the Central Park.





Chicago is gradually feeling the westward drift of the cattle and hog
buMness. Tho trafflr; of her great stockyards is lessening, and the time is
near at band when Kansas City p')rk products and Montana and New
Mexico dressed beef wiil partially supplant the Chicago pork and beef in





Eastern markets. Not many var^ ago aM the beef consumed in Boston
and vicinity was driven on the hoot to Brighton, Medford and Watertown.
Itnowcjmes lapgHlv in refrigera':or cvs. Chicago wiU sooner or later
meet a similar experience.





Pennsylvania is slowly but steadily losing its dominance in coal produc¬
tion. In 1880 the output of its mines was 63 per cent, of that of the whole
country, while it had fallen to 53 per cent, last year. The PhUadelphia
press believes that its ratio will be less than 50 per cent, by 1890.





BUILDING  9UTEK1AL OlARKET.

BRICKS—The weakness on Common Hards last
noted has made further progress, and all along the
line annther phading on values Is shown. Indeed,
such a course became a matter of almost absolute
necessity, as the natural outcome of the over¬
crowded condition of the market end iDdifferent
character of the d*»mard compelling h^'ders to seek
the nuly method to secure custom. The d- clinf^ was
an Irreeular one. «ccorr!itg to qualitv bu' wfil fully
equal 95e on the nveratre, making $7.00 a top on
BHver<=traw«, aun $H 2S ab mt al' that could be fairly
deppnded upon for "Up Rivpra." w'th other grades
in prnponlon. though t>n wa^ihed stock, mixed car-
eoe-* and the njl>=celiaDPOUR assjortmeut of quality sent
In ha** led to a groat d^^al of a sort rf special termQ
business, through which huyers in some cases secured
quite low figures. This laat reduction of cost, how¬
ever, Appears to have been PiifBJently attractive to
Btsrt up he inquiry in euch general form as to enable
bolder-* to flnally work cff nrarly or q Ite all the sur¬
plus; Piipnl , a matter in wt fch they were assisted by
the fact, that most of the barges wer- at this end fif
the route, ard no freeh arrivals of importance were
coming lo hsnd to complicate matters TJn ^o the
present writitig no very positive reactfou has devel¬
oped on cost, b'lt the position is certainly somewhat
steadier and more h' pefnl. and many operators in¬
cline to the belief that about the lowest ehb of the
season ha« pas-ed. From nlong the " river " the ad¬
vices at hand indicate a continuation of producdon in
full average measure with a t robahility that ihe 'ui-
rer't make will (■•e < f berter qualify than a great d<-al
of stocft it ha<5 recently been found necCRsary to han¬
dle. The accumulati'»n in manuf iciurers' h'^nd;* ia
irrfgnlar. some showing qui*e a large ytock and others
only a moderate quantity. Pales haveehflded iu the
wenkuHBs. and some s'ock gold down aa low as $3.'IS
per M.but ah^ui $4 on per M couhidered inside for
anythiog tf fine quality.

HARDWARE.—The market ie In good general form
and showing a steady run of trade, whh all localities
properly represented at this season of the year. The
selection of goods is to a certain extent upon the ba«is
of necessity only, but with light and broken aasort-
men B in j ^bhers' ard retHllern' handa »he amount re¬
quired to supply all is pretty full. Noihint: in the way
of posiilvf* Chan. e of Iwie announced in value, but rn
pretty much aU builders' hardware the tone Is quite
arm.

LATH.—It ha«( not been a remarkably active mar-
ket.nor have sellers found any special advantage even
on the best stock. On the one side demaud bad an
Indifferent sort of tone diCQcult to meet and neutral¬
ize, and on the other th^re waa an offering of stock
from Ma ne and via H'd^on River at comparatively
low flgu'-es that s emed to sstisfy -nanv buvers. This
bniiieht the range down ro $2.\b wirh SJ 2(^ about an
av*-rHg*» extreme, though 8**ll-"R can be found who
will li-t«n to DOihUg below $4 85 per M. either on spot
or to arrive.

LIME—In a general wav much the usual story is
reported and the disposition as a rule is to dimply caH
the market unchanged. Now and th^n, h wever, an
odd word or two is dropped that would seem to indi¬
cate an under current of dlspatisf iction among oper-
atom lo Eeet^ro stock, and whi e the arrivals are not
over large it looks a'» though they were quite enough
for any u-e the market at pr^^eot afforMS. It is also
rumored il. ju-it tbe faiot»-8C bind of a whisper that
whil" quotatioDR remain uncfaant^ed and po-^sibly
customers are even charged furmer figures, that means
are occasion^^lly taken m> mahe the actual coat some¬
what les-;. Nearly 6t ooO bbls 8r. John lime have
be n received he. e sinc^ the operiog of the vt-ar, and

firohablp Ihat, ae much as anything, is a factor to
nterf**re with tbe smooth steady sale of Rocklind.
The price of the St John grades remain a' *'5@9.5c.
per bbl, accorMns to qtia'ity, but a great deal sold on
an avef-eg-^ price as tt runs at 9 'c. per bbl. One cargo
recentlv went av 80c. but it was air slacked and un¬
desirable.

LUMBER.—A measure of Irregularity Is noticeable
an referring to the condition of the d'stributi^e trade
and occasionally a positive grumble mav be heard.
As usual, however, the localitv of yard has a great
deal to do with business and the further one travels
toward the upper wards a'^d the annexed district the
greater appears the animation. We notice in some
cases, a repetition of tha old complaints about the
1 ght call tur stuff adap'ed to repairs nnd alterations
down town, and this seems to be larcelv ff nofc solely
due ro the multiplication of office buildings. Cou-
tr.ict- f Tlatefdll >ind winter deliv-rya-e also still milk¬
ing sl wiy, and, takeu all in all. a considerable deeree
of caution unquestionably do'j.inates at the cou'^ump-
tive end of the market. This, howevtr, carries no
special influence upon the moveme-'ts of dealers who
h^ve room for, and are oih-rwis^ iu a position to ban-
die additional suppMes "f reallv standard quality, and
offerings of that description from first h^nds secure
reasonably proraot .attention, the mOre so that co«t
cannot tie called full io t^e maj >ritv of c ses aud the
Invpsring risk i-^.eems to bo small. Selinrs, however, do
not find demand exac'lv in shapf? to induce too much
display of firmness, and there is an absence of pre¬
dictions of sharp advanc-^s to come, etc.

Eastern Spruce i^ not Mkely to recover the extreme
plane of valuation sliown during the spring aud early
summer months until toward the end of the anason at
lepst. but most receivers seem to think about the low¬
est point has b«en touched, and are calcuKtlng upon
returning advantages with srreater ease It is thought
hardly p a>«ible that the market can aeain be hardened
with such a fli-et of lumber-laden coas'ers as swept
down through the "Gate" at the latter end of Au-





E'ii«t, and any ordinary quantity, it Is claimed, cau
now be nandled without difilculty. Of course, every¬
thing tbat comes from the manufacturers in the way
of *' information " is in the stereotyped cheerful form
and a'-king figures and specials continue about as full
as ever Dealers are as a rule willing to negotiate
either for present or future use, but their wants not
being particularly ureent at the moment they are less
Inclined to "snip up" cargoes, and this, of course,
protracts negotiation. During tbe month of August
ninety-oue cargoes came into this port from the
Hiitish P'ovinces and about an equal number from
Maine por s Quotations range at J13.0i'(?^U.U0 for
t> to 9 Inch, and $H .%@16 50 for 10 and 12 inch, with as
lii^h as ^ISdO still "asked " for specials, though we
hear of no actual contracts made at the laUer figure
of late.

Norihern Spruce, either for early use or yard stock,
finds a continued good demand, and sellers admit of
no positive loss of advantage. Quite a number of
local dealers who have been buying more or lees all
the season still remain upon the market, and it ap¬
pears that their takings went largely into consump¬
tion so tbat they are compelled to kf ep on buying fur
stock when they find parcela to suit them. Reports
fcom primary sources generally continue firm, and
suggest moderate offerinea. iVe quote for good
stock as follows: 2x10. ^5c ; 2x9. 3"c.; lJ4xlO. 24c.;
1^x9, aOKc: 1J4s6%. 13@13Hc-; 1x10, I9c.; 1x9,
lej^CgtlTc; 1x6%. nH®l2c.; Ix6,10i^c ; 1x5, Ti^c. as
njii

Piling differs in no essential particular from the po-
s-iti n previously reported. Demand seenns to be a
lillie uneverly distributed, but makes A fair balance
against the quantity of stock offering, and sellers
niaiijiain a pretty steady tone for desirable stocks
wiihout much diCBculty. Recent arrivals have
ruu a trifle larger. Quoted ai 4^'di'i}^ per imeal foot
for one-half of cargo of 13-iiich bull or larger, and
4@4J>^e. for smaller sizes.

Heiulock continues to justify the j?ood opinion en-
terto.ined of it by a poni-m of the trade, and is keep¬
ing up a pretty full general movement Many of the
arrivals, it is noticeable, fol ow right along in the
same path as previous receipts of a similar charac¬
ter, showing that earlv season's claims of big con¬
tracts were well founded, but in addition there is a
very good new demand and agents representing fa¬
vorite mills are un-ble to meet a'l the calls made up¬
on them. \vh quote Joist at $11..^0@12.t'O per M;
Boards at $]3,0t @'9 50 do.; Timber $U'@U»..50 for 24-
foot and un<ier. Si3@14.00 for 26 (o ;^2-foot, and $15 20
©16.00 for 84 to 40 foot.

North Carolina Pine timber has uncertain demand
as it ia getting along toward the end of tbe season
and no well-posted dealers care to have attv of this
stock on hand. Actual sel.Ing price is a little uncer¬
tain, but has to be guaged to undersell spruce. For
dressed s»^ock the de r and is said to be excellent and
the usuU chenrful report is promulgated regarding
the pre-ent and prospective condition of the market,
with of course a firm tone caimed on values. vVe
quote for sidings: $l9@20.0i1 for inch and $20.00®
21.00 for 13^ in(;h; for t-tocks 8.i3.00@2'i.o0 for inch
and $24 0n(^;>6.00 for 1!4 inch htock—12. 14 and IG
feet—all kiln-'fried No. 1 quality, with No 2 worth
about $4.00 per M less.

w hite Pine does not find a firm compact market,
yet general aopearances are promising and the aver¬
age report from the selling side is iu cheerful form.
Naturally at this season a greater number of cusf-om
era are interested and sales from week to week are np'.
to show a growth, but with few exceptions buyers
now fall to initiate negotiations aud occasionally some
of the best dealers are working on a standing off
policy. This is known to be in part due to uuppiies
coming forward on early coutract aud io part to a
feeling that while cost may n"t go lower the chances
are fgainst any important advance, and therefore
just as well to postpone investment until the last
moment and save so much in carrying expenses.
We quote S'l" ^'0(3119.00 for West India shippmg boards;
$20(^29 for South America do.; $15.O0(5Jl6.O0 for box
boards and $16 50 (SIT.50 for extra do

Yellow Pine has an uncertain demand and not much
of a market. It would pr«jbably be a difficult matter
to reach desirabla stock upon better terms than for a
week or (wo past, hut rates were already low
enough to satisfy any reasonable customer and no
special effort in the "bearish" line is resorted
to Supplies simply are not wanted to any important
extent, and sellers are at a disadvantage, Froai some
quarters of the tsouth offerings are a little anxious,
with a disposition to pare down cost pretty low against
a desirable contract la sight, hut ae a rule manufact¬
urers endeavor to abstain from pressure, ^'e quote
Randoms, $I8.50@2i.0fl per M; Specials $.;o.50®
21.50 do. ; Green Flooring Boards. $21®22.50 do.;Dry
do. do., S23.00@25.00 do ; Sidings, $14.00(^18.00 do.;
Cargoes, f. o. b. at Atlautic ports. $]3.00®16.00 for
rough and $18.00@20.00 for dressed; Cargoes, f o.
b at Gulf ports, $ll..V){ai3.00 for rough and $19.00
(^21.00 for dressed.

Hardwood-i are quite generally carried with much
faiih by all deal-^r-t, and there is no-special objection
to making an addition to yard stock when attractive
parcels come within reach at former coat. Buyers, how¬
ever, ar© particular in selecting, and will not negotiate
on anything faulty unless ample allowance in tne
matter of cost is made. Distribution into consump¬
tive channels in th-^ meanwhile continues fair, with an
increasing tendency aud quite a ereneral variety of
stock is required to fill the wants of cuatomer-i. We
quote at wholesale rates bv car loads aa follows;
Walnut, $60@110 p-^r M; White ash, $37 50(^43 do.;
oak. $37(^45 do.; quarter sawed clear, $50{g^55 do.;
maple. $25(gi32 do.; chestnut, $30@38do.; c'«erry, $67
(giito do.; white wood, $-^76133 do.; elm, $20(^23 do.;
hickory. $50(9175 do.

Shingles remain generally firm in toae and secure a
very fair average demand. With iiuyers occssionally
quite vigorous i-i the call for parcels on homeaccount.
(Jonslderdble stock is uow biding picked up by small
dealers for winter supply. We quote Cypress at $8 50
0\9..'5O per M for 6x20 and Cypress large $15.00@16.00.
Pine shipping stock, $3.25@4.50 for 18 Inch, and Eastern
saw grades at $3 25@5.u0 for Iti inch, as to qual¬
ity and to quantity. Eistem shaved cedar, $4@4.75
per M. Machine dressed cedar shingles quoted as
foUowa : For 30 inch, $15(^20 for A and $23(^28.50 for





No 1; for 24 inch $13®15 for A and $18.50@20 50 for
No. 1; for20inch,$8.75(g>9..^0 for A and $11.50® 12.50
for No. 1.





GKAERAL   LDJIIBKB  xVdTES.

THE WEST.

The Northwe.'item Lumberman says:

Late rains on ibe upper tributaries of the Missis¬
sippi River have raised the streams so that the bung-
up Tog-^ are now coming down to the booms and mills
with a ru-h. This will change the »ntire aspect of
affairs frora Stillwater to St. Louis. The scarcity of
loers at Middle River mdl points whs becoming a seri¬
ous matter, sev'-ral mills havitg b-en shut down and
dry lumber having become scarce the demand bad to
be supplied with green lumber

Stocks of dry lumber were settlne so low at Clin¬
ton, Davenport, B Tlington. Hannibal, St Louis and
other pomts that the Cldcago yards bad to be heavily
drawn upon for lumbrr to t^upply 'he Western de¬
mand. Even piece stuff has lately been ordered from
thf^ yards here to fill the bills of ^iissigsippi River
markets. Though the outlook is now more cheerful
for the river manufacturers the lumber to he aawed
from the logs now coramg will be schi cely dry enough
for shipment tliis season.

And of the Chicago wholesale market as follows:

Hhor ffreen piece stuff atJil holds at $10 f< r desir*-
ble tildes—that is. those that include a good per
centage of 2x4 and 2x12. Cargoes that have ' othmg
particularly desirable in the schedule drag at $10.
Several cargoes have been sold during the week at
$9 75, though not, much is said about it by either
seller or bu^er. It is stoutly maintained that $10 la
the market price. The condition is peculiar. The
yard men arc* as anxious to maintain the $ lO basis as
the commission dealers—perhaps more so. The first-
named saw the effect on vard prices of the late drop
of 50 cents a thousand on the market, and want no
more of it. ^o outwardly the show is to maintain the
bottim at $10 a thousar d, while conce-sion ot time
for payment, or an advantage iuleughts, edge boards,
or something is given to th buyer. If a lower price
than $in is made, it is quietly done. It is not likely
that the price will eo nmcli beh»w the current range.
for there is no interest at stake to press values down
at this juncture in affairs. In fact, it is thought that
piece stuff has been a little more active thau it was
within a day or two pa&t, aud that a stiffening of
prices may be looked for.

There is a particularly good demand for IB and 20
foot joists. The requirement forcir-fluori'ig has kept
down the snpply of 18-foot stuff all the vear, and con¬
siderable 20-foot stuff has undoubtedly b'-eu used.
Lumber of the lengths mentioned is worth $12 a thou¬
sand by the cargo, and if lumber 22 feet long be in¬
cluded, it is all the same. Slim jims are not worth
any m-'re than IS and 20-foot stuff. Joists v'xl2 and
3x12-24 and 26 are selling at $13 to $13.50; 2x14 and
3x14 brintf higher prices.

The demand for ] 2-inch boards is active. The call
for strip cargoes is also fairly urgent. Inch lumber
is seUine at prices within our quoted range.

The Timberman In ita general review says :

It is evident tbat the trade is going into the fall and
winter season with a relatively smaller supply of
stock than it is usual to carry at this time. Sawing
for this year's use is nearly over, and in a short time
all the lumber that can be made dry enough to ship
before spring will be where it can be a^^en. There is
scarcely a market on the ll-^t that has as much as it
held last year, while a number are notablv shoii;.
Along the fllissiasippi the lack of lumber In pile is a
prominent feature at all points, and although late
rains are agaiu filling the mill booms with loga, the
relief has come too late to help out the dealers on this
season's trade There is some accumulation of stock
at a few of the lake mill points, but it counts for
scarcely auythin? against the shortages at distribut¬
ing centres The fact of a Ught supply Is one that
tends, or should tend to create confidence in the
future; as, in case trade should be light, it will save
the carrying over of a burdensome surplus, and, if it
ia active, will so s'ifff n and advance prices as to make
It a benefit where it might seem to be a disadvantage.

And in referring to the yard trade, says:

The weakness iu prices continues, but if no leas, is
certainly not much greater than it was a week ago.
As noted then, piece stuff haa dropped b ck to $ 2@
12.25 for short lengths 2x12 and under in size. There
are some who say they are asking $'2 ."iO aud refusing
to sell for less, but it is to be noted tbat the refusal is
usually equivalent ro sending the customer to some
other yard, where the backbone is somewhat more
pliable. A good many have kept up to the $12.25
notch, and made a strong fight to hold the break there,
but they were not successful, and most of them ore
now swimming with the current. At present, $12.25
may be recarded as about the top of the market, and
$12 is probably the figure more often made in actual
sales. It is said that some large orders have been
placed at a cut below this, bat how much t,he price
was shaded has not transpired. Long stuff has also
gone into some bills at several points off the regular
quoted figures. The fact is, long dimension is in
pretty liberal supply, and holders are not so choice of
it as they were a while ago. nor do they insist so
strongly upon tbe quotation fixed earlier Prices do
not appear to have been cut to a corresponding ex¬
tent on inch lumber. Common has been reported
sold at $13. but most yards want more for it, and the
range given is probably a fair one. Strips are good
property, and are held pretty firm. There are com¬
paratively few dry ones iu market, and the demand
for them is relatively so strong that they are salable
at the list. This applies toall kindsof strip?, but par¬
ticularly No. 1, which are regarded as especially de¬
sirable stock. Flooring and siding cannot but t>e in-
pretty good form in re.specr to price when the stock
irom which they are made is firmly held.

The Mississippi Valley Lumberman, MihneapolU, as*
follows:

Tlie raia whioh has prevailed during the greater
part of the past wee< his somewhat checked the shlp-
meuDof lu nber from this mxriet an l jurtail^d local •
deliveries, and the table of ahtpoaeats this week shows