July 26. 1884





The Record and Guide.





791





greater, under the dozens of contingencies that
through, well, say forget fulness, are never mentioned
for publication. About the top rates named for ihe
bulB of the business are $6.35 on Haverstraws, S5.6iJ^
on Up Rivers and $6.25 lor Jerseys. Esceptional sales
have prubably been made higher during the week.
The meeting of maoufacmrers bas been held as antic¬
ipated, an organization said t« be perfected and it is
generally understood that the agreement is to reduce
production twenty per cent, on tbe output oC last
year. As yet the market receives the announcement
very calmly and apparently quite indifferently, with
some of ttie Trade even venturing to express doubts
that the movement will prove general or fully suc¬
cessful, though of course thai is simply a prospective
view balancing an opposing one on the part or^manu-
facturers. It is suggesteO, however, that aa the lib¬
eral output of the first half oC the season bas brought
many makers nearer the point of production where
they must shut down than some of their slower work¬
ing competitors, it will require some nice m.anage-
ment to fully accomplish tbe proposed reduction
without creatine ill feeling at least. Pale Brick are
quiet and nominally unchanged with however the
average advantage in buyers' favor. The best grades
of North Eiver Front brick continue to keep well sold
aheadof production, and of course the cost is quite
as full as ever.

LATH.—There is a great deal of irregularity appar¬
ent on this market and were we to send a strange
reporter to write it up he might think there was an
effort being made to deceive him, especially by tbat
wonderfully independent class of individuals who
"never care a cent what tbe newspapers say.'' We
could of course through experience explain that it waa
not deception, but simply a sort of commercial forget-
fullnesR that has an unfortunate way of reserving
some of the most important particulars governing
sales which, if mentioned, would permit the only per¬
son who really does not care a rap what tbe price is,
BO that he can get.it correctly, to name a fair general
flgure. All the way from $2.10 up to S^.SS is again
suggested this week and we give it for what it is
worth without taking any unusual trouble to investi¬
gate closely, as experience again comes in to teach
us that such an effort would not be.appreciated.

IJME.—The market has retained a steady and gen¬
erally SitisTactory tone during the week. The arri¬
vals were fair but supply bas now about all passed
cut of first hands at full former rates, the shipments
In this direction will be small for some time to come
and sellers are likely to retain the advantage for
some time to come.

LUMBER.—We have been unable to discover opera¬
tors who could suggest anything really new, as tbe
outcome of the past week's operations. The distri-
bntion from yard if reported less io one section is
very likely to be claimed as fuller in another portion
of the city, and the aggregate movement for actual
consumption does not appear to vary greatly. There
laeverything on band in Ihe way of slock to meet the
call, however, and owners make no objection to sell¬
ing at former figures. On first band offerings the
market is a graat deal a matter of chance. We
occasionally find receivers quite inclined to cheerful¬
ness over the rates obtained on cargo lots, but a little
questioning generally elicits the admission that the
business covered exceptional features either as to
quality or luck ic securing a needy buyer, and prob¬
ably the very nexi^seller encountered wiil indulge in
vigorous complaints over the situation. There ij
certainly a positive absence of snap and vigor in any
ffrade. aud advantages generally tend in buyers'
favor.

Eastern Spruce stUl fails to afford nmch satisfac¬
tion IO the selling interest, either on immediate or
prospective husineis, especially in the way of random
offering. The ateady manner in which tbe supply has
been absorbed since the season opened appears to
have at last commenced to be felt as shown in the
refusal of a number of dealers to further handle
caijgoes, and if arrivals happen to " bunch up " a
little it requires some sharp running around to flnd
customers even though lower valuations are
mentioned to open the negotiations. Valuations are
Irregular at anywhere from Sl2.l)C@.l2.50 for inferior
up to $15.00 for fine special and §16.00 or upward
asked on special, but not many selling.

WiUtePine is plenty, well assorted and available
much m excess of any outlet presented, with tbe
market fiat and tame. There is a common and
natural effort to disguise unfavorable features, but
the situation ia Eoo transparent to build up a market
on what holders of tbe stock "ask," and would hke
to realize, and when matters come right down to ac
complished business the buyer generally has the
advaotage. Indeed concessions are constantly made
whenever such a course will result in quickened
sales of stock. "We quote at S17.00@19.00 for
west India shipping boards; $25^^28 tor South Ameri¬
can do.; Sl4®15 for box boards, and 516.00@17.50 for
extra do.

According to the compilation of tbe Export Lumber
Company the exports of White Pine from port of New
York for first six months oC tbe years named was as
follows:

]^............. 26,976,000 1 IKI.............33,703.000

J|re............. 20,200,000 I 1833............ a9>23.000

I^S............. 37,919,0001 1SS3.............3",559,000

'880.............26,999,000 I ISM............. 34.873.U00

Yellow Pine remains in a more or less stupid sort
or condition and while pretty much former figures
are repeated when an attempt is made to decide on
values, all quotations are in reality merely nominal
lor the prwent, and especially for random bushiess.
Jiowand then some figuring on specials takes place
and there ia understood to be a little f. o. b. trading
through agents here, but nothing to afford manufac¬
turera much encouragement. Slocks have filled up a
tnue all around and yard Eunplies are good enough,
K busmesa, stands so much so indeed that many deal-
era refuse to make further additiona. We quote as
t^"«-^?^'^^'^' 513®'^1«> per M; apecials,
5^i?*il°-' '^^^° Flooring Boards, jaaasi; Dry
do. do.,523<aS4; Siding, $ffi@-23do.; CargoTs f.o. b.
M AtlMincports, 8l4(ai5.00 for rough, and SlCiftSl for

rough, and $18(^-3) for dressed.

Hardwoods are not wanted unless choice and at¬
tractive In quality, but in that case a quick satisfac-
flfS ^ ,, ^ assumed. About one offering in
niiy really comes up to the proper standard
?L *'J^lleDce. and the balance has to take
mectw.ace3on a catch trade and generally at very
«,? ,^^^^: ,. ^^ I"*'"' ^^ wholesale rates by
carload as foUows: Walnut, S65@110 per M.; ash.
J«a40do ■ oak. 830@55 do.; maple. $20m2.50 do
itei'> '^^ ?■»■ ■ cherry,'S40@75 do.: wbitewo.^
*"®^°o-. do.; ehn. jJtim^j hickory, $45@&8.50 do!





«EN£RiL LUMBEK NOTES.

STATE.

AlBAXY MARSET.

The Argtis reports lor week ending July 22 as fol¬
lows:

There has been onlya fair attendance of buyers in
market, but the shipments have been pretty large,
either of previous sales or orders by mail. The stock
on the yards has increased from large receipts, aa all
the canals are now In fine running order. The mills
in Canada are getting short of logs, and many will
soon have lo abut down for the year. There is, how¬
ever, a fine stock of lumber there piled and season¬
ing, so that shipments will continue till the close of
navigation. In aiicbigan there was a large winter's
cut of logs, which were successfully run to ths
booms, and the mills will be fully employed till the
close of tbe season. Prices there are slightly off on
common stock, while the better grades are firmly he! •.
Hemlock and spruce are accumulating considerably
on the yards from constant receipts, 'lhe assortment
is very good, and large shipments show large sales.
Hardwoods are in fair stock, and all kinda can be
readily obtained seasoned fit for use. The demand is
fully up to the amount usual ai this season of the
year. Shingles are going off slowly. Lath are in
good supply and demand.

THE WEST,
SiGBAW Tailet.

LOMBERiLix's Gazette, I
Bay Crrr. Mich, f
During the past week buyers both from the East
aad from Ohio have been on tbe market. As to the
amount of lumber which bas changed hands, how¬
ever, it is about an impossibility to form any estimate.
The shipments, however, from week to week, indicate
that tbere is a steady demand and that the transac¬
tions are very much larger than appears on the sur¬
face. During May tbe shipments were larger than for
the same period in 1833. and for Jime shghtly less;
the first half of July is fully up to the same period
last year. In fact, the docks were full at the com¬
mencement of the sawing season, tbe mills have been
run to their utmost capacity, and the increase on the
docks haa been but trifling, proving conclusively that
a heavy volume of business has been transacted
during the season Thus far. Moore & Whipple sold
last week 3.500,000 feet, 8C0.00O of which is shipped
from Bay Cily and the balance from Au Sable; W. J.
McGrawsold 200,000 feet of 10-inch boards at $10;
Wright & Davis since last report have disposed of
s,000,000 feet of Bradford lake stock to Albany parties
at $17 straight, delivered free on dock at West Bay
City; Burrows & Wright sold 450,000 coarse box at
5S.50 per thousand; an offer of S9, $18 and S3S for
750,000 feet of dry 2-inch lumber was refused by Sag¬
inaw parties last week, ahowing that the owners
beUeve that " lumber is lumber."

The Chicago Northwestern I/umberman reporis:

Oiu- laBt week's report made mention of the fact
tbat tbere was much private terms business being
done on the cargo market, as a partial result of the
weakness induced in tbe effort to work off the Fourth
of July fleet. It was difficult to arrive at lhe real
state of tbe market, as both commission men and
yard jobbers were performing tbe pantomimic act,
and were about as communicative aa an oys¬
ter. This week, however, the cat Is out of the bag,
and all are more willing to talk. Last week $3.75 for
piece stuff was the lowest figure a commission man
was wilhng to name, but now he is ready to admit
that it must be a good cargo that is selling at $8.50,
while plenty of it is going at $8.35. No doubt that
before this number of the Lumberman reaches its
readei:=i cargoes will sell at $8 a thousand in frequent
instances. In fact it appears to be tbe general opin¬
ion tbat the market cannot endure the present strain
fnuch longer, and that dimension must drop another
notch, Tbe range on short piece stuff can now he
quoted at $3.25@,8.50, the latter fignjres covering the
better cargoes, running a good percentage to long
lengths.

Two cargoes of long timbera sold during tbe week
at S10.50 a thousand. The stuff was the best kind of
Manistee timber, and much of it 38 (eet and upward
long. The same timber two years ago would have
sold for $16 to $17 a thousand. Yet it is thought by
the yard men that dimension is holding up wonder¬
fully under the circumstances.

Common inch lumber has lately suffered the great¬
est decline. The drop on this clasa of lumber amounts
to at least $1 a thousand. Commission men are now
freely quoting it on the docks at 59—that is, for
coarse So. 2. Since the majority of inch stock offered
on Uie market is coarse, it is likely that the greater
number of sales are being ma<;e at about $9. The
range on Ko. 2 may be stated at $9 to Sl!, though very
little lumber of the No. 2 class reaches the upper
flgure. The decline also affects medium atock, wbich
must be quoted $1 a thousand lower. It is claimed
ihat So. 1 lumber is holding its own, but tbat is ex¬
ceedingly doubtful. "When we get down to the bed¬
rock of values we find Ihat all lumber is depressed,
though really good stock is holding up better than the
lower grades.

Quotations are as follows:

Piece stuff, green........................$8 25® 8 50

Long timbers, green.................... 10 00® 10 50

Boards and strips. No. 3, green...........    9 00@1I 00

"       medium, green...................  11 00@il3 00

No. 1, green....................   15 CO ©18 00

High grade........................... 18 0U{g;a4 00

The monthly statement of the Lumberman's Ex¬
change shows an increase of lumber on band July 1,





July   .

appalling, it is sufficient to show that the summer
business of this year has not been equal to that of last
season, aud calls for a careful survey of the situation
and cautious going on the part of dealers.

The effort to curtail tbe production of lumber hi
the Northwest continues. Tbe following circular
upon tbe subject explains itself:

Chicago, Jijly 7th, 18M.

Dear Sir—It has been suggested bj; several promi-
nenl lumber manufacturers, in Michigan. Wisconsin
and tbe Misaissippi Eiver diatrict. that a combined
effort be made to reduce the quantity ot lumber to be
manufactured during the remainder of 1881, and that a
convention be held in Chicago to consider the propo¬
sition. There seems two avenues leading to net ter
prices.

One to limit production by closing the mills at au
early date, say October Ist, and lessen the pressure
to sell lumber, and endeavor to obtain tbe same
amount of money for four-fifths the logs that all





would sell for if placed on the market during the
present season, carrying tbe remainder into 1885, and
to that extent reducing lhe pressure upon logging
endeavors uuring the coming winter.

The other: To continue lo saw lumber until the
close of the season, and thereby overstock the mar¬
ket to an extent that will eventually discourage saw¬
ing lumber, and reduce the supply by exhausting
manufacturers.

While success must surely follow a reduction in
sawing if sixty per cent, of the machinery can be
stopped, it seems impossible to place the lumber mar¬
ket in a healthy condition by continuing the present
supply.

The annual meeting of the Northwestern Lumber
Manufacturers' Association will be held in Cticago
early in September, when action can be taken on tbe
proposition to close the mills, or, it thought desirable,
a convention will be called at an early date to con¬
sider this very important matter.

The object of this letter is to learn the opinion of
manufacturers in regard to this question, and you
will please express your ideas on this subject by
writing to the secretary of this association, who wiU
treat your reply as confidential.

Very respectfully,

A. G. Van Sceaick, President.

E, S. Hotchkiss, Secretary,

ENGLAND.

Tbe London Timber Trade's Journal reports:

Ceder seems to be looking up, prices are flrmer, and
since stocks in first hands are getting inlo small com¬
pass, there is good reason to expect a better tone In
the market for tbia article.

Tbe trade in American black walnut is rather quiet;
the poor descriptions seem only to sell slowly, but
really good logs when wanted stilt command full
prices. The wood now landing seems generally of
pretty good character, although we notice some
which we should think cannot prove remunerative to
the shippers.

American White wood. ^Supplies of cut stuff con¬
tinue to come forward, and some parcels of unusually
wide widths are now being landed, which, being free
from centre, square-edged, and sound, must work up
very advantageously.





METALS.—COPPEE—Ingot has secured moderate
trade attention against wbich the offering was ample,
and rates about as before. Buyers claim that there
is a liberal accumulation of stock at the mines, and
generally seem to expect lower rates. We quote at
I4c. for Lake down to 13c. for the less popular brands.
Manufactured Copper moderately active and nomf-
nallj^ unchanged in value. We quote as follows;
Brazier's Copper, ordinary size, over 16 oz. per sq. foot,
22c, per lb.; do. do. do., 16 oz. and over 12 oz! per
sq. foot, 24c. per lb.; do. do., 10 and 12oz.per sq. foot,
27c. per lb.; do., do., lighter than IOoz.persq. foot,
39c. per lb.; circles less than S4 inches in diameter,
25c. per lb.; Si inches in diameter and over, 28c. per
lb.; segment and pattern sheets, 25c. per Ib.; locomo¬
tive fire-box sheets, 2Jc. per lb.; Sheathing Copper,
over 12 oz. per sq. foot, 20c. per lb., aud Bolt Copper,
a-Sc. per lb. Xros—Scotch Pig is in very light demand,
and importers are largely narrowing their business to
sales of invoices to arrive and then ordering the stock
forward. Prices about as before, with quotations
placed at $19@.i3 per ton, according to quality and
brand. American Pig is iu fair natural trade demand,
but beyond that does not appear to find much of an
outlet. Supplies are quite equal to calls, but appear
to be kept very well in hand, and only available at
former rates. We quote S20.lO@20.50 per ton for No.
1 X foundry. $]8.50®19.00 for No. 2 X do. do., and
Sl7.0C®18.00 for gray forge. Old rails are dull, and
show continued weakness on price. Scrap L:oa
neglected both on spot and to arrive, and Ouyers
generally endeavoring to secure concessions from
former rates. We quote at 5l6@19 for tee rails. $30®
31 for double heads, S3O.0O®S0.5a for No. 1 wrought
scrap ex ship, $21(^33 for selected do., $16.50®17.50for
old car wheels, and $19.00@kao.00 forcrop ends. Steel
Rails have little or no demand at tbe moment, and
notwithstanding a material curtailment in tbe pro¬
ductive capacity of the country available supplies are
more than sufficient for the outlet. We quote at $30
©31 per ton for heavy sections, according to delivery,
etc. Manufactured Iron ia alow from store, and not
meeting with much demand on special orders,
etc., with the general tendency of prices weak
and unsettled. We quote Common Merchant
Bar, ordinary sizes, at 2.0® 2.10c. from store.
and Refined at 2.10@2 45c.; Rods, round and square,
a.a0®2.35c.; Bands, 3.5'3@3.6Cc.; Norway Nail Rods,
5!4@6c., and domestic sheet on the basis of 2.80®
3.10c. for common Nos. 10@16. Other descriptions at
corresponding prices, with l-!Oc. less on large Jots
from cars. LEiD—Domestid Pig meets with contin¬
ued slow demand from pretty much all quarters,
there is plenty of stock available if wanted, and the
general tone of tbe market is tame. We quote at
about 3J^®35^c. per lb., according to brand and the
size of invoice bandied. The manufactures of lead
are steady and quoted; Bar, 5c.; pipe, 6J4c.; and
sheet, TJ^c, less the usual discount to the trade;
and tin-hned pipe. 15c.; block tin pipe, 45c., on
same terms. Trs—Pig remains quite firm m price for
most grades on the support of tbe foreign advices,
and fairly controlled stocks here, but the demand ia
not active beyond ordinary trade wants. We quote at
lSJi@19!^c. for Straits. 19®1934c. for Austrahan. ISJ^
@I9% for English, and 30@30^c. for Banca. Tin
Platea have secured a fair average jobbing demand.
The supply of Cokes oontinuea quite limited, and the
firm tone growing out ot that position is reflected to
aome extent on Charcoala. We quote I. C. Char¬
coal, third class assortment, S5.15®5.20 for Alla-
way grade, and S5.76®5 87J^ for Melyngrade; for each
additiona! X add Sl.35 and $1.50 respectively; L C,
Coke, $4 90®4.95 for B. V. grade; 84.95@5.00 for
J. B. grade; Charcoal teme. S4,75®5.00 for
Allaway and Dean grades 14x20; S9.75@io.0O for
do. 30x38; Coke teme. S4.55®4.60 for Giais grade
14x20. and S9.50aB.5S for do. 20x38—aU in round lota.
Spelter not meeting with much attention, and the
market is unsettled and weak, especially on domestic,
though foreign feels tbe influence to some extent.
We quote at 4J^rS;5c. for domestic, and foreign ac¬
cording to brand, quantity, etc. Sheet Zinc slow and
nominally unchanged. We quote at 5J^@7o., accord¬
ing to quahty, quantity, etc

NAILS.—The market continues in a more or less
unsettled condition, with buyers reaping about all the
advantage.   Demand is fair and rather on tbe mend

if anything, but ample, and in some cases burdensome
stocka on hand, coupled with a great deal ot compe¬
tition between manufacturers of the different sec¬
tions of thecountry, keeps ihe^tone easy and oompelB