Page 506

The Wzsconsin Lumberman.
has been brought under cultivation and
seeded with cereals. We cannot tell yet
what the harvest will be, but the in-
dicitions are favorable so far for one of
unusual abundance.
"So much for the extremes of the east
and west, and we may say in general terms
that the intervening sections of the coun-
try are in a prosperous condition. The
surplus earnings of the past year are
available for mercantile purposes, for they
are in the channels of trade. The in-
creased deposits in savings and other
banks ail over the country show this.
There is abundance of capital, and as
overblown credit has collapsed and the
bubbles of overtrading have burst and
been   well   nigh   forgotten,   this
capital will find employment in sound
business  enterprises,  producing   a
reaction from the stagnation which has ex-
isted. The sources of actual wealth have
been unimpaired through all of the depres-
sion, and they have been steadily working
out a recuperation which will be more and
more manifest in the future. To be more
specific, we will refer to building. The
prices of building material and of wages
have declined so much as to induce capital
to seek that means of investment, and al-
ready preperations are making for the
erection of a larger number of dwellings
and business houses than usual during the
coming season in the cities and in the coun-
try. This will make a more active mar-
ket for brick, bumber, hardware and glass,
and it will give employment to many men
who are now idle.
"The manufacture of agricultural im-
plements is begining to feel the incentive
an increased demand. The cotton and
wollen mills are resuming business with
the prospect 'hat their productions will
find a better market. For groceries there
is always a good demand, but it is better
when other interests are thriving. With
the more general activity in business the
railroads will increase their earnings and
be able to renew their long neglected tracks
and rolling stocks, which widl increase the
demand for iron and bring up that most
depressed branch of business to a paying
basis once more.
THE WISCONSIN LUMBERMAN will be
largely improved during its coming
year. No lumberman can afford to
be without this publication.
THE PROGRESS IN LOGCING.
]From The Northwestern Lumberman.]
The present winter is an unfavorable
one for logging throughout the white pine
regions of the northwest. To this writing
(Feb. 5th) we have reports from all of the
prominant logging streams of Minnesota,
Wisconsin andbMichigan. Commencing with
the extreme northwest, the information
runs about as follows:
On the Upper Mississippi and tributaries
snow is plenty and a fair work is being
done, only retarded by the intense cold
which now prevails. The snow is abund-
ant for hauling but not sufficient to base
calcuiations upon for driving. It is esti
mated that the winter's cut will reach 150,-
000,000 feet. But a siall quantity of old
stock is being carried over however, and
with the usual contingencies of driving it
is safe to say that the Minneaplis mills
will not be over stocked, for the couinig
manufacturing season.
Upon the St. Croix river, if the winter
continues favorable as at present, the cut
will reach 120,000,000. A fair work con-
siderirg the intense cold, was done during
January, with plenty of snow in most lo-
calities for snecessful hauling.
Upon the Chippewa river, in Wisconsin,
about the same state of things exists. If
anything a little less than an average work
is being done, according to our reports.
On Black river in the saein state, our
correspondent says the estimate of amounts
to be banked this winter, have been gradu-
ally raised as the intentions of operators
were developed, the last figures being 142,-
000,000, provided the winter be prop itions.
But very little snow fell upon the river in
December, and but very little could be
done in the way of banking, except on old,
short, well made roads, when about half
work could be done. During January more
snow fell, enablir g about ttwo-thirds the
usual amount of work to be accomplished.
From the best data obtainable, February
1st, we estimate 42,000,0100 feet banked to
that date. There is about ten inches of
snow in the pineries but it is very dry and
"mealy" and two or three warm days
would use it up. Unless the balance of
the banking season be more favorable the
Blacks river loggers will hardly put int9 the
stream over 110,000,000 feet.
Upon the Wisconsin river, less work ii
being done than for some seasons past,
two reports from different points in the riv-
er agreeing in this. It is estimated that
not more than one-half the amount of logs
have been banked to date which waro at
II-I,
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