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Northrop, E. B.; Chittenden, H. A., Jr. (ed.) / The Wisconsin lumberman, devoted to the lumbering interests of the northwest
(August, 1874)
Canadian lumber trade, pp. 516-517
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Page 516
516 Tle Wisconsin CANADIAN LUMBER TRADE. From the Ottawa Weekly Citine, Sudy 17. Messrs. Boyd & Campbell, of Peter- boro, arrived at Ottawa Monday, to confer with the mill owners for the purpose of deciding on a day on which to hold a general conference of lumbermen of Ontario and Quebec to adopt measures to reduce the pro- duction of lumber. The meeting is to be held some time on or after the 22nd inst., and there is every proba- bility that all the large saw-mills of the two provinces will shut down for the season early in August. We are pleased to see that the lumbermen are at length awakening to a sense of the danger that threatens their trade, and the loss they are causing the country. The mill-yards everywhere are crowded with lumber, the Quebec and United States markets are glut- ted. The English market is low, and the rate of production of lumber is fully double the demand. Mill own- ers are running their establishments on their credit alone, and not on the proceeds of their sales, many of them paying out from $3,000 to $5,000 per week for working expenses. It is not to be wondered at, that the banks are becoming uneasy, and that ac- commodation is more difficult to be obtained. The course of the lumber- men hitherto has been simply suici- dal. The pineries have been cut down, and the timber hasbeen clear- -ed out of the country at an alarming rate. If the lumbermen do not see fit to adopt a wiser course, they need not be surprised if the government should interfere, and by placing an export duty on lumber, check the operations that are ruining the trade. We hope that the mistaken " enter- prise" of a few will not prevent the lumbermen from arriving at a wise -decision. If the mills are shut down there will still be plenty of employ- ment for the hands in saving the har- vest, and in carrying on the public works of the country. a.. i~t in 01 I., 1 r1 Lumberman. Prom the Bobcaygon "Independent." The accounts that arrive from the chief points of consumption are all in the same strain, and represent the current prices for lumber as exceed- ingly low and with a weak demand. It is now quite clear that Canadian lumber, during the present season, sold in the American market, will not realize prices that will cover expen- ses. Very heavy losses will be sus- tained by some firms, and it will be well if no commercial disaster ensue. The square timber trade is in a very bad state, and is quite unproductive. The proposal has been made, and we understand, has been seriously enter- tained, that the Canadian lumbermen should not get out any logs whatever during the coming season, and there is a rumor that the Canadian banks, (only five in number,) who ehiefly supply the funds for carrying on the lumbering operations, will decline to advance any funds for operating in the woods next winter. This would be a great advantage to the trade, and would place it on a sound foot- ing for several years to come. What- ever may be the result of the pro- posed cessation of labor, it may be accepted as certain that next year the lumbering in the back country will be very limited in extent, and the settlers should make their arrange- ments accordingly. From the Moaitarp Wimes. Now, it is notorious that the lum- ber interest is entirely dependent on the market of the United States, and this has seldom been in a more thoroughly unsatisfactory condition than at present. Lower grades of lumber comprise three-fourths of our total production, and these grades cannot be sold to cover cost. The market is glutted with lumber, which has been sentforward on low freights, and there is no prospect of better prices for the remainder of the sea- son. The saw-mill interest, there- fore, and all that depends on it, is becoming depressed. Many of our towns are almost supported by the l;
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