Page 350

3Te Wisconsin Lumberman.
complain that the Michigan standard
of inspection is not high enough; be-
lieving that first clear, of any width
or length, should be absolutely free
from  imperfection.  The different
varieties-of hardwoods enter largely
into the lumber traffic of the eastern
cities, much of which consists of
valuable foreign woods. Eastern
dealers complain of general dullness in
the tradealthoughwhenclosely ques-
tioned they acknowledge fair average
sales during the season thus far; also
that the lumber business is as pros-
perous as any other branch of trade.
The gambling which was acute last
fall has in fact become chronic, and
will only be relieved by a full realiza-
tion.that prices and business are as-
suming La true commercial basis in
place of the extravagancies of the
past decade. Lumbermen forget,
when they complain of low prices in
their particular line, that the stock in
trade of the grocer, the dry goods
dealer and the iron man is also at the
bottom price. Considering the pur-
chasing power of money    now, it
must be acknowledged that present
profits on every board sold by the re-
tail dealers are fairly remunerative.
Only the debtor class have a right to
complain, and they are chiefly among
the  manufacturers.  The eastern
yards are fairly stocked with both
northern and southern lumber and
trade is really good at the retail yards.
The carefulness and economy exhibi-
ted in handling and selling lumber in
custom yards, would be worth imita-
ting by our western manufacturer
and dealers, and would save many ol
them hundreds of dollars annually.
At the present time eastern dealern
pay very little attention to western
lumber or prices or condition of the
maaket. They are governed by the
southern pine districts and Canada.
There will soon be a radical change
in that respect, for even now
there is an occassional reaching west-
ward for the better grades.  Michi-
gan and Wisconsin clear stuff will
soon find a better market in New
York and Boston than it now does at
the west and will be shipped east-
ward to supply a demand which can-
not much longer be filled from pres-
ent sources. Neither New York nor
Philadelphia can boast of a lumber
exchange or association of any kind
in their particular interest. The re-
sult is pretty close competition, a
" variety " of inspection rules and an
unusually large number of "huck-
sters," who " middle " between a
builder and anyone from whom they
may be able to secure a bill of lum-
ber at the lowest price.  We res-
peetfully submit to New York and
Philadelphia dealers that an associa-
tion or exchange at their respective
cities would greatly advance the in-
terests of their business
The Oshkosh Borth2euerst, in sum-
mingup the work of the Fox and-
Wisconsin Rivers Improvement Con-
vention, says that one advance step-
has been taken in the appointment
of a committee to watch the progress
of the work and appeal, when advis-
able, directly to the war department.
The question of success is now in the
ihands of the President, who can se-
tcure it by appointing business men,
and men interested in navigation on
Ethe executive committee, leaving tbe
350