THE DUBUQUE LUMBER REPORTER

November 17

    The season for running lumber and logs is fast drawing to a close.  Winter has his grip on the air and on the water, and the signs indicate that it will be earlier and more severe than usual.  Ice is forming in the sloughs, and pulling ceased last Saturday night.  This morning owners were engaged in getting their rafts into winter quarters.  The mills are running still, and they will keep on doing so until the last log can be hauled up the shute.
    In the yards trade is excellent, and market shows no change, each and every dealer classing it as firm.  Stocks on hand are fair, but not large, and the probabilities are that it will all be wanted by or before next spring.
    The Chicago and other leading markets are firm and active.
    Shipments last week were 167 cars, against 227 cars the week previous, 198 cars last year, and 104 cars in 1878.

     

November 24

    News is meager in the lumber yards.  The winter has come like a snap judgment on dealers, none of whom were fully prepared for it.  The mills that in a few days since were under full headway, have all closed down, and their early suspension will leave the supply of sawed lumber still lighter than was expected.  Yard trade is fairly active, and prices rule entirely steady with indication of weakness.  The same remarks apply to all the leading Western markets.
    Work in the pineries is opening up heavy, the camps are formed and the gangs are large.  The season is fully two weeks earlier that usual, and there will no doubt be an enormous crop of logs cut.  There are still a good many logs on hand, and mostly where they can be got at easily next spring, so that the mills will all be able to get to work early next season.

    Shipments last week were 121 cars, against 187 cars the week previous, 212 cars last year, and 71 cars in 1878.

December 15

    The market is decidedly quiet.  Building operations have ceased, owing to the severe weather, and shut trade right down.  Prices, however, continue very firm, with dealers feeling pretty well assured that stocks are none too heavy for the spring demand until the new crop will be ready to use.  The weather has ruled favorable for work in the woods, both on this side and in Michigan.  A dispatch from Eau Claire dated the 9th says:  “The cold snap proves an incentive to bring men, teams and supplies to the lumbering camps as rapidly as possible.  Snow this morning in the upper Chippewa pineries is reported to be from six to eight inches deep, and logging operations have commenced two weeks earlier than usual.  A good ice road on the river is furnished to the remote upper camps.  There is a demand for men and teams at good wages, and ample work guaranteed until the last day of March.  Heavy horse teams are in demand at $250 for the former, and $175 to $200 for the latter.  Supplies are being pushed forward with all possible dispatch via the new Wisconsin and Minnesota Road and by teams.”

The leading markets are reported steady, and most of them active.

Shipments last week were 62 cars, against 97 cars the week previous, 115 cars last year, and 45 cars in 1878.

Explorations in Iowa History Project
Malcolm Price Laboratory School
University Of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
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