518 



SAGINAW LUMBER DISTEICT. 



In another part of tins report we present a general summary of the 

 lumber product of the Northwestern States for 1874, 1875, and 1870, and 

 to some extent for 1877, and to this the reader is referred for luither 

 statistics of Michigan. 



The oaTi and stave trade of Saginaic. 



In recent years the exportation of staves and square timber has 

 assumed great importance. It was begun about 18G9 by Canadian 

 operators, who have chiefly monopolized the business. The greater part 

 of the staves and timber finds its way to Europe and the West Indies 

 by way of Quebec. The amount shipped in each year from the Saginaw 

 Eiver has been as follows : 



Cubic feet. 



1869 765,000 



1870 1,105,000 



1871 1,982,000 



1872 2,560,000 



1873 3,264,920 



Total 



1874. 

 1875. 

 1876. 



1877. 



Cubic feet. 

 2, 693, 700 

 1,234,000 

 1,17H,145 

 1,344,000 



16, 326, 765 



The shipments in 1874 and 1875, in cubic feet, were as follows : 



As the shipments to Clayton all go down the Saint Lawrence, we 

 have a total to Canada of 1,391,800 cubic feet in 1874, amounting to 49 

 X)er cent, of the whole, and in 1875, 994,500 cubic feet, or 71 per cent. 



The oak and ship timber going to Kingston and other Canadian ports 

 in 1877 amounted to 1,297,700, and to Tonawanda, for the New York 

 canals, 47,300 cubic feet. In the winter of 1877-78, much less oak was 

 got out, but more attention was given to long timber, spars, and square 

 pine. 



The shipment of staves in three years has been — 



The foregoing amounts do not include the shipments by railroad, 

 estimated at 1,000,000 in 1877, which was less than the amount repre- 

 sented by rail shipments the year before. The total may therefore be 

 estimated at about 0,000,000. 



