' All those parties seemed earnestly inclined to afford n. e all the information possible relative to the trade of this port. They are straightforward, open, and candid men, and did not appear to have anything to conceal of a general character with respect to the business. They all complain that the standing timber is fast disappearing, that it is rising in price at each and every succeeding sale, and that the distance they have to haul is constantly increasing. Mr Grade, of the firm of Messrs Albrecht & Co., said timber not requiring to be hauled more than 12 to 15 English miles is considered handy to the river. To have to haul 6 to 8 German miles (30 to 40 English) is by no means unusual. Afterwards it has to be driven a great distance by a tortuous, tedious, and expensive route. A great proportion of the lumber brought to this market is made a long way to the south and south-east of Warsaw, and much of it is brought from Galicia, in Austrian Poland. The general custom of selling the standing timber is as follows:— A certain limit or circuit is sold, which is supposed to contain a specified number of trees, suitable to be made into timber, for a slump sum or for so much per tree. The number of trees is generally overrated, but such is the competition among purchasers that they submit to this. The purchaser is bound to take off the quantity within a given time, if to be found; but in no case is any deduction made. He is not allowed to take more than the number stipulated for, should they even be there, without paying additionally for them. Every tree which is cut down counts, whether rotten or otherwise. I went with Mr Albrecht and looked over all the lumber in the river, down to the harbour. There was but little remaining after the spring shipments, and none of the new timber had then arrived. It was expected in a few days. The timber is separated into three classes —1st, 2nd, 3rd. Mr Albrecht told rne that to get any considerable quantity of first quality is very difficult and expensive, and scarcely any of it is to be had without having to be hauled 30 or 40 English miles. The value of first quality redwood here at present is 55s. per load, free on board; 2nd, 45s.; 3rd class about 41s. per load. The freights just then were very low, not more than 15s. per load to the east coast of England. Large quantities of redwood are now being sawn up by the different establishments here into deck plank for the English and French Governments. The prices paid by the French Government are for 1st quality 21s. sterling for 40 feet long, 3 inches thick, and 9 inches broad; and two-thirds that amount for 2nd quality. There must not be any pith in those planks, and they must show heartwood the whole length, of at least 7 inches wide. 1 find that the production of last winter does not exceed that of the previous year. A considerable quantity of redwood is also being prepared here, intended for the defences at Southampton, England. The pieces are all to be 35 feet long, 12 inches square, and to show a certain amount of heartwood on all sides. The price to be paid is 65s. per load, free on board — a price with which the sellers seem well satisfied. The timber purchased from the Prussian Government in almost all cases is cut down and squared at their expense. A portion of the timber is also got out round the full length of the trees. It is then sold by public auction — the square timber by the foot, the round timber by the piece. The latter timber is brought down without being squared, and part of it shipped as spars. The remainder is sawn and manufactured into different descriptions of scantling.'
In Britain we hear as much or more of Dantzic wheat as of Dantzic timber. The wheat is not produced in the vicinity of Dantzic, but is brought thither from a great distance — some of it from the south of Russia, and the transport barges make a demand upon the product of the forests in Lithuania and Poland, which is by no means inconsiderable. In Fullarton's Gazetteer I find it stated: —