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To: rz who wrote (58076)	1/1/2005 9:26:40 PM
From: Snowshoe	Respond to of 74559

Forget coal, the hot thing now is... firewood! Firewood Sales Up As Oil Prices Rise story.news.yahoo.com 26 minutes ago U.S. National - AP By CLARKE CANFIELD, Associated Press Writer PORTLAND, Maine - Firewood sales — and prices — are rising in New England and parts of the West this winter, fueled by increasingly expensive oil and kerosene. The strong demand has pushed prices to their highest levels ever, said Peter Lammert, a forester with the Maine Forest Service. Seasoned firewood is now selling for roughly $180 to $230 a cord compared to between $140 and $160 a year ago in Maine, he said. Similar prices are being reported in New Hampshire and Vermont. Ray Colton of Pittsfield, Vt., said his company has sold more than 4,000 cords this season, about 1,000 more than last year: "We're selling as fast as we produce," he said. A cord is a stack of firewood 4 feet wide, 8 feet long and 4 feet high. Oil prices are hovering at close to $2 a gallon in Maine, up more than 30 percent from a year ago. At $2.18 a gallon, kerosene is 56 cents more than last year. And propane averages $2.06 a gallon, up 43 cents from a year ago. Prices are also up out West, including in Colorado, where local hardwood begins at $180 per cord and imported oak costs $300. Even with firewood prices heating up, Paul Reed Jr., owner of Reed's Firewood in Durham, said consumers can still save hundreds of dollars in the winter by burning wood. "Firewood at $180 a cord is still a deal compared to what it costs to heat your home with oil," he said.

To: rz who wrote (58076)	1/2/2005 8:08:09 AM
From: Taikun	Respond to of 74559

Thanks. I just read Luscar's SEC filing and they sold the me coal assets to FDG.

To: rz who wrote (58076)	1/2/2005 7:00:42 PM
From: Taikun	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74559

rz, Do you know Mesabi Trust? They have about 60 yrs of iron ore-used in steel production- reserves and get a royalty stream for the trustees. The trust terminates 21 yrs after the death of the last trustee, the oldest is 42. Pays 7.4% yield. finance.yahoo.com I figure if you want exposure to steel through iron ore you have a few options, but the two biggest players are CLF and IOC (Iron Ore of Canada). iron ore is a consortium, so you own Rio Tinto or LIF CLF is listed, low yield. If you buy MSB it is a claim on the same reserves CLF uses. NYSE: CLF TSE: LIF.UN NYSE: MSB Do you own? Any opinion? This tsunami rebuilding is turning out to be a big capital infrastructure spend for Japan, US etc and will drive steel demand, China and Indian slowdown notwithstanding. JMO D