Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-23


was produced, prices were badly cut.
and for good many men she business
was ruined. In addition to this the San
francisco dealers have lost a great deal
OF the interior trade. In nearly all the
timber its of the State
SMALL MILLS
Have been erected to supply local de-
mand for lumber. Just now farmers
are busy harvesting, and will not attend
TO anything else. They are buying no
lumber for improvements, and will not
buy until harvesting is over. The great
est loss OF Interior trade comes through
the competition of Los Angeles, where
they have mills for redwood and where
they receive many cargoes of pine, sop
plying much of the southern country
that used to depend on as. Los Angeles
has become quite a heavy lumber ship
ping point, doing business with a regu-
lar lum Der heet. Several years ago we
did considerable business with Arizona;
nov We do none Of II, because Los An
Reles intervsnes and takes it away.
When the railroad work was going on
extensively, q good many mills were put
up around Truckee, and they sent i'm
mense supplies 70 Virginia City and
other parts of Nevada. Now the mar
ket has fallen away 10 nothing and the
Truckee mills have no good market ex-
cept In Los Angeles. They send little
lumber here, but most of II goes TO Los
Angeles direct. OF course the Truckee
lumber cannot compare with that of
Puget Sound, but il Is good. Although
the lumber trade is quiet now. and il
generally is in sympathy with the con.
dition Of other business, | think the
country is ia prosperous condition and
good times are ahead. With the pro-
duction lessened there will be no sur
plus stock, and in few months the
demand will increase and lively bust
ness will restore good prices. We will
not suffer much, although the loggers
work and wages during the dull sea-
sou. Whatever loss there may be will
fall on them"
MR. n. L. TAILOR,
or Renton. Holmes Il Co., said: Three
months ago the foreign demand for
lumber suddenly fell of, and we saw
that too much lumber WAS being pro-
daced. The Redwood Manufacturers
Association ordered the redwood mills
Co reduce their production Is per cent.
Yesterday another meeting was held,
aud the 25 per cent. reduction Was or
dered continued. We never can tell
anything about the foreign market un-
oil its orders ara received. The falling
of this year came suddenly. and il
threw all the lumber product into the
home market, where 1t could not be
used. Our firm does not 50 mach feel
the loss of interior trade, because We
deal in carRoes. and We ship cargoes tn
Los Angeles. practically participating in
the trade the Los Angeles merchants
enjoy. We cannot ship much below
Los Angeles, because freight rates would
eat up all the profit. San Pedro is too
far away for Us. There are little mills
wherever there is timber belt IN the
southern country. Texas has been sup
PLYING lumber to San Pedro, but the
Texas mills are complaining OF the com
petition OF the little local mills. Think
there will be very lively fall trade.
There is a great deal of building going
on in San Francisco. There seems TO
be scarcely block in the city that is
not being improved. II it wsrs not for
the surplus left Us from the foreign mar
ket, wefwould think the California trade
very lively. The Puget Sound mills are
working on three -q1arter time, that Is.
eight and half hours day, With half
an hour for lunch. twelve hours gong 20
mill day. The only hardship from
this depression will be on loeRers, who
are thrown on their beam ends, and
may and 1t hard to get along without
work."
,. q. JACKSON,
President of the Redwood Manufsc-
turers' Association, said: "There are too
many mills, and the rroduction must be
restricted. That is the only way out OF
the difficulty just nov. ! think the fall
trade will show an Increase correspond
ing with the depression of the past sea.
son. Tue country IL prosperous, and
the people Of the interior have as much
money 10 make building improvements
AZ they ever had. A good many OF the
interior roads have been unusually bad,
and 10 has been almost impossible TO
team lumber from some OF the railroad
stations to where it might be needed.
The roads are rapidly getting IN better
condition, and, whea harvesting is over.
building improvements viii De actively
resumed, the lumber business returning
20 a lively aud prosperous condition. 1
have nosiced that whenever inmoer
HlAnQVA0L4ESfM
,ion for rational self protection, the
public ia quick TO think IL Is something
81 monopoly scheme 10 get extortion-
ate prices for lumber. Suoh belief u
incorrect, because We do only what may
secure as fair usiness profits ON our
investments aud labor. IL thefs 10 an
extraordinary over production, or q
heavy cutting of rates, 10 must result 10
loss 10 manufacturers. unhealthy busi-
ness disturbances aud general harm.
The lumber business Is too widespread
and the opportunities for healthy com
petition are too many for the Associa-
tion TO combine 20 rob the people.
When We undertake 10 protect oar
aelyes. we do only what men IN oshef
business would do. and We can do no
thing to infiict any serious injury On
lumber consumers"
NE. HAwLKY.
OF Faik, Hawley a Co., said: " The de
preston of thc lumber trade h due 70
over production, and. when that - reg
ulatsd, l think a few months Will ses
lively business restored. There will Be
ss much lumber used in San Francisco
this year a. In any pear before. ana I
think there Uill be more"
Similar unanimity OF opinion pre-
vailed among other lumber dealers Who
we're talked with.
Ths work of the Redwood Manufac-
.turers' Association will NOT be eompleted
| for several days. The "details Of The bust
moss are many, and the conclusions ar
rived AT will be attended with the most
| careful consideration.