The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-08
OUR LUMBER IN THE EAST.
Lower Freight Rates Not the Only Thing
Needed to Gain q Market.

Minneapolis Lumberman, March IS.
The Washington lumbermen who have
given thoughtful consideration to the sub
lect OF the possibility of putting their lum-
Der into the Eastern markets are rapidly
reaching the conclusion that lower freight
rates viii not offer the panacea for their
overstocked markets that some of the lum-
bermen have fondly hoped it would. 1t is
entirely evident that the coarse lumber of
the Pacific Northwest cannot be shipped
1000 miles on any kind of rate and sold
in competition with the coarse lumber Of
the white pine states. The trade of the
west coast lumbermen must be for many
years in specialties-in those things which
the lumbermen of the Mississippi valley
cannot by any possibility furnish In tn is
category is first and foremost long timbers.
For these there Is already constantly
widening market, but every lumberman
acquainted with the prices at which these
long timbers are being laid down in this
and other white pine markets, and the
price at which substitutes can be sold by
local manufacturers, is convinced that the
West coast mill men might just as well
have from 80 to So more for their stuff than
they are now getting. While the mill men
of the Pacific Northwest are calling for
lower freight rates, they are apparently
blind to the fact that the things they are
able to sell in the East, and are likely to
be able to sell in the East, are the things
which can scarcely be furnished at any
price by the lumbermen in this region;
that if the prices are low it is the result
of competition at home rather than
In the markets they are seeking to
sell their surplus lumber, and that
reduction in freights would only mean
loss of revenues to the railroads, lower
lumber to the consumers and no more
Tr~,-& = I.,r. H.. l.
Pacific Northwest. There is no reason
why the lumbermen out that way
should not have more money
for the lumber they sell in this region.
What is true of lumber is true of their
shingles, incomparably the best shingles
that are made. and for which there is a
growing appreciation and a growing mar
ket. Splendid material, not over abundant
on the coast, by the way,is being practically
given away. Now that the cedar shingles
are introduced, they ought to bring more
money, and will if the shingle-makers out
on the Coast will cease the evident en-
deavor to see how little they can sell their
shingles for and turn their money over.
The adaptability of the West coast fir
and cedar for other uses is beginning to
become apparent. Cedar siding Is already
finding market as far East as Ohio and
Indiana. The demand for it is already
considerable and as it is lighter even than
thousand and is clear and every way de-
sirable, it will be sold in constantly in
creasing quantities. Car stills, car deck
ing and many other things can be made of
fir and sold in competition with the lum-
Der cut for the same purposes in other
localities. The Pacific coast lumbermen
are finding out that even the fir which
the Western lumbermen have been slow TO
use for finish is well adanted for the pur-
pose, can be made to stay in place, and is
beautifully grained and handsome wood,
so free from defects as to commend itself
even for finishing lumber.
A recent study of the conditions on the
Coast and some familiarity with what the
Western lumbermen are wont TO consider
Eastern trade convinces the writer that be-
| fore the lumbermen ont on the Coast can
hope to send much Lumber East, they will be
compelled to do a number of things which
they are not now doing. First they must
| become better acquainted than most of
| them now are with the Eastern markets
and what specialties they can safely make
for sale in the Eastern markets. They
must cut more short lumber-in fact make
their lumber as they do not now do except
| IN rare cases for q distinctive car trade.
| The demand of the cargo trade determines
now, as fully apparently as 1t did three
| years ago, the way in which lumber is
made out on the Coast. When the lumber
| is made shorter, when the logs are cut
| shorter the lumber will be made cheaper
| than it now is, because the shorter logs
will admit of the introduction of labor
saving machinery common to the white
pine mills and not common 10 the mills on
the Coast. Lumber will need to be piled,
and piled scientifically, and dried as far as
possible IN open air. The dry kiln will
| need to be used and used freely. After all
| this has been done the writer believes that
| the Pacific coast lumbermen will find it
| necessary 10 carry stocks of their special
| ties in lumber centers like Minneapolis,
| Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis and
| Chicago. In this age when prompt ship
ment is demanded by the buyer he viii
| not wait to send 4 bill to be figured. wait
at least ten days before getting an answer,
stand the delay sure TO follow even after
| the order is made and the fifteen to
Twenty-Five days necessary 10 the ship
luent of the lumber Itself. Every buyer
| who has attempted il has found that from
| four 10 six weeks is required to get lumber
from the Coast into the Mississippi valley
| and this is more delay than most buyers
will brook. Distributing yards in dis
tributing centers in the East will entail
the investment of considerable capital,
| possibly the lapse of some years before
| there is profit in the venture, but not until
| this is done can the Western lumbermen
| hope for a very large amount of Eastern
trade. except in the limited line OF special
| ties thew are already sending East. A
combination among leading firms may be
necessary to carry cut this suggestion.
Possibly such scheme is within the
reach of the newly organized !umbermeH
association.