The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-14
THE PRICE GOES UP.
Single Association Restores
Its Old Card Rate.
THREAT OF WAR ON OUTSIDERS.
The Cut Having Failed OF Its Purpose
to Force Outsiders In, New Meas
ures Are Adopted.


po.tant meeting in this city yesterday. Tho
acton taken was important in that the cut In
prices made at the meeting last month was re-
considered and prices advanced In some cases
even to Q higher figure, but IL was also i'm
portant in that the velvet was removed from the
Kid glove, and the mills DOW outside OF the as
ISOLATION served with a notice that they muas
join the association or prepare for war.
There were about ninety members OF the as
sociation present, representing over 100 mills,
and shout fifty non-association mills were elso
represented, special invitations having been is
sued TO oil nou-association mills to send rep:e-
sentatives to thu meeting.
The first busidess done wss the reelection OF
the old officers for the ensuing year, they being
c. D. stimson, of Seattle, president; - Pritch-
ard, OF Tacoma, FIRST vice president; -
Crocher, OF Wha.cor1, second vice president;
- Dunniway, secretary: - Ferris. treasurer.
The question OF prices then came up and the
action OF the meeting last month cutting prices
10 cents per thousand was reconsidesed and the
following scale adopted.
Star A Star, 6 to 2. 81. IS: formerly sls1
5 to 2, extra clear, 81 90: formerly $3.50
ls-inch, TO pa $275; formerly 81 80.
1S-inch, 5 to 2. s. 80: formerly s23
6-inch butts, to 2, sl.35; formerly $i.25.
6-Inch butts, to 2, $3.50; formerly $1.35.
The cut last month was for the double pur.
pose OF stimulating winter trade and to meet
the cut made by the non- association mills. Dur
Ing the past year great many new mills started
up, only few of which joined the association.
The association mills held their prices up. but
the outside mills uniformly shaded the associa-
ton prices and sold off their product,
amounting to about 20 per cent. Of the
whole, while the association mills had stock
LETT on their hands which they were forced to
hold. The cut had q reverse effect from that
intended so far as stimulating business is con-
cerned, because many Eastern buyers, who had
~ 49,
that the action OF the association foreshadowed
its dissolution and indicated that still lower
prices would follow. As a result great many
orders were Cancelled instead of new orders be-
ing received The action did not result either
in eay more rev mills coming into the associa.
ton. The action OF the last meeting thus fail
Ing utterly in i.s purpose different line was
considered advisable and the vote on the res
tora.:on of prices wcs almost unanimous, only
three members voting against the proposition.
At the same time special committees were
appointed for each county where shingie max
ing is carried en-, both in Oregon end Washing
ton. for the purpose of csnvass.ng the non
association mills and urging them to join the
association These committees were also
authorized to say TO the outside millueu that
unless at the next meeting Of the association 90
per cent OF all the mills now in operation had
joined the association. that body would declare
its scale of prices off and a war be inaugurGted
which would drive the weaker mills ont OF the
business
There was a gree. deal Of discussion. but
every one present agreed that the present con-
dition OF tie business was most Unsatisfactory
and that something must te done TO improve it.
The representatives of the stronger mills stated
that they were tired of holding up prices for the
ou:side to cut en- and thereby losing valuable
trade connections, and, if the cutting wss not
stopped at once, they would make the little
mills sick of tina: diet.
The meeting adjourned to meet the frat Tues
day in January at Tacoma
After the meeting some twenty of the non
association mills represented at this meeting
joined the association, aud several others said
that their mills would very likely do so during
the coming month. About 20 per cent. Of the
mills are now in the association, AID the men,
bers expect that as result of the action taken
yesterday fully 30 per cent. will have joined
before another month rolls around.
Mr.. Underwood, n shinglc dealer of Whstcorn,
attended the meeting ss the representative Of
some twenty mills in his neighborhood whose
product he has been buying and who held
meeting Saturday night to consider the associa-
tons overtures. He stated that he had no
doubt but that these mills would join the asso-
citation.
Secretary Dunniway said last evening:
"lf q free fight takes place it will be bad
thing for the state. because the only people who
will benefit by the low prices will be
the Eastern dealers, and as soon as the
war opens the price will drop to
$L25 for Star Star, and that
right away. The result will be that many little
mills will 60 into the hands of the sheriff or
ont of business altogether. Yes, on the other
hand, if prices are maintained, it may induce
more new mills to start, but men of any sense
will not go into the business il its present over
crowded condition and precaricus prospects.
No, don't think genuine trust will be formed.
but an arrangement may be made whereby the
N e yQl hn taxi
care of in case war is declared against the out
side mills.