The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-25
TO END THE AGONY.
Single Mems Association Soon
to Decide Its Fate.
A FINAL MEETING SUMMONED.



The largest and wealthiest shingle man
ufacturers and dealers on the Sound are
becoming tired of the bad faith exhibited
by some members of the association in
cutting prices, and also in holding up a
target for non-association manufacturers
to shoot at. A meeting of those strong
members of the association who have lived
up to the agreements, including the presi-
dent and secretary. was held at Tacoma
Wednesday, for the purpose Of devising
ways and means to meet the move on the
part of those who are making secret con-
tracts below association prices. and also
to induce manufacturers not members to
join the association. One of those present
said, in giving the reasons for tho meet
ing:
There Is not Q manufacturer In the state OF
Warrington that IL not benefited by the asso.
citation. Especially benefited are those manu-
facturers who are not members. There is not
a member Of the association who would not
gladly resign membership and work a. he
pleased, provided always tina: the association
upheld prices, but prices can not be main
tanned without the association. This nursing
and pampering of the outsider at the expense
OF the association 10 little too much for the
association and human nature 10 stand
II was resolved to call meeting of all
manufacturers in the state Mt Tacoma
March 1. to determine whether or not the
association will continue. Absentees will
be counted as votes against the continue
ton OF the association. Should it be re-
solved that the association shall continue,
it is proposed that both dealers associa-
ton and a manufacturer association be
formed. Occasionally it has been found
that their interests are not always identi-
cal. 1t has been observed, however, that
the local dealers have as rule lived up to
the stipulations Of the association. making
it the interest of manufacturers to dispose
of their product through them rather than
through the Eastern dealer. who is the one
most accused of raising Ned with
the association prices. The association
men say that to keep the profits
of handling the immense product at home
would be nm excellent thing for the state.
and for these reasons it is better that the
manufacturers who depend upon dealers
to sell their product should deal only
through the home dealer; that there is
enough trade in sight to keep all the mills
going, and it remains with the manufact-
urers themselves, however, whether or not
they turn their legitimate profit over to the
Eastern jobber.
The Chicago TimLcrman thus sizes up the
difficulties Of the Sound shinglemen:
As there are spots Oh the sun, 30 there are
clouds in the sky OF the red cedar shiugle manu-
facturerS
Most people "down East" have supposed,
without stopping to seriously consider the mat
ter, that any price that was paid for red cedar
shingles was, less the freight, clear profit to
the manufactures. They seem to have con.
Guided that timber cost nothing. that machinery
was bought on trial, that mill crews worked for
their board and that provisions grew ON the
place
1t may b that Pacific coast boomers. with
their wondrous stories Of shs Sound country,
are responsible for this opinion; but now We
arc told that 1t Is oil . mistake-that shingle
makers are between the upper aud neither mill
stones OF high cost of production and low price
in the Eastern markets.
They say that while cedar timber is cheaper
than white pine, it still costs something: that
it is tremendously expensive to get tho big logs
to MILL that machinery has to be paid for
some time: that men will not work for nothing,
and that provisions and supplies are costly.
On the other hand they say that their best
shingles are expected to compete with the poor
est specimens OF white pine; that when buyers
have paid the freight they think they have
done their duty; that the Eastern jobbers and
wholesalers think the far West manufacturers
are fair mark; that the scalpers are q constant
menace-in short, that what the railroads leave
the jobbers get
The case of the Warrington shinglo manu-.
facturer 10 indeed a sorry one.
The Chicago rate, and for quite . territory
tributary to IL, IL 80 cents. The price of random
width strictly clear red cedar shingles delivered
on this rate 10, according to the gospel OF the
Washington shingle association, $500: which
price the manufacturers are ready to hold up
their hands and swear 10 Is low a. they can be
sold and mako any money.
They prove il this way: Last year the price
was 1910: at which all the little fellows, and
those mills not properly located or managed,
lost money: the ordinarily good mill came ont
about even, while a very few made something.
The list was thus demonstrated to be too low.
On the contrary, the new list just about lets
the little people out even. while the better mills
can make a profit Consequently the manu-
facturers feel that the December s.. 10 list was
good thing. and could be made still better by
putting 1t up another notch.
What they seem to be afraid OF 10 the scalping
methods often INDUCED In, as they say, by
brokers and wholesalers both. In fact the
brokers with the hold they have on the little
shiugle mills, seem to constitute numerous very
sharp thorus in the SIDE Of the trade. Somehow
this complaint has . familiar sound. We seem
to have heard of the odious scalpers, the told,
bad iobber and the impecunious mill man be-
fo.e; still very probably there Is ground for tho
wall. You see, the average Washington shinge
mill must sell its product to the East But how
Is the owner of a one block shingie mill going
20 work up a trade 1900 or 1900 miles from
home lie hasn't gross money enough to take
the trip, to say nothing about supporting q
salesman on the profits.
Here stcps in the broker He will advance
rs per cent. of the mill price OF the shingles.
snd turn over the balance when they are SOLD
But there are overweights. kicks to be settled.
and drawbacks OF various descriptions, 20 e. at
i, comes to pass that the manufacturer more
often owes the jobber something than has any
thing coming TO him. However. re has run in
debt on the strength o. that - per cent he
doesn't set, and consequently 10 In the con-
somme The records are said to show tina; over
thirty mills went under las, year.
Ia there no balm in Gieadr Is thore no pros
rect for relief tor the down trodden sh!ngle
uaur They say-and "shey'' means the heavie,
and substantial mauufacturers-that the remedy
l. in sight: that the little men learned a lesson
last year which viii enable prices 10 De KEEP. on
a profitable basis during 1891 Moreover, the
higher price can Re easily paid by retailers and
wholesalers. as the buyers Will pay the differ
ence without objection. stll the wholesaler
have their old opinion as to tbs low cos. OF pro
duction and are still trying 10 knock down thu
mill prices.
MAETIN AND EASTOG