The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-11
WAGES IN LOGGING CAMPS.


Though edueed, They Are Above Wis
consfn Rates-Market Depressed.
A correspondent of the Posr-INTELLr-
GEscEg residing in this city writes:
$50 much dissatisfaction is daily ex-
pressed by laborers, especially those fol-
lowing the numbering interests of this
state, relative to the hard times and low
wages received in exchange for their labor
that l wish to call your attention to the
enclosed print cut from the Appleton Post,
OF Appleton. Via, relative TO the wages
paid in Wisconsin for the same kind OF
labor by one of the wealthlest firms in that
state: As sign Of the times 1t may be
noted that according to report the Paine
Lumber Company, Of Oshkosh, is hiring
men and teams for work in the woods this
winter for $50 per month. where last vim
They are hiring men alone for $l2 per
month. Truly. times have changed"
In regard to the above q reporter inter-
viewed ]. P. MiIlett. of Cherry Valley; C.
w. Rich, of Mosher; Pat Mccoy, of Edi-
son, and K. G. English, of Mount Vernon,
four Of the largest loggers on the Sound,
who are stopping At the Diller. They
state that there Is no great dissatisfaction
among the men in their employ. although
the wages have been considerably reduced
paid to laborers in the woods were $50 to
SIS per month and board. and now they
are sc to $50 and board. The rate quoted
in the clipping also includes board. Team
sters in the woods last year were getting
$50 to 500 per month and board. but now
they are getting $50 TO s15 and board.
While there has been considerable reduc.
ton in the wages paid to green hands, there
has not been so much falling off in those
paid to experienced, competent men.
There are very few camps running now on
the Sound. but if man wanted to start
up logging he could get all the help he
wanted for $50 TO $40 month and board,
bat they would be short time men, and as
soon as the times should improve they
would leave. The prices quoted in the
clipping are the minimum prices paid in
Wisconsin for inexperienced help, but
competent men are receiving more than is
there stated. Mr.. Millett said:
However. there isn't a logger on the
Sound who Is making any money. And
very few of the millmen are better of. AT
my camp in Cherry valley l atm not using
any teams; l am using engines, and am
satisfied that that is the most economical
method. We employ about the same num-
Der OF men as We would have done did We
use teams, and the only difference to US is
that our four engines take the place of
about sixty horses, whose feed and repairs
would cost more than those of the engines
Logs are now very low and a man can buy
all he wants at 81 per thousand feet The
logs | am cutting. however, are all eulled
timber and l haven't sold any of those for
less than 81 per thousand feet. The trou-
bic Is that there is no market for our rough
lumber. and such as il is We are now
threatened with the loss of a portion by
this tariff tinkering. Amos. our only
market for rough lumber is California.
and II lumber il put on the free list We
allow the British Columbia mills To enter
the field and divide that market with us
During the time Southern California was
booming many OF the British Columbia
mills were even able to paw the duty and
ship lumber into that section. There is a
prospect, however, that this South Africa
boom will help our market TO some extent.
by the way. have an order to ill for the
Midsinier fair. ] am going TO get out a
stick 90 go down there which will be larger
than any sent 10 Chicago. IL will be 40
feet long aud square thirty-six inches