The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-15
THE LUMBER AND saINGLE TRADE
Prices at Low Ebb, While British CO.
Iumbia Builds Many Mills.

many Mfits.
Conditions in the lumber and shingle
market do not show much change, nor any
material improvement. The busy season
is about over and dealers are not looking
for much of an increase in orders until
the spring trade opens up in January and
February. Prices are still At the lowest
cob and shingles are practically being sold
at cost. and instances are known where
they have been sold below the cost of pro-
duction. Star A Star are selling at $I.05
aud 81 10. and extra clears average from
81 IS TO si55. Fir logs. No. are quoted at
S. to $3.50: fir. No. 2, at 81. Cedar. No,
at s. to ST. 50. and cedar No. 2. $3.50 to s. 75.
What effect Canadian competition is
going to have on the market is yet a good
deal OF aquestion. Manufacturers seem to
all agree that foreign competition is going
TO hurt them, bus to what extent will have
To be determined by future Developments.
Up 10 the time when the Wilson tariff bill
went into effect there we're not many
shingie mills in British Columbia, but
since then they have been springing up
very rapidly. and dealers are already re-
ceiving letters from different points in
British Columbia quoting prices that ara
even lower than the price here now. IL is
the late election in again putting the Re-
pubieans in power will be a great en-
enlargement 10 American lumber and
shingle men, and that whatever damage
British Columbia competition may be able
10 intllct will not be OF long duration. As
one manufacturer EN- hatieally said:
II do not look for any improvement for
two or three months, but the new Repub.
iican congress will undoubtedly knock into
a cooked hat the free trade policy of tn
Democrats, and We will have good times
again"
While prices are very low, most of the
mills are running and are getting a COM
pArstivegy small but steady run of orders.
The opening Of the Burlington's trans
continental route Is a new factor in the sit
uation, and one OF great promise 70 tn.
shingie business. TIE Burlington has
already sent several hundred cars into the
Puget sound territory. and has put an end
TO the cry OF shortage OF cars. The new
territory reached by the Burlington, which
heretofore has practically been closed to
Washington shippers, aud which includes
Wyoming. South Dakota. Nebraska
Kansas, Iowa. Missouri aud parts of Hi
nols, is magnificent teid for Washington
lumber and shingles. and when the spring
trade opens there will without question lie
q large increase in orders from that
section.
The recent change in the freight tariff
on lumber ana shingles made by the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern is
causing q good deal OF dissatisfaction
among shippers The new tariff raises
tie minimum on lumber and shingles Tor
81 ears - ieet and under n $1,000 pounds
over 81 feet and not over - tset 30 II. 0o0
over "a feet and not over So fess to 3a.00a
pounds. aad over IS feet TO 80.oeo pounds
sn average increase of from 5000 TO Co
pounds Manufacturers claim that IL j.
impossible 10 ges in car the number of
pounds required under thss minimum
rate ana they are very much averse TO
standing The loss There has lately been
pat on the market. however, = patented
sAingle package for which The eIAim i
made that as use will ALLOW enough aadi-
tlonsl shingles to DC packed ia . car to
make up the amount required.
There : not 50 much aactuAiion IN the
lumber market as IA shingles. The export
trade Is heavy and the EAsssra demand IL
improving somewhat The Port Blake.ey
AMI Fora Gamble lumber mills. and others
oa tAs SQUAD. are making large shipments
To Japan. CANA Honolulu. South Africa
and Soush America, and the Fremont
MtIsng Company Is now loading Loco 90
isss 81 lumber fer China
Altogether tie situation. While no: Of