The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-14
TO UNITE MILLMEN.
Efforts of the Lumber Ex-
change i'm Their Behalf.
WASHINGTON CEDAR IN THE EAST
what Is Necessary to Place the Lums
Der industry on . Prosperous
Foundation

@hs SAasrle Lumber Exchange. received re-
ee1tly from r. a Gorssch. secretary Of
the Missouri an5 Kansas Association %
Lumber Dealers. ard which was published
sn the Puss-Tnssilige-cer OF last Wef1es-
day nzs already attracted = great deal or
Alteration zrsonx Is-nberusen throughout
the state. ard Secretary Philips stated
yesterday that az result OF seeing The
letter IL The Post-Ins slligencer several lTr1-
t4rnen have sept In their names es man.
hers Of tae exchange. The letter referred
20 = regarded as peculiarly significant a.
being perhaps the first public concession
on the part % Eastern lumber dealers that
Washington ceSzr is practically without a
rival IN the markets Of the Mississippi
valley.
The exchange proposes TO follow up the
matter vigorously. ard at 3 meeting held
yesterday authorized the secretary TO re-
turn the following reply to Secretary Cor
such:
Your favor OF June s. with copy Of con-
stItu;ion and bylaws Of Missouri and Kan
sas Association Of Lumber Dealers, was
duly received.
We thank you for your kind letter. and
are pleased TO know that you appreciate
the steps taken b. the Seattle Lumber Ex-
change toward getting the lumber Industry
o. the Pacific Northwest into such a con-
c.tion that the business can be carried on
by thoroughly sound methods. which viii
very soon render II a source OF profit not
only 20 the manufacturers engaged IN II.
but 10 the state OF Washington and the
community al large
Your statement regarding our shingles
practically having no competition IN your
section we know to be absolutely true.
We also realize what IL has cost our state
people 10 establish such a market. For
The pas. three years we have. as you say.
been ruthlessly cutting Up our valuable
timber and shipping il manufactured at
less than cost into your territory: whereas.
II those engaged in 50 doing had knoga
the condition OF the markets. had studied
the law OF supply and demand. and had
met together in such an organization as
ne have now in the exchange, this loss
could have been avoided. and today our
people would be prosperous But unfortu-
nately Ignorance IN conducting their bust
ness and an insane desire to cut prices fas
wei as everything else) has forced the
manufacturers n most instances 10 the
verge OF financial ruin.
we propose, in the exchange. 10 eSu-
cate the majority Of those engaged in the
lumber business By supplying them with
the various journals and other literature
pertaining 20 the industry. keep them &C
Quainted with the condition OF the mar
kets IN various districts. and post them as
TO prices ard demand In this way they
can obtain reliable information from au-
thentic sources. and not depend on the re-
ports Of scalpers and INSCRIPTIONS leeches
who have been sucking the life blood from
their victims for the past three years By
willfuiiy falsifying facts In order to &C.
compiish their aims.
THE demand at present for shingles is
good. All the mills making a good article
have as much as they can attend TO. and
yet there are none of them making any
money A few are keeping their heads
above water on their underweights, but
We are confident that after the manufac-
turers meet at our rooms and decide on
adopting the plans which are already being
formulated. we shall be able TO remove
many Of the evils unfortunately attending
the business. and start from the foundation
90 rebuild the structure which Is now
lettering of It's own weight We cannot
go fast. but We can 90 sure. and the
lesyen already started IS working and will
eventually reach the entire mass
While II Is true that competition is the
life OF trade this competition must be
carried out under legitimate measures, and
the efforts Of those competing must be a.
rected toward improving the condition OF
their own business. manufacturing the best
article at the lowest possible waste OF
material. ard making provisions for reg
ular output, so that their customers can
depend on II. instead OF sknife~cutting
siashing,' which Injuries their neighbor ana
eventually ruins themselves
You will be glad 70 learn that our mill
men are fast awakening from their leth-
argy and beginning 20 realize their true
condition, and as a knowledge of ignorance
+ the FIRST step 70 wisdom they gill. by
meeting together and interchanginx IDEAS.
obtain that Information which Is absolute
- necessary TO make a success Of their
business, and be In position 20 place the
lumber industry on a prosperous and solid
Foesuaas Eon