The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-14

An Associated Press telegram yesser-
cay Announced the gathering In San
Francisco Of a number OF lumber men
from Washington and British Columbia,
WHO were In conference looking to the
re-estabiiskn ens Of rates on lumber. and
with the Interior intention OF adjusting
the difficulty existing In the biz Pacific
coast lumo@r combine that was organized
last March for the purpose Of raising
the price OF lumber 20 paysog ieveA.
The telegram announcing the meeting
was n follows:
An attempt ID on foot TO perpetuate
the lumber trust formed last year In this
city under the name of the Central Lum-
ber Company. for the purpose OF con-
trolling the manufacture Of pine lumber
for the export trade and Keeping prices
Up. The compact entered into a, tina,
time between seyenty-hve Of ths largest
mills on the Pacific coast does not expire
until January !. 1887, but a. internal wars
In the combine and external Influences
brought 10 bear by those outside have
threatened 10 disrupt the company. an
effort is being made to patch up differ
ences nov, 30 as TO renew the pledges
for another year.
For week pas: the big lumbermen
and min owners have had their heads TO-
gether in this city with q view to bring
ing about an understanding. Four of the
iarxes. manufacturers in British Colum-
bia and three from Warrington have
been meeting daily with the heavy dealers
In this city. and IL present indications are
prophetic Of the future, the deal will be
closed By midweek.
Prior to the formation Of the combine
year ago the competition had become
20 Keen. especially IN foreign markets.
among Pacific coast lumbermen that lum-
Der was actually being sold below cost
and the smaller concerns were being
pushed 70 the wall. This, at least. has
been stopped, so the interested millmen
say. and the only proposition now Is 10
create such q unity OF action among the
manufacturers on the Pacific coast that
foreign trade will be stimulated and all
mills may be operated 10 their capacity"
When the combination was effected last
March 1t included a long list Of the biggest
and best mills. The representatives met
secretly and endeavored 10 keep the mat
ter quiet. but the purpose OF the meeting
leaked out. The members OF the combine
were also members OF either the Pacific
Pine Lumber Company or the Central
Lumber Company. and the name OF the
latter was chosen as the title Of the new
organization. The two compafies had
been brought into competition on the for
elgn lumber business: the Pacific Pine
Lumber Company dealing exclusively in
foreign countries. and the Central Liraoer
Company doing both foreign and coast
wise business. The foreign business
amounted to somewhere between JOG, 900, 900
and $50 ee, ooe feet annually. and the coast
wise principally California; ran up TO a
figure between DO. 600 90 and 20. 10000 1t
was with the Intention Of regulating this
etupeus.ous business that the combine was
formed. and the dispensing Of the bust
ness TO the various mills by the officers
OF the organization was regulated by the
capacity OF the mills. proposition being
made on the basis Of the maximum output.
The list OF the mills entering into the
agreement was long one and represented
much capital, the Beil.ngham Bay I'm
provement Company being the last 10 sign.
The full list. the number of shares taken
in the stock CT the concern. and the esti-
mated daily capacity OF each mill Is given
a. follows.