The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-29
WANT FAIR PRICES.
Shinglemen Making on Effort
TO Hold Them Up.
A STRONG APPEAL SENT OUT.
Better to Have the Mills shut Down
For While Than shut Up
Entirely.

The practical way in which the single
men Of the state are facing the situation
brought about by the closing Of the shin
gle mills is well illustrated by the accom-
panying circular, which has been sent out
by Carstens & Earies. Of this city. Its ar
gument and appeal are somewhat similar
70 the circular sent out last week by the
Whatcom county association. a notice OF
which has already appeared in the Post
Intelligencer- The leading shingle men OF
the state are unanimous in the conviction
that If the single mills viii only remain
firm for few weeks longer they viii be
masters Of the situation. This would not
be so difficult TO do were il not for the
criticism which the shingle men have met
with, particularly from the smaller towns.
which have of course felt the shutting
down Of the mills.
A prominent single man OF Seattle pith-
lily summarized the situs ton yesterday by
saying: 1T is far better for the mills TO
be shut down than for them TO be shut up.
a little ready money through the winter
months Is tempting, but if IL is secured
through a dead loss 10 the mills IL is Of no
real or permanent value. BY holding to-
gether till the latter part of February or
March IL is reasonably certain that there
will be an average advance of 10 cents on
shingles. This means clear gain of more
than $250e9 to the Single men. and
through them to the state"
Carstens & Earles circular, which may
be said TO voice the sentiment of the ma
)or1ty OF shingie men at the present Juno
ture of affairs, is as follows
To the Shingie Manufacturers-Gentl
men; Ii we may be pardoned a suggestion.
having In view the general welfare we
should like TO strongly impress upon the
manufacturers the Importance of keeping
their mills closed down until genuine and
unmistakable demand calls for their on
GRAFTON. This time cannot be more than
three or four weeks distant at the most
and the temporary sacrifice, IL made Will
undoubtedly bring a generous recofnpeuse
IN improved prices during the coming sea-
son. There is no good reason why the
opening ngures for the springs orders
should be less than 81 and S1.15 for Stars
ana Clears respectively, If the MANU-
facturers insist upon IL; experience how
ever has proven that, generally speaking,
they are not in a position TO so insist
when their dry kilns are full and every
shlngle is more of a liability than an asset
KIN full of shingles usually means the
hrst offer and not the best offer will take
them- The essential point, therefore in
demanding better prices, is that manufac-
'urers snail have no shingles on hand that
must be sold, but shall stand ready RI
make for the first buyer that offers sum
cient inducements.
u Mess fair prices are obtained from,
the beginning of the season. they will NOT
come at all. We received evidence of this
last season, when for a time. the demand
was several times the prompt supply, and
yet had not a favorable effect upon prices
We were all working on old low-priced or
ders' and IN many cases had to refuse fair
~ good business because we were kent
busy on accepted poor business.
II the mills generally remain closed for
time longer We think their owners viii
htl L Trsf4Fs sod bon
ueTs VIII be offered them ar improved fig
ures. Wholesalers, East and West. as soon
as they ma their low-priced offers declined
with thanks Will soon take alarm and
raise their selling quotations; the ward
trade East. finding prices stiffening. will
bestir themselves to place their orders
ana IL Is quite probable that the opening
of trade will be accelerated instead of -
tarded by this bull movement: bur even
should 1T take an extra week or two to
demonstrate to the trade that there are no
20 or S5-cent shingles for sale here. this
VIII prove the most profitable period of
idleness manufacturers have ever expert
enced
Dealers are now beginning to receive
numerous inquiries for prices; they will
answer them as they may view the out-
look here. With stocks again being accu-
mulated and shingles offered daily at ride
ulOus figures, corresponding quotations will
be made in the East; these Will be accepted
very soon. Cheap orders will again he
filed here, they will be offered TO you. gen
tlemen. and YOU will accept them for want
OF anything better in sight. blaming every
one but yourselves for the necessity.
some Of you have decided not To sell
(Stars. for instance) for less than 20 cents
because You can't. Some Of YOU have de-
cided not 20 sell them for less than %
cents, because you won't. Why not all of
YOU. each for himself. decide not to sell
them for less than 81. because you don't
have TO?
You know oil this: it IS nothing new.
perhaps the suggestion may be considered
impairment: Vet II Is well meant. il can
he done. ard II is worth doing Don't wait
for your aeighhor 10 10 It. hut do il your
self. Very respectfully,
"CARSTENS e EARLES, Inc.
90