The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-10
JUMP IN THE PRICE
saIscLE MASCFACTrRERs MAKE
A NEW SCALE OF PRICES.
which aesns the Addition of $4,000
Month to the 100000 Now Com
ing Into Territory Tributary 40
Thf. CIsy-@A- Brand to Sell at
sf.o1 per Thousand at the viii,
.CIears'' ut Sf-2o, Effective From
April BIT Mean. the Salvation of
the Trade.

Several months ago Victor II. Beck
rams 2apss, the Pacific Coast Lumber
Journal. urged upon shingis cutters OF ire
Pacific Northwest. who hold the key 20
the Single situation IN the Eastern mar
sts. 10 bold of from forcing an accept-
aisce Of the Washington product BY such
prices as are rglnous 10 the producer ard
den4oraIlzlng 20 the industry. AS pro-
6sctive resource, the cutting OF shingles
IT, second only 10 the lumber business IN
this state. and should be fostered and
taken care Of 81 one OF the great benefits
accruing 20 enteTRri1e and the investment
OF capital
TIE ahingis cutters fell in with the idea
advanced that the price asked by the cut
fers was altogether too small, but the
heavier mill owners thought the time was
rot ripe for the advance. The smaller
mills. however. In anticipation OF rise in
the near future. cut heavily and over
loaded themselves. Having In some cases
more invested than they could carry. and
the big mills falling 10 raise the price. tho
small concerns went on In a bunch and
shipped everything East at the old prices.
There Was a temporary E1ix-up. and then
as soon as stocks were reduced and tho
payments came IN they began thinking
again OF getting the price raised.
~ this time the bigger mills discovered
that the demand was becoming heavy.
the shipments o. January and February
In Isss and those 81 the present year and
found that the product was giving a much
better account OF itself this year than last.
At the same time dealers in the East
we're asking practically the same prices
for Washington shingles as those of four
years ago. Washington shingles were
better than any cut elsewhere I'm the
United States and they were furnished at
s.r4fa. 10. "a f.arr t.Fs he
ducers than anywhere else. The price at
the mills was from % cents 10 81. with the
latter figure as basis TO figure upon. The
freight 10 the principal Eastern yards
was on an average 50 cents. and the diff
ference between the cost Of delivery at
Eastern yards. $40 per II. and the price
TO the user, s2i5 went into the pockets Of
the wholesale and retail dealers.
Just why the middlemen should make a
larger net profit than the price asked at
the mills. which Included the cost OF pro-
duction. did not appear TO the mill people.
and 50 Thursday a number OF the heavier
of them met In this city at the lumber
exchange TO talk the matter over. Their
coming was very quiet and no public an
nouncemeht was made OF the meeting.
That the result OF the meeting was a har-
monious one appears from the following
circular letter. which WAS sent out yester-
day addressed 10 the milImen.
seattle April .. 1890.
Gentlemen. AT meeting Of "a number
OF the largest manufacturer OF red cedar
shingles In the state of Washington. held
IN The rooms OF the Washington Lumber
exchange, this city. yesterday. 10 was the
sense OF every one present that the price
OF a shingles be made 81 e5 per thousand
at the mill for Eastern shipment, and the
price or clears he made Sl.n per thousand
al the mill for shipment TO the East. effect
i've from this date Tire following con-
AZ n
&. +. White. 9rays Harbor Commercial
Co. G. u Stimson, Sumson Mill Co. r.
81. Paul a Tacoma Lumner Co; A. f. No
Evan. Seattle Cedar Lumber Co. +. w
Price. Atlas Lumber Co: &. II. Crane.
Lewis Il Crane: A. : Kerry. Kerry Lgm-
Der CO. These firms VIII quote the above
prices from this date.
''As these firms control large percent
age of the shingles manufactured in this
state. II hohooves every manufacturer Of
rel cedar shingles 20 fall tn line and quote
above prices. Il means the salvation OF tho
trade. and the earnest corporation OF
every one Is requested. The demand Is
Row larger than the output. and the shin
sic men and dealers can obtain a living
price by quoting the above prices.
AZ the request az the q tn8Ns committee
VICTOR n. BECKMAN."
When Mr.. Heckman vas asked what the
circular meant he said:
"It means about ses.0eo per month cir
eulAted in district that 81 tributary to
Seattle. The Eastern shfnEte business from
tie sound, as things are now. amounts 20
sza0 eso per month. and &c this sum viii
b. adds6 90 go saora all OF which will
reach .hlH city tx3e wav or another. The
small cutters have mge1 upon tine I3rrer
manufacture. a raise in price and now
they have nsreet mon q scale lt Will
bsneAt every one connected with the IA
duHirE and Hundreds IF others Indirectly 30
Iy this mornins The circulars will De "a
the hands OF nearly every shiugie cutter
IN Northwest Washington. and there -
Hello aouh. that the scale viii be adhered
t. "a tie aomand FOR red cedar shingles.
which are she best cat in tbc United States.
exceeds ,he supply.