The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-07
THE PASSING THRONG.

n NJ. HERRICK. president of the Pa
r cific Pine Lumber Company and OF
LII the Grays Harbor Commercial Co.
is in Seattle from San Francisco. for
the first time in two years. He Is probably
the largest lumber dealer in san Fran
cisco, and the mill OF which he is presi-
dent, located on Grays harhor. will cut this
year 10. eC9ooo feet of fir, spruce and cedar.
His mission here is to investigate lumber
trade conditions and to renew business ALI
anees.
There is no likelihood that the lumber
combine on the Coast will be resurrected
very soon" said Mr. Herrick at his room
at the Butler last night. The reason for
this is Well understood by iumbermen. I
say that combine is impracticable. a.
though L am a combination man and be-
lieve that only by such means are prices
10 be maintained so as to enable the mill
men TO make d profit
Ten years ago most of the mills in this
section catered to the foreign and coast
wise cargo trade. Then came the Eastern
ers, who saw in our immense areas of
standing timer great field for their tal-
ents aud capital. They built mills without
regard TO market conditions. At that time
the foreign market took from % TO 50 per
cent. Of the cut OF the log. The rest lay IN
the yards or was SOLD at a loss In San Fran
cisco. The Fastener went into the rail
shipment business. At first the Eastern
market took but 20 per cent. of the cut, but
now it is absorbing IS per cent. OF the log
cut.
1.-The piles of second grade or drop lumber
that accumulated in the mills of this state
have been too large for absorption by the
California market. This has kept prices
down. The temptation TO sell even at a
loss has prevented any successful or long
lived combination. The late Increase IN
the price OF lumber Is due solely TO the in
creased cost of manufacture The mill
man gets no more for his investment AMI
his work.
Seattle Is looking splendsily. l have
long believed that this is the coming. city
Of the Pacific Northwest. The local demand
for the inferior grades OF lumber caused
by a resumption in building IS aiding the
local manufacturers greatly. My own be-
lief is that the Eastern market Will increase
its percentage of consumption of the cut of
the log until II takes IL all CnquestioDably
the rail- shipment business Is great factor
in the lumber Industry of the Coast.
E. 3. Duffy. travelling passenger and
freight agent OF the Denver x Rio Grande
Western at Portland. paid a number OF
calls among the railroad offices of the city
yesterday Mr.. Duffy is one OF the most
popular railroad men In portland ana IS
also one of the best informed of them.
Travel east is fairly good with us. all
though not so active as two months ago,
he said yesterday. I'VE are booking for n
fairly lively movement OF gold seekers to
the North next spring. and are making ar
rangements accordingly. AS Seattle got
the bulk OK the business last year, II Is
n he expected, OF course, tNdt D1Nfi III tHe
travel to the gold fields VIII come this
way.
Regent T.. y. GoashaH, Of the unlver-
sity. came up from Everett last nignt. and
Is al the Butler Mr.. Godshall. who Is
graduate Of Lafayette college. has consent
ed 70 deliver a series of lectures on met
alIurgy before the students In mining of
the university He IL well qualified 10
speak on this subject. being superinten-
dent of the Everett smeiter. Last night
MIR. Godshall said the university would
need many things at the hands OF the leg
is.ature: that the enrolment OF students
is much larger than for long time past
and that the acconmoda lions ar the uni
yerstty were becoming inadequate.
Personal.
O II Smaby. a we'll known fruit grower
of Orcas island. viii be In the city until
Friday. He - staying AT the Seattle
" Rudeheck who acted a. state COM
missioner az the Omaha exposition. is reg
,stered at the Seattle from Everett.
John McMaster, a lumberman Of Clear
Lake, Is ut the Northern
~, frnr