The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-02
Nearly ali in Western Washing
ton Now Hard at Work.
GOOD PRICES RESPONSIBLE
~ Resumption of Operation Nearly
5000 Men wiz Be Given Work,
and They VIII Receive More Than
ef5.DsO Per Day-It May Be That
Mills VIII Have to Work Night
and Ea, for gimc-Tbe Prices


January u and yesterday all restraint as
20 operation Of tse shlngle mills Vas ended.
and yesterday morning nesriy AZ CT he -g7
shlngle mills in Western Washington com
meneed eattiug agsia under mere cncour-
aging circumstances than have attended
their movements for manga day. II II
cEly necessary 20 compare the present
prices with these n a year ago 10 note the
wide difference in conditions. Many mills
closed IN October Of last year. but the ma
jority continued cutting Until November
Even after shat there were possibly ten
ehsngia mills that cot Ia December. bat
they did 40 in order 20 keep their gangs
together aud 20 maintain contracts as To
certain amount Of cutting and log con-
sumption.
The first movement toward closing down
the mills occurred Ia October. when the
Pacific Lumber Trade Journal issued cir
GUAR advising mill owners 10 stop cutting
and foreeasting decidef slump in prices.
Many answers we're received To the clrca-
lar. and statements were made IN let
tiers agreeable 10 general cio Ing
down Of the mills. Those that continued
cutting In November Witnessed a sudden
decline In the market price OF star A
Star shingles from $is5 10 81 per 1.eso
due entirely 20 "a falling off in the de-
mand for the product. the building season
In the East having terminated. There VAS.
however. In several mills considerable
stock. and many Eastern buyers who ap
psared on the ground endeavored 10 pur-
chase shingles at 81, on speculation. that
price being iess than the cost Of produc-
tlou. The agents Of the Eastern yards also
fought the closing down Of The mills in
order TO purchase for the market Of is9s
but In this they sere unsuccessful. The
Lumber Trade Journals circular of octo-
Der ~ had pronounced effect In respect
TO It's statement that the price Of shingles
would be 81 which prediction was verified
by later developments. Those who hesi-
tated were treated 10 sudden shock. a
second circular In November noted that %
per cent. of the MILLS had closed. and De-
eembsr l. ~ per cent were closed. The
agreemeat 20 remain shu, uniil Feb
shlngle men held n the Chamber OF Com
mereo in this city January 5. at which time
the prevailing scale OF prices vas adopted.
Tie agents OF the Eastern yardmen were
Sill active ia attempting Ga contract upon
a basis that was slightly in advance OF the
dollar that had closed November sales. but
were unable 10 make any extensive deals.
Star A Star and st.4s for clears are now
generally maintained. After the meeting
its effect was immediately noticeable In a
jump ia prize from s1.io to sl.2e and the
subsequent maintenance az the present
scale. Eastern bsyefs became more nu-
Ineroas. bat stocks had become 50 run
d5wn by the closing OF the mills that very
few dry shingles remain on hand. and for
fhese buyers are paying the regular scale.
Other raises IN the prices are expected at
intervals. and il Is believed that the max
imum viii be reached by June /. when
Stars Viii be quoted al siee
The direct henen, 20 me state by the re-
sumption Of ;he mill operations Is In the
employment In the mills Of 40 men ana
Ia the woods Of $500 men. all AZ average
vases Of s. per day. being si50o0 per day
distributed IN Western Washington The
time los, in being closed is more than made
up In the Necessity OF running day and
might 10 supply the demand. The hcneatS
% closing "a the owners and expression In
IN Advancement In prices over those az last
year ~ more than tl15 @N February :.