The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-20
Wealthy Single Wholesalers
Come to Their Brothers Aid.
ALL BUT - PER CENT. CLOSE.
Organization OF tbs Red Cedar Shin
Gle Mem II Nearly UNANIMOUS
Letters From the East Commend
2 the M0veme nt-May Not be Neces-
saPy 10 Keep the Mills Idle Tor
sixty Days-Enect In Noticed.

The large wholesale single firms have
ccne 20 the aid Of those not financially
0ble 10 close their mills for the sixsy-day
shut-tiown ordered by the Washington Red
Cedar shingie Manufacturers Association,
and wili take of their hands the product
airea9y turned out so that they can get
along without dificuity. This agreement
which win be sent out today for general
signatures, was reached IN accordance
with the verbal conclusion Of last Fridays
meeting.
From Hftoen or twenty mills In the state
are In poor circumstances, and wonl1 nor
ba abls 10 survive 80 long period OF
idleness without selling portion Of the
shingles In their ktlns which they intend
Cd to place on the market at once Such
being the case. the more extensive lnsti-
tutions have agreed 70 fake given num-
Der OF cars from each. They are prepared
% take 200 cars II necessary. but IL Is
believed that 30 or 80 carr viii be enough,
These mills will be- paid standard prices
for the shingles. the buying firms, however,
reserving 10 per cent OF the purchase price
as a guaranty that the closing agreement
will not be violated by the sellers This
surety amount win be refunded at the end
Of the shutdown season. The buyers
waive all claim TO any profits In this deal.
being content 10 make the actual cost on
the shingles.
FROM mo 10 ltO OF the tnfggie fHtiiS III
ths state arc said to have already sus-
pended operations In accordance with the
order of the association. and viii be Idle
until the order In given 10 start again. The
LIST issued last Monday Of the closing firms
showed that iss had signed, but during tho
week fifty more were added. through the
efforts of Secretary Beesuian, Fly the end
OF this week. according 10 adviees already
received from various parts of the state.
at least iss viii have closed.
Including the twenty small mills that
will be enabled 10 close through the help
given by the larger wholesalers. there will
therefore be ia idle, besides a few more
that viii come In az room as they can get
their bolts out OF the water. This win
leave total of no. TO exceed thirtyfour
That have failed TO Join. ar only 1871 per
cent % the total Of 24s mills In the state.
as some of these latter are expected 20
Join the movement In few days. the per-
cen;age win be SIN more decreased.
The officers OF tho association ara daily
in reesapt Of letters from large dealers OF
the East advising them to stand by the
determination 10 maintain prices. and ap-
proving this organized step to do so. Many
of tiie large lumber trade journals are also
commenting favorabiy on thu movement
They say there IN a fine outlook for tho
ehinxie and lumber hugness next year.
and they cannot understand why Western
men slionii be cutting prices.
The effects OF the cso@@-ssowB arc already
being noticed, and II Ia believed that II
viii not be necessary TO keep the mills
f6le for the fun sixty days. which will
end January H. There Is even some talk
Of ordering this mills To resume operations
Immediately after the holidays
The following letter to Il. j. McNeeiey.
president OF the association. IA fair sample
Of numbers that are heiug received 7, was
written by the Chicago Lumber and Coal
Company, with headquarters IN ST Louis
under date OF November II. This IL ono
or the most extensive firms engaged In this
line In ths Middle West. 1. IL capitalized
at $4,000 and is rated high IN the fnan-
cial records:
I'VE note with pleasure that steps have
been taken by the Shlugla Manufacturers
Association OF your state 10 maintain cur
rent prices throughout thu winter This Ia
n eiep In the right direction. and one that
VIII meet with tho approval OF all ths large
raneiafs OF your protuet- IL makes little
difference 10 us whether We pay YOU 81 -
or 81 for your shingles. so long ax we
are assured OF the fact that VIC are buy
ms IA low our competitors. Competf-
tssalf into matter of profit. and tho hilsi~
ness goes ta the concern able ~ give TIA
customers protection and willing 20 tio
business 81 live and let Hive margins The
associatInE OF the mills IN maintain price.
meets with our hearty approval and hope
that ypg will he able 10 make IN. closing
dawn CLAUSE unanimous