The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-15
GROW.
March Rail Business Larger Than
in ANY Previous Year.
SINGLE MARKET UNSETTLED.


the Mills Dssy - General N
view Of L1.her Conditions.
Heavy aceessions Of population 10 the
Pacific st. continued and Increasing
demand for heavy timbers by the rail-
roads and q stsnsn.ng Of prices In the
Eastern market are causes which are
combining TO make the numbering indus
try more profitable March shipments By
rail were heavier than for that month OF
any previous year In the history OF ths
state, according 10 the West Coast and
Puget Sound Lan.berman. Shingles show
a healthy demand, but shipments are not
as heavy an al this time one year ago.
punicky feeling prevails among the
biz shingie manufacturers Of the state.
Acsordiug to the Iumbsrman. the mar
kat - unsettled ard there Is feeling
abroad that prices were advanced tos
rapidly tn view af conditions IN the East.
II is admitted that q break In prices Is
not unexpected.
The LumDerman. as matter OF fact.
merely hints az the real condition Of sf-
fairs. Certain mills In the state have al
ready cut The price cents per loo. and
there are indications OF dispute concern
Ing under~ Fights. The old fight between
the manufacturers and the wholesalers
may bs renewed, IL. indeed. 1, has ever
ceased.
Another disturbing factor = the increase
In the number OF small miiis throughout
the northern part Of the state. These
manufacturers are not inclined 10 take
kindly to the methods Of the combination
Of single mill men which has partially
controlled the output and the market price
fer some time past
OF lumber conditions In general. the
Lumberman says editoriai!y.
Healthy Condition Prevails.
'sTroubls can always be found In the
conditions OF trade II one but looks for
It. but at the present time there is more
OF hsaithfulness In general way than at
any time for "A number Of years. This APP
plies throughout the whole United States
There has been and IS yet little OF over
boom. shnesa IN the statements made pub
lie concerning the lumber trade. and con
esryatiye men are not accepting these
statements without some reservation
Prices In lumber are strong, and have
heen advanced In the face OF an exceed
tngiy late spring all through the Eastern
states. White pine stocks a-e low at the
mills and IN the hands Of wholesalers. but
II Is reported yard men In many cases
have bought heavily. anticipating rise.
heavy movement Of population to the
Coast means an increasing local dernana,
which In being met at all points. The
rains in California have materially
changed the feelings Of iumbermen In that
state. A very large consumption for raj
road extension and repairs VIII De a
ear trade In lumber Is active and mills
: generally are full of orders.
The foreign cargo trade Is little quiet
al the present time, but IL Is Thought this
will he only temporary. Vessels are
scarce for foreign charters and rates hd-
vancing Legs are firm, and must con-
tnue SO with the present scale OK wages
: are selling at 81 and 81, far running from
81 ia s. for first~ciass fioorins log In
other markets logs are somewhat lower.
.',ins sninSis market ~ a little unset
tied al ire present time. A feeling. gem
crafty felt, Is that shingles were advsnc-
Ing too rapidly In view of the late spring
throughout tba East. Conservative mill
men IA well az dealers aeprecate TOO
high prices and 50 feeling slight break
ting from the highest quotations IL but
natural There are no stocks OF shingles az
the mills though tacy have accumulated
A. some Eastern points awaiting tae open
Ing % lake Navigation The mills are not
yet. as a rule putting oat their full espae-
isy March shipments are good. and show
q healthy demand. even in tho face OF most
Indictment weather
v~ssels on the Pacific
The total number Of vessels owned and
registered on tho Pacific coast and the
Hawaiian islands. as complied frem the
government reports. reaches ne high
mark OF 1895. The different classes q
vessels are "a folioes; Rark. a; sioon.
vessels are as follows. bark, "a: ssoop. isT:
tern. 81. scaw. IL. barken,ine. %. barge.
~. ssip n: schooner eS steamer, ia.
naphtha A. gasoline. >. briganiius s.
brig. 2 yawi. !.
The vessels are registered a. h,,fonutnr
to the different home ports" as follows.
California, 1905, Washington. ga. orv-
son, iSe Alaska, ~. british Columbia.
=. Idaho. !; Utah, /: Honolulu. B. and
unknown. y
The comparison wi;h the same record
made January ]. ISIS. shows a large gain
IN III" past year In the number Of vessels
registered. the increase being over go
vessels
lack Of Carriers.
Foreign ca,go trade ifs likely 10 ba
checked slisstis by the saca Of curriers'
says the i+uaiherfnan Az this lime more
freRlt; Ter the orient ia being offered
along The coasf fAan can IA taken One
man i'm Portland or has Sooe tons Of
iiear awaiting shipment The Centennial
mi3l. II Seattle. Wasa.. has sold 20 lss,
barrels Of four - BE delivered in twelve
months. While shipments 81 all kinds u
freight are bsIag offered. -Four tltlfs have
bad r. shat daan Ter want ~ vessels TO
take their output, Recently three big
steamers have eeen chartered 10 take four
10 China and Japan.
Railroad building on the Pacific cosst
during iS2. While nas being 50 extensive
as IN sor1e former years. will be potent
In making up ire sum total of a big year =
business So fsr ia California Oregon.
Washington AMI Idaho contracts rer near.
u Se miles have aIresss heen bet. and
taerr will 10 naerv TIE building a. 80
rsuch rsstd means TBS consumption q sa-
rroxiE''a'esy 'sas''s." feet Of lumber se-
this IL can always ts axstre<s that ne
readS n0~ In operation have 80 rsstasasx,
annually one-tenxh ef their lumber In
scS;Faonls wAteA wta can fer nearly as
snscA more rs sae Dais3ins of res lines
would g~ansaus@