The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-13

The present indications are that there
VIII be no reduction In lumber fref0ht
rates to the East this season. II any io~e-
rate is TO be maze Ii VIII not be until
early next season. This 10 practically An
agreement reached between Pacific coast
lzsnbermen ard the railroads due, Il -
said. entirely TO the conditions Of trads
prevailing in this section ~ the present
time.
For two months past there has been an
unprecedented ahoTtAse Of cars on al
lines doing business on the Coast. ana In
fact there has become sue hA deartn tnAt
many OF the mills have been compelled 70
close down for . short period or until their
yards can be cleared OF orders already
gotten out and awaiting shipment Ihe
railroads have resorsed 10 every knowa
means TO supply the demand for cars, bat
have utterly failed New car orders nave
been sent TO the shops and these are now
present. q large portion have been used 70
relieve the congestion In other parts OF
the country. Only few have so TAR been
received on the Coast.
When two monlhs ago the lumbermen
asked for = reduction Ia the rates on two
grades Of lumber to the East the Request
was met by the railways with the state
naent tina, even at the present rates II was
impossible TO handle the shipments An
agreement WAS later entered into by ooth
parties whereby no reduction IN rates
return the railway companies agreed 10
.1 WSi sat hey i h.v. done ii Il her power
to keep up Their ena % ,ae .ss Il x sas
month ago. The few extra cars that
have been sent out 20 the Coast nave not
greatly relieved the situation. but have
succeeded In creating considerable feel
Ing among lumbernen. The smaller manu-
faCturers claim that in the distribution Of
these cars they are being discriminated
49, pk. HoW
extra cars do come out they are turned
over to the larger shippers who have al
ready had more than their share.
II Is the little mills that have been com
PEELED to shut down on account of room
and who are making vigorous protest at
the treatment they are receiving. Some Of
the smaller mills claim that they nave
n %o ~eess some 81 4 their orass hey
say. have been ready for shipment for
thirty and forty days and in few cases
the orders have been Cancelled because
shipments we're not made at the time
specified. While. owing TO the great album
dance Of orders. the canceling makes but
little difference, A. the stock can be used
least receive a share Of the cars sent 10
the Coast
There is hardly mill on the Sound. Il
Is said but what today has orders enough
on hand to keep them running full time
for months Many have as high as hun
dred carloads standing in their yards ready
for shipment.
Notwithstanding the high freight rate
charged from this section by all lines and
which alone keeps down the Eastern mar
ket for Washington lumber. II v said that
this year one-third more orders have been
received from the East than ever before
While a goodly portion OF them come from
the wholesale trade Of ST. Paul. Minneap-
oils and Omaha. yet there IS noticeable
demand from Atlantic coas. points. These
far Eastern orders are principally for high
grade siding ard interior finishing mr.
which in competition with the Southern
higher price.
There win be no Increase In the price
Of red cedar this season. 20 miIlmen cay
The reason given for this Is that the de-
mand for ar and shingles - go heavy that
but little cedar lumber can be manufac-
tured except for special orders. Again an
other reason is thar any advance In the
price OF this lumber would result IN throw
ing up the price OF logs and as many.
particularly among the smaller ruannsac-
turers. are not well Supplied with logs II
would not work evenly all around
In view OF these facts II was decided to
let red cedar lumber alone until the mat
ter az a reduction IN freight rates was
however are Of the opinion that red cedar
humber at the present market price Is far
too low.
The single business is by far the mase
satisfactory II is said that not a shingie
mill in the state but II 50 packed with ord
old orders are cleared up The Washing
ton high grade shingles are now well ar-
custoYned 20 the Eastern market owing 70
the favorable freight rate given this class
Of shipments hy the railroads.
Rut again freight cars'' In the cry ard
a full supply would do more TO stimulate
the lumber trade than almost anything
else