The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-11
Large Single Manufacturers
Advise a Suspension.
PRICES MUST BE MAINTAINED
Letters From Prominent Mill Men
Express the Belief That the Good
of the Market Requires Less Pro-
ion-weyerhneuser Syndicate
wourd Close n Mcnth-Washing-
ton Association May Take Action.

EWsFTWI
for two weeks or more before the spring
shipping season is well on. Letters have
been received from some Of the largest
manufacturers OF the state, In reply 10 inc
inquiry OF Secretary Beckman, OF the as
sociation, strongly urging that the oiose-
down, which began last Saturday night be
continued for another week. As these let
ters came too late to be Of avail IN con
tinuing the idleness OF last week, Il IS be-
lleved by some OF the manufacturers That
II would be wise 10 close again, provided
there Is not stronger outlook. or, in the
language of one OF the largest lumber ana
single manufacturing FIRMS In the coun-
try I'm order to put everything beyond
question Of failure"
There IL great danger OF over-production,
many large manufacturers say, and II there
IL not reaction and the opportunity Tor
the consumers to get caught up with the
supply offered, It il considered probable
that there may be demorahzatioh IN
prices.
r.. III Lewis, of Lewis & Crane. wholesale
lumber dealers, who has Just returned from
a protracted tour of investigation through
the East, says tho danger Of overproduc-
ton fs the greatest that confronts the
manufacturers OF shingles, and that u they
arc not cnrefui and conservative In their
business operations prices are likely 20 go
IN tho bottom. There IT, fine opinion
OF washington shingles and lumber In the
East" said Mr. Lewis yesterday. 'bu ihls
demand must be carefully nursed me
demand for shingles Is largely in the coun-
try districts OF tho East, and they oo h n
sise than In the winter time, summer pc
ing the only season when they can shlnsle
their buildings on the contrary, We tutil,
ufacturo shingles nearly the year year T IN,
in Washington, and then expect these I'aN
month"; consumers TO use the ent're supply
"such a condition cannot be Iea,l.eu'
Tho only way to offset 1t Is 70 stop manu- ii'i-
fnr Is
possible 70 gauge In advance the lshtln
OF time the mills should remain closed. TOT
It must be based entirely on the eondl.ioh
OF the market, and "a soon as tnat Is
strong there would no longer be any oc-
CASTOR for remaining idle The eastern
dealers know the business from enc . 20 emo
that the market Ia weakening, they, on
course. do all they can to force II to the
Nj Lewis SAYS he found lumber couil
items OF the best all over the East. and
believed this was going TO be the greanest
In The ns,oT q th hlxh nausTy thron9S
The year" ne said "than they have ever
been, and | can sec nothing but prosperity
ahead for everybody TINT ls able to handle
hia business ntellisenty.'
Advfses n Months Close.
The Coast Lumber Com pany, the main
organization Of the Weyerhaeusar syndi-
cate even advises that the mills remain
closed until May l. This institution e1a
twenty FOUR mills In the Middle West The
officers OF the company nre the fohowingi
President. Thomas Irvine. vice presinent
w. r. Ewart; assistant secretary, IL @.
Foster In writing TO Secretary Hickman
from 81 rsul under date Of Apfh 4. secre-
"in orr opinion q two weeks shutdown
will not be more than sufficient to prevent
Generalization IN the market also that It
is generally believed throughout the East
that the proposed advance for April can
not possibly be maintained unless the shut
down "a made TO continue until May ].
"rhere Is at present very large nc
emulation OF transit cars n, all Eastern
points and great difficulty In dispensing ot
roads at 81 Paul informed us yesterday
that they had eighty cars on the track
which they had commanded the shippers
ia unload IN order to release their rolling
stock and they expect to put all Of these
into their storage sheds We learn that
there IL a large accumulation at other re-
coaslRning points aud as before advised
there continues 70 ho an utter absence Of
demand
"If shlnwents should be resumed in tbc
course o. ten days there II no probability
that this condition Of things Will have
chauged bv such date sufficiently so make
any preceptlbls difference In the situntior.
We have. therefore. telesephsd You that
made effective for thirty days in order to
ure"
Letters From state MiIimcn.
The following letters, received Is Mr..
Hickman rggm some ~ tho leading manu-
fscturers or the state. show the general
belief ~ the Washington men iu the priu-
Ctplo that q g. necessary tu close the mills
e. maiutnin a stable market.
PROM Commercial Cedar Company We
notice trum the morning papers that 'ls
rotuit OF the meeting ~ the advisory board
was IN the line az suggestion 90 the mills
that they remain closed Tor another week
We th'nN tai' aeuon 10 timely. snd prAc-