The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-16

full one. Not only was the output much
greater than that Of the year before,
but the financial returns were az q
whole satisfactory. The lumber ship
ments showed gain of 1l2.oOo00O feet,
or 81 Per cent, while in the shingle ship
ments there was an increase OF 5SS, 000,-
o00 an increase of 20 per cent More
over, Il IL to be noticed that in addi-
ton to larger output there was also
Q gradual extension of markets where
the demand will probably increase from
year to year. There was an increase in
the shipments Of nearly all Of the coast
ports as well as to Australia. China.
Japan. South Africa. India, Samoa and
Hawaii. Even with falling OF in the
exports to South America and Mexico
the totals for the year must be Of a very
gratifying nature to lumbermen gen.
erallv.
The lumber shipments to the East by
rail also show healthy growth. Only
one month OF 1899 shows q decrease
compared with the corresponding month
Of the year before. and the entire In
crease for the twelve months was over
$1,000, 900 feet. or nearly 5000 cargoes.
With shingles the same showing Is
made, the increase OF the year being
over 5s7. 900, 0o0 The Eastern market
has not only been held but widened.
and the popularity enjoyed by our lum-
Der product promises an ever-growing
demand from those sections which are
being rapidly denuded OF timber growth
and find themselves compelled to rely
upon Puget Sound fir.
A glance at the list OF the ports to
which Washington's great product il
now shipped shows that there are few
countries throughout the world which
are not buying lumber from this state.
Our exports are finding sale in new
places every year. and to many of them
the annual shipments are bound to grow
as the markets are more thoroughly ex-
plotted. There Is an immense increase
of shipments to Japan, and with devel-
opment In that country they will grow
larger. In Hawaii the sales Of 1899 We're
nearly double those in 1898, and with
annexation and better transportation
facilities they cannot fail to increase.
A large business will also be built UP
with Siberia, the markets OF which will
present great opportunities when there
are easy means OF shipment to that
great country soon to experience an
awakening. Heavy consignments to
vladivostok have already been made
by Portland lumber concerns. and it
is said more would have been sent had
the ships been available. With an In
crcasing demand for lumber at the Rus
sian port 1t goes without saying that
the mills of this state will take advant-
age of the occasion to supply 1t.
The year was busy one with nearly
all the milling concerns, large and
small. The majority of them show an
increased output over that Of 1898, and
with many of them 1t was the most ac-
tive season ever recorded. The improved
home demand was one Of the features
OF the year. 1t was a year of building
IN every part of the state, and accord
ing to all signs the demand is not like
ly to fall off. Cities and towns are gen.
orally prosperous, new people are COM
need for more houses, stores, and other
buildings to meet the exigencies of bet
ter times. The output of the Seattle
mills has been growing steadily and the
greater part of it has been for home
consumption. consumption which GER
tainly will not decrease If present pre-
dictions are fulfilled. So it Is with many
of the smaller lumber establishments
throughout the state which are having
about all they can do to fill orders re-
quired by widespread activity In build
ing.
The outlook for the coming year gives
promise that the trade will enjoy a
prosperity equal to that Of 1899. Ac-
cording to lumber authorities the stocks
or hand are not large, the demand for
lumber is good and prices are stiff.
There seems TO be slight probability of
the foreign market falling off and the
demands from Hawaii the Philippines
and Alaska ought to be larger. This.
with every reason to believe that the
local consumption will be even heavier