The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-29
SHINGLE AND LOG OUTLOOK.
THE LATTER INDUSTRY IN THE
STATE BETTER ORGANIZED.
Prospect for n Better Year in the
Single Trade Through Decrease
of Selling in Transit-Whatcom

Special Dispatch to the Post-1ntelligencer.
WHATCoM, Dec. 2s--From one-snird to
one-half the single mills in Whatcom
county will start up after first of the
year Some of them have been running
right along, but stopped temporarily for
the holidays. Many of them will not
start till about February l. which is about
the time that the Washington Red Cedar
Single Association managers advise as
the time to begin operations. As the dali
w capacity of Whatcom county mills is
about 100000 shingles, and this is only
one of the big producing counties, the eff
feet of even one months steady run at
full capacity of all the mills in the state
can be estimated.
The single market is stronger now
than It was at this time last year Stars
are now close to SIPS per thousand and
clears are about $l.45, with every sign an
encouraging one for the future. There.
are not many shingles in transit, the
building outlook is of the best; there are
no strikes In sight, stocks are low in the
eastern yards. and the action of the mill
men in closing up and curtaiing the out
put clears the atmosphere considerably.
While all these signs, however. are of the
most hopeful kind in the direction of a
profitable and prosperous mill year, 1t is
tot forgotten that last year the same
bright antieipations were INDUCED in and
or run at a loss, and much OF the very
best kind of cedar timber was sacrificed
at cost of stumpage and manufacture or
even less The loss of this good timber
without a profit to the manufacturer is
rreparable.
Last year the bright outlook was the
cause of giving full swing to the most de-
moraiizing agency in the Single bust
ness--the Sin transit" trade This is a
pernicious system whereby dealers ship
car loads and even train loads east that
are not contracted for before they start
the dealer running the risk of selling
them while en- route or after they have
reached their destination. This system is
the curse OF the shingle trade in WASH
ington and always the demoralizer of the
market. With large number Of cars UNI
sold. in transit east, the eastern dealer Is
quick to realize that he Is master OF the
situation. Those shingles must be sold
for the western broker who has Skinned
them must get his money out of them TO
pay the millman, who. In turn, must have
his money to pay his help and for tim
Der. Ii the shingles arrive at an eastern
point unsold they cannot lie there and
the eastern yard man offers his own prjce
ana gets them at forced sale If ne
KNOWS that there are many hundreds OF
cars en- route. and he always knows n
the result is that the broker gets less
IMAM cost as ms price and the millman
gets less than cost for his expenses of
manufacture, and the market Is demoral-
ized for months afterward. in the case OF
large numbers being sacrificed.
Last Years Ex-erience,
Last year the prospects were so bright
that very large number of cars were
sent east uncontrolled. The eastern ward
men took advantage of It, The shingles
piled up at their destinations ana could
not be sold. The home market for con-
tracts previous to starting was k,l,ed
Then the season failed to open up I'M a